Touchy subject

[Lucky Colts Fan]

3 minutes ago, Cynjin said:

 

Well, mostly because I played the sport.  I enjoy the competition between two teams, the matchups, strategies, and the overall skills demonstrated by the players.

 

Ok.  Again, I'm just curious, no judgments here.  Aren't there less violent sports where you get the same things?  I mean, a game of chess has all of that, minus the physical contact.

 

What is it about football, as opposed to other sports, that appeals to you?

 

I don't want to put words in your mouth, but the violence of football seems like the only thing that separates it from the other sports. That was my original point.  A fan of football is a fan of violence.  Everything else about sport and competition can be found in other sports, so if you don't like the violence, you wouldn't be a fan.

 

  Again, no judgments, just curious.

[bababooey]

6 minutes ago, Lucky Colts Fan said:

 

Ok.  Again, I'm just curious, no judgments here.  Aren't there less violent sports where you get the same things?  I mean, a game of chess has all of that, minus the physical contact.

 

What is it about football, as opposed to other sports, that appeals to you?

 

I don't want to put words in your mouth, but the violence of football seems like the only thing that separates it from the other sports. That was my original point.  A fan of football is a fan of violence.  Everything else about sport and competition can be found in other sports, so if you don't like the violence, you wouldn't be a fan.

 

  Again, no judgments, just curious.

I think the good outweigh the bad. Making friends, learning life lessons, working together to accomplish a common goal, making memories, pushing yourself to be better was definitely all worth it. I've gotten bloody and beat up on the field but I'd do it again in a heartbeat knowing the good that came with it at the time, as well as the good that came from it.

 

One of the days I look forward to most every year is that Saturday after Thanksgiving when my old teammates and alumni from older and younger classes get together for our annual touch football game for a couple hours followed by going to the local sports bar and watching some college football over some pitchers. Our dads and our spouses come to watch, and now we got guys' kids playing catch on the sideline while we play our game.

[jvan1973]

33 minutes ago, Lucky Colts Fan said:

 

Ok.  Again, I'm just curious, no judgments here.  Aren't there less violent sports where you get the same things?  I mean, a game of chess has all of that, minus the physical contact.

 

What is it about football, as opposed to other sports, that appeals to you?

 

I don't want to put words in your mouth, but the violence of football seems like the only thing that separates it from the other sports. That was my original point.  A fan of football is a fan of violence.  Everything else about sport and competition can be found in other sports, so if you don't like the violence, you wouldn't be a fan.

 

  Again, no judgments, just curious.

What other sport takes 11 players being on the same page always.   Putting together and changing game plans on the fly?  Baseball is a great sport,  But offensively it's an individual sport.  Basketball also a great sport,   one great player can tip the tide however.

 

I don't know much about lacrosse so I can't really comment on that.

 

There is far more to enjoy in football outside of violence

[Cynjin]

44 minutes ago, Lucky Colts Fan said:

 

Ok.  Again, I'm just curious, no judgments here.  Aren't there less violent sports where you get the same things?  I mean, a game of chess has all of that, minus the physical contact.

 

What is it about football, as opposed to other sports, that appeals to you?

 

I don't want to put words in your mouth, but the violence of football seems like the only thing that separates it from the other sports. That was my original point.  A fan of football is a fan of violence.  Everything else about sport and competition can be found in other sports, so if you don't like the violence, you wouldn't be a fan.

 

  Again, no judgments, just curious.

 

Well, honestly it's just a matter of personal taste/opinion.  I did play other sports growing up, lacrosse & volleyball.  Neither was as "violent" as football and I enjoyed them for the same reasons as I did football.  It really has nothing to do with the violence of football.

[RockThatBlue]

Yes.

[superrep1967]

I would not. The risk of head trauma is too high. I played and love the game but would not want my kids to play.

[BOTT]

6 hours ago, Cynjin said:

To those that wouldn't let your child play football, then why do you support the game by watching it?

 

As far as the OP's question, yes I do let a son play.  He actually has had more injuries when he played baseball than football.  I also have a son that doesn't play any sports and a daughter that likes to bungee jump and go rock climbing.  All three of their decisions are fine with me and realistically they are old enough now that they don't have to ask my permission.

