The end of football?

[fc3]

Dead athletes' brains show damage from concussions

sing tissue from retired NFL athletes culled posthumously, the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy (CSTE) is shedding light on what concussions look like in the brain. The findings are stunning. Far from innocuous, invisible injuries, concussions confer tremendous brain damage. That damage has a name: chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

CTE has thus far been found in the brains of five out of five former NFL players. On Tuesday afternoon, researchers at the CSTE will release study results from the sixth NFL player exhibiting the same kind of damage.

"What's been surprising is that it's so extensive," said Dr. Ann McKee, a neuropathologist at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Bedford, Massachusetts, and co-director of the CSTE. "It's throughout the brain, not just on the superficial aspects of the brain, but it's deep inside."

CSTE studies reveal brown tangles flecked throughout the brain tissue of former NFL players who died young -- some as early as their 30s or 40s.

McKee, who also studies Alzheimer's disease, says the tangles closely resemble what might be found in the brain of an 80-year-old with dementia.

"I knew what traumatic brain disease looked like in the very end stages, in the most severe cases," said McKee. "To see the kind of changes we're seeing in 45-year-olds is basically unheard of."

Wait until the lawyers get into it with the NFL and the team owners. This should be a good fight.

 

[r_moss]

How do they know that their parents didn't drop them on their heads when they were babies?

 

[billandamy]

As unpopular as I may become from making this statement, I think football blows chunks anyway. Boring. That and baseball are two activities that I could never understand how anyone could actually sit and watch for hours.

PLAYING the two is entertaining, but watching?:huh:

 

[Larry&Leisa]

baseball and pro football i'll agree with you.. but I still like college football

 

[Kameroo]

Look at some of the brain-dead boxers. Yet, people still box. It's too much of a business to just throw the switch.

 

[fc3]

Look at some of the brain-dead boxers. Yet, people still box. It's too much of a business to just throw the switch.

Yeah. But now the lawyers might have a scientifically ascertained smoking gun.

 

[Uplate]

As unpopular as I may become from making this statement, I think football blows chunks anyway. Boring. That and baseball are two activities that I could never understand how anyone could actually sit and watch for hours.

PLAYING the two is entertaining, but watching?:huh:

Bill, could not agree more..so I have been addicted to watching Pro Bowling and Pro Fishing:grin:. Pro Wrestling used to be my alltime favorite until I learned it was fake.:wow:

I think Frank has a point though, lawyers might be able to make a big enough case to get billions, and even OJ might out of jail as a result of his head injuries.

 

[Woody]

This really isn't new news. One good example would be a fellow from my little town. He had great success and alot of head injuries during his career. Alot of you I'm sure know him as the Steeler Iron Mike. There are others.

 

[rondds]

The NFL is an extremely well oiled machine - likely the best model in professional sports - and thus will never die - fans are too passionate, and, despite outrageous salaries, they still flock to buy tickets, to pay cable bills and to order up Direct TV NFL packages. Whatever the asking prices are, the public will continue to pay, thus keeping the machine oiled and willing/ready to "pay" for any untimely deaths.


And, FYI, the lawyers are already ON BOARD...
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-nfl-stringer&prov=ap&type=lgns

 

[dpvandy01]

Bill, could not agree more..so I have been addicted to watching Pro Bowling and Pro Fishing:grin:.

What, you don't get the "paint drying" channel or the "Grass Growing Network"???


Pro Wrestling used to be my alltime favorite until I learned it was fake.:wow:

So are breast implants but they're still fun to look at and play with from time to time
/QUOTE]

 

[Bridog]

As unpopular as I may become from making this statement, I think football blows chunks anyway. Boring. That and baseball are two activities that I could never understand how anyone could actually sit and watch for hours.

PLAYING the two is entertaining, but watching?:huh:

Bill, just curious..Do you think WATCHING Hockey is entertaining?

 

[mrsrobinson]

As unpopular as I may become from making this statement, I think football blows chunks anyway. Boring. That and baseball are two activities that I could never understand how anyone could actually sit and watch for hours.

PLAYING the two is entertaining, but watching?:huh:

Same way I feel about that other thing they call a sport, hockey ;-)

 

[fc3]

And, FYI, the lawyers are already ON BOARD...
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-nfl-stringer&prov=ap&type=lgns

The death occurred during practice. The lawyer had a smoking gun there too. But it was formerly believed that concussions resulted in temporary injuries and there were only theories that more severe permanent injuries were possible. Now it is damn near a scientific fact. It's a small sample size, only 5 examined thus far, but all five showed significant damage. Brain damage is one of those "big wins" when it comes to jury awards.

Best regards,
Frank

P.S. Full disclosure: I don't like football. And only a few get huge salaries. A lot of player destroy themselves for a much more modest income.
-fc3

 

[billandamy]

Scantily clad cheerleaders....reason enough I think.

I have the internet. Much better stuff to see :grin:

 

[billandamy]

Bill, just curious..Do you think WATCHING Hockey is entertaining?

Actually, not all that much. I have watched a total of about 4 full games this year, and about 5 or 6 for a little while each. But it is WAY WAY better than the nothing happens for 20 minutes top two sports, imo.

Again, not to be unpopular, but I think it takes FAR more skill to play ice hockey than either of the other 2.

 

[billandamy]

Same way I feel about that other thing they call a sport, hockey ;-)

Having played all 3, albeit a minimum of the other 2, it takes a lot more skill to play on ice skates, chasing a solid rubber puck, while 5 guys are trying to kill you on an enclosed surface than to sit in an outfield and wait 20 minutes for something to happen.

Between baseball and football, Id say the only really meaningful position is the quarterback.

 

[vetteboy]

How does a quarterback play baseball ?

 

[billandamy]

How does a quarterback play baseball ?

I was pointing out that BETWEEN the two, the only meaningful position is quarterback, as the most difficult position to play in either sport.

I can see how you were confused, but try and keep up :smt001 hehe.
I guess i should edit to be "Between the two...."

 

[jrirvine1]

The end of football? No, not if you listen to what the “Shrinks” have to say. Some insist this sport is a substitute and exists to satisfy our primal urge for tribal warfare.

 

[Woody]

The death occurred during practice. The lawyer had a smoking gun there too. But it was formerly believed that concussions resulted in temporary injuries and there were only theories that more severe permanent injuries were possible. Now it is damn near a scientific fact. It's a small sample size, only 5 examined thus far, but all five showed significant damage. Brain damage is one of those "big wins" when it comes to jury awards.

Best regards,
Frank

P.S. Full disclosure: I don't like football. And only a few get huge salaries. A lot of player destroy themselves for a much more modest income.
-fc3

I don't know where your drawing the line on huge salaries but half the players in the NFL are making at least $1mil. While it's true the base wage for some rooky in 2009 is only $310,000 and that is small in comparison to the top salary, I would hardly call it modest. There are alot of people that make their living doing far harder and riskier work for just a fraction of that.