Demerits Of Professional Football Research Assignment (Essay Sample)

RENSON OMUMU
DEMERITS OF PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL
Football is the most prevalent sport in the United States and with annual revenues way above $8 billion, the National league is the country’s wealthiest professional sport organization. This paper will cover the dangers associated with this sport and if indeed it’s safe for players.
In any sport, injuries are a common phenomenon, but it is more frequent among football players. All professional football players face a 90% chance of permanent physical injury if they compete for three years, which may include brain damage. More than half of NFL players report suffering concussions on the field, with 25% reporting at least three. Multiple concussions have been linked to serious mental problems later in life. A shocking statistic reveals that former players are five times more likely than non-players to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia (Johnson, 2012).
Former players with multiple concussions suffer depression at three times the rate of retired players not reporting concussions. Former Philadelphia Eagle running back Andre Waters committed suicide at the age of 44. An examination revealed that Waters had the brain of an 80 year old suffering from Alzheimer’s disease (Johnson, 2012). Athletes have shown how easy it is to ignore long-term consequences when making choices. Most athletes are willing to sacrifice their futures for immediate success. Competitors in a number of sports most notably football, have been suspended for taking steroids and other illegal performance enhancing drugs. These substances have been linked to liver damage, heart diseases, high blood pressure just to mention a few.
Last but not least is how professional football players seem willing to sacrifice their health and longevity for temporary success. The number of players listed at over 300 pounds soared from 130 to 350 between 1996 and 2004, and 70% of this group was made of offensive linemen (Johnson, 2012). It is important to note that, the dangers of drastic weight gain are just as real as those linked to steroids. A study conducte...