Another high school football death

[berettafan]

Poor kid's brother says 'It just killed everything inside me'


Jesus those are powerful words. Sad.

[sammyg2]

If we are going to be concerned about how people die, let's keep it in perspective:

12 football players die per year on average in the world.

vs.

Every day, almost 30 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. This amounts to one death every 51 minutes.1 The annual cost of alcohol-related crashes totals more than $59 billion.

[berettafan]

which is apparently less than the profits earned by and taxes paid by the industry.


moving on past the price of tea in china I just thought the comment made by the brother was a beautiful sentiment.

[Arizona_928]

My junior year of high school. A running back got caught up on the line standing straight up. LB knocked him out cold. Game was out in the boonies, and a Heli landed on the field took the poor kid away. Kid made it, but was definitely a tense moment.

[Tobra]

It is simply beyond my comprehension to consider having to bury a teenaged child. That is why this stuff strikes people so hard. Flower of youth, struck down.

Think for a moment how it would affect you, if you lost a brother or child this way. If it fails to give you pause, no one could make you understand.

[onewhippedpuppy]

As the parent of a son who LOVES tackle football (and is pretty good at it), I can't even imagine the pain. But with that said, to sammy's point perspective is key. There is a risk associated with everything, including organized sports. But I think the life lessons learned from sports are more than worth the risk. If you want to be afraid as a parent, go look at the numbers associated with teens killed in car accidents. That is the #1 killer of teenagers by far, and exponentially more likely to impact your child than a football injury.

[ckelly78z]

In my Junior starting DE son's game last week, our quarterback went down hard on a keeper, and broke his femer and dislocated his hip.....waited 1/2 hour for ambulence to haul him away for surgury. Five plays later, a new kid (6'7" 325 lb Freshman) goes down face first, and stays there for 5 minutes not moving......we all wanted to cry. Both kids are OK now and back on the sidelines at the following game.

[Arizona_928]

For the parents with kids playing high school football, I would highly recommend buying your child a helmet. The Riddels that the school districts supply are beyond inferior. I have seen a kid with their whole forehead bruised and a concussion. One kid who would average 2-3 concussions a season switched to one of these his senior year, and did not have a concussion that season. I can guarantee it was not from lack of bone cracking hits either.

[cockerpunk]

last time folks kept dying in football they reinvented the game, and legalized the forward pass.

football as it stands right now, is doomed compared to soccer in the USA. sorry, but the writing is already on the wall.

[cockerpunk]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

As the parent of a son who LOVES tackle football (and is pretty good at it), I can't even imagine the pain. But with that said, to sammy's point perspective is key. There is a risk associated with everything, including organized sports. But I think the life lessons learned from sports are more than worth the risk. If you want to be afraid as a parent, go look at the numbers associated with teens killed in car accidents. That is the #1 killer of teenagers by far, and exponentially more likely to impact your child than a football injury.

one can play sports, and not have a fairly significant threat of brain injury/damage.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by cockerpunk

football as it stands right now, is doomed compared to soccer in the USA. sorry, but the writing is already on the wall.

That may be true. Good chance I'll be dead and gone by then so I don't care. But I love football.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Tobra

It is simply beyond my comprehension to consider having to bury a teenaged child. That is why this stuff strikes people so hard. Flower of youth, struck down.

This. My 7 year old grandson was taken by cancer. There is no explanation. No reason. He was not taking a chance, doing something a little risky that he loved. He was just enjoying second grade. It does strike hard.

[ckelly78z]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

That may be true. Good chance I'll be dead and gone by then so I don't care. But I love football.

I just can't stand to watch soccer on TV or live in person. Both kids did the youth soccer bit and it was good for what it was....a way to get the kids active, but I don't for a minute believe it will rival American rules football.

Not in my lifetime !

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by cockerpunk

football as it stands right now, is doomed compared to soccer in the USA. sorry, but the writing is already on the wall.

Here in SoCal the local H.S. Friday night game is still the biggest draw by a mile. College takes it several steps further. The only fans who attend school baseball/soccer events are the parents.

You cannot argue the growth of soccer in the U.S. but IMO it will take a generation or two of continued growth to even rival tackle football.

