On Friday, New York Rangers winger and enforcer Derek Boogaard was found not breathing in his Minnesota apartment at 6:15 pm. When paramedics arrived, Boogaard was pronounced dead at the scene. As of this point in time, foul play is not suspected, although it is expected to take two weeks for the autopsy to come back.
Boogaard's sudden death at the age of 27 came while he was getting back into shape after a concussion and a shoulder injury sustained during a fight. At a point in time where the NHL is attempting to limit shots to the head and promote more awareness of concussion symptoms, it would be interesting to see he Boogaard was suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. Bob Probert, an enforcer who died back in July, suffered from CTE when he died of a heart attack at age 45. Reggie Fleming, another enforcer from back in the 1960's, also had CTE.
CTE, for those who are unaware, is a progressive degenerative disease that is found in individuals who have been subject to multiple concussions and other forms of head injury. CTE is most typically found in people that played football and ice hockey, or were wrestlers or boxers. Symptoms include signs of dementia, such as memory loss, aggression, confusion, and depression - all of which may appear within months of the head trauma, or many years later.
If Boogaard is proven to have suffered from CTE at the time of his death, this leads to many interesting questions. While hockey is inherently a violent sport, there are ways to limit the possibility of sustaining a concussion. The best way would be to make a mouthguard mandatory. In fact, the concept that a custom fitted mouthguard would help to prevent concussions has been around since 1964. A study was conducted over three years that focused on high school athletes with a history of concussions, with these players playing either in college or beyond. The study showed that while the 31 players chosen had approximately 50 concussions prior to wearing the mouthguards, they had only three total while wearing them. Numerous other studies have come to the same conclusion.
While there is no proof at present that Boogaard suffered from CTE, it would not be a surprise. Given the role he played on the teams he played for, he fit the classic profile of someone who would be likely to acquire this disease. Despite this, his family is trying to separate concussions from the reason Boogaard died, until this can be ascertained.
Should Boogaard have been suffering from CTE, and his cause of death was related to it, will this be the stimulus required to get professional sports to take a serious look at concussions? While they pay a lot of lip service to them presently, very little is actually being done to prevent them from occurring. It's pathetic that it may take the death of a player during his career to kick these leagues into action.
Showing posts with label concussions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label concussions. Show all posts
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Holy Aesop, John Madden's Still Alive!!!
After watching John Madden painfully attempt to be a sports broadcaster over the past few years before he drove his bus off into the sunset, it seemed that the universe had left him behind. Madden had become a caricature of himself, almost like the doddering old uncle that still thinks he is as sharp as he had been twenty years ago. While everyone else saw the decline, Madden never seemed cognisant of his depreciated skills.
Yet, Madden has just displayed a sign that he may be more on top of things than everyone had thought. While he appeared as though he was completely unaware that Eisenhower was no longer in the White House, let alone that football was not being played with leather helmets and quarterbacks may as well be wearing skirts for how often flags fly if someone sneezes near them, maybe his brain was in hibernation mode.
Showing a grasp on the reality of football, Madden has demanded, and gotten, a couple of significant changes in the Madden 2012 game. First, concussions are going to be treated as serious injuries. "Concussions are such a big thing, it has to be a big thing in the video game," Madden told The New York Times in a telephone interview. "It starts with young kids -- they start in video games. I think the osmosis is if you get a concussion, that's a serious thing and you shouldn't play. Or leading with the head that you want to eliminate. We want that message to be strong." To further this message, the announcers, Cris Collinsworth and Gus Johnson, will explain the severity and danger of a concussion when it is announced that the player will not return to the game.
Next, Madden 2012 will feature a greater emphasis on proper tackling. Helmet to helmet hits and head first tackling are going to be excluded, in an effort to make the game more of a tool to learn the proper way to play football for younger kids. The executive producer for Madden 2012, Phil Frazier, said that while it is not intended as a public service announcement, it is a means to educate younger kids to the dangers of concussions.
Good for Madden. More often than not, sports video games to not treat injuries with enough seriousness. Knowing that he still has enough left on the stick to realize that such things need to be paid attention to is a good thing for the video game industry, and for sports in general. Now if only the NFL meant it when they say they are trying to promote player safety, instead of just paying it lip service.
Yet, Madden has just displayed a sign that he may be more on top of things than everyone had thought. While he appeared as though he was completely unaware that Eisenhower was no longer in the White House, let alone that football was not being played with leather helmets and quarterbacks may as well be wearing skirts for how often flags fly if someone sneezes near them, maybe his brain was in hibernation mode.
