C.T.E. Found in the Brains of 110/111 Deceased NFL Athletes [NY Times]

Article from the NY Times: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/07/25/sports/football/nfl-cte.html?emc=edit_nn_20170726&nl=morning-briefing&nlid=77398299&te=1&_r=0

I think football is one of the last incarnations of the GrecoRoman spectacle. Should be noted - these were not random tests, but tests of deceased players (CTE cannot be diagnosed while alive). 110/111 of PROFESSIONAL "brains" had CTE.

I am presenting a different perspective (Social Justice Warriors I am not advocating the current state of football)

That being said, football has offered a way out of poverty and a seemingly hopeless outlook for a large amount of youth who excelled physically and in sport. I think that, unless action is taken from Congress or some other governing body, football will continue to attract athletes. This is an assumption in part, but I think if you interviewed a lot of NFL athletes they would rather live life to the fullest for a short amount of time as opposed to longevity. I think a similar scenario exists with pervasive use of steroids in multiple sports. A lot of NFL players even cite that they would probably have turned to gangs, and potentially dying even younger than if they developed and decayed from said disease.

For those athletes who were unable to pick a different sport, say basketball or baseball, (I argue most professional athletes probably have the inherent ability to turn pro at at least another sport if they played it for a long time) perhaps securing the financial independence of your family for generations to come, if spent wisely, is worth the risk. But then does the emotional toll on the family exceed the financial bounty enjoyed by many, especially if the athlete ends up killing a loved one in a murder/suicide? These are counter points to the argument, and I think are not dismiss-able.

In the end, there is a major problem with football that needs to be addressed. However, for the athlete, it may not be as easy of a choice to walk away as one might be able to see, from a distance.

Thoughts?

-Evan