Concussions

Last week ex-NHLer Keith Primeau discussed the problems of concussions as part of a panel investigating the negative consequences of head trauma in sports. Primeau expressed a desire to have a better understanding of what exactly constitutes a concussion, and what are both the short and long-term causes of such trauma. He also expressed fears of growing old prematurely and suffering from Alzheimer's as a result of a half dozen known concussions he'd suffered throughout his career.

He has joined the growing list of professional and amateur athletes who have pledged to have their brains donated to science.

In the past, professional athletes would go to great lengths to hide the fact that they had suffered a concussion, fearing that it might reduce the amount of playing time or dissuade management from re-signing the individual.

In hopes of not making a sweeping generalization of sorts, many men, especially professional athletes, have more pride than is good for one person. This pride manifests itself when it comes to injuries and how they're interpreted by the team, management and fans.

These are but a few reasons why in the past, pro athletes have chosen to disregard the consequences of trauma to the head.

The scientific understanding of concussions has also evolved over the last decade, and now even Major League Baseball has a mandatory 7-day disabled list for its athletes that suffer a concussion. Without a doubt, American football and hockey are clearly the flag bearers for the concussion issue in this new era of introspective reasoning, but studies show that a large number of soccer players unknowingly suffer concussions, especially younger children, as a result of heading the ball improperly.

Minnesota Twins 1st baseman and British Columbia native Justin Morneau missed the better part of last season with concussion-like symptoms stemming from a collision with Jays shortstop John McDonald. Only the January was he able to begin fielding balls and participating in light workouts.

Professional leagues have, and must take further steps, to ensure the safety of their players.

Sidney Crosby has been out since suffering trauma to the head in Pittsburgh's first two games in January. He continues to experience the same concussion-like symptoms that shelved Morneau for nearly 8 months. The NHL desperately needs its Ovechkins and Crosbys to continue scraping-by in the sun belt states that have showed an aversion to the game despite Commissioner Gary Bettman's vast expansionary moves.

The leagues need their stars to be fit and ready to play, and beyond that, fit to lead prosperous lives after they retire.

The Dave Duerson story is a sad reminder of the negative consequences of veiling traumatic injuries suffered while playing.

In today's Globe & Mail, sportswriter Allan Maki put together a well written piece about the Canadian Football League, its stance on concussions relative to the University of North Carolina study and the grim reminder that pro athletes face lives of pain and mental anguish following their playing days.

CFL veteran Doug Brown says it best in the article - enjoy.

Life Expectancy of 55 Shocks CFLers Into Push for Safety - Globe & Mail