I like porn, doesn't mean I want my daughter doing it.

[BOTT]

*

[Lucky Colts Fan]

19 minutes ago, jvan1973 said:

What other sport takes 11 players being on the same page always.   Putting together and changing game plans on the fly?  Baseball is a great sport,  But offensively it's an individual sport.  Basketball also a great sport,   one great player can tip the tide however.

 

I don't know much about lacrosse so I can't really comment on that.

 

There is far more to enjoy in football outside of violence

 

6 minutes ago, Cynjin said:

 

Well, honestly it's just a matter of personal taste/opinion.  I did play other sports growing up, lacrosse & volleyball.  Neither was as "violent" as football and I enjoyed them for the same reasons as I did football.  It really has nothing to do with the violence of football.

 

You're right.  Football is the greatest team sport/team-building sport in the world.  (Although, Lucks' previous book of the month for his book club: 'The Boys in the Boat' would say that rowing holds that honor)

 

I wasn't trying to boil football down to just violence, but I guess I did... 

 

I'm just torn because, even though I despise it, a part of me enjoys the violence.  I'm human.  A big hit in football is titillating.  It's like a car-crash you can't look away from.  I'm going to rubber-neck when I drive by a grisly car-crash, just like every other slack-jawed yokel...  I'm not ashamed to admit that, but I am ashamed that it's true...  (Ugh, is there a therapist in the house?)

 

  

[Lucky Colts Fan]

9 minutes ago, BOTT said:

I like porn, doesn't mean I want my daughter doing it.

 

I love you BOTT.  You're like my inner monologue come to life.

 

Don't take that the wrong way.

 

[Cynjin]

5 hours ago, jvan1973 said:

  I have coached little league football for three years.  We have to be recertified every year.   League personnel are always around watching practice and games

 

Good for you jvan, i couldn't do it.  I have been asked to coach teams, but honestly I don't want to deal with some of the parents.  Some can be way over the top.

[Cynjin]

23 minutes ago, BOTT said:

I like porn, doesn't mean I want my daughter doing it.

 

Sounds like a you issue.

[southwest1]

15 hours ago, crazycolt1 said:

Due to circumstances I adopted my two youngest grandsons.

The older one was very good at playing football and was on the all star team and traveled with the traveling all stars pop warner. He then become a starter for his local Jr. High school and on to become a varsity starter for high school. He shined as a linebacker and had even been visited by a few colleges.

Then it happened. The first concussion took his 2nd half of his junior season away.

The 2nd concussion happened his 3 rd game back as a senior. Long story short he suffered such a serious concussion it will effect him the rest of his life. He cant even hold a screwdriver steady enough to tighten a screw. He lost over 40% of his strength on his right side.

I backed him and supported him threw out all his passion of wanting to play and attended every game I could physically go to.

With hindsight I regret doing my best to keep him away from football. It not only ruined his life and effected his ability to work and maintain a lot of things we all take for granted in life.

So to answer the OPs question-- A thousand no's.

 

Sorry to hear what happened to your oldest adopted grandson CC1. I wouldn't wish that level of concussion trauma on anybody. It's not my place to condemn any parents decision to let them play football or not. Car crashes can happen behind the wheel on any road or freeway too, but that wouldn't stop parents from teaching their kids how to drive a vehicle composed on metal, plastic, glass, & rubber either. 

 

Look, tragedy can happen to anybody at any moment doing a variety of different things. I get where you're coming from--A quality of life vantage point. Both before & after the number of concussions grew. I also don't have any kids biologically speaking so I can't really say with authority my POV from a fatherly perspective. Sure, I have cousins & nephews of course. I would just tell them can you handle getting slammed or contacted every play? If it's not your cup of tea try something else. My nephew Matthew wrestles & my other nephew played football for a while, but he gave it up when he didn't get much playing time. 

 

Again, my deepest sympathies for your grandson. I will say this though. I always chuckle when people create the misguided impression that football is the only sport where team bonding is built though. It's not. Most people go out for football & they either stick with it or they say forget this & move on. I'm fine either way. 

