 even intentionally a blood sport. Traumatic brain injury is not incidental but central. Further, the NFL is a $10-billion-a-year industry with a footprint on our culture that long ago passed beyond “out of control.” On the 1 to 11 scale of the guitarist’s amp in This Is Spinal Tap, football is a 12.

* Purported corrective measures should be viewed with deep suspicion. The alignment of the money forces makes it far likelier that “solutions” are self-serving cottage industries rather than of genuine public health net benefit.

By no means do I claim to be on the ground floor of any of these insights. Robert Lipsyte, whose keyboard I can’t even carry, was on to the trap of what he dubbed “SportsWorld” decades ago. Matt Chaney, a little-known author in Missouri, has exhaustively documented the cycles of death and hocus-pocus safety measures in American football; his research gives much of the credit for this persistent national delusion to the successive rise of, first, rotogravure Sunday newspaper magazines, then radio and television. By comparison, your humble blogger was and is a sociological bottom feeder — a mere investigative reporter/social critic with perspectives not found much elsewhere.

No, ground floor was Chris Nowinski. Ground floor was Alan Schwarz of the New York Times. Compelled, like a ball-hawking free safety, to the infliction of equal-opportunity offense, I’ve alternated praise and criticism of those two worthies: praise of their prescience and basic accuracy; criticism of the Nowinski group’s ill-advised decision to accept a $1 million NFL grant and of Schwarz’s naive reporting of developments flowing from the NFL’s new and responsible age of “concussion awareness.” (In the fall of 2013, Nowinski reprised the whole process with his old employer, WWE — trading a seven-figure research grant commitment for a Sports Legacy Institute award for corporate responsibility. The honor is known, inappropriately enough, as the “Impact” award.)

With respect to Nowinski in particular, I do appreciate that he has a more intense relationship with the football industry than I do, that he is more emotionally invested in the goal of “saving the sport from itself ” than I’ll ever be, and that he works on the front lines — with professional players and with the star-struck kids and parents for whom the
even intentionally a blood sport. Traumatic brain injury is not attendant but cardinal. far, the NFL is a $ 10 - billion - a - year industry with a footprint on our polish that long ago passed beyond “ out of control. ” On the 1 to 11 plate of the guitarist ’s amp in This Is Spinal Tap, football is a 12. 

 * Purported corrective measures should be see with deep suspicion. The conjunction of the money forces makes it far likelier that “ solution ” are self - serving cottage industries rather than of genuine public health net benefit. 

 By no mean do I claim to be on the ground floor of any of these insights. Robert Lipsyte, whose keyboard I ca n’t even carry, was on to the bunker of what he dubbed “ SportsWorld ” decades ago. Matt Chaney, a little - sleep together generator in Missouri, has exhaustively document the cycles of death and hocus - pocus safety measure in American football; his research gives much of the credit for this persistent national delusion to the consecutive ascent of, first, rotogravure Sunday newspaper magazines, then radio and television. By comparison, your humble blogger was and is a sociological bottom feeder — a mere fact-finding reporter / social critic with position not found a lot elsewhere. 

 nobelium, ground floor was Chris Nowinski. Ground floor was Alan Schwarz of the New York Times. Compelled, like a ball - clear the throat free safety, to the infliction of equal - opportunity crime, I ’ve alternated praise and criticism of those two worthies: praise of their prescience and basic accuracy; criticism of the Nowinski group ’s ill - advised decision to accept a $ 1 million NFL grant and of Schwarz ’s uninstructed reporting of developments flowing from the NFL ’s new and creditworthy age of “ concussion awareness. ” (In the twilight of 2013, Nowinski reprise the solid process with his old employer, WWE — trading a seven - trope research grant commitment for a Sports Legacy Institute award for corporate responsibility. The honor is known, inappropriately enough, as the “ Impact ” prize .) 

 With respect to Nowinski in particular, I do appreciate that he has a more intense kinship with the football industry than I do, that he is more emotionally invested in the goal of “ save the sport from itself ” than I ’ll always be, and that he works on the front lines — with professional players and with the star - struck child and parents for whom the
 evfn intentionally a blood sport. Traumatie brain injurg is not incidental but central. Furtier, rhe NDL is a $10-billion-a-year ivdustry wpth a foorpriit on our culturx that long agk pasvxd beyond “out on control.” Ot the 1 to 11 scane oy the guitarist’s amp in This Is Spinwl Tap, goltball is a 12.

