I have a groundbreaking theory about prolonged playing of contact sports, traumatic brain injury, and far right politics… You generally don’t hear these headlines about tennis/soccer players, or nearly as often about basketball/baseball players.
As someone who enjoys American football and hockey, it’s a damn shame that we still paint athletes as role models.



That’s true, it’s a combination of factors. A big part is the insular nature of the team and coaching as you go higher up the ladder. If you’re not thanking God in your post-win interview you’re a “locker room problem”; if you want a coaching job after you retire you’ve gotta be on good terms with the good ol’ boys network.
I do think that the brain damage does compound heavily though. I know Mormons who get out and become well adjusted people later in life; the semi-pro football players I know get more irrational and violent as the CTE sets in.