NBA coach Steve Kerr had major back surgery a year ago and tried marijuana twice for the pain. He said it didn't help in his case, but he talked about it last month in part to suggest that this is something that should be available to athletes to treat their ailments.

I am/was a huge football fan. I think we always were sort of afraid to admit we knew our emporor had no clothes...for fear of losing that sweet sweet product on the field. The issues have just become too glaring in the last five years though (CTE; the pillaging of public funds for new stadiums; the collegiate "minor league" system that pays everyone except the athletes...and God forbid you celebrate a touchdown in the end zone. That's the real scourge).

Anyway, Bo Jackson came out today and said he never would have played football if he knew the dangers. That's all you really have to know.

@2 -- It is pretty common to have a love-hate relationship with football, especially if you grew up with it. The same is true of boxing, of course, but in this town anyway, it is much easier to avoid boxing. Football is everywhere. though. Whether college or the NFL, this is a football town. Obviously being good at it has a lot do do with it, but there was never as much enthusiasm for our women's soccer team or basketball team, both of which were dominant. Meanwhile, we are pissed off about losing our NBA team, so we pretty much ignore a sport that doesn't involve smashing into each other (being an extremely white city doesn't help either).

The heart of the NFL lawsuit, by the way, was not that football is dangerous, but that the NFL knew about it and lied about it. I feel now that just about everyone knows about it. There was a joke during the movie Concussion where someone suggested adding a Surgeon General's warning on helmets. As silly as that seemed, I would say it is appropriate.

But lots of sports, including sports that are glorified, are extremely dangerous. High elevation mountain climbing, for example. Not only is there a very high risk of avalanche death, but the high altitudes can turn your brain to mush as well. But every athlete knows the risk, and knows what they are getting into. I really have no problem with that.

But I do have problem that a monopolistic organization fixated on bullshit image, and not the health and safety of the players. The only reason they banned weed is because it looked bad (hey NFL -- drugs really aren't your biggest image problem). Vince is right -- the NFL needs to stop testing for weed.

Obviously they should be able to use weed, but if they're doing it for brain damage, I hope they can also manage to stop playing football, because it goes downhill really fast with re-injury. Tough way to earn a living, and tough to have the time to get good enough to play professionally and also get a backup plan.

I too have a love hate with football. This year, I can't suffer the league. To heap on the crimes @2 list, broadcaster's mealy mouthed double standards for woman batterers vs. Colin Kaepernick who takes a stand for something other than jingoistic celebrations of the military and police power. Holy crap they tried to smear that guy for stepping out but some dude beats his girlfriend or rapes a woman whoa whoa! let's not rush to judgement here I think he's been through enough.

Will pot help athletes. Maybe but not with brain injuries.

Fuck the NFL.