WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.550 align:middle line:90% 00:00:01.550 --> 00:00:03.770 align:middle line:84% Zach Easter wanted his brain studied 00:00:03.770 --> 00:00:06.900 align:middle line:84% because he thought that football had led to the pain. 00:00:06.900 --> 00:00:07.670 align:middle line:90% He was in. 00:00:07.670 --> 00:00:08.790 align:middle line:90% And for more on that. 00:00:08.790 --> 00:00:10.880 align:middle line:84% I'm joined by Reed for grave who has written 00:00:10.880 --> 00:00:14.710 align:middle line:84% a book love Zach and read the story of Zach 00:00:14.710 --> 00:00:17.820 align:middle line:84% a story a tragic one who took his own life. 00:00:17.820 --> 00:00:19.730 align:middle line:84% But not before writing some letters 00:00:19.730 --> 00:00:23.450 align:middle line:84% and asking for his brain to be donated to study. 00:00:23.450 --> 00:00:26.080 align:middle line:84% Why did you want to tell his story in particular. 00:00:26.080 --> 00:00:29.150 align:middle line:84% It was a devastating story, but it's also a vital story. 00:00:29.150 --> 00:00:33.350 align:middle line:84% I have two young boys 4 years old and almost 8 years old. 00:00:33.350 --> 00:00:36.510 align:middle line:84% And every time I'm watching football with them. 00:00:36.510 --> 00:00:39.650 align:middle line:84% I think should I let my kids play football. 00:00:39.650 --> 00:00:42.660 align:middle line:84% This book isn't an entire football screed 00:00:42.660 --> 00:00:43.970 align:middle line:90% it's not that at all. 00:00:43.970 --> 00:00:47.720 align:middle line:84% I think it's nuance because when you hear Zach Easter story 00:00:47.720 --> 00:00:50.270 align:middle line:84% you hear a young man who believes truly 00:00:50.270 --> 00:00:52.160 align:middle line:84% believes in his writings and what 00:00:52.160 --> 00:00:56.150 align:middle line:84% he told his parents that his years playing football 00:00:56.150 --> 00:00:59.570 align:middle line:84% from third grade through high school numerous concussions 00:00:59.570 --> 00:01:04.670 align:middle line:84% in football that led to his death led him to drug issues 00:01:04.670 --> 00:01:07.130 align:middle line:84% on the brain issues led to CTE which was confirmed 00:01:07.130 --> 00:01:09.310 align:middle line:84% after his death and yet at the same time 00:01:09.310 --> 00:01:12.320 align:middle line:84% Zach Easter in his own writings talks about how much 00:01:12.320 --> 00:01:14.930 align:middle line:84% he still loves football despite this. 00:01:14.930 --> 00:01:18.200 align:middle line:84% So I do hope his story is a nuanced one. 00:01:18.200 --> 00:01:22.010 align:middle line:84% It is obviously tragic but I do think it's somewhat a story 00:01:22.010 --> 00:01:24.360 align:middle line:84% that no matter how you feel about football. 00:01:24.360 --> 00:01:26.570 align:middle line:84% It should make you re-examine that. 00:01:26.570 --> 00:01:28.550 align:middle line:84% How did it impact those around him. 00:01:28.550 --> 00:01:32.470 align:middle line:84% Obviously, you know his family that it's tough on his coach 00:01:32.470 --> 00:01:32.970 align:middle line:90% as well. 00:01:32.970 --> 00:01:34.500 align:middle line:90% You tell that story. 00:01:34.500 --> 00:01:40.070 align:middle line:84% So it's a 24-year-old young man with the world was his oyster. 00:01:40.070 --> 00:01:42.800 align:middle line:84% He was a decorated soldier in the Iowa National Guard. 00:01:42.800 --> 00:01:46.280 align:middle line:84% It just graduated with honors from college. 00:01:46.280 --> 00:01:48.090 align:middle line:90% He was looking at his first job. 00:01:48.090 --> 00:01:50.480 align:middle line:90% And this happens at age 24. 00:01:50.480 --> 00:01:52.040 align:middle line:90% So it is obviously devastating. 00:01:52.040 --> 00:01:56.060 align:middle line:84% But the blessing that Zach gave his parents 00:01:56.060 --> 00:01:59.210 align:middle line:84% that he gave his two brothers that he gave his girlfriend all 00:01:59.210 --> 00:02:01.280 align:middle line:84% the people around them that he gave them 00:02:01.280 --> 00:02:03.410 align:middle line:90% a charge in his writings. 00:02:03.410 --> 00:02:04.910 align:middle line:90% It is obituary. 00:02:04.910 --> 00:02:09.139 align:middle line:84% He said, I want this to be the meaning of my life. 00:02:09.139 --> 00:02:11.480 align:middle line:84% I know some people can refer to suicide 00:02:11.480 --> 00:02:14.090 align:middle line:90% as the ultimate selfless act. 00:02:14.090 --> 00:02:16.730 align:middle line:84% But Zach it is telling in the way 00:02:16.730 --> 00:02:20.240 align:middle line:84% his parents have really accepted this this tragedy. 