One of my favorite authors, Malcolm Gladwell, has an interesting and controversial article in this weeks New Yorker. He writes about football and dogfighting in "Offensive Play". His comparison is sure to invoke anger in some, but his points are (as usual) well-reasoned and thoughtful. Even more thoughtful is the transcript of today's live chat on the subject.
I'm not sure what to do about the dangers of brain injury to football players, but I think that there needs to be some further discussion and eventual changes if the sport wants to continue. I'd welcome some form of touch football: in the same way that high-school girls basketball is more interesting than professional basketball; professional touch football should lead to a more pure version of the game, with teamwork and finesse supplanting brawn. Too often the playoffs are won by the team whose linemen have done the best job of hoarding painkillers throughout the regular season -- allowing them to do battle more effectively in the final games. In any case, football fans should read Malcolm's articles.
Football on Whidbey Island.
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