America's new favorite pastime, soccer, was born from a bizarre chain of events. Soccer began when a soccer player got tired of just kicking the ball, so he picked up the ball and ran toward the goal. His actions of picking up the ball and running with it gave rise to a new European sport, rugby, which was soon brought to American shores and was slightly modified, the shape of the ball and a few other small rules. The sport was organized into a league and gave birth to the NFL (National Football League). The NFL got off to a slow start but has grown in popularity, currently with an annual revenue of $9 billion. Playing football comes with significant costs, including deterioration in physical and mental health, as well as time spent preparing before match day. Which can raise several questions: “Why suffer for a game, is it worth it? Is it worth the fame? What is the cost? I believe football should have stricter regulations for treating injuries, while also educating players about how devastating a concussion can be, as well as other serious injuries that commonly occur while playing football. A big part of the NFL's power over players is their contracts and their money. Thousands of young men aspire to be part of a professional team, just for the glory, money and title. They are not aware of the lasting conditions that come with playing football and their everlasting effects. If anything, the NFL has gone out of its way to discredit new research linking football to CTE. CTE stands for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which is a disease that has the same effects as dementia and Alzheimer's disease, except for the deposition of tau protein in distinct areas of the brain, which separates C... . middle of paper. .....ks cited Farmer, Sam and Melissa Healy. “Settlement would end NFL concussion lawsuit.” Los Angeles Times: A.1. August 30, 2013. SIRS Issues Researcher. Internet. October 29, 2013. Kravitz, Bob. “There is nothing wrong with keeping NFL players safe.” Indianapolis Star: C.1. October 24, 2010. SIRS Issues Researcher. Internet. October 29, 2013. League of Denial: the concussion crisis in the NFL. Real. Michael Kirk. Prod. Michael Kirk, Jim Gilmore and Mike Wiser. By Mark Fainaru-Wada and Steve Fainaru. PBS. PBS, October 8, 2013. Web. November 10, 2013.Preidt, Robert. "Group of surgeons weighs in on preventing football-related injuries." HealthDay Consumer News Service August 6, 2010: Viewpoints Reference Center. Internet. October 29, 2013. Swift, EM “One Big Headache.” Sports Illustrated 106.6 (2007): 22. SUBJECTResearch. Internet. October 29, 2013. Trotter, Jim. “Shot by blow.” Sports Illustrated 113.15 (2010): 28. SUBJECTSearch. Internet. October 29. 2013.