Showing a grasp on the reality of football, Madden has demanded, and gotten, a couple of significant changes in the Madden 2012 game. First, concussions are going to be treated as serious injuries. "Concussions are such a big thing, it has to be a big thing in the video game," Madden told The New York Times in a telephone interview. "It starts with young kids -- they start in video games. I think the osmosis is if you get a concussion, that's a serious thing and you shouldn't play. Or leading with the head that you want to eliminate. We want that message to be strong." To further this message, the announcers, Cris Collinsworth and Gus Johnson, will explain the severity and danger of a concussion when it is announced that the player will not return to the game.
Next, Madden 2012 will feature a greater emphasis on proper tackling. Helmet to helmet hits and head first tackling are going to be excluded, in an effort to make the game more of a tool to learn the proper way to play football for younger kids. The executive producer for Madden 2012, Phil Frazier, said that while it is not intended as a public service announcement, it is a means to educate younger kids to the dangers of concussions.
Good for Madden. More often than not, sports video games to not treat injuries with enough seriousness. Knowing that he still has enough left on the stick to realize that such things need to be paid attention to is a good thing for the video game industry, and for sports in general. Now if only the NFL meant it when they say they are trying to promote player safety, instead of just paying it lip service.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Major League Baseball - Model Sports Organization???
For years, Major League Baseball has been criticized, and rightly so, for it's inability to get out of it's own way. They have had a multitude of labor stoppages over the past 40 years (8, to be exact) - the most infamous being the one in 1994 that cancelled the World Series. Baseball took the brunt of the wrath spewed forth by opportunistic congressmen when the steroids scandal erupted thanks to Jose Canseco's book. There is the enduring image highlighting the general ineptitude of baseball, with Bud Selig looking confused as the All-Star Game ended in a tie.
And yet, suddenly baseball appears to be ahead of the other sports in terms of handling their issues. Since 2002, there has been labor peace. Even though their collective bargaining agreement is up after this year, there are no threats of a lockout, unlike the NFL and the NBA. In fact, both Selig and the player's union are optimistic that a new CBA will be agreed upon in the near future.
Despite the bad rap that the MLB gets for steroids and performance enhancing drugs, the truth is that baseball not only has the strictest penalties for using such substances, but they appear to have fewer players using them. It is not uncommon to hear that a football player got suspended for PEDs, yet no one really seems to care. Meanwhile, if a baseball player gets caught, it's a travesty and an affront to everything that society holds sacred. Little bit of a double standard there, and a completely undeserved one.
And now, the MLB finds itself on the forefront of the concussion issue. Although concussions are a much bigger problem in the NFL and NHL, baseball has created a new seven day disabled list strictly for players who have gotten a concussion. This way, rather than lose a player for 15 days when they could be ready to play in a week, the team can get that player back when he is healthy. With all the talk of the NFL trying to force an 18 game schedule down the player's throats, why has this concept not been brought up in their meetings? Why has the NHL not adopted something like this, so that players that will be gone for a game or two do not take up a roster spot?
Bud Selig and Major League Baseball make for easy targets when one looks to rip a sports organization for mismanagement. However, baseball actually has it's act together. Shocking, is it not?
And yet, suddenly baseball appears to be ahead of the other sports in terms of handling their issues. Since 2002, there has been labor peace. Even though their collective bargaining agreement is up after this year, there are no threats of a lockout, unlike the NFL and the NBA. In fact, both Selig and the player's union are optimistic that a new CBA will be agreed upon in the near future.
Despite the bad rap that the MLB gets for steroids and performance enhancing drugs, the truth is that baseball not only has the strictest penalties for using such substances, but they appear to have fewer players using them. It is not uncommon to hear that a football player got suspended for PEDs, yet no one really seems to care. Meanwhile, if a baseball player gets caught, it's a travesty and an affront to everything that society holds sacred. Little bit of a double standard there, and a completely undeserved one.
And now, the MLB finds itself on the forefront of the concussion issue. Although concussions are a much bigger problem in the NFL and NHL, baseball has created a new seven day disabled list strictly for players who have gotten a concussion. This way, rather than lose a player for 15 days when they could be ready to play in a week, the team can get that player back when he is healthy. With all the talk of the NFL trying to force an 18 game schedule down the player's throats, why has this concept not been brought up in their meetings? Why has the NHL not adopted something like this, so that players that will be gone for a game or two do not take up a roster spot?
