Well, some of you called it. Though my feelings about the chronic traumatic encephalopathy epidemic remain strong, I will not be altogether saying goodbye to football this fall.
For one thing, I’m physically going to football games for at least four more years. You see, it seems they play football before and after my sons perform with the Pride of East Limestone Marching Band. I can’t see myself only taking my seat during halftime. I watched the game as a band kid, and I’m going to watch the game as a band parent.
For another, all of my financial support for college and professional football is incremental and indirect—cable and Internet charges, for example. I didn’t purchase gear or admission last year. I have no plans to this year. So if someone starts throwing the term “blood money” around or something, I’m reasonably and demonstrably protected from it.
(And, despite the impressive and incalculable influence BoWilliams.com wields across the country and around the world, my disapproval of the current state of things hasn’t had any discernible financial effect on the ongoing proceedings of the sport.)
So I can’t see that there’s much to accomplish just declaring myself a non-fan. I was a more subdued fan last year, and I see that continuing. I paid much more attention to CTE news last year, and I see that continuing.
And maybe that’s my ultimate compensation here—to remain a good source of CTE information, commentary on the issues, and so forth. If you know it’s a topic of discussion but you aren’t sure about much else, this study was my tipping point.
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