Gridiron Heroes

Gr 7 Up—In 2001, Chris Canales, a high school senior near San Antonio, TX, suffered a broken neck in a touchdown-saving tackle, and he was paralyzed below the shoulders. After another high schooler was similarly injured a year later, Canales and his father, Eddie, realized they could help, founding Gridiron Heroes to support families of catastrophically injured athletes. The documentary covers a lot of ground, occasionally losing focus. Much is made of football as a "uniquely American sport" and its value in cultivating leadership skills. This message is sometimes overshadowed by highlight reels of devastating hits and tackles, as well as interviews with young men who have suffered spinal cord injuries playing the game. Some of the most persuasive commentary comes from actor and former UCLA defensive back Bobby Hosea, who organizes camps to train young players to tackle with their heads up to avoid injury. This is a stark contrast to retired NFL defensive end Deacon Jones, who speaks frankly about his mission to "destroy" opposing players. The film is narrated by Taylor Kitsch, the Canadian actor who played a Texas high school running back on the Friday Night Lights TV series, and includes interviews with football luminaries Mike Ditka, Jerry Jones, and Al Michaels. There are obvious training and sports medicine applications, though they are limited strictly to football.