CONCUSSION DISCUSSION

I went to see the movie "Concussion" and if you didn't see it don't worry I'm not going to give away any of the details nor the story lines that aren't already in the public sphere. It was a very good movie in my opinion and since I'm neither Siskel nor Ebert take that for what it's worth. But also take into account I've worked around professional football players for a number of years and see and hear of the effects it has, is having on veteran players.

Concussions aren't restricted to football; but the fact that football skirted the issue is what brought their connection with concussions to the forefront. When players start killing themselves in the face of normalcy, all things considered, then you have a problem. When a doctor can look at the evidence objectively using data and not inferring conclusions for the good of profit or fandom then you have to respect and address that.

Any sport, activity or event that will consistently show a backlash that outweighs the benefits needs to be evaluated, not eliminated. I love football and loved it in its purest form of gladiator aggression. It challenges me to think how many of my heroes that may be suffering now and that saddens me. One because I encouraged it as a fan; secondly because I cried foul when the NFL tried to improve the product by protecting the player. We're all double edged swords in this game of football. We love to see the hard hit, the "You Got Jacked Up!" highlights; yet we hate to see the stretcher slowly arrive on the field indicating the hit was serious enough that a physically gifted player can't get up on their own and recognizing the smelling sauce is just an exercise in futility.

So what do we do? We continue watching the game. If you play you accept the fact that the risks are real and documented. But the conundrum for any kid who sees football as a way out of poverty or access to the champagne life is purely risk/reward. It's hard to argue if he has poured all his talent into the game but if he stays in the league even one year the possibility of him becoming a victim to a serious injuries or concussion is there in black and white. You don't think about when you're playing or you'll get hurt players have told me repeatedly. I concur that you have to focus on the positive outcome not only in football but in life. That is indeed an interesting parallel...

It's hard to say what college football and the NFL will focus on going forward but one thing's for sure. In this information age everyone will know what you do and how you choose to handle it for the most part. Thereafter your actions will say a lot about how you rank people and profits when pitted against each other. I can only hope that people will win out every time. I'd like to think that now...

That's the way I see it sitting in The Box Seat. I'm Wayne Box Miller.