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” To Knee or not to Knee “

With fewer then 2% of all college football players making it to the NFL , Colin Kaepernick was drafted 36th overall to the San Francisco 49ers on April 29th of 2011. Stellar play for Kaepernick in the University of Reno Nevada, where he set several of the schools football records, is what eventually led to his succession on making it in the big leagues. Within his 1st two years in the pros he already brought the 49ers to the SuperBowl becoming the youngest quarterback ever to do so. (Collective info., ” Pro Football Reference “, 2018 )

With the world in the palm of his hands and with a large enough of a platform to get his views expressed. Kaepernick would eventually make sure he used this to stand up and voice his opinion on injustices within our police system specifically police brutality. It started when Kaepernick decided to sit down during the national anthem. Instantly causing an uproar around the nation, because americans felt like he was disrespecting the U.S flag, and totally ignoring his reasoning for doing so.

Untill the day Nate Boyer a retired army veteran wrote Kaepernick a letter which Kaepernick actually read and set up a meeting to talk in person and see each others view on the situation. And in that meeting is where the ” taking a knee ” idea was born 💡, and was a recommendation giving to Kaepernick by the army vet Nate Boyer. Boyer stated ” soldiers use the stance of taking a knee to show respect and/or pray for fallen soldier’s” so he told Kapernick kneeling would be a good way to protest while still showing respect to the flag. ( Brinston, Will. ” Real Sports ” . 2017 )

Like a wildfire running rampant through the dried out California forests, players, coaches and soon whole entire teams would start to knee during the National Anthem. With mixed emotions ranging from agreeing with the kneel, to absolute hating it so bad fans started to boycott watching the NFL in general. With some NFL owners even going as far as to give a hefty fine to the players who decided to kneel, or just in fact kick them off the team.

Having such an immense impact on the pulic Kaepernick would find himself now backballed from the league. Not only being born bi-racial in still a largely racist world, and being adopted by white parents out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Kaepernick had his fair share of facing adversity. Only to now find himself using the biggest platform he had to express his concerns on police brutality. I know a lot of people say keep politics out of sports and just do your job, but as a human being its also your job to distinguish right from wrong and label them as so.

Sacrificing his career and jeopardizing future employment opportunities did not stop Kaepernick from proceeding with his protest, in fact it only enlarged his movement. With Nike giving him a sponsorship deal and supporting his actions, along with other highly respected individuals such as Lebron James & Serena Williams. For the most part, it seems like only older white people are against the protest. Maybe because they are still stuck inside their early ancestors unfortunate racists thought process.

I never thought what Kaepernick was doing was wrong or put of place for one second. He is a celebrity, but even more he is a role model that younger generations look up to. So with him using one of the largest platforms of entertainment in the world to demonstrate his protest in a respectful manner, I am all for Colin Kapernick and his protest.

 

Brinston, Will. ” Real Sports ” . CbsNews., 2017

Collective info. ” Pro Football Reference” ., 2018

 

It starts as soon as you park your car. Cups full of beer smacking against one another by fueled up fans. People dressed fully in their teams gear. In uncomfortably cold weather there’s men with shirtless painted bodies looking like they could be their teams mascot. From families with kids, couples, and friends there to have a good time and watch their team play. As I move through the horde of tailgaters grilling food and drinking beers, shots and who knows what else, it is basically a party of people having fun before the game with pre-game rituals. A lot of the fans are only there to tailgate. Then after the chaos I have a half mile walk with official team gear vendors every few hundred feet untill you come up to the stadium.

Jumbo trons greet you, displaying highlights and on the field action under the bright stadium lights. Multiple concession stands with lines full of consumers trying to sober up or just grab a quick bite to eat, as well as buying a new jersey or souvenir of their team.
Screaming fans cheering as loud they can while making their way into the building and the noise they project grows more as they enter the security checkpoints leading to the stands. As soon as you enter fried doughs, pulled pork sandwiches and tacos, as well as a variety of other fried and greasy foods and beverages are sold at stands throught each floor inside the stadium.

In a place where as long as you’re rooting for the same team, strangers can become the best of friends as they celebrate each big play or touchdown scored. All races of people from white, black, tan, etc., celebrating with one another only caring about how their team performs. With the exception of some trash talking, die-hard fans instigating and agitating fans of the opposing team, all in the love and the tradition of the game. And a very few drunk and obnoxious slurs getting covered by ” im sorry he’s drunk ” from non intoxicated spouses saving their man from getting into a physical altercation.

