Recent comments in /f/sports

Wolpertinger77 t1_j7tdkjq wrote

Yo, me too. Was never a fan of his teams but loved watching him play. His death made me look at the whole sport differently. Then, as I recall in short order there was the bullshit with Ray Rice, and then Kaepernick. And that was it for me. Haven’t watched a game since 2015 and I don’t miss it at all.

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actibus_consequatur t1_j7tdfr8 wrote

On the brighter flipside, is disabled pitcher Matt LaChappa:

In 1996, while warming up in the bullpen to enter what would have been the first game of his season as a relief pitcher, LaChappa collapsed and suffered a heart attack. The Quakes athletic trainer performed CPR on LaChappa for 20 minutes until he was taken to a local hospital. At the hospital, he suffered a second heart attack. LaChappa survived, but suffered brain damage from the lack of oxygen and is mostly confined to a wheelchair and has difficulty moving and speaking. Since the incident, the Padres organization has signed him yearly to a basic Minor League contract so that he can maintain his health insurance.

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elScroggins t1_j7takqb wrote

I’ve known a few guys who played in the league for a time. Their experience made me realize just how many players enter and exit the NFL within 3-5 years… And just how few make a career out of playing, ultimately departing the league after a short time with limited career options.

Given the real cost of medical care, the ~$2m they take home in five years (or less, after taxes, agent fee, etc.), is really underwhelming if any significant portion goes to their own healthcare. Plus, as others have mentioned, these young athletes are typically not known for their disciplined saving and frugal lifestyle.

Lastly, because every player exits the league with some degree of CTE, medical attention to it’s effects shouldn’t be based on a claim to be approved or denied. It should be a guaranteed right long after retirement.

We’ve all seen the physics behind a single NFL hit. There is no morally justifiable way to pretend these athletes are not going to experience trauma while on the job. Permanent access to care should be part of their contract, and should protect them even after they stop working in such a dangerous field.

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BadAtExisting t1_j7t6wwc wrote

Can confirm. Independent contractors. Some week to week, some for the entire season depending on the specific job. Payed by the team in the city they work in (locals are hired for all but the talking head jobs)

ETA: I work in broadcast adjacent scripted TV/film but have friends who do sports broadcasting. As it would turn out, if you want to travel, golf is where it’s at. Not just anyone can find a golf ball hit off the tee with a super long lens and keep it in frame (even when jumping from one camera to the next it’s tough). A good friend of mine is a NFL camera operator for Tampa Bay Buccaneers home games

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