Bud Selig and Major League Baseball make for easy targets when one looks to rip a sports organization for mismanagement. However, baseball actually has it's act together. Shocking, is it not?
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Best sign yet for football in 2011
In a ruling that signaled a major blow to the NFL, US District Judge David Doty agreed with the NFLPA in regards to the NFL receiving $4billion in television revenue, regardless of whether or not football was played this upcoming season. In his decision, Doty stated that the NFL violated it's agreement with the NFLPA, stating that "The record shows that the NFL undertook contract renegotiations to advance its own interests and harm the interests of the players."
By having the television contracts set up in such a way where the NFL, and the various teams, would be paid whether or not a football game was played, the owners guaranteed that a lockout would happen, especially when they had an out clause in the previous collective bargaining agreement. After all, why would someone pay the players to perform when they can just shut the gates and turn a profit?
Lost in all of this is that the players WANT to be playing football in 2011. The biggest issues are that the owners want a bigger piece of the revenue pie, and they want 18 games so that they can 'give the fans what the fans want'. However, amongst people that identify themselves as NFL fans, only 45% are even slightly in favor of the change, and a mere 18% strongly favor it. So, in other words, 82% of NFL fans don't want it, or are lukewarm at best to the concept.
Furthermore, expanding the NFL season to 18 games will further decrease the future health, and length of career, for the players. However, this does not seem to matter to a commissioner and a league that continually talks about 'player safety'. If they are so concerned with the future health of the players, why are they trying to expand the season under a flimsy excuse to disguise their profit motives? Why do they continue to promote and market DVDs of defenseless players getting blown up? Hypocrites.
Hopefully this ruling will force the hand of the NFL and the commissioner, so that there will be a season in 2011. With the NFL being at the apex of it's popularity, why risk a disruption over a few million dollars? It's short sighted, reckless, and hazardous to a sport that has become the most watched in the nation. Should a lockout actually occur, it will be interesting to see how the league recovers - if it does at all.
By having the television contracts set up in such a way where the NFL, and the various teams, would be paid whether or not a football game was played, the owners guaranteed that a lockout would happen, especially when they had an out clause in the previous collective bargaining agreement. After all, why would someone pay the players to perform when they can just shut the gates and turn a profit?
Lost in all of this is that the players WANT to be playing football in 2011. The biggest issues are that the owners want a bigger piece of the revenue pie, and they want 18 games so that they can 'give the fans what the fans want'. However, amongst people that identify themselves as NFL fans, only 45% are even slightly in favor of the change, and a mere 18% strongly favor it. So, in other words, 82% of NFL fans don't want it, or are lukewarm at best to the concept.
Furthermore, expanding the NFL season to 18 games will further decrease the future health, and length of career, for the players. However, this does not seem to matter to a commissioner and a league that continually talks about 'player safety'. If they are so concerned with the future health of the players, why are they trying to expand the season under a flimsy excuse to disguise their profit motives? Why do they continue to promote and market DVDs of defenseless players getting blown up? Hypocrites.
Hopefully this ruling will force the hand of the NFL and the commissioner, so that there will be a season in 2011. With the NFL being at the apex of it's popularity, why risk a disruption over a few million dollars? It's short sighted, reckless, and hazardous to a sport that has become the most watched in the nation. Should a lockout actually occur, it will be interesting to see how the league recovers - if it does at all.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Things really aren't so bad.
These days, in the realm of sensationalization in the media, there is a tendency to regard any potentially controversal story as a scandal. Yes, PEDs, the NFL concussion problem, and the Mitchell Report were all valid news items, and should have been brought to the attention of the fans. However, that does not mean that, years later, they are still relevant. One should not crucify, or doubt the accomplishments of, someone who is not responcible for these events, and did not cause any of the problems. These are in the past, and until they become relevant to the present, should be left there.
When one looks at some of the people and incidents that have occurred in the past, these things seem minor. Yes, the Black Sox scandal and the NCAA point shaving situations deserve the publicity that they received, but that does not mean that everything else is on par with thosse situations. Below are five random events that transpired that are relatively unknown, and would provide fodder for the press for months if they occurred now.
