Violence in the NFL – The New York Times

On Monday night, millions watched the terrifying scenes unfold in real time. After what seemed like a routine tackle, he fell and went into cardiac arrest.

Details haven’t been fully released, but Hamlin’s medical emergency may have been a rare and unfortunate event. There is a risk of serious injury to the player. Today’s newsletter explains why the inherent dangers of sports, interwoven with American culture, persist.

elusive safety

In my 15 years covering the NFL, I’ve watched multiple games. I’ve never seen it up close and understood how hard the ball hits. As a matter of simple physics, the combination of professional football player size and speed means that the force of impact is similar to the force of a world-class sprinter hitting a brick wall.

The NFL, especially over the past decade, has touted its efforts to make the game safer. We made rule changes to discourage dangerous on-field tactics such as leading with our heads, enacted protocols for diagnosing and treating concussions, and hired approximately 30 people at the game to respond to injuries and emergencies. We have put medical professionals in place.

Longtime NFL referee Ed Hochuri, who has worked in hundreds of games, spoke candidly about what he witnessed on the field after retiring in 2018. There were ‘times’, he said. he must die ”

making money

The NFL often seems to be in turmoil, but it is immune to it. In recent years, black coaches have faced accusations of racism, workplace misconduct allegations at flagship franchises, and diagnoses of chronic traumatic encephalopathy linked to repeated blows to the head following the deaths of more than 300 former players. I’ve been Still, the league is on track to meet his commissioner Roger Goodell’s goal of earning $25 billion in annual revenue by 2027.

Even this week, the NFL is facing one of its worst crises in decades, so it’s gearing up for its next game this weekend, and it’s on track. Players and coaches have work to do. The NFL’s business depends on it.

The simple fact of where Hamlin fell is a reminder of how quickly we’ve come a long way since the startling violence in America’s most popular sports league. Just three months ago, on the same field, Miami his Dolphins quarterback Tua his Tagovailoa was pulled off on a stretcher after his head was slammed into the turf. He missed the next two games with a concussion. A few days ago he hit another head. Then, in a Christmas game against the Green Bay Packers, he suffered another brain injury.

About five years ago, on the same field, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier suffered a spinal cord injury during a tackle that not only ended his career, but also required him to learn to walk again. Unlike the night game, that game continued late.

popularity of football

What’s happening in the NFL is amplified more than most other American cultural institutions. Hamlin’s medical emergency was front page news. His GoFundMe page, which he originally set up for a holiday toy drive to serve his hometown near Pittsburgh, has received more than 200,000 donations since Monday, raising nearly $7 million. President Biden, who said he spoke with Hamlin’s parents yesterday, was asked if he thought the NFL had gotten too dangerous.

Endurance doesn’t seem to be an issue for the NFL, despite live scare of Hamlin’s collapse. The league’s media his partners pay a total of about $12 billion per season to show games because it draws in so many viewers.

We adjust because we know we might see some rare athletic feats, arcs of redemption, or odds-defying comebacks. Sometimes, like Monday nights, we’re reminded of that uncomfortable duality.

for many

the latest news

meeting

• Benedict XVI, the first pope to resign in nearly six centuries, was buried this morning after a funeral in the Vatican presided over by Pope Francis.

• A man charged with murdering four University of Idaho students got new license plates for his car five days after the murders, records show.

• European regulators have fined Meta more than $400 million for forcing Facebook and Instagram users to effectively accept personalized ads.

• Amazon is cutting 18,000 corporate and tech jobs, and Salesforce is laying off 10% of its workforce.

• More rain, wind and snow are expected in California today, which could lead to power outages and flash flooding.

• Prince Harry said in his memoir that his brother Prince William knocked him to the floor in 2019, reports The Guardian.

Opinion

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Fairness and equality matter. But the debate around trans athletes lacks humanity. Isaac Henig claim.

Say goodbye to “Stomp”

Since arriving in the East Village in 1994, “Stomp” has been a wordless percussion spectacle, a spinning, tapping, sweeping and banging spectacle that has become a mainstay of New York culture. After almost 30 years, production is completely discontinued.

“Stomp” was a natural fit in the 1990s East Village, coexisting with Blue Man Groups and rock clubs like CBGB and Brownie. But when it became a phenomenon, including appearances at the Olympics, impersonating “The Simpsons,” and performing in 45 countries, it didn’t go beyond its neighbourhood.

“I’m a little sad,” said co-creator Steve McNicholas of the show.

For many: Readers and Times critics shared their memories of the show.

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