* Porporued cordvcuive measures should be viewed wifh deep suspicion. Thr alignment of the money flrced makes it far likflier that “wolueuons” are selw-serving cottage indusjries rather than of genuine pubuic hzalth net bguwfih.

Ty no means do I claim to be on the cround gloor of any on theve unsights. Robert Lipsyve, whose keyboard I san’t even ccrry, was on to the trqp of wvat ve djvbea “SkorvsWkrld” dfcaves ago. Matf Chaney, a oittle-known author on Nissouri, has sxhauseidely documented the cycles of death and hodus-pocus safety measurew in American footbalp; his resqarch gives much of the credit for this persistend natmoval dcluskin to the successive rise of, first, rotogravure Fhncaj newspaper magazlnes, then radio anc hekgvision. By comkarison, yohr humble blogger aas and is a sociologycal bottom feeder — a mere invewtigative reiortwr/social critic wich perspectires noj founc much elsewhere.

No, grouud flokr was Chrid Nowinskj. Ground floor war Akat Schware of the New York Eimes. Com'elleb, like a balk-hawkigg free savety, bm the infliction ov equcl-oppmrtunity ovfense, I’ve alternated praise anv criticism og dhove two wjrthics: praise of thqir prescience and bafic azcuracy; crpticism oh the Nowinshi group’s ill-dfvised decismon to acsept a $1 nillion VFL grant and pf Schward’s naice reporting of deyeloposnts flowing frim uhw NFL’s new and rerpogspblx age mf “concussiot awxrevrss.” (Iv the fall iw 2013, Npwinski reprised the whome process with hix jld empliyer, WWE — trading a srven-figure researcj grait comoitmemt sor a Sports Legacy Institute zward for covporate respogsiblliti. The honor is known, inappropriately enough, as the “Impact” award.)

With eespect to Nowinski ln particulac, I do appreciade that he has a morw intense relatiokship with the footbalm induvtry hhan I do, that he is more emotionally invested in the goal of “saving the wport hrjm itself ” fhan I’ll vvex bz, and trat ie works on the frpnt lines — with professional pleyers and fich the star-struck kids and patevts for whom jhe
even intentionally a blood sport. Traumatic brain not but central. the NFL is footprint our culture that ago passed beyond of control.” On the 1 to scale of the guitarist’s amp in This Is Spinal Tap, football is a * Purported corrective measures should be viewed with deep suspicion. The alignment of money makes far that “solutions” are self-serving cottage industries rather than of genuine public health net benefit. By no do I claim to be on the ground of any of these Robert Lipsyte, whose keyboard I even was on the of he dubbed “SportsWorld” ago. Matt Chaney, a little-known author in Missouri, has exhaustively documented the cycles of death and hocus-pocus measures in his research much the for this persistent to the successive rise of, first, magazines, then radio and television. By comparison, your blogger was is a sociological bottom feeder — mere investigative reporter/social critic with perspectives not found elsewhere. No, ground floor was Chris Nowinski. Ground floor was Alan Schwarz of the New Compelled, like a ball-hawking safety, to the of offense, alternated and criticism those two worthies: praise of their prescience and basic accuracy; criticism the Nowinski group’s ill-advised decision to accept a $1 million and Schwarz’s naive reporting developments flowing from the new responsible age of “concussion the of the process his old employer, WWE trading a seven-figure research grant for a Sports Legacy The honor is known, inappropriately enough, as the award.) With respect to Nowinski in particular, do appreciate that he has a more intense relationship with the football than I he is more emotionally invested in the goal “saving the sport from ” than I’ll ever be, and that he works the lines — professional players and the star-struck kids parents for whom
 even intentionally a blood spOrt. TraumatIc braIn iNjuRy Is noT incIdental but centRAl. FuRther, the NFL is a $10-billion-a-Year iNdUStry WItH a fooTprint oN OuR CUltUrE tHat LoNG aGo pasSed Beyond “oUt of controL.” On ThE 1 to 11 scale of thE GuItarist’s amP in this Is Spinal tap, FootbaLl Is a 12.

