http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football...me-dementia-conspiracy-is-a-stain-on-the-gam/
I know there is an attitude within football that is resistant to health and safety, "it's a man's game", "it's a contact sport" and all those cliches. I know we mocked sir Alex for suggesting a ball to the head could have killed Van Persie. I know when the idea of heading the ball being banned has come up before people aren't particularly fond of the idea.
But there is growing evidence that constant head traumas are leading to serious long term health problems. Should we really let machismo and "never done me no 'arm" attitudes prevent action to protect people from themselves?
It's not just Alzheimer's, which the telegraph points to in their article.
The NFL, another sporting institution that prides itself on manliness is starting to wake up to the affect concussion can have. (There was a recent film with Will Smith about one doctor's struggle to get the NFL to take concussions seriously - though being a hollywood film it focused on one person and ignore the work of a lot of others - Including Chris Nowinski and the Concusion Foundation he set up after his pro-wrestling career was cut short by concussion - as was Bret Hart's)
It's not just that there appears to be a larger frequency of alzheimers and other dementia-like illnesses in footballers, but that the brain trauma caused has almost certainly led to some serious incidents in other people (i.e. NFL, wrestlers, etc) that impacted in major ways.
No, I'm not suggesting every time a player heads the ball he gets a concussion, or causes damage, or even that we are definitely going to get an extreme example in football as the above ones in NFL, but there are a lot of knocks to the head over the cause of a season, and a career, that can have a cumulative effect.
Isn't it time to listen more to the science and not simply brush this under the carpet and wallow in denial by sweeping aside proper discussion and action with the usual "'elf and Safety gone mad, innit" or "it's all right the balls are lighter now"?
I know there is an attitude within football that is resistant to health and safety, "it's a man's game", "it's a contact sport" and all those cliches. I know we mocked sir Alex for suggesting a ball to the head could have killed Van Persie. I know when the idea of heading the ball being banned has come up before people aren't particularly fond of the idea.
But there is growing evidence that constant head traumas are leading to serious long term health problems. Should we really let machismo and "never done me no 'arm" attitudes prevent action to protect people from themselves?
It's not just Alzheimer's, which the telegraph points to in their article.
The NFL, another sporting institution that prides itself on manliness is starting to wake up to the affect concussion can have. (There was a recent film with Will Smith about one doctor's struggle to get the NFL to take concussions seriously - though being a hollywood film it focused on one person and ignore the work of a lot of others - Including Chris Nowinski and the Concusion Foundation he set up after his pro-wrestling career was cut short by concussion - as was Bret Hart's)
It's not just that there appears to be a larger frequency of alzheimers and other dementia-like illnesses in footballers, but that the brain trauma caused has almost certainly led to some serious incidents in other people (i.e. NFL, wrestlers, etc) that impacted in major ways.
CTE was found in the brain of Jovan Belcher, who murdered his girlfriend before committing suicide; Shane Dronett, who pulled a gun on his wife before turning it on himself; Chris Henry, who fell from a truck during a domestic dispute with his girlfriend; and Junior Seau, who was arrested for domestic violence and later killed himself. Dave Duerson, Ray Easterling, Terry Long, Adrian Robinson and Andre Water all committed suicide. Tom McHale and Tyler Sash died from an accidental drug overdose. Justin Strzelczyk spoke to friends of "evil" voices before driving into oncoming traffic the following day. He died instantly when he collided with a tractor-trailer.
NFL star Paul Oliver had never experienced any signs of aggression until several head injuries turned him "into a monster," according to his widow.
"He's never been like that. And every time after, he would always say, 'I don't know what's wrong with me. Something's wrong with me.' He's like, 'I can't control myself anymore.'
After Paul Oliver committed suicide, CTE was found in his brain.
This is just from the NFL roster. Professional wrestler Chris Benoit murdered his wife and son before killing himself. He, too, had CTE. Most recently, BMX legend Dave Mirra committed suicide. Once again, CTE could be to blame.
Manziel's off-field issues have mostly been blamed on drug and alcohol abuse -- although those with CTE often use drugs and alcohol to self-medicate.
(Huffington Post)NFL star Paul Oliver had never experienced any signs of aggression until several head injuries turned him "into a monster," according to his widow.
"He's never been like that. And every time after, he would always say, 'I don't know what's wrong with me. Something's wrong with me.' He's like, 'I can't control myself anymore.'
After Paul Oliver committed suicide, CTE was found in his brain.
This is just from the NFL roster. Professional wrestler Chris Benoit murdered his wife and son before killing himself. He, too, had CTE. Most recently, BMX legend Dave Mirra committed suicide. Once again, CTE could be to blame.
Manziel's off-field issues have mostly been blamed on drug and alcohol abuse -- although those with CTE often use drugs and alcohol to self-medicate.
No, I'm not suggesting every time a player heads the ball he gets a concussion, or causes damage, or even that we are definitely going to get an extreme example in football as the above ones in NFL, but there are a lot of knocks to the head over the cause of a season, and a career, that can have a cumulative effect.
Isn't it time to listen more to the science and not simply brush this under the carpet and wallow in denial by sweeping aside proper discussion and action with the usual "'elf and Safety gone mad, innit" or "it's all right the balls are lighter now"?
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