On the field cheerleaders chant and dance the day away. The players are on the field warming up running pre-game drills, while others are dancing out of tunnel by the Patriots lighthouse on their way to the field. Coaches are huddled together discussing the game’s strategies. Five Super Bowl banners as well as a dozen AFC Championship banners are proudly displayed. Referee’s waiting around while on field maintenance makes sure the field is safe of obstructions. Waterboys filling gatorade bottles and coolers. Medical staff tapping hands and strapping knee braces on players in need of them. Everyone on the field getting done what needs to get done before the game begins.

The game starts with a coin toss to decide on who will receive the ball on the kickoff and who will recieve it to start the 2nd half of the game ( 3rd quarter ). With 11 players on offense and 11 on defense taking the field. The New England Patriots at home against the Green Bay Packers. The Patriots score 1st with a 8 yard touchdown rushing touchdown by their back uo running back James White. Packers immediately follow up on the next possesion with a field goal ( 3 points ) cutting the Pats lead 7-3. But the Patriots like their crowd would not take their foot off the pedal and every quarter they would outscore and out play Aaron Rodgers ( quarterback of the Green Bay Packers ) and the Packers leading to a victory by the score off 31-17 lead by Tom Brady, who threw for 294 yards and a touchdown.

Throughout the game individual vendors walked up and down each row offering beverages and refreshments at an expense much higher when compared to its market value. Single beers costing as much as a six pack bought at a typical liquor store. Slices of pizza sold for the price of a small pizza. Non stop consumers buying out every vendor that walks by. With this being my 2nd game I have attended, the culture and actions of the fans are practically indentical both times.

The Patriots win and the fans are joyous over the victory, with some celebrating with far to much alcohol as they stumble around slurring chants. As a fan of an opposing team and neither the Patriot’s or the Packer’s, it was more fun then my previous experience because I didn’t care who won the game and was just there to have a good time. Unlike the time I watched my team play the Patriots and having my nerves sputter the whole game knowing my team was most likely going to lose, which they did. Also the fans here in what I observed are a lot more friendly then Red Sox fans. For example, the last Red Sox game I went to I watched my team the White Sox beat the Red Sox. As i was leaving the game in full White Sox gear I had people squirt ketchup on my pants as I walked by to the point it almost started a brawl. When I seen the Titans play the Patriots, the Titans obtained an early lead and played a good game, but the whole time other Patriots fans was talking to me, trying to buy me drinks, telling me they respect my team and more. And I seen the same happening to Packers fans at the game as well. While both teams are from New England ( Red Sox, Patriots ) I have enjoyed going to Gillete stadium a lot from what I have experienced.

 

In Hannah’s ethnography the subculture she is talking about is Taylor Swift fans at a concert. She goes on to explain how they are dressed in bright flashy clothes to try to grasp Taylor Swift’s attention. She always goes on to explain how crowded the concert was from the security lines to the seats that can sit about 56,000 people filled with fans and vendors selling popcorn, beverages, merchandise, etc..

The main point I would get out of this is Taylor Swift has a huge following and attending one her concerts shows you the culture displayed with in the bright color costumes and fashion of her fans.

The events do happen in order from time of arrival to Gillete Stadium, checking in and going to security up untill finding their seat.

It starts as soon as you park your car. Full cups of beer smacking against one another by fueled up fans. People dressed up fully in their teams gear. Some people with body and face paint and no shirt in uncomfortably cold weather. From families with kids, couples, and friends there to have a good time and watch their team play. Then as you move through the horde of tailgaters grilling food and drinking beers, shots and who knows what else, you come up to the stadium.

Jumbo trons greet you, displaying highlights and on the field action under the bright stadium lights. Multiple concession stands with lines full of consumers trying to sober up or just grab a quick bite to eat, as well as buying a new jersey or souvenir of their team.
Screaming fans cheering as loud they can while making their way into the building and the noise they project grows more immensely as they enter the security checkpoints leading to the stands. As soon as you enter fried doughs, pulled pork sandwiches and tacos, as well as a variety of other fried and greasy foods and beverages are sold at stands throught each floor inside the stadium.

