Cultures create institutions that reflect their values and interests. But it works both ways. Institutions create cultures, as well.
For example, the automobile industry was created by American ingenuity, entrepreneurship, hard work and enough natural resources to build millions of cars. At the same time, few inventions have done more to create modern America. In fact, it's impossible to imagine modern America without the automobile.
Or without professional football. And America's relationship with the sport is similarly interesting and complicated.
America was a fitting location for the invention of football. All of the sports that we really like involve two teams trying to reach goals at opposite ends of fields or courts--baseball is the prominent exception. But football is the only one that depends on violent force, only mildly restrained by rules, to reach its goal.
For decades football was a pleasant way to spend a crisp fall afternoon, but technology spawned the pervasive eminence of the modern game. Air travel allowed professional football's expansion to more cities, and the NFL appears to have its sights on international expansion.
Modern football and TV were made for each other, and broadcast technology has significantly enhanced the viewing experience. During the season, the amount of football available is remarkable. A devoted fan can watch games nearly any day of the week.
All football is driven by the professional game. This insight comes courtesy of a massive offensive tackle who was in my freshman writing class at the University of Texas more than 30 years ago: "It doesn't matter how big or fast you are. Every guy out there thinks he's going to make it in the pros."
I suspect this sentiment reaches pretty far down into the high school ranks, as well. Thus the potential wealth and fame in the pro game nurture an unrealistic fantasy that affects the game at nearly all levels. And thus we're more willing to tolerate the football-related deaths of at least 19 young boys this past year, as well as engage in considerable denial about the physical damage that is an inevitable part of football.
But maybe last week's revelation that the great New York Giants running back Frank Gifford suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy--along with nearly all NFL players who have been tested for the disease after their deaths--will remind us that occasionally we should ask when pro football stops being an entertaining passion and becomes an unhealthy obsession.
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John M. Crisp is an op-ed columnist for Tribune News Service.
Editorial on 12/01/2015