I appreciate what you are doing here, but I am pessimistic regarding the ‘spirit of the game’ when it comes to the professional and ‘highest level’ NCAA enterprises. Crash Davis succinctly conveyed this in Bull Durham when he referred to Nuke LaLoosh as ‘Meat.’ This also underlies the low market value of NFL running backs – owners feel they can get similar output from a draft choice at a much lower price point.
It doesn’t feel like player safety is particularly on the radar screen for either pro or college athletes when you look at the competition schedules, the pressure to return quickly from injury and/or use of drugs to enable them to play, etc. Per the Schoenfeld article, analytics drives MLB managers who are only interested in optimizing winning to subject pitchers to greater risk of harm. The consequence is shorter careers for pitchers (see https://deadspin.com/mlb-pitchers-nfl-running-backs-career-tommy-john-1851320219/ ). Similarly, winning is the coach’s highest priority in FBS football – the longevity of an athlete’s career does not factor in at all. It is not particularly obvious how to reverse this under the current systems.
Allan, so appreciate you reading and taking the time to write this out. I don't think we necessarily disagree here...and yes, the emphasis on winning at the highest levels stretches the notion "spirit of the game" (maybe to the point of snapping and breaking?). But I think it is still there--somewhere--as a governing factor or force. Or perhaps at the highest levels, those involved--fans especially--need to believe in the "spirit" factor, even as those running the show see how much they can resist it or stretch it.
As for safety, maybe I could have picked a better example, but I still think it's at play at the highest levels where winning and profit are the driving force. There is a financial cost to wrecking players' bodies, even the "meat," even when there's a deep reserve of fresh bodies. I'm perpetually cynical on the NFL, but rule changes in the post-CTE era seem to reflect this: some attempt to protect player well-being and a marketing layer of concern for players' health that some of the fanbase expects. Of course, these changes are extremely limited as football must remain football, balancing the organizational, competitive, and spirit dimensions I'm suggesting are at play. Will continue to think!
Hello Tolga,
I appreciate what you are doing here, but I am pessimistic regarding the ‘spirit of the game’ when it comes to the professional and ‘highest level’ NCAA enterprises. Crash Davis succinctly conveyed this in Bull Durham when he referred to Nuke LaLoosh as ‘Meat.’ This also underlies the low market value of NFL running backs – owners feel they can get similar output from a draft choice at a much lower price point.
It doesn’t feel like player safety is particularly on the radar screen for either pro or college athletes when you look at the competition schedules, the pressure to return quickly from injury and/or use of drugs to enable them to play, etc. Per the Schoenfeld article, analytics drives MLB managers who are only interested in optimizing winning to subject pitchers to greater risk of harm. The consequence is shorter careers for pitchers (see https://deadspin.com/mlb-pitchers-nfl-running-backs-career-tommy-john-1851320219/ ). Similarly, winning is the coach’s highest priority in FBS football – the longevity of an athlete’s career does not factor in at all. It is not particularly obvious how to reverse this under the current systems.
Allan, so appreciate you reading and taking the time to write this out. I don't think we necessarily disagree here...and yes, the emphasis on winning at the highest levels stretches the notion "spirit of the game" (maybe to the point of snapping and breaking?). But I think it is still there--somewhere--as a governing factor or force. Or perhaps at the highest levels, those involved--fans especially--need to believe in the "spirit" factor, even as those running the show see how much they can resist it or stretch it.
As for safety, maybe I could have picked a better example, but I still think it's at play at the highest levels where winning and profit are the driving force. There is a financial cost to wrecking players' bodies, even the "meat," even when there's a deep reserve of fresh bodies. I'm perpetually cynical on the NFL, but rule changes in the post-CTE era seem to reflect this: some attempt to protect player well-being and a marketing layer of concern for players' health that some of the fanbase expects. Of course, these changes are extremely limited as football must remain football, balancing the organizational, competitive, and spirit dimensions I'm suggesting are at play. Will continue to think!