1. Marty Bergen.
Marty Bergen was a catcher for the Boston Beaneaters (now the Atlanta Braves) from 1896 until 1899. Known for his strong throwing arm and hustling play, he was a fan favorite. However, Bergen also had a lot of personal demons. During a team dinner, he slapped ace pitcher Vic Willis for no reason while he was eating breakfast. He had hallucinations that people were trying to poison him, and refused to take his medication for it because assassins discovered who his doctor was. He would sit in peculiar positions and walk sideways, so as to spot these assassins. During a road trip in mid-1899, he walked off the train and vanished, leaving the team with just the backup catcher. He then reappeared several games later, only to disappear again in September. This time, he reappeared just before first pitch, put on his gear, and went behind the plate without speaking to anyone. On October 9, 1899, he had to be removed from a game when he dodged pitches as opposed to catching them, because he was too busy trying to avoid knife thrusts from an invisble assassin.
Bergen's tale ended tragically, as in January of 1900, he murdered his wife and two kids with an axe, then killed himself by slitting his throat with a straight razor. He used enough force in committing suicide that he almost decapitated himself. A snippet of an article from the New York Times gives a description of the scene: "The little boy (Bergen's 3-year-old son) was lying on the floor with a large wound in the head. Mrs. Bergen's skull was terribly crushed, having evidently been struck more than one blow by the infuriated husband. The appearance of the little girl (his 6-year-old daughter found on the kitchen floor next to Bergen) also showed that a number of savage blows had been rained upon the top and side of her head. Bergen's throat had been cut with a razor, and the head was nearly severed."
2. Charlie Sweeney and Old Hoss Radbourn
Sweeney was another player from the 1800's (I notice a theme here). He, along with Old Hoss Radbourn, pitched for the Providence Greys in 1884. Both pitchers legitimately hated one another, with tensions reaching their boiling point when they got into a fight in the clubhouse. Radbourn left the team, leaving Sweeney as their only pitcher. However, Sweeney eventually missed a morning practice after an exibition game (during which it was reported that he was drinking heavily), and showed up tot he park completely drunk. He pitched for five innings, after which the manager tried to remove him from the mound, but Sweeney refused. He pitched two more innings, then, when the manager attempted to remove him from the game again (and threatened a $50 fine if he did not leave the mound), Sweeney walked off the field, changed into street clothes, and watched the remainder of the game in the stands while in the company of two known prostitutes. At that point, Sweeney's career was practically over, although he did pitch in the California League for a while. In 1894, he killed a person in a saloon, and died in prison in 1902 after being convicted of homicide.
3. Paul Hornung and Alex Karras
Gambling is considered to be the ultimate sin in sports. The Black Sox and Pete Rose are still banned for their involvement in gambling. However, back in 1963, both Hornung and Karras were suspended indefinately by then-commissioner Pete Rozelle for betting on football games and their own teams. Five other members of the Detroit Lions were fined $2000 each for placing a wager on a game that they did not play in. However, since both Hornung and Karras were considered to be forthright in their guilt and showed what was felt to be legitimate remorse, Rozelle re-evaluted them before the 1964 season, and reinstated them both to the NFL.
4. Ugueth Urbina
This story occurred in 2005, but somehow did not receive a lot of attention. On October 16, 2005, Urbina and several other men attacked farm workers at his family ranch in a dispute over a gun that was alledgely stolen. The farm workers were attacked with machetes, and had gasoline poured over them as Urbina and the people he was with attempted to light them on fire. On March 28, 2007, Urbina was sentanced to 14 years and 7 months in prison in Venezuela for attempted murder, illegal deprivation of liberty, and for violating a prohibition against vigilante justice. Despite his continual insistance that he was asleep during the confrontation, no appeals were ever filed on his behalf.
5. Rube Waddell
Rube Waddell was someone that would not be permitted to exist as he did back then. A strikeout pitcher on the Louisville Colonels, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Orphans (Cubs),Philadelhia Athletics, and the St. Louis Browns, Waddell was an extremely unpredictable being. He would leave the ballpark to chase fire trucks if they passed by. Fans of opposing teams would hold up shiny objects and puppies when he pitched, since they put him in a trance like state. He constantly fought with teammates that he felt were 'ill-tempered'. He performed as an alligator wrestler during one offseason. During exhibition games, he would wave his team off the field, then proceed to strikeout the side.
To best sum up the life of Rube Waddell, here is an account of what happened during 1903 by Cooperstown historian Lee Allen: "He began that year (1903) sleeping in a firehouse in Camden, New Jersey, and ended it tending bar in a saloon in Wheeling, West Virginia. In between those events he won 22 games for the Philadelphia Athletics, played left end for the Business Men's Rugby Football Club in Grand Rapids, Michigan, toured the nation in a melodrama called The Stain of Guilt, courted, married and became separated from May Wynne Skinner of Lynn, Massachusetts, saved a woman from drowning, accidentally shot a friend through the hand, and was bitten by a lion." Waddell died in 1914 on April Fool's Day from tuberculosis, which he caught while helping to save the city of Hickman, Kentucky from a flood in 1912.
