ESPN's "League of Denial" - on line link

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

[url]http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/league-of-denial/[/url]

I have to admit, over the past few years I've begun to wonder. I stopped watching boxing a long time ago because I didn't want to feel like I was rooting for brain damage.

I wonder if football will still be king in America in 10 or 15 years. I've read a lot of parents are keeping their kids out of the sport nowadays for the TBI issue ...

[Jigawatts]

ESPN? Ha, I don't think they'd report something like this.

[Slapstick]

I watched the Frontline piece and it is pretty disturbing...

A lot of Steelers and Pittsburgh-centric themes...starting with the deaths of Mike Webster and Terry Long...continuing to SB XLIII where the Boston University "brain bank" attempted to make their findings public in Tampa...even a high school player from the Pittsburgh area who suffered the same brain injuries as the NFL players had...

It was truly sad...

Furthermore, the way the NFL tried to sweep it under the rug, stonewalling the scientific findings as much as they possibly could, until they were called before Congress...after that day, there was the illusion of a turnaround in the NFL's thinking...

The NFL once issued players a pamphlet telling them that playing in a game after suffering a concussion was OK...I know that the older players knew what they were getting into to an extent, but the NFL told the players a lie, flat out...

[Slapstick]

Oh, and the reporters who were behind this piece have worked for ESPN...

[sarahjoe]

until they were called before Congress...after that day, there was the illusion of a turnaround in the NFL's thinking?

[Slapstick]

until they were called before Congress...after that day, there was the illusion of a turnaround in the NFL's thinking?

There was a tacit admission on the part of the NFL regarding the negative effects of concussions. One of the medical professionals sent before congress was Dr. Ira Casson, a doctor involved with the NFL committee in charge of evaluating MTBIs (mild traumatic brain injuries). Years earlier, Casson made some very strong statements regarding concussions and how they weren't a problem.

The NFL initiated a study on the effects of concussions.

The guy who designed it? Dr. Ira Casson.

The guy who carried out the physical examinations of the players? Dr. Ira Casson.


Why put this particular doctor in charge of the investigation? It made me wonder....

[RobinCole]

Recent poll by Bloomberg says half of Americans don't want their sons playing football. That may give some clues about where the game will be in 10-15 years.

Soccer, anyone? But wait. Before we go THAT far, maybe conduct an experiment: Play without helmets. Teach and require form tackling. As in using your arms and seeing what you hit. Yes, sounds scary and will require changes in attitude by players, fans and networks ( no more glorification of big hits). Jack Ham can head up the Department of Form Tackling.

[Slapstick]

That game is already played. It is known as Rugby.

Rugby players need to be good tacklers...the emphasis is on getting your opponent to the ground rather than making a big hit on your opponent. Also, no pads or helmets to use as a weapon...

[RobinCole]

Speaking of no pads or helmets, we played that way on the sandlots when I was a kid, before adults organized "leagues" for kids. I realize that 8th-graders aren't 200+ pounds and running 4.5 40s, but FWIW, I don't recall any head injuries. In fact, I don't recall any injuries at all.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Speaking of no pads or helmets, we played that way on the sandlots when I was a kid, before adults organized "leagues" for kids. I realize that 8th-graders aren't 200+ pounds and running 4.5 40s, but FWIW, I don't recall any head injuries. In fact, I don't recall any injuries at all.

You didn't play the way we did. We had several kids get knocked out cold. I'll never forget seeing a bigger kid snap a smaller kid's leg. I never had any serious injuries, but was mighty sore and got a lot of shirts ripped up. Our "unorganized" football games were loads of fun, but they could be brutal, too.

I find it hard to believe they can't improve helmets to make the game safer. Put a thick layer of soft (foam?) on the outside so that players quit using their helmets as a weapon, That would result in a substantial reduction in concussions and other head/neck injuries, IMO.