maybe each episode is as biased and misleading as this was, I just didn't know the subject matter as well, but that was awful
shareWhy was it awful in your opinions?
I'm not a fan of football, but I thought it was entertaining. The way the sandwich metaphor came in full circle was pretty cool.
How was it biased and misleading?
shareI can't recall the entire episode, but going off what I remember..
the whole aspect of playoffs not determining the best team, making it seem like it is a faulty system because of that. Whoever wrote that does not understand the very fundamental drive behind competition and sports. Its in the motto of some major leagues.. Any given sunday. Sports and playoffs are about being the best at the right time, coming through the in the clutch. Its not the best team over the course of the season, its who finishes playing the best against the best. Every major sport has a divisional/conference title (most with regular and postseason) and an overall title. The playoff aspect of any team who was good enough during the season can win a championship is literally the epitome of why many love sports.
And the sandwich analogy was just ridiculous. Players are a symbol of the team, a team that pays them, trains them, supports them. The team and city should 100% get the credit for winning the championship. They build the team so they can be in the best chance to win. yes, great players contribute, but the team wins the game. That team doesn't cease to exist once the player leaves (there is no I in team)
he implied dehydration isn't a risk at all, as if kids can't get thirsty playing sports and dont really focus on that thirst. I don't have stats, but would be willing to bet that more athletes die of dehydration/heat stroke vs overhydration. The show painted a totally different picture using sports drink as a target but addressing a problem with thinking we need more hydration when we do, which I find misleading (and yes sports drinks definitely promote their product in a bias way, but thats every product ever marketed)
i remember he also went into concussions in the show, which is a huge topic that needs more than a segment in a 1/2 hour tv show. while I do agree on the severity of the issue, he painted a picture that unless we live in a completely impact free life, our brains are going being negatively effected by it. Again, I do agree this is a very serious topic that needs addressing, but the advice from the show was a bit too extreme and alarming. yes, it would be better to have zero physical trauma, but not at the expense of not living life. Kids are going to play, most will get banged up in the process. let kids be kids. Take away contact organized sports if you want to protect them from harm, but don't shelter them to the point of not experiencing anything active. They should be separate conversations
Yes, a lot of us know a not-so-good team can win, but the point is that too many people take it to heart. (Like the many riots that have happened because a team won/lost and the fans can't control their feelings and go on a destructive rampage) "My team won this year so my team is the best", it's just not true because they won on pure luck. Too many people take sports personally and get very defensive about their loyalty to their team, when their teams don't care about them, they care about the money. That's why many teams will move states (a lot of them to California) because they don't get enough tax money to fund everything they want. We as tax payers, give more to the team than they give to us for "winning" every few years or so. The teams aren't concerned about 'doing right by their hometown', they're concerned about making money for their business. Adam even mentions it's OK to root for a team, just know that you're rooting for a brand, not someone who is loyal to your city.
I haven't watched this episodes since it's air date and I can't really remember the sandwich analogy.
Dehydration: I typed in "how many professional athletes die of dehydration" into google and 4 out of 10 results were about over-hydration. I've actually known someone who died of water intoxication and he was just a runner. It's true, you should only drink when you're thirsty, and people who exert themselves probably do need more of it but companies who sell water and/or sports drinks try and push us into constantly drinking so that we buy and drink more of their products. I feel like this one should be easy to understand; He is NOT saying dehydration doesn't exist, he is saying companies are trying to make money therefore tell us we need to constantly be buying their products, and that's not ok because it can be just as unhealthy.
I don't believe he ever said anything about not living life.. everyone has accidents, they are unavoidable. But competitive parents who force their children into aggressive sports IS avoidable and are just hurting their kid in the long run. Brain injuries add up, they don't just go away. And with a competitive contact sport like football, you're just asking for your kid (with their still-developing brain) to get it knocked around. It's unnecessary. That's why he ended the episode with the kids playing tag football rather than tackle football. It's good for kids to get exercise to keep them healthy, but they don't need a sport that is only going to mess them (or their brain) up in the long run.
Most the points you brought up are just pretty easily explainable to me, I think you are getting too offended by them.
tldr: Sports teams would rather have your money than your loyalty. Over-hydration is a problem because of ads that make you feel like you are dying of thirst. Don't sign your kid up for injuries when their brain isn't even yet completely grown and they can't make decisions on their own.
My impression of the episode was much, much different. I don't disagree with a lot of what you said, but I also got different implications to what Adam said.
On the team basis, comments like "My team won this year so my team is the best" is definitely earned through a deal of luck, but its why they play the game, winning the meaningful game at the meaningful time gives you the right to make that statement.. It's a defining aspect of sports.
The sandwich analogy was made to about the bread being the team name and the meat being the players, but they get traded regularly and retire, so is that sandwich still really the same sandwich.. I think that is a horrible take away from organized sports. It says to me that adam and the creators of the show do not fully understand why people follow the sports they do.. Which is totally fine and their prerogative, just don't make a show 'educating' people on the subject.
"It's true, you should only drink when you're thirsty, and people who exert themselves probably do need more of it but companies who sell water and/or sports drinks try and push us into constantly drinking so that we buy and drink more of their products. I feel like this one should be easy to understand; He is NOT saying dehydration doesn't exist,"
Watch the episode again, he DOES imply dehydration doesnt really exist and that its hardly ever the case they need more water and sports drink (not to mention he squashed electrolytes in these drinks, which is actually not true.. not saying he isn't right about how unhealthy their are, but replacing electrolytes is a helpful and can come from sports drinks, though I prefer how it was back in my day, orange slices at half time)
"I don't believe he ever said anything about not living life.. everyone has accidents, they are unavoidable."
While he didn't directly say that, he certainly implied it. He took the research past major impact sports and showed how there are permanent negative effects from almost every contact, even bumping into people on the street, and pushed for as little contact in everyday life as possible. He brought to a level that can cause an overprotective parent to panic
He doesnt imply that dehydration doesnt really exist, he says it isnt as big a threat as people make it out to be.
shareAdam: "Dehydration is not as big of a threat as people make it out to be. Just drink when you are thirsty and you'll be fine."
You: "So you're saying that dehydration doesn't exist at all and we don't need to drink anything when being active. Are you crazy??"
Adam: "Er... no, that's not what I said at all. I'm just saying that you should drink when you are thirsty."
Later:
Adam: "Football can cause long lasting brain injuries. We should probably come up with some kind of alteration to the game to make it a bit safer."
You: "You're saying we should stop playing football completely??!! Are you mad?!!!"
Adam: "Er... no, I'm just saying let's make it safer..."
You: "Why do you hate football, Adam, WHY??!!!"
RE: Dehydration.
Read the book "Waterlogged" by Tim Nokes.
It's all about hyper-hydration and the ill effects it has on the body.
For eons we have used the most sophisticated scientific test to let us know when we are dehydrated: thirst.
As a species we have walked, hiked, and hunted in extreme climates. However, for some reason, in the past 50 years, we are being told that for our safety, we need to drink Gatorade during regular intervals while we play games...or else suffer the consequences.
The show never said dehydration wasn't a threat. The show said that if they just let kids drink when they're thirsty they'll be fine -- because the human body is exceptionally good at making us want water when we're in need of it. The show addressed the issue of people over-emphasizing and over-pushing water.
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Shooting has started on my latest movie: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5531336/
When I saw the part on dehydration the first thing I thought of was the movie Junction Boys.
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