Is it a coincidence football has become the America’s most popular sport at the same time there is a increase in gun violence in the United States? In a now famous monologue comparing football and baseball, the late George Carlin closes with the following:

In football the object is for the quarterback, also known as the field general, to be on target with his aerial assault, riddling the defense by hitting his receivers with deadly accuracy in spite of the blitz, even if he has to use shotgun. With short bullet passes and long bombs, he marches his troops into enemy territory, balancing this aerial assault with a sustained ground attack that punches holes in the forward wall of the enemy’s defensive line.

In baseball the object is to go home! And to be safe! – I hope I’ll be safe at home!

Or look at the Fox Sports robot which the network uses to promote its football broadcasts. It more resembles Robo-Cop or a transformer than an athlete. Sadly, football uniforms are beginning to look more and more like this caricature’s outfit. More elaborate faceguards. Tinted eye shields. Flack jackets. Players come prepared for battle.

I know this is a stretch, but I can’t help but wonder if mass shooters view these acts of violence as another outlet to suit up and battle their rivals regardless the reason they believe they are in competition with their victims.

Don’t get me wrong. I love watching football. But this entry was triggered (pun intended) while watching yesterday’s NFL game at Wembley Stadium. Which sports are most valued in other industrialized countries in which gun violence is less prominent? In Europe the answer is futbol (which we call soccer) and cricket. Observe the difference in uniforms. The players are exposed. In futbol, a player is more likely to feign injury than actually injure somebody. And neither sport requires it participants to be 350 pound human anomolies whose primary role is to crush their opponents in the “trenches.”

Do I believe making soccer or cricket the American pasttime will end gun violence? Absolutely not. But if we really want to do something about this epidemic, we must put everything on the table for consideration.

For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP