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Essayist Quits as NFL Fan After Seau Death

'I'm out,' writes Atlantic's Ta-Nehisi Coates

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted May 3, 2012 6:58 PM CDT

(Newser) – The medical examiner in San Diego confirmed today that Junior Seau committed suicide with a gunshot to the chest, reports the San Diego Union-Tribune. The family has not decided yet whether to donate his brain to researchers to see if he suffered damage from football. Seau's former wife told the AP that he sustained concussions as a player, but she didn't know whether they contributed to his death.

The suicide, though, is enough for Ta-Nehisi Coates to call it quits as a longtime football fan. "I'm not here to dictate other people's morality," he writes in the Atlantic. "I'm certainly not here to call for banning of the risky activities of consenting adults." But he says it's clear that football isn't ready to confront what's happening to its players. "I'm out." (Click to read another writer's view that this could become a common refrain.)

A football with Junior Seau's number sits in front of a memorial in the driveway of his house in Oceanside, Calif.
A football with Junior Seau's number sits in front of a memorial in the driveway of his house in Oceanside, Calif.   (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
Junior Seau in 2010.
Junior Seau in 2010.   (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 28 comments
George-Jetson
May 4, 2012 5:43 AM CDT
A few year ago, 60 minutes had several ex NFL players now in their 50's & 60's. These men were a mess, it was sad to watch. I had a friend who boxed from the early 50's through the late 60's. At 50yrs old, he was a mess too. You can't get your head pummeled & expect no long term damage.   Obviously this man was deeply troubled. The family should allow his brain to be examined.
pg13
May 4, 2012 2:19 AM CDT
Better reasons to skip football: it siphons taxpayer money to build the owners stadiums and the owners get the profit.   high schools build stadiums with giant electronic scoreboards while class sizes get to 30+ and in trailers the Saints bounty program intentionally injuring players, going after their ACL
shaboom
May 3, 2012 10:42 PM CDT
Oh heavens. You're going to quit being a fan? Jeepers. Hon, for a threat to work, there has to be some stakes to it.
 

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