These five people and incidents, if the events were to have happened today, would be considered far worse than anything that has happened recently. Sometimes, perspective is needed when looking at the 'scandals' in sports.
When one looks at some of the people and incidents that have occurred in the past, these things seem minor. Yes, the Black Sox scandal and the NCAA point shaving situations deserve the publicity that they received, but that does not mean that everything else is on par with thosse situations. Below are five random events that transpired that are relatively unknown, and would provide fodder for the press for months if they occurred now.
1. Marty Bergen.
Marty Bergen was a catcher for the Boston Beaneaters (now the Atlanta Braves) from 1896 until 1899. Known for his strong throwing arm and hustling play, he was a fan favorite. However, Bergen also had a lot of personal demons. During a team dinner, he slapped ace pitcher Vic Willis for no reason while he was eating breakfast. He had hallucinations that people were trying to poison him, and refused to take his medication for it because assassins discovered who his doctor was. He would sit in peculiar positions and walk sideways, so as to spot these assassins. During a road trip in mid-1899, he walked off the train and vanished, leaving the team with just the backup catcher. He then reappeared several games later, only to disappear again in September. This time, he reappeared just before first pitch, put on his gear, and went behind the plate without speaking to anyone. On October 9, 1899, he had to be removed from a game when he dodged pitches as opposed to catching them, because he was too busy trying to avoid knife thrusts from an invisble assassin.
Bergen's tale ended tragically, as in January of 1900, he murdered his wife and two kids with an axe, then killed himself by slitting his throat with a straight razor. He used enough force in committing suicide that he almost decapitated himself. A snippet of an article from the New York Times gives a description of the scene: "The little boy (Bergen's 3-year-old son) was lying on the floor with a large wound in the head. Mrs. Bergen's skull was terribly crushed, having evidently been struck more than one blow by the infuriated husband. The appearance of the little girl (his 6-year-old daughter found on the kitchen floor next to Bergen) also showed that a number of savage blows had been rained upon the top and side of her head. Bergen's throat had been cut with a razor, and the head was nearly severed."
2. Charlie Sweeney and Old Hoss Radbourn
Sweeney was another player from the 1800's (I notice a theme here). He, along with Old Hoss Radbourn, pitched for the Providence Greys in 1884. Both pitchers legitimately hated one another, with tensions reaching their boiling point when they got into a fight in the clubhouse. Radbourn left the team, leaving Sweeney as their only pitcher. However, Sweeney eventually missed a morning practice after an exibition game (during which it was reported that he was drinking heavily), and showed up tot he park completely drunk. He pitched for five innings, after which the manager tried to remove him from the mound, but Sweeney refused. He pitched two more innings, then, when the manager attempted to remove him from the game again (and threatened a $50 fine if he did not leave the mound), Sweeney walked off the field, changed into street clothes, and watched the remainder of the game in the stands while in the company of two known prostitutes. At that point, Sweeney's career was practically over, although he did pitch in the California League for a while. In 1894, he killed a person in a saloon, and died in prison in 1902 after being convicted of homicide.
3. Paul Hornung and Alex Karras
Gambling is considered to be the ultimate sin in sports. The Black Sox and Pete Rose are still banned for their involvement in gambling. However, back in 1963, both Hornung and Karras were suspended indefinately by then-commissioner Pete Rozelle for betting on football games and their own teams. Five other members of the Detroit Lions were fined $2000 each for placing a wager on a game that they did not play in. However, since both Hornung and Karras were considered to be forthright in their guilt and showed what was felt to be legitimate remorse, Rozelle re-evaluted them before the 1964 season, and reinstated them both to the NFL.
4. Ugueth Urbina
This story occurred in 2005, but somehow did not receive a lot of attention. On October 16, 2005, Urbina and several other men attacked farm workers at his family ranch in a dispute over a gun that was alledgely stolen. The farm workers were attacked with machetes, and had gasoline poured over them as Urbina and the people he was with attempted to light them on fire. On March 28, 2007, Urbina was sentanced to 14 years and 7 months in prison in Venezuela for attempted murder, illegal deprivation of liberty, and for violating a prohibition against vigilante justice. Despite his continual insistance that he was asleep during the confrontation, no appeals were ever filed on his behalf.
