Robofootball: Doublespin

The Weight Factor, A transcript report by Dr. Isabella Mendoza, CDC, joint session of Congress, October 7, 2013, Hearing #678-02-1137:

“How many elderly men do you see walking around at 300 pounds or more? That’s slightly more than 136 kilograms. I’d like to meet one if you do. An 80-year old 300 pound man is about as rare as an albino buffalo, maybe one every 50 to 100 years or so. As recently as the 1980’s, it was rare for a football player to exceed 300 pounds. This summer in the year of 2013, there are approximately 600 players listed at that weight or more at the NFL training camps, and even a handful at 400 (182 kilos); and that is only counting the current players and select invitees. Walk-ons, practice players, and others with little hope of making the team make up even more. This additional data was not provided to us at the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

The heaviest athletes are more than twice as likely to die before their 50th birthday as compared to the general population. Nearly a quarter die of heart disease from obesity that plagues them long after, ahem, I should say a short time, after their playing careers are over. The pressure to super-size, like our fast food restaurants were fond of doing so in the not-too-distant past has not only extended to college players, but younger players in high school as well. In short, players are succumbing to this pressure, and as a result, are sacrificing their health in later life for short term benefits. That is, if any benefit aside from greed and monetary advancement, can ultimately be considered a positive given the future health consequences of such actions. I ask you what good is money if one has a severely shortened lifespan? Death is simply the end of a long battle with knee, ankle, and back troubles, not to mention the negative effects of excess weight – loss of energy, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and of course, stroke and heart disease as aforementioned.

Unfortunately, retired players are outright spooked by the potential health problems they face. By then, it is usually far too late. Even now, I have not mentioned drugs, steroids, shots, and a host of other remedies football players are subjected to and pressured to take. Nagging injuries and constant soreness that require rest at the very least are given band-aids in the form of ice, whirlpool baths, cortisone shots, accelerated therapy, and so forth, all in order to get these players back on the field as quickly as possible.

These actions combined with 5 and even 6 thousand calorie per day diets are killing these players at alarming rates. It has become a disease which is the main reason we at the CDC are involved. As I noted, nearly one-fourth of these large ex-players die of coronary disease by the age of 50. Approximately 60% of active NFL players today are considered obese based on the government instituted body mass index for height and weight developed here at the CDC. Offensive tackle is the heaviest position; the current NFL average is 325 pounds. The NFL naturally expresses concern and admits that they need to address these problems; nevertheless, they do little if nothing but talk a good game.

I have some pictures from autopsy reports on young players in their 20’s who have died on the field, whether during a game or practice or a few who simply collapsed in the locker room afterward. In nearly all cases, we see enlarged hearts, premature scarring of the heart muscle, and one or more partially blocked arteries. We would not expect to see these conditions in such regularity unless we were considering elderly men in their 60’s and beyond or the morbidly obese. Despite out overtures, both the NFL administration and the Player’s Association have declined to comment or answer our numerous letters. Senator Margaret Leahy has also been successfully blocked from issuing official subpoenas for these particular hearings.

Cardiovascular disease, clogged arteries, increase risk of stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, and ultimately, premature death, has become a plague of the American institution of football. Alarmingly, we are just beginning to autopsy a growing number of obese college players who are succumbing to the same risk factors as their older professional counterparts, but have died even younger. The weight issue is now one of life or death. I can cite a long list of names, many you are quite familiar with along with some lesser known’s below the professional level.

Reggie White, 2-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, died at age 43 from cardiac arrhythmia. Joe Drake, 31 years old, retired guard for the 49ers and Eagles, apparently weighed 498 pounds at the time of his fatal heart attack. Scott Legett, who also played for the Eagles, died at the age of 35 of congestive heart failure. Thomas Herrion, a young guard for the 49ers, died at the age of 23 from a massive heart attack, he was listed as 6’3” tall and weighed 315 pounds. I could go on and on, but note that the weights provided to us by the respective teams, are considered to be the playing weight of the player, not necessarily the actual weight, specifically at the time of death. Players face little more than small fines for exceeding their playing weights.

We often find height to be exaggerated in many professional sports especially in basketball, but in hockey and baseball too to go along with football. This only exacerbates the BMI rating particularly when it is combined with false actual player weights. Rarely are there any consequences other than monetary as these tiny minor fines are nothing compared to the salaries these players make. The real consequences are the health issues as the players are readily allowed to play with their excess weight, especially if they are line players.

In conclusion, there is a vast machine at work here to the extent of conspiracy. Lost in the fortunes and popularity of the NFL is what the CDC is attempting to combat, and that is a new health epidemic, which is the core objective of our organization. America is proud of its freedoms, yet there are some obvious rules and safety laws that are needed for the overall well being of the general populous. We have found through time that such things as seat belts and air bags save lives in cars, smoking is bad though mandatory warning labels seem to do little to discourage it, banning cell phone usage while driving has saved hundreds of lives, enforcing OSHA standards in construction and industry have gone a long way in injury prevention, and helmets while riding any form of a cycle are far superior to no head gear at all just to name a few short examples. In football, we have some protective gear, but nothing to address this weighty issue. Players are living large and that is not a positive attribute to boast about when it directly concerns their future health and well being.

We at the CDC urge Congress to hold future hearings on such matters and to interrogate the NFL administration, owners, and Player’s Association. Perhaps some helpful suggestions might come from within through our own efforts here at the CDC, as Senator Leahy can attest to, have been effectively blocked and ignored. We would suggest at a very minimum that players receive routine physical exams outside of their own facilities and doctors, independent from those constraints. No more than two standard deviations of the government BMI index mean should be exceeded by any one player. Consideration should be given to placing an upper weight limit restriction on players, perhaps 250 pounds or around 114 kilograms? Or at least subject to or in lieu of the BMI indicator. Absolute maximum playing weights should be carefully monitored and enforced as well; those exceeding their playing weight should be benched.

Other factors that are usually a direct consequence of excess weight that should be monitored include blood sugar counts, cholesterol levels, triglycerides, blood pressure, and a host of other routine tests on a regular basis. We suggest quarterly or even monthly tests outside of playing season, weekly within. Failure in any of these areas should result in a player being disqualified. We at the CDC suggest that these measures be instituted as soon as possible. Failure to achieve satisfactory progress should also have consequences as well. We would suggest penalties, fines, and the ultimate threat of dismantling the NFL if positive progress in the health of the players is not achieved with measurable results. We will be following up with several additional reports in the near future once our results are in.”

“Thank you Dr. Mendoza,” Senator Leahy, a tall somewhat gawky imposing woman orated from her high seat on the judicial council. “One last question, what other areas is the CDC currently studying regarding football?” Margaret Leahy knew them by heart since much of the studies were due to her efforts to shut down the NFL. Her reason for asking was simply to get the CDC’s findings and preliminary research studies on record.

“My next report will be on head injuries, concussions, and dementia, or in short, brain trauma suffered in football. We are also studying the inadequacy of personal protective equipment like helmets for one, violence associated with the sport, and injuries in general.”

“Thank you Dr. Mendoza, I will look forward to your next visit,” Senator Leahy said as if she were a cat cornering a mouse. She liked Isabelle Mendoza, she just spoke to everyone as if they were prey. With her help, the information presented by Isabelle at a series of Congressional hearings would go down in history as “The Mendoza Reports”, the very ones that would bring the NFL to its knees like an apprentice in a Buddhist Temple.

“I’ve always been passionate about geometry and the study of three-dimensional forms.”

Erno Rubik