In a place where as long as you’re rooting for the same team, strangers can become the best of friends. All races of people celebrating with one another only caring about their teams performance. With the exception of some trash talking, die-hard fans instigating and agitating fans of the opposing team, all in the love and the tradition of the game. And a very few drunk and obnoxious slurs getting covered by ” im sorry he’s drunk ” from non intoxicated spouses saving their man from getting into a physical altercation.

On the field cheerleaders chant and dance the day away. The players are on the field warming up running pre-game drills. Coaches are huddled together discussing the game’s strategies. Referee’s waiting around while on field maintenance makes sure the field is safe of obstructions. Waterboys filling gatorade bottles and coolers. Medical staff tapping hands and strapping knee braces on players in need of them. Everyone on the field getting done what needs to get done before the game begins.

The game starts with a coin toss to decide on who will receive the ball on the kickoff and who will recieve it to start the 2nd half of the game ( 3rd quarter ). With 11 players on offense and 11 on defense taking the field. The New England Patriots at home against the Green Bay Packers. The Patriots score 1st with a 8 yard touchdown rushing touchdown by their back uo running back James White. Packers immediately follow up on the next possesion with a field goal ( 3 points ) cutting the Pats lead 7-3. But the Patriots like their crowd would not take their foot off the pedal and every quarter they would outscore and out play Aaron Rodgers ( quarterback of the Green Bay Packers ) and the Packers leading to a victory by the score off 31-17 lead by Tom Brady, who threw for 294 yards and a touchdown.

Throughout the game individual vendors walked up and down each row offering beverages and refreshments at an expense much higher then its market value. Single beers costing as much as a six pack bought at a typical liquor store. Slices of pizza sold for the price of a small pizza. Non stop consumers buying out every vendor that walks by. With this being my 2nd game i been to, the culture and actions of the fans are practically indentical both times.

 

 

 

 In a ” Lawyer’s Crusade Could Change Football Forever ” , Michael Sokolove talks about chronic traumatic encephalopathy, also known as C.T.E., and how Dr. Omalu and a lawyer by the name of Luckasevic, was confident that  football was to blame for damage of the brain that was irreversible, after he saw Dr.Omalu’s work and findings.

 

Dr.Omalu conducted an autopsy on former Pittsburg Steelers player Mike Webster who was just 50 years old but suffering from dementia and was homeless at the time of his death. Mike Webster’s brain was examined and that’s where Omalu made his 1st discovery of C.T.E which is known in the boxing world as “ punch drunk ” syndrome.This would be the evidence needed to conduct more research and have a claim against the N.F.L. To start building his case against the N.F.L, Omalu teamed up with Luckasevic, a lawyer who up untill Omalu showed up had not had one landmark case, only accidents and minor slip and fall cases.  Luckasevic also meet up with retired N.F.L players to study their behavior and living conditions. Upon his discovery, Luckasevic noticed many of the players suffered from chronic headaches, depression, memory loss and sleeplessness. As well as he noticed most of them was on disability and some couldn’t even remember their own name showing Alzheimer’s type conditions.  For example, Luckasevic said, “They have to have your cellphone number. They’ll keep calling and calling and calling until they get you, and you’ll have a conversation, and then they’ll call you back an hour later and ask the same questions and have the same conversation. Its really horrific ”.

 

In 2011 Luckasevic was able to file a lawsuit against the N.F.L on behalf of 75 retired players thanks to Dr.Omalu’s findings. Soon enough dozens of lawyers from around the nation gathered together with Luckasevic and their clients. With retired and current players by his side to challenge the N.F.L, Luckasevic proceeded with the biggest case himself and the N.F.L has yet to partake in. In response to his findings, Omalu was attacked by the N.F.L. Doctors that work for the N.F.L asked that Omalu’s findings on his neurosurgery report to be dismissed and said it was “preposterous” and a “misinterpretation of the facts.” ( Sokolove, Michael. 2014 )

  After winning the case in September of 2011, the N.F.L made 28 percent of retired N.F.L players eligible for compensation for their injuries and damages. In a time of uncertainty and controversy within the individual players life and the N.F.L, this was a step in the right direction for the unknown damages that occured during their playing years in the N.F.L. Luckasevic received autographed photos and letters from the retired players thanking him for his services. The players and fans alike were both gracious and thankful for the results Luckasevic provided along with Dr.Omalu. Also Luckasevic along with Omalu concluded that football being a head to head contact sport can be dangerous as early as pop warner football. Between 2010 and 2012 pop warner football seen a 10 percent decline on kids playing, due to their parents safety concerns over Omalu’s discoveries. ( Sokolove, Michael. 2014 )

