A man holding a large binder, walks into the Powerhouse 5 Sporting Goods Store, the one on Ventura Boulevard, near Coldwater."Looking for The Flash." The man smiles.
"I think you want my Dad. That's what they called him in college. Way back when. T-Formation Half Back."
The man raises his eyebrows. "He around?"
"Not here. He doesn't come in much anymore. I'm his son, Rusty."
"Hello Rusty. Hannibal. Hannibal Joplin. I'm from St. Louis Grid Iron Supply."
They shake.
"I'm used to talking with your father, over the phone. But this time management decided we should talk to our clients face to face. And since we didn't get your usual order for football equipment, it's best I fly out here."
"Well, Dad's semi retired now. It's me and my son that really hold down the fort. My son's out at Tennis practice. So, I can help you with whatever you got."
Hannibal opens the binder. Pictures of football helmets, cleats, shoulder pads.
"Well, I guess you know we didn't order any football equipment this year. My dad is the one for inventory. But he sometimes forgets to fill out the proper forms."
"It's not the same as it was just ten years ago," says Hannibal. "We'd be flooded with orders. We were all shocked by Junior Seau's suicide. Lots of older players are starting to realize that their memory loss comes from being tackled hard too many times."
"I know what you're saying," says Rusty. "I hear it everyday. Parents come in here. They don't want there sons or daughters anywhere near football anymore. But Soccer balls, I can't keep them stocked. Track shoes, weights. Like I say, we haven't sold the football equipment you sent us last year."
"Yeah," says Hannibal. "We know the stats. Over 1800 former players have formed a class action against the NFL. They say the NFL didn't do enough to protect them from the dangers they faced while they were playing."
Rusty looks down. "I don't think the NFL has done anywhere near enough."
"And it hits all of my clients," says Hannibal. "You listen to sports shows, ESPN, radio sports talk, it's all about concussions. It gets them ratings. It effects everything we sell. If parents won't let their kids play football, where's the NFL going to get players?""Well, we all know the risk now." says Rusty. "The commissioner, Godell, comes down hard on the players that get out of line. Looks good, but, come on, word is the Football film guys pay players to perform for them. They know what the have to do the get on film. Yep, playing football is too risky. That's why my son, Rusty Jr. is playing tennis."
"I want it to be safe, so that players can live happy lives after football, but there is a time players have to accept the fact of what there getting involved with."
Hannibal closes his binder. He folds his hands on top of it.
"At a certain point," says Hannibal. "We have to put the burden on the players and not blame a team that has a lot of money.
"But a high school player gets a scholarship, and sees big time football, and all that money in the future. How can any young kid say no to that? It's an economic choice for a lot of guys. They don't think they'll ever get hurt. Nothing will happen to them."
"I'm afraid it's like boxing," says Hannibal. "It was once the most popular sport in the country. Not anymore. It's been mismanaged and got the reputation of being barbaric, and grisly. It's lost its mainstream appeal. We don't want the NFL to become a second rate game, you know, like Ice Hockey. We wouldn't sell a thing. We need a Positive Attitude toward football. Not how it ruins lives."
Hannibal puts his binder under his arm.
"Well, I appreciate you taking the time to fly out here. My wife and though long about this. The Romans had Gladiators that fought to the death to entertain the crowds. Today, Pro Football isn't a whole lot different. They don't fight to the death, but they attack other players, all for the crowd. Their deaths comes later, when no one is watching. Ugly deaths. Mental issues, Depression and Suicide."
Hannibal rubs his head. "The NFL has to change the mentality of it's players, and coaches. They have to stop paying bounties for maiming each other, or making movies of the most vicious hits. Or the whole league will spiral into relative obscurity."
They again shake hands. Hannibal takes a deep breath. He looks down at his binder.
"Maybe flag football," says Rusty. "Wouldn't that solve a lot of the problems the NFL faces?"
Hannibal looks at Rusty. "Matter of fact, we thought about that too. But, this country is way too blood thirsty to go for that." He pulls out a flag. "Like this?" He waves it in the air.
Hannibal tries to laugh, but there is only a choking sound.
They walk out on the sidewalk. "Good luck, Hannibal," says Rusty.
Hannibal looks up. "It's getting dark. Looks like it might rain soon."
"Yeah," says Rusty. "Dark clouds have been hanging around for awhile now."
As Hannibal walk away, "I'll tell my Dad you came by," says Rusty.
...............................
Help comes from:
benzinga.com/general/psychology
aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2012-05-13/dave-pear-nfl-concussion-head-trauma-lawsuit
bleacherreport.com/articles/263358-the-future-of-the-nfl
Google/Images, readabilityformulas.com
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