The Best Stories You've nEver Read #16 & 17

I enjoy  watching football as much as anyone, but after reading these pieces in the New York Times and the Riverfront Times, I have to wonder why the government doesn't act to stop the slow-motion maiming that goes on in this sport.  The Times looks at an epidemic of concussions among high school players and how little is done to protect these youngsters. This is in part because the players have been trained as gladiators and many will not report when they've gotten their bells rung. The Riverfront Times story isn't nearly so groundbreaking but it's timely. It looks at NFL players who suffered injuries to body and mind that led to impoverishment, early deaths and suicide. There's probably too much money and fan interest in this game to put a stop to it, but after reading these stories you have to wonder whether the players are paying too high a price -- no matter how many millions they make -- for our entertainment.

-- Dick Weiss