"Kill 'Em! Crush 'Em! Eat 'Em Raw!"

1. John McMurtry's essay begins with a personal anecdote about the results of playing sports - especially football - since childhood. When he can no longer ignore his physical condition, he seeks treatment and is hospitalized. How does the anecdote lend credibility to his argument?
          -The anecdote at the beginning establishes ethos, because he is talking about something that personally happened to him. Anyone can talk about a topic, but it is not as credible until the speaker is experienced in that field. Since he had been involved in football for the majority of his life, his claims are believable, for he has lived through it.

2. Paragraphs 5-7 compare and contrast football and war. Is this comparison convincing? How does the comparison appeal to logos?
          -McMurtry logically compares football to war. He pulls multiple aspects of both and makes them one and the same. For example, he talks of the football and war terms, such as "field general," "long bomb," "take a shot," and "front line." It is not difficult to see how these all apply to both, for they are similar not only in words, but in meaning. Although there are many similarities, McMurtry also pointed out the differences. His main point was that in football, injuries excite the crowd -- it's what they have been waiting for all night! However, casualties and deaths of war are looked upon with grief from the country as a whole.

3. In Paragraph 9, the tone shifts. How is the shift achieved? Explain how the shift mirrors a transition in McMurtry's argument?
          -From the beginning, he is giving football a bad reputation. He talks of how dangerous it is, and how chronic and infinite the injuries can be. On the other hand, he also supports it and expresses his love of the game. However, in Paragraph 9, he switches to a more adamant attack on it. He still supports it, but he really opens the eyes of readers to how much the game and concepts itself really do hurt people.

6. Consider the language of football, especially the words shared by the military. What sports other than football have a militaristic side?
          -Football is probably the most similar to military. However, all team sports including a ball is similar to the military. Every member is important, and every member must work together to be the most successful. These sports also have strategies that they must learn that better their chances of achieving their goal, just like in war.