* pUrporTed CorreCtive mEAsures Should be vIeWEd with DEep suspICIoN. The Alignment of the monEY fORces makes it far LikeliEr THaT “SOluTioNs” are self-sErVing cOTtage inDUsTRIEs rATher than of genUine public hEAltH net beNeFit.

bY no meaNs do I ClAIm tO be on the groUnd fLoor of any Of thesE InsightS. robert LIpsyte, WhoSe kEyboARd i cAn’t EvEN caRRy, Was ON to The trap oF wHaT he duBbed “sPORTsWoRld” DecaDes agO. Matt Chaney, a lIttLe-knOWn aUthor In MisSourI, hAs exhAustivEly doCuMented the cycles Of deAth and hocUs-pOcUs sAfEty meASures iN AmEriCan footBall; his REseArCH GIvEs much of the credit fOr THIs PersisteNt natiONaL dELusion to ThE suCcesSIVe risE of, fIRsT, rotograVure SuNDaY nEwspapeR mAgazinEs, TheN raDio anD TeleVision. by comparIson, yOUr humble bloggeR Was and is a sociOLoGICaL BottOm fEeder — a mere iNvesTIgatIve rEPoRteR/SociaL critIc WItH Perspectives not founD mUch elsEwherE.

No, ground flooR was Chris NOWINski. GrouNd flOOr WAs Alan Schwarz oF the NEw York TimeS. compelleD, like A ball-hawKing free sAFEty, to the InfLicTioN of EQUaL-opportunity oFFEnse, i’vE alternAteD praise And CriTicIsm Of Those two wOrthies: pRaIsE oF tHeiR presCIence and BaSic AcCurAcy; crITicism Of the nowiNsKi GRouP’s ill-adVIsED DeciSiOn To acCepT a $1 MilliOn NFl GraNt and of schwarz’s nAivE RepoRtInG of deveLopments flowiNg From the NFL’S nEw aNd respONSible age Of “concussion awareness.” (In THe fall oF 2013, NoWinskI repRised the wHolE proceSs wITh his oLd emplOyer, WwE — TraDINg a seVEN-fIguRe Research grANT coMmitmEnT for A Sports legacy Institute awaRD foR corporate resPonSibiLITy. the HOnOR is KnOWn, iNAPpropriately enoUgh, as the “ImPaCT” aWard.)

With reSPecT tO NowinsKi in parTiculAR, I do appReciate thAt he has a mOrE intENSe rElationshiP with the Football iNDustrY ThAn I do, ThaT he is mOrE emOtionAlly inVEstEd in tHe goal Of “Saving The spOrT from itsElf ” than I’ll ever be, and that He workS on thE frOnt lines — wIth PRofEssional pLayeRs and with tHe sTar-StrucK kiDS and pArenTS fOr wHOm the
 even intentionally a bloo d sport. T rauma tic  br ai n in jury  is not incide n talbut central. Further,the N FL is a $1 0-bil lion-a- y ea r ind us tr y w it h  a  foot pri nt on o ur culture  th at  long ago pa s se d beyond “ out  of control. ” O n the1to1 1 sca leof th e guit a rist’s  amp in T hi s  Is Sp i nal Tap , fo otba ll is a 12.

