Pictured below is Eleanor Perfetto, whose husband Ralph Wezel, a former NFL player, is suffering from early onset dementia.
Women are typically not that involved in the NFL. However, one issue that was recently highlighted was the role women are playing regarding the high rates of dementia in former NFL players. Some women, including politicians and family members of football players, have been outspoken about the need to learn more about this topic and, if necessary, implement changes to reduce risks to players. One New York Times article highlighting the prominent role that women have taken in this effort included this statement from California representative Linda T. Sanchez: “people underestimate you, and it makes you very powerful.”
It takes courage for these women to step up and speak about this topic when women do not currently hold a strong position in the NFL world. These women are trying to establish programs for members who suffer from dementia and initiate policies that increase safety standards for current players. With women arguably having more of a natural instinct to nurture, it makes sense that women would concern themselves about this topic. It was also brought up in the article that, if the roles were switched, would men be as aggressive to fight for a change?
I think what these women are doing promotes a great cause and will benefit not only the football players’ health, but also enhance the role women have in the NFL. They are fighting for something they believe in, and something that can impact them personally. They are knowledgeable on the topic and are doing everything in their power to ensure the safety of both their family members who play football and former players who are suffering from dementia.
These women are essentially pioneers in leadership in the NFL. They are fighting for something that they believe in and attempting to improve the overall quality and safety of the game, which is something everyone can respect.
HBO Sports and their "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" series have convered the topic of long ago pro football players and their suffering from repeated concussions or other injuries. The wives of these players have often been shown caring for their husbands even though the men no longer seem to know where they are or even who they are. Getting the NFL to acknowledge this was an uphill battle. The put a doctor on camera who claimed that playing pro football and brain injuries later in life were not at all related, but the NFL is taking a more realistic view now and working with people, men or women, who are trying to reduce the frequency of these problems in the future.
ReplyDeleteGreat comment Larry, and thanks for bringing up the past media coverage - it's amazing how things change, but with science advancing regarding this issue, I give the NFL credit for trying to stay in front of it. This can be seen in a number of ways, but most publicly, there was coverage this past season regarding the manner in which games are being broadcast and the importance of placing less emphasis on big hits and more emphasis on safety and athletic play.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with this entry. I feel that the comment saying that women are more nurturing than men is completely true. Women will ultimately help make the situations such as Dementia seem more problematic. Playing football can cause even more issues later in life but Dementia is a life altering problem that has been liked to playing NFL football. I like the idea that women are trying to play more of a role in the NFL and trying to take a stand. Upon many google searches I was able to find out that dementia has been linked with a lot of cases with Dementia.
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