Opportunity Cost

Perhaps, then, there is sufficient reward in playing football.  Perhaps the reward is the physical fitness gained through participation in the sport (the entire set of posts on football and obesity is, right now, laughing at that assertion—along with the section on football and illegal drugs).  The teamwork?  The discipline and dedication required to perform well?

Here is where it is essential to recognize the idea of opportunity cost.  Are there alternatives to football that provide those same rewards, without as many risks?

Certainly so.  Most sports build fitness as well as or better than football.  Any team sport requires teamwork and can teach it at least as well, and quite often better, given the less regimented and more free-flowing nature of many team sports.  Any sport at all requires discipline and dedication to perfect.  Very, very few sports are as damaging to the individual and to society as football.  There are better alternatives.

Ergo, smart people don’t play football.