R.I.P. Derek Boogard

[R.P.McMurphy]

This thread shouldn’t die without people reading this:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/otl/news/story?id=6598296

I have railed on in this and other threads about how serious the concussion situation is. My son brought this article to my attention. He explained his own experience with light sensitivity. I always wondered why I would walk into his room and the blackout shades would be down. Why did he want it that way? Now I know.

[antonio107]

@R.P.McMurphy

I wasn’t real clear in the post because I was thinking more of Boogard than Probert. Nevertheless, the similarities are striking. Connecting “A” to “C” is scientifically difficult.

If . . .

“A” is brain damage.

“B” is substance abuse, bankruptcy, homelessness, chronic illness and divorce.

and

“C” is death as a result of suicide, chemical overdose, early physical failure of the body of an otherwise healthy individual, or whatever. It is worth considering that “A” may lead to “C” even if it can’t be immediately proven.

It scares the hell out of me that enough anecdotal cases are surfacing among football players, hockey players, boxers, soldiers that have suffered concussions due to roadside bombs, and other cases of head trauma that we need to take a close look at this. “A” does not necessarily immediately lead to “C” but if “B” is almost always in the equation then it is something to take into serious consideration.

Did Probert die early as a result of brain trauma? Technically, as far as we know, no. However, maybe he did. His years of substance abuse certainly weren’t “good” for his heart.

Except there are lots of pro athletes who do B without A. There are broke basketball players, broke baseball players, who went entire careers without concussions. Daryl Strawberry was never concussed, was he? And he was a wife beating coke head. Jackasses i talk to tend to blame it on them being black, yet white hockey players are forcing folks to grow up and see this is a problem that can’t be hinged on any one factor.

Boogard’s death is tragic, and I think the NHL needs to do something. But if you ban all fighting and have over zealous refereeing, you get a game like the NHL all-star game, or the NFL pro bowl. Enormous scores, and boring as crap. You’d kill the NHL, or find a league that would sell it as bloodsport. Remember the WHA?

[R.P.McMurphy]

@antonio107

Except there are lots of pro athletes who do B without A. There are broke basketball players, broke baseball players, who went entire careers without concussions. Daryl Strawberry was never concussed, was he? And he was a wife beating coke head. Jackasses i talk to tend to blame it on them being black, yet white hockey players are forcing folks to grow up and see this is a problem that can’t be hinged on any one factor.

Boogard’s death is tragic, and I think the NHL needs to do something. But if you ban all fighting and have over zealous refereeing, you get a game like the NHL all-star game, or the NFL pro bowl. Enormous scores, and boring as crap. You’d kill the NHL, or find a league that would sell it as bloodsport. Remember the WHA?

I think I get your point. It’s not just white hockey players that are identifying the problem. The number of black football players is alarming. Dave Duerson is now the “poster child” of the syndrome. John Mackey, the eternal all-pro tight end for the Colts became a drooling, brain injured cast-off. Boxers, you don’t have enough paper to make a comprehensive list. Now, it is veteran soldiers who are filling the list.

Did you check out the Sports Legacy Institute website?

Yes, people without “A” go from “B” to “C” but if almost everyone that goes from “A” to "C’ goes through “B” then it is time to take a look.

The bigger problem is the number of athletes that never get to the elite level yet demonstrate the same syndromes.