Mike Ditka Advocates Juniors Play Golf, Not Football

[boogielicious]

http://www.golfdigest.com/story/mike-ditka-recommends-kids-ought-to-try-golf-instead-of-playing-football

Not a bad idea. 

Quote

By Joel Beall

As increasing evidence sheds light on the physical and psychological risks of football, many parents are facing a dilemma: "Should my kids play?"

The health toll seemingly makes this decision clear. However, the game is so ingrained into our culture that saying "no" is not always a straightforward answer.

Yet a prominent -- and unlikely -- voice in football is telling parents to keep their kids out of the game.

Mike Ditka, a Hall of Fame player and Super Bowl winning coach, is famous for his gruff, fearsome disposition. When proponents wax poetic about the gridiron ideals of toughness, grit and will, "Iron Mike" is the figure that comes to mind.

Surprising, then, that this "man's man" doesn't know if children should participate in football.

In a story for the Chicago Tribune, Ditka is interviewed about the passing of Mike Pyle, a Chicago Bears legend and friend of Ditka's. On Monday, it was announced that Pyle suffered from CTE, which is a progressive degenerative disease found in people with a history of repetitive brain trauma.

Writer Jared S. Hopkins included some outtakes on his Twitter account from Ditka, including Ditka's advice to parents.

"People ask me the question. I would never discourage my son from playing football or baseball or anything else, but I would probably say, 'Hey, listen, you ought to try golf,'" Ditka said. "Seriously. And I think that's what's going to happen to a degree. And that's just the way it's going to be."

The story comes at an interesting time, as ESPN -- Ditka's employer -- released a report on Tuesday that the NFL blocked millions of dollars to fund a CTE study.

 

[PEZGolf]

13 minutes ago, boogielicious said:

http://www.golfdigest.com/story/mike-ditka-recommends-kids-ought-to-try-golf-instead-of-playing-football

Not a bad idea. 

 

 

[PEZGolf]

I played football in the 8th and 9th grades and not after that. Instead, I concentrated on basketball, golf, and track. One incident made up my mind for me. Our freshman team was scrimmaging the varsity, and I was a defensive halfback. On one play, one of the toughest players on their team had the assignment to block me. When I saw him race toward me, I ran away! He screamed at me----"You are a coward!".                                                      When my son and daughter were in school , we encouraged them to play soccer as well as golf. They both did well in those sports, and now play golf as adults.  Meanwhile, some of the boys in their classes suffered serious injuries while playing football. All of us are happy that John did NOT play football! If God blesses him and our daughter with boys, I am certain they will NOT play football!

[mcanadiens]

To be darn sure, parents have to monitor things very closely if their children do play contact sports. I played a few years as a kid and then quit because playing OL wasn't my idea of a good time. In that spot and being a big kid, I never got hurt. I saw enough though.

It does seem rather inevitable that the talent pool will shallow out and football will go the way of boxing. Boxing largely predates me, but there used to be boxing gyms all over the place from what the old timers tell me. I think my area has exactly one now and probably a lot of the people that go there are looking for fitness and not sport. 

[RussUK]

Sounds good in princple. Golf would teach discipline and patience. Problem is the youth of today want things quickand easy. The playstation generation (other consoles are available) like much of their sport done in the virtual world. 

Still, id like to see it in schools over here in the UK

[iacas]

6 hours ago, boogielicious said:

The story comes at an interesting time, as ESPN -- Ditka's employer -- released a report on Tuesday that the NFL blocked millions of dollars to fund a CTE study.

That's disappointing. Fully to be expected - the NFL is a business, blah blah blah - but disappointing.

I've wondered how long football will remain "football" because of this kind of stuff. Then again, there's the Goldman Dilemma.

[Pretzel]

http://www.golf.com/tour-and-news/mike-ditka-says-juniors-should-try-golf-instead-football-2

Interesting take on the concussion issue that's come up in the NFL. Apparently Ditka is a golfer?

Whoops! My brief search to see if this had been posted was apparently not thorough enough.

[PEZGolf]

7 hours ago, RussUK said:

Sounds good in princple. Golf would teach discipline and patience. Problem is the youth of today want things quickand easy. The playstation generation (other consoles are available) like much of their sport done in the virtual world. 

Still, id like to see it in schools over here in the UK

PEZ SEZ-----we, the parents and grandparents, need to SET THE RULES and do activities with our youngsters.  WE are their bosses, NOT the other way around!

 

 

 

[Patch]

Always liked Ditka. Sounds like good advice if you ask me. 

[jamo]

My grandfather was an all-state fullback in high school who ended up going to Florida State on a football scholarship. I never played football as a kid (though I get asked all the time if I did). It wasn't until recently that my parents told me he was secretly glad I didnt, because he thought football gave him some injuries (mentally as well as physically) that he never recovered from. 

It would be tough, but if I have kids I don't think I'll let them play football. 

[RussUK]

14 hours ago, PEZGolf said:

PEZ SEZ-----we, the parents and grandparents, need to SET THE RULES and do activities with our youngsters.  WE are their bosses, NOT the other way around!

 

 

 

I understand where you are coming from, as a parent myself, but if they dont enjoy it then they shouldnt be forced to do it.

I certainly dont want to become the sort of parent you see at kids soccer games screaming at their kids because they missed a shot on goal.

Yes, it is down to us parents but it needs to be done in a fun way with no pressure on them, that way they are more inclined to want to learn and play the sport.

[RandallT]

On 12/23/2015 at 7:15 AM, boogielicious said:

http://www.golfdigest.com/story/mike-ditka-recommends-kids-ought-to-try-golf-instead-of-playing-football

Not a bad idea. 

 

I just hope this won't dilute the intelligence of golfers.

Spoiler

Just a reference back to this: