Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith discuss the enormous challenge of making football safer.
HBO Sports and executive producers Peter Berg and Sarah Aubrey team up again for four new editions of the innovative topical series STATE OF PLAY, continuing with the show titled CULTURE SHOCK on TUESDAY, DEC. 2 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO. Another new edition of STATE OF PLAY debuts Tuesday, Dec. 9 – at the same time.
Shows include:
STATE OF PLAY: CULTURE SHOCK
Debut: TUESDAY, DEC. 2 (10:00 p.m. ET/PT & 9:00 p.m. CT.)
HBO2 playdates: Dec. 2 (3:00 a.m.) and 3 (10:00 p.m.)
The third new edition of the current series begins with a 30-minute documentary that explores how the National Football League, America’s most popular sports organization, is confronting the enormous challenge of making the game safer, chronicling the physical toll of the game on its players, a subject that has taken center stage over the past two years. How does the sport survive amidst a proliferation of long-term injuries and lawsuits? CULTURE SHOCK features unprecedented access to the halls of the NFL and its Players Association, gathering viewpoints of football’s business leaders and fans. The film begins with Berg revisiting a heartbreaking moment in Texas High School football history: the 2003 game between Westlake High School and Madison High of San Antonio in which Madison defensive back David Edwards suffered a paralyzing injury. Berg, who attended the playoff game while doing research, retraces the tragedy with players and coaches who were on the field that damp autumn day in Austin. Edwards passed away at the age of 20 in 2008. The STATE OF PLAY cameras visit both the NFL and NFLPA offices and conduct interviews with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell; NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith and the league VP of Officiating Dean Blandino. After the film, Berg goes one-on-one with Dallas Cowboys owner, president and general manager Jerry Jones.
