In 2015, Will Smith's much-hyped film Concussion didn't live up to the hype. The film, which was based on Dr. Bennet Omalu's research on the relationship between football and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, wasn't a box-office hit, and critics didn't exactly give it two thumbs up. But what bothers Smith the most is that the film didn't have a bigger impact on the sport.
“I thought Concussion would have a bigger impact. I knew it would be hard because people love the game, but the science is so overwhelming, and it’s something that we really need to take a look at,” Smith told Vanity Fair. “I thought that people would get behind the mission of that. I was surprised that people were absolutely like, 'Nope, I’m not stopping watching football, so I don’t want to know.'”
Over the last several years, CTE research has shown that 87 of 91 deceased former NFL players suffered from CTE, and 131 of 165 individuals who played football tested positive.
Football is considered an American pastime, and with the money the NFL is making, of course a film about Omalu's life isn't going to make an impact. But I guess handing out "safer" football helmets is worth something (sarcasm)?
People want their Monday, Sunday and Thursday night football, and all of the possible health issues that may plague their favorite fantasy-football players down the line don't matter. One has to wonder how many college players already suffer from CTE, even before the small percentage make it to the pros.