Obama against football

Ok, title is a little too extreme, but check out this article about President Obama’sopinion of his hypothetical sons and youth football.

 There are a few things that I want to address here:

1.   Football is dangerous.

Serious injuries are prevalent, and yes, something should be done about it.  That fact is inescapable, but look at the first thing I said, "Football is a dangerous sport."  This is a fact that every man, woman, and child that decides to play this game should fully understand BEFORE they ever strap on a helmet.  Make them sign a waiver, and move on.  In the youth football arena, preventing children from suffering serious injury is the responsibility of 2 parties: The Coaches and The Parents.   All youth football coaches and referees should be certified and held accountable for teaching children the proper way to play the game, and instructing them in best practices to avoid injury.  Parents should ensure that their child is well nourished and healthy enough to play such a rough game. Furthermore, both parties are also responsible for teaching these children that football hurts, it’s dangerous, it’s violent, and that by playing you concede to being a part of the pain and calamity.

 

2.   Football is only truly understood by the players.

If you’ve never played football (looking at you Mr. Obama), you can’t really grasp the benefits that youth football can have on young men.  Football is the ultimate team sport. You can’t win football championships by having 2 or 3 superstars, and a bunch of scrubs.  *side eye to the NBA* There is a great deal of character building, and critical thinking involved in the game of football.   Among other things, football teaches conflict resolution, discipline, and pattern recognition.  Also, the violent nature associated with the game, will give children a choice to make: “Do something that I enjoy, but could maim me, or sit out for fear of injury?”  It’s cost benefit analysis at 9 years old.  What greater teaching tool can one ask for?

 

3.   Y’all ain’t got nothing better to ask the President of the United States than his opinions about football’s safety? 

Now I’m all for asking the President atypical questions, but given the current political climate, and all of the problems in our nation, why are we wasting this man’s time asking him about youth football?  I can think of a whole lotta BS I would ask the Commander in Chief if I had the chance, but it damn sure wouldn’t be about football.  Even if I did, why is this news?  This is entertainment pure and simple.  The president shouldn’t be thrust into the spotlight as a means of entertaining Americans.  There are thousands of overpaid, idiot celebrities out there that serve that purpose.  If he’s gonna be on TV it needs to be about the business of the US. I don’t care about his children’s grades, what kind of dog he has, who he favors in the big game, or any of the other irrelevant topics he’s been expected to address.  Let that man be president, and go ask Will Smith about youth football.  At least he has real sons.

In the end, this is a matter that we can debate until we’re blue in the face.  Fact is, unless they outlaw the sport, or change the rules so drastically that it’s no longer football, people participating will get hurt.  If you are worried little Johnny won’t grow up to master the secrets of the Space Time Continuum because of a few hard tackles, then encourage him to take dance.  Then when he grows up to be an idiot while the star quarterback has a successful chain of car dealerships, you’ll have to live with that, not me.