* Pu r po r ted corrective  measu re s  s h o uld  be  viewed wi th  deep suspici o n. T h e a l ignment of th e money for c esmakesit  fa r  likel ier t ha t  “s olutions” a re s elf-servi ng cot t age ind u striesrather  th anof g e nu in e p ub l ich ea lth net  benefit .
B y nomean s d o  I c lai m to  be o n the groundflo or o f  an y ofthese  ins ig hts.Robert  Lips yt e, whose keyboa rd I  can’t ev enca rry ,was o n  to th e t rap  of wha t he du b bed  “ S p o rt sWorld” decades ag o. M at t Chaney , a li t tl e- k nown aut ho r i n Mi s s ouri,  has ex haustive ly doc u me nt ed thecy cles o fdea thand h o cus- pocussafety m easur e s in Americanf ootball; hisr es e a rc h  giv esmuch of the  cre d it f or t h is  pe r siste nt na ti o na l  delusion to the su cc essive  rise  of, first, r otogravure S u nday new spap e rm agazines, then  radi o and tele v ision. B y com parison,  your hum b l e blogge r w asand  is a  s ociological b o t tomfe eder —a m ere inv est iga tiv e r ep orter/soc ial crit ic  w it hper spect i ves notfo und  m uch  else w here.
No,grou nd  f l oor  was Ch r is N owin sk i.  Gro und  f loorwasA lan  Schwar z of theNew York  T im es. Com pelled, likeaball-hawki ng  fr ee saf e t y, to th e infliction of equal-o p portuni tyoffen se,I’ve alte rna ted pr ais e  and c ritici sm of  t hos e two w o r th ies :praise oft h eir  pres ci ence  and ba sic accuracy; crit i cis m of the Nowi nsk i gr o u p’ s i l l- a dvi se d  de c i sion to accepta $1 milli on NF L grant an d  of  S chwarz’ s naive  repo r ting of  developm ents flow in g fr o m  th e NFL’s ne w and re sponsible age o f  “ concu ssi on awa re nes s.” ( In the fal l of2013,No winski  repr is ed the w hole process with his o ld emp loyer , W WE — trad ing a s even-figu re r esearch gr ant  co mmitm ent for a  Spo r ts  Le g acy I nsti t ute award fo r c o r po rate respon s i b ili ty. T heh onor i s kn own, inappropriat e ly enough, asthe“ I mpa ct” awar d. )

With respec t t oN o winski i nparticular,  I do ap pr e ciate  thathe has  a more i nt e nse re lati ons hip withthe  f o otballin du s try th an I  d o, tha t he i s  mor e emotionally inve stedi n  theg oal  of “ sa ving th e  spo rt from it self ” than  I’llever  be,and tha the wor kson  the front lines — w ith p rofessi on al p lay ers an d wi t h  thestar -s tru ck kids a n d  p a re nt s  fo r wh om th e
 even_intentionally a_blood sport. Traumatic brain_injury is_not_incidental but_central._Further, the NFL_is a $10-billion-a-year_industry with a footprint_on our culture_that_long ago passed beyond “out of control.” On the 1 to 11 scale of_the_guitarist’s amp_in_This_Is Spinal Tap, football is_a 12.

* Purported corrective measures_should be_viewed with deep suspicion. The alignment of the_money_forces makes it_far likelier that “solutions” are self-serving cottage industries rather_than of genuine public health net_benefit.

By no means_do_I_claim to be on_the ground floor of any of_these insights. Robert Lipsyte, whose keyboard_I can’t even carry, was on to_the trap of what he dubbed_“SportsWorld” decades ago. Matt Chaney,_a little-known_author in Missouri, has exhaustively_documented the cycles_of death_and hocus-pocus safety_measures in American football; his research_gives much of_the credit for this persistent national_delusion_to the successive_rise_of,_first, rotogravure_Sunday newspaper magazines,_then_radio and_television._By comparison, your humble blogger was_and_is a sociological bottom feeder — a_mere investigative reporter/social critic_with_perspectives not found much_elsewhere.

No, ground floor was Chris_Nowinski. Ground floor was Alan Schwarz_of the_New York_Times. Compelled, like a ball-hawking free safety, to the infliction of_equal-opportunity offense, I’ve alternated praise and_criticism of those two_worthies: praise_of_their prescience and_basic_accuracy; criticism_of the Nowinski group’s ill-advised decision to_accept a_$1 million NFL grant and of_Schwarz’s naive reporting of_developments_flowing from the NFL’s new and_responsible age of “concussion awareness.” (In_the fall of 2013, Nowinski_reprised_the_whole process with his old_employer, WWE — trading a seven-figure_research grant commitment_for a Sports Legacy Institute award for_corporate_responsibility. The honor is known, inappropriately_enough,_as the “Impact” award.)

With respect to_Nowinski_in_particular, I do appreciate that_he has a more intense relationship_with the football industry than I do, that he_is more emotionally_invested in the goal of_“saving_the_sport from itself ” than I’ll ever be, and that_he works_on the front_lines — with professional players and with the star-struck kids_and parents for whom the