[southwest1]

3 hours ago, BOTT said:

I like porn, doesn't mean I want my daughter doing it.

STDs & brain trauma are not the same thing. I get what you're driving at, but collisions & activities on an adult  set are 2 drastically different universes. That's a leap that even Evel Knievel couldn't make on his best day. 

 

You did demonstrate though why it is mandatory to read every reply in a thread though BOTT. You deserve credit for having a way with words though. I'll give you that. 

 

Okay technically, both collisions & unprotected whoopie can kill a person sure, but both football & films come with 'protective gear' correct? 

[southwest1]

4 hours ago, bababooey said:

I think the good outweigh the bad. Making friends, learning life lessons, working together to accomplish a common goal, making memories, pushing yourself to be better was definitely all worth it. I've gotten bloody and beat up on the field but I'd do it again in a heartbeat knowing the good that came with it at the time, as well as the good that came from it.

 

One of the days I look forward to most every year is that Saturday after Thanksgiving when my old teammates and alumni from older and younger classes get together for our annual touch football game for a couple hours followed by going to the local sports bar and watching some college football over some pitchers. Our dads and our spouses come to watch, and now we got guys' kids playing catch on the sideline while we play our game.

You're a good dude Bababooey & I respect you a lot. I like how your writing just explains why you do what you do & you just wanna have a good time with your family & friends. 

 

I understand both sides of this debate coin. Whatever trips your trigger man is fine by me. 

[AZColt11]

22 hours ago, Lucky Colts Fan said:

 

No offense to your son/daughter, but that's not a sport, or even a past-time.  And it's not a team-building activity.  That's adolescent adrenaline at its fullest.

 

That's a death-wish.  I have lost two friends to motor-bike/motorcycle accidents.  One at the ripe age of 18.  Helmets are not a catch-all preventative measure.

 

Please lecture them, at length, about the dangers of their life choices.  All of them, not just the physical ones like motor-biking or football.

 

(Sorry, I said this was a touchy subject)  

Yeah no problem, no offense taken.  I just think we maybe worry too much about some things and not enough about others.  I played football, probably got my bell rung a time or two, no worse for the wear today.  Of course I wasn't a high-level athlete like the Colts players.  But there are plenty of other ways to get hurt in this world other than football.  Do we stop letting them drive cars?  How about flying?  You can go down the rabbit hole with this real quick.  I have always thought life was meant to be LIVED.  Do what you want, within reason (I wouldn't recommend sky diving but whatever), and whatever happens is meant to be.

 

But your question was about kids, and although they can still get hurt, it's more likely to be at the college or pro level IMHO.  I would let them play IF THEY WANTED TO through high-school at least.  I certainly wouldn't push it on them.  But I WOULD try to steer them away from it and toward things like golf or tennis instead.  I played a little of both myself so that would be just for my own selfish interest.  LOL

 

But I can understand why some would not let their kids play and certainly wouldn't chastise anybody for their decision.

[ReMeDy]

lol if I told my parents I wanted to play football, they would have been ecstatic! I opted for video games instead. Didn't regret it one bit!

[AZColt11]

1 minute ago, ReMeDy said:

lol if I told my parents I wanted to play football, they would have been ecstatic! I opted for video games instead. Didn't regret it one bit!

Hey now some colleges are starting to offer scholarships to do that stuff.  And they said video games would never lead to anything. 

[ReMeDy]

1 minute ago, AZColt11 said:

Hey now some colleges are starting to offer scholarships to do that stuff.  And they said video games would never lead to anything. 

 

Unfortunately, they passed me. I'm age 31, and yes, I play League of Legends, so I missed out big time.

[AZColt11]

1 minute ago, ReMeDy said:

 

Unfortunately, they passed me. I'm age 31, and yes, I play League of Legends, so I missed out big time.

Sorry to hear.  Maybe your kids have a shot?

[crazycolt1]

1 hour ago, ReMeDy said:

lol if I told my parents I wanted to play football, they would have been ecstatic! I opted for video games instead. Didn't regret it one bit!

There are a lot of military people who started out being serious gamers. With the technologies the military use it is no joke that those who are good at that type of stuff are wanted.

