Ben Gilbert

But it comes with cognitive dissonance for me every time I tune in, and I know many others feel the same.

Whether pro football is your favorite pastime or you think it's a societal ill, there is no denying the incredible role that it plays in all of our lives today.

Now, listeners, just like our NBA episode a couple of years ago, this is an episode on the business of football.

It's not specifically about things I learned reviewing game film or the merits of the I-formation.

Today, we're talking about the business.

Well, after you finish this episode, come discuss it with the other smart, curious, kind members of the Acquired Slack at acquired.fm slash slack.

And listeners, this is not investment advice.

David and I may have investments in the companies we discuss.

All right, David, take us in.

Where are we starting?

This is not someone dropping back in the pocket and throwing a 70-yard bomb.

I mean, keep in mind, this is four years after the end of the Civil War.

Okay, so it's soccer with 25 people on a team.

And you also have to imagine, of course, it hits close to home for him with his son, but he's sort of viewing this as, hey, the people that are best and brightest are playing this game that is actually hurting the nation.

We are cutting down people in their prime, and we kind of have to do something about that.

Oh, I didn't realize that.

And a lot of this predates even leather helmets.

People are just playing this in regular clothes.

And to underscore how much this changed things, football was exclusively a violent game to this point in history, American football.

But when we think about American football today, you're watching Monday Night Football and the beautiful popping color and all the lights and all the slow-mo.