Super Bowl XLIX is over, but off-the-field discussions about the sport, concussions, and the fate of college and professional football continued on this weekend’s episode of Aspen Institute Radio. The two-hour radio show airs every Saturday and Sunday on SiriusXM Insight (channel 121). Each episode will dive into the topics that inform the world around you. Here in our weekly Listen Longer posts, we’ll recap each episode and show you where you can read, watch, and listen to more. Don’t have SiriusXM? Try it free for a month here.
Football and Concussions
“For many years, the NFL has been in denial, and saying this is not football related… But it’s been proved a lot of these things are football related. So now the league is addressing it in a way I think they should address it… but the denial has been very hurtful to a lot of players.” — Jim Brown, whom some call “the greatest professional football player ever,” discussed head injuries at the 2012 Aspen Ideas Festival.
What are other perspectives on safety and the NFL? Check out more discussions in our archives.
- Taking Sports Seriously: A can’t miss episode of the TV show “Aspen Institute Presents”
- At What Age Should Children Play Tackle Football? A moderated discussion with Dr. Robert Cantu, neurological surgeon and author of “Concussions and Our Kids”
How the NFL serves the next generation
NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith joined an Aspen Institute roundtable to discuss the role of the NFL in setting a positive example for younger players and fans.
How did this conversation play out in the media? Read two take aways.
- Slate: Why Do We Let Kids Play Tackle Football? We Shouldn’t
- Washington Post: NFL Needs to Get Seriousness of Concussions Through Its Head
New York Giants Coach Tom Coughlin in Conversation
Taylor Branch: The Fate of Football
Taylor Branch is an American author and public speaker best known for his work about the American civil rights movement. He also penned “The Shame of College Sports,” an influentual cover story of The Atlantic in October 2011. He joined us to discuss football, the King years, modern politics, and much more.
Tune in next week to Aspen Institute Radio on Saturday and Sunday, 1-3pm ET on SiriusXM Insight (channel 121) when we celebrate African-American History Month.
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