On Sunday afternoons the local “news” station — largely affiliated with University of North Carolina news and sports and editorials by the community of know-it-all PhDs with too much time on their hands — has a radio show hosted by two physicians from the UNC health care system interviewing other doctors on the radio about current research and public policy.

So last week the topic was head injuries and football and low-and-behold the three doctors all agreed that the findings from the studies are clear and horrible.

So then they started in about what they should tell parents in response to all of the questions about whether children should be allowed to play tackle football as youngsters (as young as 6-8) and later in their lives. All admitted that they did not know what they would tell their own young sons when they wanted to play. All admitted they were big football fans and acknowledged the hypocrisy in enjoying sports that cause devastating brain injuries.

Duh.

To the people playing doctors on the radio (and in their jobs) I ask what part of the following is confusing to you?

The research is clear.

If you play football at any level you have a significant chance of suffering a brain injury that could destroy your life.

If you do not play football you will not have a brain injury from football. [Stay away from hockey and soccer “headers” as well.]

While you are at it … Please oh please tell me what the great rewards from football are so I can understand why children, teens, college students, and adults should be exposed to the horrible consequences of brain trauma.

Brain injuries from football are 100% preventable. Aren’t doctors always the first to say we need to prevent diseases and conditions before they happen?

Don’t play football.

If the doctors of our esteemed medical school affiliated health care program cannot figure this one out (for their own children and their patients), it’s time to send these folks back to third-grade for remedial education.

Don’t play football.

AND, don’t let your kids play football.

Oh, in case you wonder … I have dementia. It sucks. It’s pretty life changing.

Do the former NFL players experience the same thing? Well, a lot of them come to UNC for services (the NFL has a publicly-announced contract with UNC for studies and clinical services) and I share a physical therapist with some and a secondary consulting neurologist with some. Since they see the same health care providers I do, I assume that their problems are similar to mine.

Don’t play football.