Really good fact-checking article regarding CTE and "Concussion" movie

[Bumpdaddy]

Here's a really good article that I think every sports journalist and football fan should read. It dispels many myths about CTE, and I think that's important because, as football fans, the media has been trying to sensationalize this issue to the point where we should all feel guilty for loving this sport. This article makes clear that, although CTE is real and likely harmful, the known evidence suggests its effects are not nearly as bad as the media has led us to believe.

http://www.slate.com/articles/sport...will_smith_s_concussion_and_bennet_omalu.html

I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts on the issue if you care to share.

 

[NDSMC78]

Haven't seen the movie and really have no plans to do so. I don't think that one can say that the media is sensationalizing the issue of CTE. It is a serious problem, as the suicides of Notre Dame's own Dave Duerson and Junior Seau, to name two, have shown us. All that I have read suggests that the repetitive head trauma which football players receive does result in serious and debilitating head injuries. Suggesting that CTE's effects are "not nearly as bad as the media has led us to believe" is shortsighted, I believe.

 

[Bumpdaddy]

Haven't seen the movie and really have no plans to do so. I don't think that one can say that the media is sensationalizing the issue of CTE. It is a serious problem, as the suicides of Notre Dame's own Dave Duerson and Junior Seau, to name two, have shown us. All that I have read suggests that the repetitive head trauma which football players receive does result in serious and debilitating head injuries. Suggesting that CTE's effects are "not nearly as bad as the media has led us to believe" is shortsighted, I believe.

It sounds like you haven't read the article. The media has been providing anecdotal evidence. If you string enough individual stories together a problem can certainly look monumental. But anecdotal evidence has nothing to do with science. The article points to real studies involving suicide and overall mortality rates, and former players do not have higher incidence in either area compared to the general population. In fact, former players actually live longer than their demographic peers in the general population. That fact should stun most us who have been inundated with a different narrative put out by the media.

 

[FightingIrish44]

Haven't seen the movie and really have no plans to do so. I don't think that one can say that the media is sensationalizing the issue of CTE. It is a serious problem, as the suicides of Notre Dame's own Dave Duerson and Junior Seau, to name two, have shown us. All that I have read suggests that the repetitive head trauma which football players receive does result in serious and debilitating head injuries. Suggesting that CTE's effects are "not nearly as bad as the media has led us to believe" is shortsighted, I believe.

How big of a role did CTE have in their suicides?

 

[perseverare]

Well, tackling a player does not necessarily mean anniliating him! The players can take that responsibility on themselves to try to reduce injury. There is clear over play at play. Everyone want to be the weekly highlite!

When you have increasingly bigger more powerful players taking an attitude that utter distruction is the goal there are no rules possible, there is no equipment made, to completely protect players.
Then you have the issue of players trying to hid injury and actually go 'back in there'. This has happened. Then you have the over use of meds and PEDs. Universities, Teams, Players are all knowingly part of this together.

Football is and has been a violent sport; yet there is no shortage of those volunteers to play. The reason is for some the 'sport', but for many it is seen as a road to riches! They see reward > risk. They take responsibility for their participation in a known 'risky business'.

Ultimately the colleges and NFL will need a sort of complete disclosure of the risks and dangers, and require a sign off standard whereby the athlete fully informed and advised provides a waiver as accepting responsibility.

 

[perseverare]

^continuously a D-H

his comment on an important topic, a display of his intellect!! would we expect more!

 

[echowaker]

my nieces husband is finishing his 7th year in the nfl. he had one concussion in college, thankfully none since. that said the toll on his body after 7 years is mind boggling. can't imagine how he'll feel at 50 let alone older. he knows what he signed up for but its quite a tradeoff down the road. they are set for life financially but it definitely comes with a price.