Radiolab from WNYC: American Football

February 8, 2015 8:50 PM

The most popular sport in the US is savage, creative, brutal & balletic. Love it or loathe it, it's a touchstone of the American identity.

Some of our favorite photos of Carlisle's groundbreaking football program
The before-and-after Carlisle student photos

Carlisle Indian Industrial School

Nov. 2013 article about Monet Bartell. Mel Farr.

Head injuries in football.

Youth Football Linked to Long-Term Brain Damage in NFL Players

Youth Participation in Team Sports on the Decline

posted by bq (4 comments total)

So I wasn't the only one rooting for Tank to get into synchronized swimming or anything else he really wants to do that doesn't involve hurting people and making them eat dirt? I was really impressed by how calmly he stood up to his mother and the incredulous interviewer, too. Nine years old. Jesus.
posted by maudlin at 10:22 PM on February 8, 2015 [3 favorites]

(Let me correct myself: His name is Parker, not Tank. Be awesome, kid.)
posted by maudlin at 6:18 AM on February 9, 2015

I know! I can't believe they didn't explicitly draw the contrast between a competitive - but cooperative and nonviolent sport - and making other kids eat dirt.
That's not a kid who doesn't want to lose because of computer games.
posted by bq at 6:55 AM on February 9, 2015

I thought this episode was good, and was really into the interview with Monet Edwards. First off, I don't know that I can remember ever hearing a black woman get so much airtime on NPR, let alone on Radiolab specifically. Her points were just really great: how important football has been for creating opportunities, what cultural and personal meaning it carries, and at the same time... the damage. She held both points of view really thoughtfully.

The intimate connection between football history and the Carlisle School was also news to me and really interesting stuff. Gives more context to the whole Redskins and Chiefs crap.
posted by latkes at 5:19 PM on February 9, 2015