Go For His Head

Here's the United States as probably drawn by a fan of NFL Football.  Indeed, it's been quite a while since this sport took over from baseball as America's favorite obsession.  That said, it's also been quite a while since I gave a damn about anything even remotely connected with football.  I never cared about college football and the pros, with its now over-emphasis on violence and military jargon, officially turned me off completely.   There is one less New York Jets fan in the world if anybody cares about either me or the lowly Jets.

But, I'm virtually alone in my disdain for the sport.  Look at the people around you.  Driving hundreds and hundreds of miles every Saturday to see their alma mater play in the Big 10.  Cooking up bowls and bowls of chili for that big tailgate party.  Dressing up your children in team outfits as soon as the little toddlers can walk.  

To all of those folks above, I give you a terrific new documentary entitled "The United States of Football" by filmmaker Sean Pamphilon.  It might make you think twice about that last game you watched.  Or, given our stupid country's propensity to look the other way, probably not.

As for me, I hate the sport a little bit more now.   And with good reason.

Pamphilon, in an efficient and linear style, outlines to us the plight of several ex-NFLers.  All of them have experienced some form of brain damage, which manifests itself in either a physical handicap, verbal rage, or violence.  All of them are likely to be afflicted with something called CTE or  chronic traumatic encephalopathy.  This is a brain disorder that comes to people who have had concussions resulting from repeated trauma to their head.  Or multiple concussions.

You know, like what might happen if you're tackled repeatedly.

This ailment is nothing new.  It was first diagnosed way back in 1928.  But it's on the rise of late, particularly to anybody who has played college or pro football.  Sometimes, the symptoms take years to manifest themselves.  But it's real and ugly.  It even can prompt you to take your own life as was the case of recent suicide and NFL star Junior Seau.

As are most documentaries, there is a bias on the part of the filmmakers involved and Sean Pamphilon is no different.  At times, "The United States of Football" is mawkish and heavy-handed.  But you cannot help but feel compassion for these folks as their story unfolds.  You meet players like Kyle Turley and Sean Morey and the late John Mackey.  All had CTE and paid a heavy price.  

Beyond the woeful health issues of the players that are spotlighted, you are astounded at the pro sport's inability to do anything about this.  Pamphilon shows us how the NFL hierarchy has been made aware of this growing problem and did little about it.  When you hear that the league and, astoundingly, even the player's union did nothing to address CTE in their last bargaining agreement, you want to throw them all for a fifteen yard loss.  In the middle of this "do-nothing" attitude is current NFL commissioner Roger Goodell who is such a boob that he makes baseball commissioner Bud Selig look like Nelson Mandela. 

Physicians recommended to the NFL there always be a licensed neurologist on the sidelines for every game.  This did not happen.  Meanwhile, whether it be Pop Warner or the NCAA or the NFL, players repeatedly re-enter the game after perhaps suffering a concussion just one quarter before.  There is one chilling audio tape from a team meeting of the revered and then Super Bowl champion New York Giants, who have never accused of being a classy operation anyway.  You hear one assistant coach talking about the fact that an opposing player may have suffered a concussion in the first half.  His advice to the team for the second half?

"Go for his head."

As disgusting and vile as it can be.  Remember that the next time your local Giants fan sobs incessantly about Peyton Manning's latest sprained ankle.

Pamphilon leaves nothing out in a very measured description of the ailment and football's reluctance to address it for the sake of money or TV ratings or whatever.  When you see and hear how CTE changes the lives of those who have it, your anger will boil into sudden death overtime.

"The United States of Football" is a sports documentary that must be seen by all fans who care and even those who do not.  Sadly, though, it probably won't be.  The lemmings that follow football will simply flip a bratwurst on the grill, open up another can of Bud, and look at the performance of their fantasy team.

As for me, I am very proud that I dumped this sport years ago.  I am very happy to lose myself in America's former favorite pastime of baseball.    Sure, it's slow and sometimes boring.  

But, then again, no baseball player ever kicked the shit out of his wife because he had to undergo Tommy John surgery.

LEN'S RATING:  Three stars.

Dinner last night:  Proscuitto, mozzarella, and olive tapenade panini.