Organized sports in North America are expected to generate $83 billion in revenues this year, but decades of profit have come at the cost of athlete safety. High-profile tragedies and a growing outcry from prominent players who refuse to continue sacrificing their well-being for athletic success have spurred a national discussion on the need to better safeguard players. The public has demanded that high school, college and professional athletes be protected from brain injuries, mental health issues and sexual assault. As a result, sports medicine programs have undergone a paradigm shift, providing more doctors and emergency equipment on the sidelines, and leagues are offering mental health counseling and safer headgear, aided by technological innovations from private companies. Congress also authorized a national commission to hold sports organizations accountable for sexual predators in their midst. The new systems and programs are making a difference, but critics say players are still vulnerable and that major sports organizations have not done enough to protect the long-term health of athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]