BagNewsSalon: "Unnecessary Roughness: Football as a Reflection of American Culture"

Photo: LM Otero / AP.

Caption: The Gatlin Brothers, displayed on a video screen, sing the national anthem before the Cotton Bowl NCAA college football game between Oklahoma and Texas A&M at Cowboys Stadium on Friday, Jan. 4, 2013, in Irving, Texas.

Photo: Bill Haber / AP.

Caption: Florida linebacker Jon Bostic (1) hits Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) hard enough to dislodge his helmet in the first quarter of the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013, in New Orleans.

Photo: Patrick Smith / Getty Images.

Caption: Linebacker Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens is introduced before playing against the New England Patriots at M&T Bank Stadium on September 23, 2012 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Photo: Ken Jarecke.

Caption: University of Nebraska defensive tackle Baker Steinkuhler muscles through the Chattanooga offensive line on his way to the quarterback at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.

Photo: Scott Strazzante / Chicago Tribune.

Caption: University of Alabama cheerleaders do confetti angels after their school’s 42-14 win over Notre Dame in the BCS National Championship Game at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on Monday, Jan. 7, 2013.

Photo: Carl Fischer.

Caption: This cover, by American art director and designer, George Lois, is part of 32 of Lois-designed Esquire covers exhibited by the Museum of Modern Art.  It shows NY Giant guard Darrell Dess, in mood of a Renaissance painting, praying for survival.

Photo: Ben Margot / AP.

Caption: In this photo made Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011, football fans fight in the stands during a preseason NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders in San Francisco. After two men were shot and wounded following the San Francisco 49ers-Oakland Raiders preseason game, the NFL and the mayors of the two cities jointly called for an end to “intimidation” and acts of violence at sporting events.

Photo: Eric Gay / AP – 1999.

Caption: Then Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky reaches out to defensive back Brandon Scott (45) as he is carried by players, including Jason Wallace (88), after they defeated Texas A&M in the Alamo Bowl, in San Antonio, Texas, in this Dec. 28, 1999, file photo.