Green Bay Packers legend Brett Favre has announced that he has tested positive for Parkinson’s Disease and seems convinced that this is at least in part due to the repeated concussions and near-weekly hard hits he has taken over the course of his storied career. Can more be done to mitigate some of these risks without destroying football entirely?
Listen here on Soundcloud:
Steve has a great idea with the weight cap. Bravo Steve
I believe there are many folks with Parkinsons who have not been prone to high impact sports. It seems to be more prominent in human males. Could it be a DNA thing…? And here I am just wondering again.
A fair discussion, guys, but my golfing buddy has had Parkinson’s since his mid 60’s, and never had a concussion in his life. He was a top tier executive for a major airline, did a LOT of flying.
Seems to me I also remember a lot of discussion and blaming when the switch over was made to turf vs real live actual earth, which is much softer, especially in rainy weather.
Favre may have Parkinson’s, before blaming his forte on the field, perhaps it would be better to make a wider, more inclusive investigation.
and Tommy Kramer (QB, Vikings) says he has dementia
Scott is making a totally unfounded accusation that football causes Parkinson’s. He has criticized others for making claims that he is not aware of any evidence. As far as I know, Michael J. Fox has never played football. Personally, I stopped watching football when that jerk intentionally defamed the U.S. by kneeling during the National Anthem with no consequences, and then others promptly followed. If a sport is going to disrespect the country and those who support it, they can go to hell. It’s a game. The only thing it seems to affect is when “fans” riot after a win… Read more »
I’m sure there’s many causes of Parkinson’s, concussions may be one but my totally non athletic sister in law developed Parkinson’s that led to dementia.
Last I checked, Football has something like 95% of the most watched programs on TV. (I could be wrong, but it’s a lot, regardless). More people would watch if arms and legs fell off. Money talks. There would be few sports left in college if football money went away that supports other programs. (I can’t imagine the financial impact of Saban on the Univ of Alabama and the town of Tuscaloosa, which was a diseased armpit of a place not that long ago.) So much money involved will mean footballers will just get more brain damage. Sport and brain damage… Read more »
Actually, Scott, you might want to find a sport other than pro football so that you’re not supporting people who not only tolerate but encourage respect for the American flag and the national anthem.
I’m a big fan of PBR, bull riding,.nobody goes thru more concussions than those boys. To date I haven’t heard of any instances of Parkinson among retired riders. I’m not saying repeated injury cannot b an instigating factor but my father-in-law and his brother both passed from the disease and never participated in violent pass times. There seems to be more instances of diagnosed Parkinsons today,whether because we can diagnose earlier, there are more environmental factors, people living longer or what; we do not know. I pray for the best outcome for Mr Favre, but don’t really think football had… Read more »
Lol, when I first read your comment I thought you were saying you’re a big fan of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer. Then, in context I think you mean “Professional Bull Riders” league? Correct me if I got that wrong.
Ur right,didn’t proof read for context.lol
😉
With the development of sensors it would seem reasonable to place them in the helmets. The intensity of the hit would be recorded and records kept. After a certain threshold a player would be pulled from the game, and a lifetime tally kept which would be written into the contract forcing removal from playing the sport. Just as baseball keeps a pitch count, the importance would be to save a player for later games, expand the number playing who otherwise sit on the bench, and importantly allow the accumulation of data which would define more clearly how much stress is… Read more »
The unintended consequence of such a system would be targeting by the opposing team to hasten the departure of a critical player.
Doesn’t this happen already? Watch the hits. Intimidation is part of the game. The purpose of the sensors is to reduce the long term consequences of repeated impacts.