I have a long time friend who's son started out flying military drones and now that he is a civilian he has a job making so much money it's ridiculous. He has his pilot license and works as a trainer in the drone field for a private company.

[crazycolt1]

2 hours ago, southwest1 said:

Sorry to hear what happened to your oldest adopted grandson CC1. I wouldn't wish that level of concussion trauma on anybody. It's not my place to condemn any parents decision to let them play football or not. Car crashes can happen behind the wheel on any road or freeway too, but that wouldn't stop parents from teaching their kids how to drive a vehicle composed on metal, plastic, glass, & rubber either. 

 

Look, tragedy can happen to anybody at any moment doing a variety of different things. I get where you're coming from--A quality of life vantage point. Both before & after the number of concussions grew. I also don't have any kids biologically speaking so I can't really say with authority my POV from a fatherly perspective. Sure, I have cousins & nephews of course. I would just tell them can you handle getting slammed or contacted every play? If it's not your cup of tea try something else. My nephew Matthew wrestles & my other nephew played football for a while, but he gave it up when he didn't get much playing time. 

 

Again, my deepest sympathies for your grandson. I will say this though. I always chuckle when people create the misguided impression that football is the only sport where team bonding is built though. It's not. Most people go out for football & they either stick with it or they say forget this & move on. I'm fine either way. 

Thanks for the kind words SW but we all must play the cards dealt to us.

The only thing I can say is for those who think contact sports is a low risk thing it is far from that.

I have been to many brain trauma specialist over the last 4 years and believe me brain trauma injuries are not as uncommon as some think.

The one thing for parents and or grand parents have to avoid is pushing your loved ones into something that is dangerous because it's something they themselves wanted in their past and didn't succeed.

I was a long time little league coach and I witnessed so many kids being used in that manner. It got to the point I just wished the parents would just stay home. The kids were great but some of the parents were totally out of control and out of hand.

[King Colt]

A girl 16 years old recently died from choking to death during a pancake eating contest so all namby pambys get on your roller skates and go  picket Aunt Jemima. (Be sure to wear you helmet, elbow and knee pads while on your skates so you don't get a boo-boo.)

[King Colt]

On ‎5‎/‎24‎/‎2017 at 9:50 AM, crazycolt1 said:

Suck it up??  I now have a grandson who is unable to even work to support himself the rest of his life over team sport. You don't have the right to tell me to suck it up, just who do you think you are?

 .......and the blame lies where?

[gspdx]

My brother and I both played football and were pretty good. 

 

I would have let my son play but he wasn't interested.  He just isn't very athletic.  But that was quite a few years ago.  With what I know now had he wanted to play football I would have tried to steer him towards something else.  Some other team sport.  

 

If he really wanted to play I would still probably let him.

 

And after high school sports I have been injured playing basketball (broken ankle), volleyball (broken foot), racquetball (torn meniscus), downhill skiing (separated shoulder).  So injuries can happen.

[GoPats]

 

My son is 4, going on 5. If he wants to play, I'll let him play. I'm neurotic as a dad but I know intellectually that I can't cover my kids in bubble wrap and protect them forever. 

 

I respect diverging opinions on the topic, though. I've chosen to live my life taking a few more risks than most, and have no regrets about it. 

 

 

[crazycolt1]

4 hours ago, King Colt said:

 .......and the blame lies where?

Don't bother.

[BR-549]

17 hours ago, ReMeDy said:

lol if I told my parents I wanted to play football, they would have been ecstatic! I opted for video games instead. Didn't regret it one bit!

Just goes to show that video games can be a good ReMeDy for those who decide not to play football....... 

[SaturdayAllDay]

Well the chances of me having kids are relatively low, but if I do have children and they want to play, then I would let them. No question. I realize that there is a risk of injury. I played for years, and 10 years after walking away from the sport due to injury, I still walk with a bit of a limp. That being said, I have been the worst case scenario in my family for 3 generations. My grandfather and his 5 brothers played, my dad and his 4 brothers played, me and my 2 brothers played, and 9 of my cousins did as well.

 

Sure there is a chance at injury (I know all too well), but the memories I have from playing, and the friends I made far outweigh the pain. If my theoretical child wants to take that risk, then I would let him. Better that than hockey, which not only has similar injury risks, but has the added "fun" of 6am practices that I would have to take them to . 

[jvan1973]

The risk of sports is way overblown now days.   Life is a risk.  The most dangerous thing you can do with your kids is drive with them in your car.  I bet everyone here does that

[crazycolt1]

31 minutes ago, jvan1973 said:

The risk of sports is way overblown now days.   Life is a risk.  The most dangerous thing you can do with your kids is drive with them in your car.  I bet everyone here does that

According to Brain Injury Resource Center there are an average of over 300,000 brain injuries happen every year in the US in sports. Also Second Impact Syndrome is also on the rise.

[Chrisaaron1023]

I would let my son play.. nobody under college level is going to be fast enough nor strong enough to destruct him with repeated head collisions.

[LJpalmbeacher2]

I think it depends on the kid.

If he's athletic enough to play Baseball or Basketball then No.

If he's not so athletic then Yes.

[Surge89]

If my son wanted to play then yes I would support him fully.  I would advise him of the concerns and issues related continually until he was in high school where he can actually make his own decision.  I would not encourage it though.  Sadly more than 70 percent of the young men who play football is largely due to the idolization of the game and the "manhood status" it's given.  

 

As far as risk is concerned every sport and activity has risks.  Hell swapping jobs or venturing to be an entrepreneur while you have a family at home is one of the biggest risks in our society that can have long term irreversible consequences.  You can't teach children to love in fear of those risks. But to be knowledgeable of them.  

 

I have daughters.  They both enjoy and love soccer but alas my cousin who played soccer until college can't even walk properly due to a knee dislocation that just sort of just unluckily happened...  nothing can save you from these things.  Its called life.

[southwest1]

22 hours ago, crazycolt1 said:

Thanks for the kind words SW but we all must play the cards dealt to us.

The only thing I can say is for those who think contact sports is a low risk thing it is far from that.

I have been to many brain trauma specialist over the last 4 years and believe me brain trauma injuries are not as uncommon as some think.

The one thing for parents and or grand parents have to avoid is pushing your loved ones into something that is dangerous because it's something they themselves wanted in their past and didn't succeed.

I was a long time little league coach and I witnessed so many kids being used in that manner. It got to the point I just wished the parents would just stay home. The kids were great but some of the parents were totally out of control and out of hand.

Yes, I could certainly see how some parents live viciously through their kids. Some relatives do get a little overzealous sometimes. I've seen that myself. 

 

I think the hardest part for a parent or grandparent is believing that so & so's dreams are coming true, college offers are lining up, & their potential looks bright & lucrative only to see it all slip away with continued concussions, CTE, dementia, & their personality literally changes. Most of all, you worry about who will take care of the injured party once you're gone or can no longer do so yourself. That's the hardest part: Seeing the person you knew & loved literally disappear forever & never come back socially, physically, or psychologically. I know this dynamic very well. 

[jvan1973]

9 hours ago, crazycolt1 said:

According to Brain Injury Resource Center there are an average of over 300,000 brain injuries happen every year in the US in sports. Also Second Impact Syndrome is also on the rise.

300,000 a year among millions of kids playing sports.  It's a very very low number

[King Colt]

9 hours ago, crazycolt1 said:

According to Brain Injury Resource Center there are an average of over 300,000 brain injuries happen every year in the US in sports. Also Second Impact Syndrome is also on the rise.

"Play Ball"

[crazycolt1]

55 minutes ago, jvan1973 said:

300,000 a year among millions of kids playing sports.  It's a very very low number

Sorry, 300,000 families effected may seem like a low number to you but till you live it just ignore it.

[jvan1973]

6 minutes ago, crazycolt1 said:

Sorry, 300,000 families effected may seem like a low number to you but till you live it just ignore it.

Not every brain injury becomes life changing

[crazycolt1]

5 minutes ago, jvan1973 said:

Not every brain injury becomes life changing

Really?

Like I said, till you live it you have no clue.