Dogfighting And Football In 'Offensive Play' By Malcolm Gladwell

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In the New Yorker article “Offensive Play,” by Malcolm Gladwell, he makes a comparison between dogfighting and football, claiming that they tend to be more similar than people may conclude. Gladwell argues this because they both develop a negative effect on one’s body and brain causing several physical and mental changes that could possibly lead to death. However, some of these events that cause injury go without notice until later on in life when they have retired from their “glory days.” The article opens with a former football player and offensive lineman, Kyle Turley, who begins having episodes while he was at a bar with his family and friends. Turley was passing out, puking, becoming paranoid, and began to overall lose control of everything. …show more content…

Because of this involvement, Vick was suspended from football. Dogfighting is not taken lightly because it is known as animal abuse. Humans torture dogs, and force them to fight one another in a ring for the owners and viewers enjoyment. Certain people tend get entertained by this, causing those running it to get a nice paycheck. However, if they have such a significant comparison, then why is Michael Vick getting suspended from football? This question enables “similar doubts about his own sport” (Gladwell 53). As explained early on in this article, football can cause several physical and mental injuries either instantly or in the near future. This is due to the constantly tackling, hitting, and screaming from all the players and coaches. Because of these intense actions, football can increase the chance of dementia-like symptoms in players. This was examined by Ann Mckee, a neuropathologist, who ran several tests in the Veterans Hospital …show more content…

With that being said, we begin to notice the comparison between both dogfighting and football. This was shown by using a system called “HITS, in which six sensors are placed inside the helmet of every player on the field, measuring the force and location of every blow he receives to the head” (Gladwell 56). The HITS system helped to conclude that practice can be just as dangerous as the games. With this being said, football is an overall reckless style of play that can continually cause brain injury. Not just football but both of these high intensity sports are viewed as damaging to one 's body both physically and mentally. Because of this, if people consider dogfighting to be unjust, illegal, and abusive then they should believe football to have the same damaging effects. Unfortunately, there is such a high demand for football, because of all the money it brings. Because of this, scientist and doctors will ignore the realistic facts and continue to allow people to participate in this

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