Today, an NFL representative said, supposedly for the first time, that there is an established link between playing football and CTE, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. I submit, though, that anyone who has had a serious brain trauma doesn't need anyone else's confirmation to know that it's bad for you. I submit that most people in contact sports such as boxing or football have always known the risk, and have chosen to ignore the potential impact of the sport on the body and the mind.
I have been the recipient of three "blackout" concussions in my life. Twice it was the result of head-to-head contact playing soccer. Once, I was hit by a thrown bat while playing baseball. After vomiting every 10 minutes for 5 hours, suffering from blurred tunnel vision, nausea, and a raging, pounding headache that made me wish for death, I can tell you directly, that anyone who has had this happen to them, and then claims "I didn't know" about the effects is a disingenuous liar. Simple, direct, and no doubt.
You play, and you do it at your own risk. You don't want to get hurt? Don't play. But don't blame others for what every athlete already knows. You play long enough, you'll suffer. Hopefully, the glory outweighs the damage. Shake it off. Run or walk it off. Get over it. Get tougher. You're weak. Suck it up. Each of us has heard that and come back for more. So I have little empathy for those who say they didn't know. It's not an excuse, and it's not believable.