 

With a lot of players showing aggresion off the field from Adrian Peterson whipping his son with a switch, to Ray Rice assaulting his girlfriend in an elevator, are all warning signs of C.T.E, Dr.Omalu and Luckasevic concluded. Junior Seau also a former linebacker in the N.F.L killed himself due to C.T.E damages causing a mental breakdown. C.T.E is also one of the factors to be blamed for the mental breakdown and committing suicide of Aaron Hernandez while he was in prison awaiting his sentencing for a murder trial. But that wouldn’t take place untill after C.T.E become a popular topic and after the lawsuit trial had finished.

 

    What was once an inside secret amonst the people who run the N.F.L, was now out in the open and affecting the views of the N.F.L and how they care for and treat their retired players.

 

    In response I agree with Attorney Luckasevic pushing the issue after the C.T.E findings discovered by Dr.Omalu. The injuries the players sustained throughout their years active in football and the effect that the C.T.E played was too large for people to not know and/or ignore what dangers could lie ahead in playing the physical sport of football. For example, M.D Jesse Mez also discovered C.T.E in 99% of retired N.F.L players brains that were donated to science after they died. As well as 87% of C.T.E signs in all the brains that was donated of football players from a high school level and up to the professional level. Results from study out of Boston University showed; “  C.T.E in 3 of 14 players (21%) whose highest level of play was at the high school level, 48 of 53 players (91%) who played at the college level, 9 of 14 players (64%) who played at the semiprofessional level, seven of eight players (88%) who played in the Canadian Football League, and 110 of 111 players (99%) who played in the NFL” ( Remaly, 2017, Study Details CTE in Football Players ). With all the evidence indisputably out in the public, it would be preposterous to disagree with the stance Luckasevic and Dr.Omalu took to inform the dangers of American football and the services they provided for the voiceless, deceased and retired football players. Also as much as i feel sorry for all those that has been affected by C.T.E, I still will watch football because I love the sport and the players are now aware of the injuries that could occur, just as a boxer or mma fighter would. ( Remaly, Jake. 2017 )

 

 

 

 

 

Sokolove,Michael., “How One Lawyer’s Crusade Could Change Football Forever”. New York Times Magazine, 2014.

Remaly, Jake. “Study Details CTE in Football Players.” Neuorology Reviews, 2017.

In ” How One Lawyer’s Crusade Could Change Football Forever ” , Michael Sokolove talks about chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or C.T.E., and how Dr. Omalu and a lawyer by the name of Luckasevic was confident that ” football caused irreversible brain damage” after seeing Dr.Omalu’s work. Dr.Omalu conducted an autopsy on former Pittsburg Steelers player Mike Webster who was just 50 years old but suffering from dementia and was homeless at the time of his death. Mike Webster’s brain was examined and that’s where Omalu made his 1st discovery of C.T.E which is known in the boxing world as ” punch drunk ” syndrome.

In response to his findings, Omalu was attacked by the N.F.L. Doctors that work for the N.F.L asked that Omalu’s findings on his neurosurgery report to be dismissed and said it was “preposterous” and a “misinterpretation of the facts.”

Omalu teamed up with Luckasevic, a lawyer who up untill Omalu showed up had not had one landmark case, only accident and minor slip and fall cases.

To start building his case against the N.F.L, Omalu teamed up with Luckasevic, a lawyer who up untill Omalu showed up had not had one landmark case, only accidents and minor slip and fall cases.  Luckasevic also meet up with retired N.F.L players to study their behavior and living conditions. Upon his discovery, Luckasevic noticed many on the players suffered from chronic headaches, depression, memory loss and sleeplessness. As well as he noticed most of them was on disability and some couldn’t even remember their own name showing Alzheimer’s type conditions.  For example, Luckasevic said, “They have to have your cellphone number. They’ll keep calling and calling and calling until they get you, and you’ll have a conversation, and then they’ll call you back an hour later and ask the same questions and have the same conversation. It’s really horrific.” Similar conditions are the same for boxers and in the boxing world they call it ” punch drunk syndrome ” and Dr.Omalu noticed the similarites between the two.

