24 Year Old Local Kid With CTE

[HogueNation]

Not sure if this got posted here or not but if not, it's definitely worth the read. In this week's Esquire Megazine there's an article about Zack Easter and his struggle with CTE. Scary part is Zack didn't play past High School. Here's a link to KCCI's interview with his Mom, if someone is able to find the digital article from Esquire, could you please share it in this thread?

http://www.kcci.com/article/indianola-mans-struggle-with-cte-hits-national-newsstands/8526309

 

[Stewo]

It's scary how big of an issue this is.

 

[Istate]

It's scary how big of an issue this is.

Exactly

 

[AuH2O]

I think it's also been in the public eye enough where people are realizing there isn't a technology on the horizon to solve it. When it first was big news people thought is simply an impact problem that could be reduced with better helmets. I have a buddy that coached middle school in Des Moines. He said participation has absolutely cratered in the past 3 years.

 

[Stewo]

I think it's also been in the public eye enough where people are realizing there isn't a technology on the horizon to solve it. When it first was big news people thought is simply an impact problem that could be reduced with better helmets. I have a buddy that coached middle school in Des Moines. He said participation has absolutely cratered in the past 3 years.

It'll be interesting to see how this effects the college/pro game within the next 5-10 years.

 

[Mr Janny]

I think it's also been in the public eye enough where people are realizing there isn't a technology on the horizon to solve it. When it first was big news people thought is simply an impact problem that could be reduced with better helmets. I have a buddy that coached middle school in Des Moines. He said participation has absolutely cratered in the past 3 years.

My wife is absolutely adamant that our son will never play football. My feelings are that if he truly has a passion for it, I'm not going to stand in his way, but I will make him fully aware of the risks. I also realize that his mother's feelings will most likely win the day.

 

[jburke]

I used to work with this kids mother way back, so when ever I hear other facets of this story it breaks my heart. I never knew this until that past few years....

 

[Rabbuk]

If he had 7 documented concussions why was he even allowed to strap on a helmet. I know people who have had 3 and been told another one could be fatal.

 

[brianhos]

My wife is absolutely adamant that our son will never play football. My feelings are that if he truly has a passion for it, I'm not going to stand in his way, but I will make him fully aware of the risks. I also realize that his mother's feelings will most likely win the day.

All of my kids have quit football. Just not worth it anymore.

 

[Mtowncyclone13]

this seems like an issue that can be greatly reduced if we change some very basic rules of the game. instead of discussing ways to hit people differently or inventing better helmets we need to change the idea that one inch of space is the difference between winning and losing. rugby is dangerous but significantly less dangerous because a full-on collision to prevent a once-inch gain doesn't exist. one ince is meaningless and is the absolute difference in safety.

I don't know but a few things come to mind.
-Every 10 yard marker is a first down - once you're past the marker an extra foot won't really matter. less incentive to crash into guys on both ends.
-X downs to get down the field. that extra yard won't matter as much if you have 7 downs left rather than one down left.
-Each team starts on the 25 and there are no kickoffs.
-Runningback can not put his head down into a defender
-Once you're "wrapped up" the whistle is blown. No fighting for that extra yard.
-No tackling receivers in the air. period.
-No leaving the feet to tackle.



sure, these might be seen as "non-manly" changes in a manly sport but without kids to play the sport dies. you can adapt or die as a sport and to not address these "wussification" things is to kill the sport you love.

 

[cowgirl836]

My wife is absolutely adamant that our son will never play football. My feelings are that if he truly has a passion for it, I'm not going to stand in his way, but I will make him fully aware of the risks. I also realize that his mother's feelings will most likely win the day.

I'm thoroughly hoping that the obsession with youth sports has popped by the time we get to that point. Or that our children inherit my sports skills. They start up here in 4th-5th grade and there's just no way.

 

[weR138]

It'll be interesting to see how this effects the college/pro game within the next 5-10 years.

Lot of layers to this onion...the NFL is desperate to expand their brand. They're saturated in the US which is why they're so interested in Mexico City as a gateway to Latin America and London as a gateway to Europe.

But who's going to play ball after all of those who can afford not to quit doing it? The poor, that's who.

 

[CloneinWDSM]

this seems like an issue that can be greatly reduced if we change some very basic rules of the game. instead of discussing ways to hit people differently or inventing better helmets we need to change the idea that one inch of space is the difference between winning and losing. rugby is dangerous but significantly less dangerous because a full-on collision to prevent a once-inch gain doesn't exist. one ince is meaningless and is the absolute difference in safety.

I don't know but a few things come to mind.
-Every 10 yard marker is a first down - once you're past the marker an extra foot won't really matter. less incentive to crash into guys on both ends.
-X downs to get down the field. that extra yard won't matter as much if you have 7 downs left rather than one down left.
-Each team starts on the 25 and there are no kickoffs.
-Runningback can not put his head down into a defender
-Once you're "wrapped up" the whistle is blown. No fighting for that extra yard.
-No tackling receivers in the air. period.
-No leaving the feet to tackle.



sure, these might be seen as "non-manly" changes in a manly sport but without kids to play the sport dies. you can adapt or die as a sport and to not address these "wussification" things is to kill the sport you love.

Football is not going to die

 

[chuckd4735]

Football is not going to die

I dont think it will die, but in 10-15 years, the quality will be way down, and I would not doubt it will be a much different game.

 

[Clones8686]

Football is not going to die

It depends on your definition of "die", I'm sure no one in the golden age of boxing ever thought it would get to the point that it has. It's not dead, but compared to its heyday it may as well be.

 

[NATEizKING]

I'm glad football is a slow sport so I quit by middle school; soccer, hockey, and basketball were way more fast paced. My parents didn't grow up football fans and let me play what I wanted, I won't afford my kids the same choice.

 

[AuH2O]

Football is not going to die

Die, no, but as I said earlier participation by kids is dropping like a rock. I loved FB in HS and 10 years ago would've been crushed if my son didn't want to play. Now I'm hoping he doesn't. It's crazy, he's in 3rd grade and someone wanted him to join a tackle league. CTE aside I think that is absolutely ridiculous.
As 8686 said, boxing might be a good comparison.

 

[heitclone]

Football gets a ton of attention for this, rightfully so but I think its interesting that for girls, soccer and basketball are where they are seeing the highest concussion rates. Girls are almost twice as likely to get a concussion as boys playing the same sport. This study is a bit old but I think the most eye popping number was a 15% annual increase in concussion rate. Is any sport safe?

http://www.medstarsportsmedicine.org/research/which-youth-sports-cause-the-most-concussions/#q={}

 

[dualthreat]

26 years old and I still play. Wouldn't give it up for the world. Sad that not everyone feels that way, but I understand. It's a violent game and certainly not for everyone.

 

[shagcarpetjesus]

I'm thoroughly hoping that the obsession with youth sports has popped by the time we get to that point. Or that our children inherit my sports skills. They start up here in 4th-5th grade and there's just no way.

The sad thing is, there are kids who start even before 4th and 5th grade. I know there are teams who practice at a park near my home who have 3rd grade boys (8 year olds) who play full pads, tackle football. I've been there before during practice and watched them run blocking drills where they are smacking helmets. And yes, I know they shouldn't be smacking helmets if they are using proper technique. Some might think it's "cute", but it makes my skin crawl.

I don't know why the NFL hasn't come out and made a huge push for flag football among the youngest players. There is so much physical development in kids bodies in those early years. Subjecting preteens to that kind of physical contact just doesn't seem rational to me. You can learn most of the basic physical skills necessary for football just by playing flag. Introduce full physical contact later, maybe middle school for those that want to continue.