I love football and hockey. I played both as well as rugby. I loved hitting people. I loved hitting people HARD. When I watched these same sports I wanted to see hits, big hits, hits to hurt. I now feel some unease when I see these same hits. The impact these hits have on people's brains is serious and permanent. I'm not sure what the answer is. But we are going to see more consequences going forward, not less.
Brain injuries are not just a part of these body contact sports either.
Female hockey with no body checking has some of the highest number of concussions. Concussions are also impacting baseball players as well.
I sometimes wonder about my own well being. I was never knocked out, never had any signs of a concussion but I did play a lot of games and never turned away from the rough stuff and initiated a lot of it. I can sit here right now and say I am fine, but in 20 years can I say the same thing? My son is 3 and likes to play hockey (his version at least) with me. I look forward to watching him play sports, but there is a part of me that wonders what if?
Nothing concrete here, just some Saturday musings while having a cup of joe.