Will Brett Favre’s Parkinson Diagnosis Stop Parents From Letting Their Sons Play Football?
About a year ago, my then three-year-old grandson discovered football. He was at a local park and saw some kids playing the game. I guess he liked what he saw because he became interested in learning more about it. He even wanted to play in the family Thanksgiving game.
I told my daughter, “I really hope I’m around when he’s older and tells you he wants to play football.” She laughed and said, “I think we’ll get him started playing Soccer.”
Even though we were joking around, I could see her mind working. ‘Oh man, my son wants to play football.’
Fewer kids are playing organized football than in the olden days of my youth. Parents see all the injuries, concussions, dementia and early deaths of NFL players and say that’s not going to happen to my child. My son is never playing football on my watch. That’s why we see many youth football leagues closing shop. Better safe than sorry!
On Tuesday, it was announced that NFL Hall of Fame Quarterback Brett Farve was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. In addition to Parkinson’s, he said he’s suffering from memory loss. When he was questioned about how many concussions he had during his football career, he replied that it was officially two but it could have been a thousand.
I did some research and found that playing football increases your chances of getting Parkinson’s by a whopping SIXTY-ONE PERCENT!! Oddly, you don't see this in former NFL players. Farve is just the third player to come out with the disease. Even more oddly, the other two are a punter and a place-kicker—not exactly high-contact positions. Apparently, PD strikes those playing youth, high school and college ball.
I ran into a high school classmate at a restaurant a few months ago. I explained to his wife that we met while playing freshman/sophomore football in high school. I told her I was using the word ‘play’ loosely because we spent those Saturdays watching from the bench. We all laughed but then she said it was safer that way. We didn't think so then, but no question that we do now. Maybe so, but what about those five days a week of practice to prepare for the games?
Thinking back on those days more than five decades ago, I remember telling my mom I was going to try to play on the football team. She wasn't happy but didn't make a big deal about it. I know if this had occurred today, she never would have signed the permission sheet. I wouldn't have blamed her. I wouldn't have let my kids play football either.
Today I’m going to visit my grandchildren. I was thinking of seeing if the now-four-year-old wanted to go outside to play catch with a football. Maybe it’s a better idea to kick the soccer ball around. Why get started with something that is potentially so dangerous?