5. Rube Waddell
Rube Waddell was someone that would not be permitted to exist as he did back then. A strikeout pitcher on the Louisville Colonels, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Orphans (Cubs),Philadelhia Athletics, and the St. Louis Browns, Waddell was an extremely unpredictable being. He would leave the ballpark to chase fire trucks if they passed by. Fans of opposing teams would hold up shiny objects and puppies when he pitched, since they put him in a trance like state. He constantly fought with teammates that he felt were 'ill-tempered'. He performed as an alligator wrestler during one offseason. During exhibition games, he would wave his team off the field, then proceed to strikeout the side.
To best sum up the life of Rube Waddell, here is an account of what happened during 1903 by Cooperstown historian Lee Allen: "He began that year (1903) sleeping in a firehouse in Camden, New Jersey, and ended it tending bar in a saloon in Wheeling, West Virginia. In between those events he won 22 games for the Philadelphia Athletics, played left end for the Business Men's Rugby Football Club in Grand Rapids, Michigan, toured the nation in a melodrama called The Stain of Guilt, courted, married and became separated from May Wynne Skinner of Lynn, Massachusetts, saved a woman from drowning, accidentally shot a friend through the hand, and was bitten by a lion." Waddell died in 1914 on April Fool's Day from tuberculosis, which he caught while helping to save the city of Hickman, Kentucky from a flood in 1912.
These five people and incidents, if the events were to have happened today, would be considered far worse than anything that has happened recently. Sometimes, perspective is needed when looking at the 'scandals' in sports.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Is this the end for Marc Savard?
After experiencing his fourth concussion, and dealing with the symptoms thereof, the Boston Bruins have begun to discuss the possibility of shutting Marc Savard down for the remainder of the season. This is going to be determined after he is re-evaluated on Wednesday, to see how he is progressing in regards to his most recent concussion.
Due to symptoms from post concussion syndrome due to a hit from Matt Cooke of the Penguins, Savard had played in only 25 games this season. Thus far, he has totalled 10 points (2 goals and 8 assists) with a rating of -7. At this juncture, losing Savard for the season would not be thought of as a major loss to the Bruins, since they had managed to start well without him.
However, the long term ramifications of these concussions do have to be considered with Savard. He has had four concussions over his career, including two in the past ten months. Each subsequent concussions makes it easier to get another one, leading to a vicious circle, especially in a sport such as hockey. At this point, the Bruins are looking to get him healthy for the 2011-2012 season, but perhaps the outlook should be beyond that point.
Considering the length of time it took Savard to fully recover from the Matt Cooke hit, the focus should be on getting Savard healthy. Brain injuries are a very delicate matter, and something that is not even close to being fully understood. As such, Savard should be asking himself whether or not he is willing to risk taking another hit that may result in long lasting, or permanent, damage. If the answer is no, then he should retire.
Playing so as to avoid injury is the quickest way to ensure that one does become injured. Savard is, by no stretch of the imagination, someone that is considered tough. Regardless, he has been a very gifted scorer in the NHL, and his skills on offense will eventually be missed by the Bruins. However, Savard needs to look at himself and his situation, and ask as to whether or not playing hockey is that important to him.
Due to symptoms from post concussion syndrome due to a hit from Matt Cooke of the Penguins, Savard had played in only 25 games this season. Thus far, he has totalled 10 points (2 goals and 8 assists) with a rating of -7. At this juncture, losing Savard for the season would not be thought of as a major loss to the Bruins, since they had managed to start well without him.
However, the long term ramifications of these concussions do have to be considered with Savard. He has had four concussions over his career, including two in the past ten months. Each subsequent concussions makes it easier to get another one, leading to a vicious circle, especially in a sport such as hockey. At this point, the Bruins are looking to get him healthy for the 2011-2012 season, but perhaps the outlook should be beyond that point.
Considering the length of time it took Savard to fully recover from the Matt Cooke hit, the focus should be on getting Savard healthy. Brain injuries are a very delicate matter, and something that is not even close to being fully understood. As such, Savard should be asking himself whether or not he is willing to risk taking another hit that may result in long lasting, or permanent, damage. If the answer is no, then he should retire.
Playing so as to avoid injury is the quickest way to ensure that one does become injured. Savard is, by no stretch of the imagination, someone that is considered tough. Regardless, he has been a very gifted scorer in the NHL, and his skills on offense will eventually be missed by the Bruins. However, Savard needs to look at himself and his situation, and ask as to whether or not playing hockey is that important to him.
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