[mechanical_fish]

See, this is why people my age are too old to become soldiers :) I've actually got friends with chronic injuries, so I've seen what it's like. You don't "go out" when you get chronically injured, especially these days when we have decent medical care. What happens is that you spend the rest of your life in pain. Or perhaps you end up with a pain that only bugs you when you try to do something ambitious, like walk half a mile or raise your hands above your head.

The whole "flame of glory" model sounds really awesome when you're a healthy person, but you'll find that it tends to break down pretty catastrophically about two seconds after the flame goes out.

[joelhaus]

As a former college football player, I could not agree more with this comment. Years later, when the pain is shooting through your back, the only "flame" is the one you feel burning through your nervous system. It's a brutal sport and I'm more than happy to only be watching these days. For the benefit of my children, I will do everything I can to discourage them from playing too.

It's one thing to be a spectator by choice, but when you're forced into the role, it's a completely different story.

P.S. That said, thank you for reminding us of the question, "who wants to live forever" - it is perhaps the single most epic line from the 1980 film Flash Gordon.