Earlier this week, Malcolm Gladwel called football “a moral abomination.” (Maybe he’s right, but that comment still made me want to steal his lunch money). And while they may not use exactly the same words, at least nine former NFL players seem to share a similar opinion since they won’t let their kids play.

+ I wouldn’t let my son play football, but it was my favorite sport in high school. The story of football is complicated. To better understand it, you need to go to a 540-mile stretch of I-20 in Texas where ESPN’s Wright Thompson reveals the state of America’s most popular sport — in all its joy, regret, and insanity: 9 Exits on America’s Football Highway.

+ In the NYT, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver explains why betting on pro basketball games should be legalized. (What’s the over/under on how long it takes for this to happen?)