Tank Spencer is the host of a weekly sports talk show, “The Sports Tank,” on Asheville’s News Radio WWNC (570-AM) that airs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Spencer also serves as WWNC’s news anchor, reporter and afternoon producer. This column features posts from his blog.

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The following was posted Jan. 20:

 The media’s war on football has been building for years now.

Every few months, there is another story to fuel the fire behind the push that will ultimately destroy the game we love. 

Football, as we know it, appears to be on a short leash. The latest story grabbing headlines is former Pittsburgh Steeler Antwaan Randle El telling the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: “If I could go back, I wouldn’t.” He was referring to playing football.

Randle El could have had a different life today had he not chosen to go to college and play football, rather than play professional baseball. He describes the pains he feels every day from playing football all of those years as frightening. 

Randle El says, at 36, he has many moments of memory loss and has trouble getting up and down flights of stairs. His story is just one of hundreds like it. 

Football has long been considered America’s passion. It’s a game that employs great skill and strategy, and has a certain beauty to it. 

All of that, however, comes with a price. Yes, football is a violent game. Yes, it has its elements of danger. For all of those who fear the worst, it’s an unnecessary risk to yourself or your children. 

I think it is important that we not forget that in everything there is risk and reward. For all of the stories of regret and woe like Randle El’s, there are former players out there who see the pain suffered now as battle scars from a career path that can’t (or wouldn’t) be traded. 

Growing up I watched videos of guys like Deacon Jones and Art Donovan who reveled in the glory of being gridiron heroes. They spoke as if not only the pain they inflicted, but also the pain inflicted upon them was a memento of the “good ole days.” 

Should steps be taken to try to make the game safer? 

Absolutely. 

Should there be a conversation about the risk involved in competing on the football field? 

Most definitely. 

But let’s not act like the game is forced upon these poor, unfortunate athletes. There is a price to pay for glory, fame, and riches... and they all know it. 

Apparently, Randle El doesn’t feel now that what he sacrificed was worth it, but before we strike up the violins and play a sad tune, think about all he and others have gained from playing the game.