Over the summer, I listened to a podcast by bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell called, “The Burden of Proof.” Gladwell argues in the episode that people have a responsibility to use their knowledge for good. However, he asks what happens when our knowledge conflicts with our interests, when evidence denounces our passions or hobbies. Gladwell discusses the importance of doing what’s right, even when it’s difficult.
Gladwell directs this dilemma at football and argues that its negatives, namely risk of traumatic brain injury, outweigh its positives, primarily career and educational opportunities. This question is far from original, but it’s important. I’d argue it’s our duty as productive Christian citizens to examine our evidence for what we believe, whether it’s our opinion on sports or our own faith.
When it comes to football, I tend to agree with Gladwell. If there isn’t a significantly safer way to play football, I think it should be banned. There is mounting evidence that football players from high school to the NFL have an increased risk of suffering from traumatic brain injuries. This brain damage can cripple these young men physically, emotionally and mentally, and I don’t think it is right to support a sport that is flat-out dangerous. For me, the evidence is proof.
Still, for thousands of young men, football represents opportunity, maybe the only tangible opportunity in their lives. Many football players claim to understand the risks of the sport and play it anyways. To them, a college degree and a change of scenery is worth the danger. I’m not a football player, so I can’t claim to know their burden.
However, I am a fan, and I know the fan’s burden. Fans are the ones who keep leagues afloat. We watch and attend games; we buy merchandise and support this billion dollar business. We have a voice in setting the tone and direction of a sport, and I believe we too often misuse it. Sometimes, we cling to our bias more than our conscious. Football has been a lightning rod of bias recently with its discussions over the national anthem, domestic violence issues and brain injuries. I don’t mind disagreement–I think it’s needed–but I despise irresponsibility.
Maybe we should end football. Maybe we should make it safer. Maybe we overblow its issues. I have my opinion, and I welcome other ones. I’m not writing this article because I want to win a debate; I’m writing because I have a duty. If I believe something is wrong, it’s my burden to have an informed opinion and to be willing to share it, whether I’m discussing sports, politics, or my faith.
My challenge is not that fans accept my point of view, but that they examine their own. If we learn to honestly examine evidence and test the reasoning behind our beliefs, we can foster mature discussions that, frankly, are sorely lacking in our society.