The 1960’s and 1970’s football heroes are now old and aging. Some have passed away and a few have taken their own lives. Football in the 1960’s and 70’s allowed players to return to the game with concussions due to the lack of awareness of the long-term effects of multiple concussive injuries. It’s time that we take a look at these players and see how they’ve fared as they age.
ReadMark Gastineau, a retired defensive end with the New York Jets, revealed that he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson Syndrome and Dementia. Gastineau played 1o years with the New York Jets.
ReadIn December 2015, Zac Easter shot himself ending what he called his “Silent Struggle” from the effects of multiple concussions he sustained from football. A month earlier, Zac had planned to end his life either by his own hand or suicide-by-cop, but was stopped and hospitalized. The reality was that Zac had tired of watching himself deteriorate and he knew that the cause of his problems was CTE or Chronic Trauma Encephalopathy.
ReadThe fight over high school football is ongoing, after all it’s the American sport. The reality is that the American sport exposing athletes to high risks of brain injury which may not appear until later in life. We know how boxing has lost it’s fan base and we readily acknowledge the risk of that sport, but somehow football remains immune from players, parents, coaches, fans and school officials accepting the risks of football.
ReadGary Bettman, a Commissioner for the National Hockey League (NHL) has vehemently denied the connection between concussions and CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy). The NHL has been brought to court by former players who contend that the league did not convey to them the risks of the sport and supported their exposure to concussions. The brains…
ReadRyan Hoffman, 41 ,a former lineman at University of North Carolina, drove his bicycle into oncoming traffic this past November and died on the way to the hospital. At 6′ 5″ and 287 pounds Ryan Hoffman was an imposing adversary on the line. Homeless for over 15 years, Mr. Hoffman drifted into the mental health…
ReadTyler Sash, a 27 year old, died in September from an accidental overdose of pain medication. Sash had played for the New York Giants as a Safety. Dr. Ann McKee of the Boston University School of Medicine confirmed that the former NFL player had Stage 2 Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy or CTE which is unusual for…
ReadCTE or Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is usually confirmed after the death of an individual by autopsy. Recently PET scans have been used for the earlier detection of Tau plaques in specific areas of the brain which will support intervention for the cognitive, behavioral and physical symptoms which characterize CTE. People who experience multiple concussions like…
ReadChris Borland, a 24 year old linebacker for the San Francisco 49r’s announced his retirement. Voted as the NFL “top rookie” Borland gained recognition in his short career and was slated to take a key spot in the upcoming season. Borland is walking away from a salary for next season in excess of $500,000. Borland…
ReadFootball is all over the news this week with the upcoming Superbowl game. This is America’s sport with the highest television viewership and a large economic engine is attached to the football at every level. Kids want to play the sport and are supported in joining youth leagues at an early age by their parents…
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