00:02:20.240 --> 00:02:21.950 align:middle line:84% It's really kind of a sacrifice that he 00:02:21.950 --> 00:02:25.010 align:middle line:84% feels that he's sort of martyred himself in a way 00:02:25.010 --> 00:02:27.890 align:middle line:84% so that he can help others in the future making 00:02:27.890 --> 00:02:30.060 align:middle line:90% football a safer sport. 00:02:30.060 --> 00:02:32.320 align:middle line:84% However, when it comes to making it a safer sport. 00:02:32.320 --> 00:02:33.850 align:middle line:90% It is hard to do. 00:02:33.850 --> 00:02:34.440 align:middle line:90% So right. 00:02:34.440 --> 00:02:38.190 align:middle line:84% But you know Dr. Bennett Marlo you know of concussion fame 00:02:38.190 --> 00:02:40.540 align:middle line:90% and obviously discovering CTE. 00:02:40.540 --> 00:02:43.100 align:middle line:84% He also has weighed in on that too, right. 00:02:43.100 --> 00:02:47.190 align:middle line:84% And it's more and his opinion about making an age limit 00:02:47.190 --> 00:02:49.080 align:middle line:84% as to when you can start playing football 00:02:49.080 --> 00:02:50.520 align:middle line:90% and making that decision. 00:02:50.520 --> 00:02:52.080 align:middle line:90% He has a fairly draconian view. 00:02:52.080 --> 00:02:54.990 align:middle line:84% Some people have criticized Ben in a small way 00:02:54.990 --> 00:02:57.912 align:middle line:84% because he seems more like an activist at times 00:02:57.912 --> 00:02:58.620 align:middle line:90% than a scientist. 00:02:58.620 --> 00:03:02.310 align:middle line:84% But he is you know, he was at the forefront of this. 00:03:02.310 --> 00:03:06.810 align:middle line:84% What then at a mall suggests is can't play football until age 00:03:06.810 --> 00:03:09.245 align:middle line:84% to 18 until the legal age of consent. 00:03:09.245 --> 00:03:11.370 align:middle line:84% The same age that you're allowed to buy cigarettes. 00:03:11.370 --> 00:03:15.690 align:middle line:84% That's a comparison that you hear in a lot of circles. 00:03:15.690 --> 00:03:18.240 align:middle line:84% You know, I think you and me both know 00:03:18.240 --> 00:03:19.708 align:middle line:90% if that's what happens. 00:03:19.708 --> 00:03:21.750 align:middle line:84% You think high school football teams are suddenly 00:03:21.750 --> 00:03:25.500 align:middle line:84% going to have a raucous flag football league. 00:03:25.500 --> 00:03:27.240 align:middle line:84% No, this is going to be something 00:03:27.240 --> 00:03:31.710 align:middle line:84% that will end up leading to the dissipation of football. 00:03:31.710 --> 00:03:36.120 align:middle line:84% Other people have suggested no tackle football until age 14. 00:03:36.120 --> 00:03:38.910 align:middle line:84% There are a million different suggestions on this. 00:03:38.910 --> 00:03:43.860 align:middle line:84% The truth is there are two different issues at play. 00:03:43.860 --> 00:03:45.900 align:middle line:84% One is necessary roughness and the other 00:03:45.900 --> 00:03:49.050 align:middle line:84% is unnecessary roughness and unnecessary roughness. 00:03:49.050 --> 00:03:51.790 align:middle line:84% Those are those that get you kicked out of college games, 00:03:51.790 --> 00:03:53.340 align:middle line:84% and they get you 15 yard penalties 00:03:53.340 --> 00:03:55.530 align:middle line:84% and sometimes kicked out of NFL games as well. 00:03:55.530 --> 00:03:58.180 align:middle line:84% You can legislate those out of the game. 00:03:58.180 --> 00:03:59.850 align:middle line:90% But football is a violent sport. 00:03:59.850 --> 00:04:01.230 align:middle line:90% That's why we love it. 00:04:01.230 --> 00:04:03.150 align:middle line:84% And we talk about those big concussions 00:04:03.150 --> 00:04:04.200 align:middle line:90% that come from illegal. 00:04:04.200 --> 00:04:06.420 align:middle line:84% It's perhaps the more important ones 00:04:06.420 --> 00:04:09.060 align:middle line:84% are those sub concussive hits those smaller hits that 00:04:09.060 --> 00:04:12.300 align:middle line:84% happen much more often during game when two linemen 00:04:12.300 --> 00:04:13.320 align:middle line:90% head smash together. 00:04:13.320 --> 00:04:15.490 align:middle line:84% That is the question is, I think, 00:04:15.490 --> 00:04:18.750 align:middle line:84% more of an existential question or the future of football 00:04:18.750 --> 00:04:20.148 align:middle line:90% in the coming generations. 00:04:20.148 --> 00:04:21.690 align:middle line:84% That's something that a lot of people 00:04:21.690 --> 00:04:24.000 align:middle line:84% wrestle with because America loves football. 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:27.660 align:middle line:84% The title of the book, though, is a love Zach. 00:04:27.660 --> 00:04:32.190 align:middle line:84% And you can catch that that tale as told by read for great read 00:04:32.190 --> 00:04:33.240 align:middle line:90% appreciate your time. 00:04:33.240 --> 00:04:34.970 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 00:04:34.970 --> 00:04:37.000 align:middle line:90%