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Mike Ditka says if he had a young son now he wouldn't let him play football [View all]
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/hall-famer-mike-ditka-wouldn-son-play-football-article-1.2083355Mike Ditka was a Hall of Fame tight end and a legendary coach, but if he had a young son now, he wouldn’t want him to enter the family business. Ditka said he wouldn’t want a child of his now to play football on an episode of HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” that will air on Tuesday.
The coach’s opinion came out during this exchange with Gumbel in which the host also says he wouldn’t want his children to play football:
Ditka: “If you had an 8-year-old kid now, would you tell him you want him to play football?”
Gumbel: “I wouldn't. Would you?”
Ditka: “No. Nope. That's sad. I wouldn't. And my whole life was football. I think the risk is worse than the reward. I really do.”
The episode is about the 1985 Bears, whom Ditka coached, and the lasting effects that medications and playing through pain has on those that were on the team. Ditka advocates that the commissioner and owner ought to do something to help the former players.
In the episode, Jim McMahon said he struggles so much sometimes that he will just lay in his bed and stare at the ceiling fan for days or weeks at a time.
The coach’s opinion came out during this exchange with Gumbel in which the host also says he wouldn’t want his children to play football:
Ditka: “If you had an 8-year-old kid now, would you tell him you want him to play football?”
Gumbel: “I wouldn't. Would you?”
Ditka: “No. Nope. That's sad. I wouldn't. And my whole life was football. I think the risk is worse than the reward. I really do.”
The episode is about the 1985 Bears, whom Ditka coached, and the lasting effects that medications and playing through pain has on those that were on the team. Ditka advocates that the commissioner and owner ought to do something to help the former players.
In the episode, Jim McMahon said he struggles so much sometimes that he will just lay in his bed and stare at the ceiling fan for days or weeks at a time.
He's right. America's favorite sport causes brain damage.
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