Do We Eliminate the Game We Love?

Everyone loves staying up to watch Monday Night Football, stuffing their face with wings on Super Bowl Sunday, and tailgating with friends before the big game. We love the sport and we love the thrill and entertainment it provides. Now imagine losing the sport altogether.

Recently, football receives major criticism and backlash for its heavy violence and more importantly, head injuries. With medical advancements, researchers discovered the alarming short-term and long-term effects from concussions. Concussions can go unrecognized and misdiagnosed. Currently, football serves as the number one male sport to cause head injuries. Therefore, the question raised today is whether or not football should be banned altogether.

This question has outraged some and provided a solution for others. In my honest opinion, football should not have been a sport at all. Putting individuals' lives at risk for entertainment and recreational purposes is irresponsible and selfish. However, since its start, we have fallen in love with the sport and I do not believe we can turn back now.

Football serves as part of our culture and even provides a foundation for underprivileged youth. Children grow up loving and admiring the sport with dreams of one day playing in college or making it to the NFL. From the player’s perspective, football has given some an opportunity to receive a college education or even make a living to provide for their family.

So what is the answer to this controversial question? While banning football may seem like the responsible and simple solution to these problems, it diminishes a large part of our country’s culture and athlete's pride. Athletes play their sport because of pure passion and love. As a football player steps onto the field, he knows the risks involved. Taking the sport away may be impossible at this point. 

Thus, perhaps the solution is one of increased prevention and research. Instead of ripping the sport away from players, implement rules protecting the youth from this high level of contact. Enforce precautionary steps after head trauma on any amateur or professional level. Instead of leaving it to the trainer’s discretion, force the player to get off the field to see a doctor or specialist. 

It’s an important question with complicated answers.

Do we eliminate the game we love?