Englischkolumne
Sandro meets the Big Apple
When inspired to write a column about American football for October, I could not have known about the impending Corona catastrophe. I debated changing my topic. But when I read that we have an Austrian player – Sandro Platzgummer – slotted to join the National Football League (if everything goes according to plan), I decided to stick to my original topic: American football (as opposed to soccer).
The American football season and the month of October are in such a strong symbiosis, it’s hard to separate the two. Even if the rules of the game are incomprehensible, the sights and sounds and smells are so enticing! Even if you don’t know the best players’ names, just watching them makes your heart beat faster! Larger-than-life, with their gleaming helmets, enormous shoulder pads and superhuman strength, agility and speed. Who else is important? The referees – with black trousers, striped shirts, shrill whistles and bright penalty flags. The head coaches – some highly emotional, some seemingly stoic. Not to forget: the cheerleaders – so much fun to watch as they show off their gymnastic skills and fire up the spectators. Finally, the marching band – wearing smart uniforms and responsible for the half-time show. All of these and more are essential ingredients for wonderful football entertainment.
What awaits Sandro as he embarks on his American football adventure? His position is called a running back. So he will be an offensive player. He may run the ball, catch a pass or block opposing players. He has to maneuver quickly to dodge tacklers. He needs to be skilled at catching that egg-shaped ball. His blocks will be necessary in order to protect the quarterback. But wait – this is getting too detailed!
Explanations are pointless. For many Europeans, American football is simply a humble-jumble of young men banging heads and throwing themselves on top of each other. It seems too aggressive and discombobulate to be called a sport at all!
Unfortunately, recent findings show that this sport can be dangerous to its players. In spite of wearing helmets, heavy impacts to the head can lead to chronic brain trauma with disastrous results. One doctor – Dr. Bennet Omalu – made it his mission to reveal these disturbing facts. Based on autopsies of former football players, Dr. Omalu had the courage to disclose the following: The game of football puts athletes at risk of permanent brain damage!
In spite of threats to his medical career, Dr. Omalu published his findings and received an award for his research from the American Medical Association in 2016. Since then a drama movie has been made about him. In the film – Concussion – Will Smith portrays the doctor. Although criticized for inaccuracies, the movie has led to making football safer. Helmets are being modified and rules concerning tackling and blocking are being changed. Let’s hope these efforts continue.
American football is the most beloved sport in the USA. Its players are revered throughout the land. The sport rakes in hundreds of millions of dollars. Through middle school, high school, college and beyond, football is so woven into the fabric of American social life that it is impossible to imagine an October without it. And now our star Austrian footballer, Sandro Platzgummer, might be a part of all that. We want to wish him good luck in the Big Apple with the New York Giants!