I’ve been criticized by a few left-wing friends for liking football. But the reality is that if Gastineau had been given the following two choices at age 20, what would he taken?
1. You can play football for ten years, make millions, and be one of the greatest players in the game. You will have pains afterwards and age 60 for you will be like age 80 for most people.
2. You’re a strong guy, so you can do construction or something and live an anonymous life.
With Gastineau’s personality, he’d have taken the choice to play football even if he knew full well what it would do to his body and mind. A few of the former NFLers have said they wished they’d never played but most have said “I loved that game.” They choose to play, and I choose to watch. It’s freedom on both sides.
Exactly.