[cockerpunk]

Originally Posted by JavaBrewer

Here in SoCal the local H.S. Friday night game is still the biggest draw by a mile. College takes it several steps further. The only fans who attend school baseball/soccer events are the parents.

You cannot argue the growth of soccer in the U.S. but IMO it will take a generation or two of continued growth to even rival tackle football.

in the next 5 years football will make an official rules change to mitigate the head trauma issues. be that more and harsher penalties, or adding a new element to the game to reduce the requirement to hit in such a manner. they will have to do something, maybe better equipment (helmets padded on the outside too?)

watching the NFL's actions right now, it reminds me of the tobacco companies slowly having to admit that they have known for a long time that there product was not healthy.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by cockerpunk

last time folks kept dying in football they reinvented the game, and legalized the forward pass.

football as it stands right now, is doomed compared to soccer in the USA. sorry, but the writing is already on the wall.

I respectfully disagree... the soccer fans have been preaching to us in the U.S of A that it will overcome Merican football for decades... so far it hasn't happened.

I have no dog in this fight... not a huge football fan but the juggernaut that is the NFL but IMHO it will be hard to kill.

Just like NASCAR, love it or hate it both of them have a huge fan base and a huge amount of money gets spent on the merchandise alone.

Originally Posted by cockerpunk

watching the NFL's actions right now, it reminds me of the tobacco companies slowly having to admit that they have known for a long time that there product was not healthy.

Sooo... along those lines do you expect we will also see an end to professional boxing?

And lets not forget motorsports...

[VINMAN]

The #1 cause of teenage deaths that I deal with by far, is MVA's. Suicides are seconds. Sports related deaths are at the very bottom of the list.

The absolute worst thing that I've ever dealt with in my life, is when I have to speak with parents that have just lost a child. I consider myself a pretty hardened tough guy, but there are times I find it very tough to keep my composure. Two months ago , I had a 6y/o girl that was found dead in her sleep. The body and scene examination was hard enough as it was. During my interview with the parents, I had to excuse myself a number of times, to take a walk outside and attempt not to break down. I don't think I've ever had my heart torn out like I did with that case. I came very close to quitting that day.

[cockerpunk]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

I respectfully disagree... the soccer fans have been preaching to us in the U.S of A that it will overcome Merican football for decades... so far it hasn't happened.

I have no dog in this fight... not a huge football fan but the juggernaut that is the NFL but IMHO it will be hard to kill.

Just like NASCAR, love it or hate it both of them have a huge fan base and a huge amount of money gets spent on the merchandise alone.



Sooo... along those lines do you expect we will also see an end to professional boxing?

And lets not forget motorsports...

it already has happened. soccer is already garnering higher ratings than several other professional sports in the USA. womens world cup surpassed the NBA finals in ratings. men's world cup cup next time around will do it again. the USA is already overrun with soccer fans.

i do not expect to see an end to professional boxing for several reasons:

1: children largely do not box
2: because of this children do not die from boxing

amateur motor sports is already MUCH safer than football.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by cockerpunk

one can play sports, and not have a fairly significant threat of brain injury/damage.

Your posts read like someone who has no first hand experience with any of the topic at hand, instead regurgitating what you saw on a dramatic tv news broadcast. I have two sons, one who plays tackle football and one who likely will. So if you're going to tell me that I'm wrong, please bring an informed opinion. You have made a number of claims in this thread, you should consider backing them up.

[gacook]

Originally Posted by cockerpunk

it already has happened. soccer is already garnering higher ratings than several other professional sports in the USA. womens world cup surpassed the NBA finals in ratings. men's world cup cup next time around will do it again. the USA is already overrun with soccer fans.

i do not expect to see an end to professional boxing for several reasons:

1: children largely do not box
2: because of this children do not die from boxing

amateur motor sports is already MUCH safer than football.

26.5m people in the U.S. watched the World Cup. Not bad.

Conversely, 114.4m people watched the last Super Bowl. Soccer's not overtaking football anytime soon (or ever) in the U.S.

Come back to this thread in 20 years; betcha I'm right.