The suicide of NFL great Junior Seau has opened up a can of worms. The concussion issue has once again resurfaced and everyone has an opinion. It’s truly created a stir. The days of boasting on having your bell rung or seeing stars after a violent collision are gone.
The NFL has elected to put their head in the sand until recently, as they know the mother of all law suits is coming. Already more than 100 former players have joined in a class action suit claiming the concussion issue was never addressed properly by the NFL when they knew that the results could be devastating.
Turn on ESPN or Real Sports on HBO and there is a player who readily admits he is not right after playing football mainly because of the blows to the head he received while playing. In most cases, players were allowed to go back into competition once they were able to say their name, and players themselves devised ways of skirting the issue out of fear of losing their jobs.
NFL has made a fortune on preying on the meek. The so-called tough-guy sport has convinced players that the only way you can play is to play through it. One-time coach Jerry Glanville interpreted NFL as Not For Long if you stay hurt or linger on the sidelines.
Player have been manipulated for so many years they wear the concussion like some merit badge. These are the same ones who in a few years will not even be able to remember their name.
When Kurt Warner came out last week and expressed a concern about his children playing football, he was lambasted as being clueless. ESPN analyst Merril Hoge spoke out against Warner and his feelings, though Hoge’s own career was cut short because of sustaining too many concussions. Yes, that is what we are working with here.
The Seau suicide has not been directly linked to the multiple concussions he received, though a study is yet to be completed.
As the lawsuit continues, more players will figure out that they should be part of this landmark venture. While many will claim that the game was good to them, more will find themselves out of the game before they are 30, broke and divorced with physical challenges that will start to grow like weeds in a pasture.
The NFL has to be careful here because the lawsuits that will be spawned from this issue could be devastating. Then what would happen if parents start to sue junior league and high school football programs for not providing proper protection from such injuries?
Sign a waiver, you say? What parent would put their child in harm’s way to prove that he is tough and he can one day play in the league? My mistake on that question, as there are more than I would like to think about right now. Little Johnny could become the next Dave Dureson, who committed suicide partially due to post-concussion issues. Perhaps the next Junior Seau.
At some point something more than lip service will have to remedy a tragic issue. Then it will again go to the back burner once training camp begins. The everybody just wants the games, no matter how many lives it affects.
So long, Blues
The St. Louis Blues had the second best record in the history of the team, only to get vanquished in the second round by the L.A. Kings who should go on to win the Stanley Cup.
What’s next for the Blues? Another year of coming up short. The Blues have the second longest streak of getting to the Stanley Cup Finals and are tied with the L.A. Kings as having the longest run of not winning the Cup.
New ownership is on the way and they will have their work cut out for them as the team will need money to compete and it’s time to perhaps spruce up the building. It will be an interesting off-season for St. Louis, as the battle cry of “wait till next year” can be heard again.
NBA on TNT
Story lines are plentiful as injury and upset have been part of the first round of the NBA playoffs. The condensed schedule has worn many players down and the injury bug has bitten MVP Derrick Rose, Barron Davis, Josh Smith and others. It looks like we have Oklahoma City and Miami on a collision course for an NBA Final. It will also feature the future of the league with Durant, Westbrook, Lebron and Dwayne Wade in the mix.
The unfortunate thing is when the Finals roll around the games will be seen on ABC, which means that TNT and its pre- and post-game show will go away. The NBA on TNT has the most informative and yet funny show any sport has to offer. Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Ernie Johnson are light years ahead of any show on any network involving any sport. I will miss them. It’s must-watch TV.
Not for my money
Once again Floyd Mayweather Jr. proved that he is one of the best fighters in the world. While you can only watch him on pay-per-view these days, I have elected to take a pass on making his pockets fatter. I will only pay to see Mayweather fight one person: Manny Pacquiao. These two have verbally sparred to the point that they have run out of excuses on why they will not fight. Spare me, please. This fight should have taken place two years ago, and they should get it done before they start to gray.
