Analysis Of Bread And Circuses By David Ewalt

Throughout history, sports have faced many challenges on the intentions that they serve. Some people may define themselves as a person who is apathetic to sports and do not understand the purpose of them. People challenge the idea of how sports are safe and why athletes are admired as much as they are; however, there are many ideas on how they protect their players and engage the audience into what is going on. Although David Ewalt states that football is similar to “blood sports,” his statement is extreme because the sport’s motive is to build community and a safer environment for the athletes and spectators to enjoy.
In Ewalt’s article “Bread and Circuses,” he states, “It's time to reconsider violence in sports and embrace the essential humanity …show more content…
Ewalt’s comparison to “blood sports” resembles gladiator sports which used little to nothing for protection from injuries. The opponents’ safety was limited because they did not have full body coverage to protect themselves. On the other hand, football continues to improve the gear. Helmets are an important part of the sport to protect athletes from head injuries. According to Luna Shyr, “The NFL has sought help from the U.S. military, which has long studied head safety.” This shows the dedication the league has to improving the protection that is used during the game. The United States military takes headgear serious because soldiers can be exposed to harsh blows to the head; therefore, the equipment must be very durable. The NFL continues to research with the military to advance technology of helmets. Concussions happen when the head is struck by an opposing force, which causes rattling of the brain against the skull. It is important to figure out ways to avoid injuries, so research concludes that figuring out the amount of energy transported to the head during an injury can determine the amount and type of padding needed in helmets to abstain suppress the shock from collision (Shyr). Other equipment ensures protections as well to promote injuries, but the symbolization to blood sports represents the killing of individuals while the audience seeks enjoyment from it. However, the NFL is working to secure players from injuries, especially death, by demanding the need to better headgear. In addition, this will protect athletes from concussion, which can cause chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The intention of football is not to cause harm to its players, but it is to make sure that they athletes can to do what they love and be safe in the same