Wearing helmets hasn't always been popular in sports. Before the 1950s, NFL players wore thin leather caps; nothing that would offer serious protection from brain injury. The
National Hockey League (NHL) didn't require their players to wear plastic helmets until
1979. Today, it would be seen as reckless and irresponsible to play football or hockey
without a helmet. Today, we see skateboarders, snowboarders, and skiers wearing
helmets. It's finally cool to be safe. What causes these trends or changes in sports? Are
we driven to change because we want to be safer? Do laws influence our decisions? What
about the "cool factor"? How much does popular culture influence our decisions to play
smartly and safely?