Evin Demirel writes an interesting critique in Sporting Life Arkansas about an Arkansas Democrat-Gazette column written by Bradley Gitz, a professor at Lyon College and regular liberal-basher in the D-G.

Gitz claims those concerned about concussions in football must be “girly men.” In short, he’s trying to pick a fight.

The issue of football as a dangerous sport isn’t new. When athletes died from playing just after the turn of the 20th Century, it took President Theodore Roosevelt to save the game by leading the charge to change the rules.

From Demirel’s excerpts of Gitz’ statements, I assume Gitz would call Teddy a “girly man.” I realize the dangers with assuming, but apparently Gitz does not.

I wonder if Gitz even played football. If he even made it to the field, he likely sat on the end of the bench staring at cheerleaders while the actual action occurred. Why would I say such things? Because it’s about as inane as someone claiming former players concerned about their health effects “girly men.”

Gitz claims players understand the risks and receive handsome compensation for them. Demirel notes grown men may understand the risks, but it’s not explained very well to junior high and high school kids. I’d go a step further: most football players begin in Pee Wee football. Who’s telling them (and their parents) about the risks? How can a kid who hasn’t reached his teen-age years truly comprehend the notion of risk from a game? When were these risks explained?

Somebody forgot to tell Dave Duerson and Junior Seau.

Gitz must think they were “girly” men, too. After all, they dealt with the effects of repeated concussions in a cowardly manner, i.e. committing suicide. But at least they got paid for it. But what about 21-year-old Owen Thomas? Who told him he’d want to commit suicide before getting rich?

Gitz claims “girly men” suddenly decided this must be a problem; Demirel notes this study isn’t new, with Sports Illustrated writing about the effects of concussions as far back as 1994. Granted, it’s not the first time Gitz completely fabricated history to fit his preconceptions. Apparently Gitz can be all about compassion when he’s the one involved; but not so much for everyone else.

Gitz would likely call me a “girly man” since I continue to write about concussions that can lead to CTE; click the category at right for former articles about it. Yo Gitz! I quit playing football when it started affecting my knees in high school. This happened after hundreds (if not thousands) of concussive incidents playing center and defensive tackle for the majority of my career. I cannot count the number of blackouts I had; nobody told me then I’d be concerned now.

But that’s the problem with “men” like Gitz, i.e. they’re more concerned with short-term gain than long-term safety. If there’s a “girly man” in this discussion, it would be Gitz hiding behind a PhD and telling young men not to worry about their future lives.

I refuse to pay for the D-G, so I haven’t read Gitz’ shit crap, which led me to vicariously comment on Gitz through Demirel’s retort. If someone wants to send me a copy, I’ll read it and determine if I should recant. I assume I won’t.

Earlier I’d mentioned the problem with assuming, i.e. sometimes it makes an ass of you and me. But I feel safe in this assumption:

Gitz doesn’t get it.