Thanks for posting, mountaincat.
At last year’s Grey Cup, then-CFL commissioner Jeffrey Orridge said there was no conclusive evidence linking hits to the head and brain disorders, such as CTE. That comment generated much scorn, since it was made months after the NFL admitted in a hearing before the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Energy and Commerce that there was a connection between head shots and CTE.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/ ... e35571845/
... the NFL admitted in a hearing before the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Energy and Commerce that there was a connection between head shots and CTE.
... To the athletes in general who are thinking about playing contact sports – either think twice about playing the sport or really be cognitive of the risks and make sure they’re being an advocate for better equipment and safer playing conditions.” -- Chad Klassen
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-c ... -1.4192736
"The reason we link these two things is because it's been reported in boxers, hockey and football players. It is assumed that because they have suffered a lot of blows to their head, that is what is causing the CTE."
Recently departed CFL commissioner Jeffrey Orridge refused to acknowledge a link between football concussions and CTE, but Klassen hopes the results of his father's autopsy will help push the league to take the issue more seriously.
"The NFL has done a little bit better job than the CFL but hopefully those two leagues become a little bit more conscious of how their players are being impacted," he said. -- Dr. Lili-Naz Hazrati
http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news ... ted-damage
Us kids were small — I would have been five or six years old — and he definitely changed,” said Chad, a sports reporter with CFJC-TV in Kamloops. “He would anger very easily and snap on you. (At the time) I think he was totally unaware of why that was happening.”
Concussion and its downstream effects touch every member of the family, he said.
“To this day my brother, sister and myself feel the effects of how he treated us,” he said. “There were good times, but it could also be terrifying.”
An analysis of Klassen’s brain by researchers at the Krembil Neuroscience Centre’s Canadian Concussion Centre found signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a neurodegenerative brain disorder linked to multiple concussions.
“The autopsy seems to make those links with his behaviour and it seems to me that the effects of CTE were there,” said Chad Klassen.
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Thanks for posting, mountaincat
Obviously, a most important subject. Health has to be a top priority.
I think most football fans believe modern helmets provide protection. IMO they become weapons. They are the head of the hammer, delivered by incredibly strong, large athletes. Both the hitter and hittee are at risk.
Change does happen. Back in the 1960s I recall reading an S.I. article about a college team that had football athletes, in full gear, line up 5 yards apart, charge each other, and butt heads at full speed. That could not be done nowadays.
Yes, the athletes choose to play the sport. And some risk takers would put their lives on the line for livelihood or excitement or dopamine. What will bring about change? Lawsuits will bring change.
Re leather helmets ... A tackler would not use his head as they do nowadays, if the only protection he has is a leather helmet. They would focus more on the shoulder. Shoulder injuries? Yup. But that is a much lesser cost than brain injuries.
This fan wants the CFL to continue (NHL and NFL also). It seems evident that huge lawsuits and injury settlements could threaten the existence of the CFL.
And this fan does not like the exposure to brain injuries these athletes endure. One sympathizes with the athletes and with their families.
John Madden's Team Policies: Be on time. Pay attention. Play like hell on game day.
Jimmy Johnson's Game Keys: Protect the ball. Make plays.
Walter Payton's Advice to Kids: Play hard. Play fair. Have fun.