FRONTLINE "Football High" | Excerpt: "The Power of Size" | PBS

[SterlThePearl67]

"It's easy for a 16 year old kid to get over 300 pounds." I'm sorry, what? "Easy?" Sure, if you're a huge kid to begin with. Man, I was *never* going to get over 300. Ironically, my frame either filled out after I graduated from high school or I just got lazy, because I'm heavier now than I was when I was lifting constantly.

[ripperduck]

Compared to other first world nations, the US does badly re: math/science. But we turn out great athletes. In US sports>knowledge. The number of books read by the average person/year is less than ten. But this is what we value, fb players> 300 lbs. This is nothing but bread and circuses, we value this more than the eduction of our gladiators. Americans are getting stupider by the day....

[twinpeninsulas]

@ripperduck why should they care about education? if you make it to the NFL you are set for life. the same can be said of anyone who plays any sport (baseball/hockey/basketball/te­nnis/golf/ect) they choose the path for themselves, i dont know these people and neither do you, so im not sure anyone can call them stupid.

[MagellansUnderwear]

I used to love football. I played in HS, should have played in College, but then I saw my dad's 4th knee surgery at 40, I saw 50 year old men showing symptoms similar to Alzheimers due to concussions, I see men my age showing depression because of repeated concussions, I see broken dreams, I see Reggie White dieing at 43, just 3 years after retirement because of a heart attack due to his size. Football is not worth it, and it truly pains me to say so.

[sarathomas208]

what type of parent would let their child play football nowadays.....in fact it should be ban from minors, all those force and hit on their young bodies will have a great negative effect on their health

[twinpeninsulas]

@sarathomas208 nobody is forcing them to play. ever heard of a little thing called freedom of choice?

[banditontherun1024]

this is why these guys die at age 50. a heart cant sustain a 300 lb body for 80 years.

[awesome220]

@banditontherun1024 300lb from fat or muscle?

[runswithscissorsalot]

@awesome220 it doesn't matter

[harlemw651]

@banditontherun1024 Yeah, and could you imagine the condition of their knees and ankles by 50?