In 2011 Luckasevic was able to file a lawsuit against the N.F.L on behalf of 75 retired players thanks to Dr.Omalu’s findings. Soon enough dozens of lawyers from around the nation gathered together with Luckasevic and their clients. With retired and current players by his side to challenge the N.F.L Luckasevic proceeded with the biggest case the N.F.L has yet to partake in.

After winning the case in September of 2011, the N.F.L made 28 percent of retired N.F.L players eligible for compensation for their injuries and damages. Luckasevic recieved autographed photos and letters from the retired players thanking him for his services. The players and fans alike were both gracious and thankful for the way Lukesevic handle the situation and the results he provided along with Dr.Omalu.

With a lot of players showing aggresion off the field from Adrian Peterson whipping his son with a switch to Ray Rice assaulting his girlfriend in an elevator are all warning signs of C.T.E Dr.Omalu and Luckasevic concluded. Junior Seau also a former linebacker in the N.F.L killed himself due to C.T.E damages causing a mental breakdown. C.T.E is also to be blamed for Aaron Hernandez losing his marbles and comminting suicide in prison awaiting his sentencing for a murder trial. But that wouldn’t take place for untill after C.T.E become a popular topic.

Luckasevic along with Omalu concluded that football being a head to head contact sport can be dangerous as early as Pop Warner football. Between 2010 and 2012 Pop Warner seen a 10 percent decline on kids playing due to their parents safety concerns over Omalus discoveries.

What was once an inside secret amonst the people who run the N.F.L, was now out in the open and affecting the views of the N.F.L and how they care for and treat their retired players.

 

Source : https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/09/magazine/how-one-lawyers-crusade-could-change-football-forever.html?ref=magazine

 

In ” Forget Trophies, Let Kids Know It’s O.K to Lose ” Ashley Merryman explains how giving kids trophies when they’re on the losing team can send a destructive message to the kids confindence overall. She goes on to explain kids learn how to get better through mistakes. For example she says ” Its through failure and mistakes that we learn the most “, and just giving out participation trophies shouldn’t happen. She also advises that teams should spend money on developing its young players rather then wasting it on participation trophies and I totally agree. As well as conducting experiments to see the best way to help children develop their abilities. Also as kids accomplish goals set in front of them their confidence rises higher rather than getting handed a trophy for participating.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2016/10/06/should-every-young-athlete-get-a-trophy/forget-trophies-let-kids-know-its-ok-to-lose

      Marcus Koch in ” Do You Like Football? Then Watch What Really Happen” , goes on to talk about the dangers football players face on the field. How gruesome and ultimately fatal their injuries are and could be over time. He goes on to suggest that the N.F.L should design equipment to broadcast what exactly happens in the moment of injury. He gives ideas on ooze leaking out of players helmets when they suffer a hit to the head. Or designing a suit that fans could wear that lets them feel the impact of a hit from a 350 lb. defensive lineman. He points out that fans of football have a lust for violent and brutal sports and the players are the ones that suffer the consequences at the expense of the viewers entertainment. With all the data from CTE scans showing the damage the players receive over the years, I agree with Marcus Koch on how the fans view might change on watching football if they experienced the physical contact the players do.

Source : https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2016/02/05/is-it-wrong-to-watch-football/do-you-like-to-watch-football-then-watch-what-really-happens

In ” School should be about learning, not sports ” Amanda Ripley, speaks on how sports in school takes focus away from education. She goes on to say that by playing a sport in high school, it makes kids feel like the only have to do good and focus on the sport their playing, rather than studying for either math or science work. She also goes on to say that kids in America gravitate more to sports in school then foreign students. She conducted a survey with foreign exchange students, 9 out of 10 kids in america wanted to play sports compared to the foreign exchange students and their peers at home. Throughout the whole article she basically reticules sports in the school system and how they do more damage then good. I don’t agree with her at all because I’ve read stories and witnessed coaches of high school and college levels make sure that their players on team performed well academically. As well as students that receive academic scholarships and go on to excell in sports and obtain a college degree. I would give this article a thumbs down for certain based on her biased views.

 

Article link : https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2014/10/21/taking-sports-out-of-school-2/school-should-be-about-learning-not-sports