quote:

Originally posted by cable68:
Other stories stated Jason himself claimed he had CTE symptoms before his passing.


"I played linebacker, and the way I played the game, I led with my head. I played the way they tell us not to play now," Hairston told CNBC in 2016. "I have all the symptoms of CTE."

I played from 7th grade through the end of high school and one year of division 2.

Helmets were horrible in small town Texas in the 70's. I got my first severe concussion in the 7th grade. Coach held ammonia under my nose until I woke up...then sat out 2-3 plays...that was my treatment. Had at least 5 more severe ones before I quit the sport.

Growing up as a cowboy on a ranch working with livestock and riding broncy horses and as a equine veterinarian...I have had several more.

I am reluctant to let my boy (9 now) play football...will decide when he gets to the 7th.

quote:

Originally posted by Scott King:
I found the Will Smith movie, " Concussion" very disturbing and upsetting.
I'm not a football fan, nor really a sports fan but from my far removed position I really appreciate the ability or athleticism of these "stars/ heroes" and I feel very badly that they suffer.
Additionally, being a father now has altered my perception and opinion of everything, so being so upset or troubled that you take your life despite being a parent and with your babies just down stairs I find horrifying.
I'm certainly not judging or condemning, I just think it's tragic.

The older of my two stepdaughters has had two concussions from playing volleyball in high school. They have most definitely had an adverse impact on her life that will never change. Life altering adverse impact.

Her father is a neuro-radiologist. He looked at the various scans. His description was not pretty.

This was high school volleyball. Imagine NFL football.

Make sure your kids wear the best head protection when they ride bicycles, horses ect.

All that bs about this is the way we did it when we are growing up is plain stupid.

Human/primates were not evolutionarily designed like (sheep, Buffalo ) to get our skulls bashed in on a regular basis.

Mike

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
I never met the man but I cannot get this out of my mind. In particular, what these kids are going through. It is unimaginable.

I am with you Larry. I think about this every day.
Never met him, but I feel deep empathy for his suffering and I feel for the family who must have a very very difficult time.

quote:

Originally posted by Beretta682E:
Make sure your kids wear the best head protection when they ride bicycles, horses ect.

All that bs about this is the way we did it when we are growing up is plain stupid.

Human/primates were not evolutionarily designed like (sheep, Buffalo ) to get our skulls bashed in on a regular basis.

Mike

Almost a day never passes that Martin doesn’t ride a bike and a horse. We work on horseback for hours on end at my Dad’s ranch. He wears a cowboy hat when riding his horse and usually a cap when riding his bike.

There are risks involved in everything. The most dangerous thing he does everyday is ride in the car to school.

And we wonder why the younger generation is the way it is.

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:

quote:

Originally posted by Beretta682E:
Make sure your kids wear the best head protection when they ride bicycles, horses ect.

All that bs about this is the way we did it when we are growing up is plain stupid.

Human/primates were not evolutionarily designed like (sheep, Buffalo ) to get our skulls bashed in on a regular basis.

Mike

Almost a day never passes that Martin doesn’t ride a bike and a horse. We work on horseback for hours on end at my Dad’s ranch. He wears a cowboy hat when riding his horse and usually a cap when riding his bike.

There are risks involved in everything. The most dangerous thing he does everyday is ride in the car to school.

And we wonder why the younger generation is the way it is.

Good luck

Mike

quote:

Originally posted by Beretta682E:
Make sure your kids wear the best head protection when they ride bicycles, horses ect.

All that bs about this is the way we did it when we are growing up is plain stupid.

Human/primates were not evolutionarily designed like (sheep, Buffalo ) to get our skulls bashed in on a regular basis.

Mike

And I am absolutely certain our stupidity saved us from serious injury!

When you have no brains, you cannot damage it!

I cannot remember the number of times my father said to me "you are not going to stop trying to kill yourself, are you?"

Some of the things we did were plain mind boggling!

I've had 5 reported concussions I was treated for. The 3rd one at 13 left me deaf in my left ear. More than once I had a head clash playing Rugby League and played on when the other guy left the field, I have a pretty thick skull.

I always used to scoff when people would have one head injury and claim all sorts of issues as a result.

Now I am 55 and my ears ring incessantly, and so loud I can't believe other people can't hear it and I suffer other symptoms I won't go into here, I am glad my kids were wrapped in cotton wool as they grew up.

They're a lot smarter than I was and won't have the muscluloskeletal issues that ended up having later in life.

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
May God rest his soul and comfort his family.

I will only add a couple of things:

1) I was not in his shoes thus can't relate

2) But, as a father, my #1 duty in life is to take care of my kids. I would endure anything to spare my children pain or suffering. Can't imagine doing such a thing to them. If I knew I had the disease, which he apparently did, I would have sought help for no other reason than to spare my kids.

For number 2. I believe there are no help you can get for CTE. It only gets worse until something happens. Often self-inflicted.

I do wish he had the strength to to it another place though.

RIP!

quote:

Originally posted by Johnny_Revolver:
I've had 5 reported concussions I was treated for. The 3rd one at 13 left me deaf in my left ear. More than once I had a head clash playing Rugby League and played on when the other guy left the field, I have a pretty thick skull.

I always used to scoff when people would have one head injury and claim all sorts of issues as a result.

Now I am 55 and my ears ring incessantly, and so loud I can't believe other people can't hear it and I suffer other symptoms I won't go into here, I am glad my kids were wrapped in cotton wool as they grew up.

They're a lot smarter than I was and won't have the muscluloskeletal issues that ended up having later in life.

While I never suffered any permanent damage from my concussions that I know (MRI or CT scan was rarely done for them in rural Texas in the 70’s and early 80’s)...I do share Johnny’s thoughts above.

Both of my knees suffer today from football injuries and my left thumb is arthritic from a compound fracture close to the joint.

While I will never make my son were a helmet riding his horse (the goal here is to always be sitting comfortably on the horse and horseman enough to ensure you do)...in football inflicting trauma is the goal. Hitting drills are a mainstay of daily work.

While I won’t stop him from playing if he wants to...I am not going to encourage it. Baseball!!! Football in rural west Texas was mandatory curricula when I was a boy and a right of passage. I see no point in inflicting that trauma on the young body on purpose.

Sad way to go.

Thinking of my 8 and 10 year old daughters makes my eyes wet. Kids are Our most precious gems and should be treated that way. No matter what.

I saw my doctor today, we discussed CTE at some length. I told him I can tick every box on the check list. In summing up we both agreed that the only course of action was to treat the symptoms as overall, there was no " cure ".

If one is fortunate, an anti depressant will be found that will work for the very dark depression that can accompany this condition. Or strategies, or a combination of both.

These things can be achieved but a lot of time, effort not to mention the trial and error with medication. I hate medication, I don't want to be reliant on a pill but even I have had to accept this reality. If one suffers from this condition, you aren't just going to snap out of it.

I learned early in my adult life that as a result of my numerous head injuries, my short term memory was like a chocolate teapot. Eventually I realized I needed to take steps to get through every day life and work. Making notes or playing a game in your head to recall things. Drop me into a situation where I need to instantly retain and recall things on the spot and I am usually screwed.

But it's that hard won experience that can help you along as you progress further. Dementia is something I try not to dwell on, WTF am I gonna do about it anyway?

The only thing that has ever pulled me back from the brink is the thought of the impact on my kids. I've been there, I really don't care to know what's beyond that or what this poor individual was experiencing that compelled him or anyone else in his position to take the course of action he did.

There is a facility in Pittsburg that is one of the best in the world at treating concussions. Perhaps it is worth looking into for possible treatment . It did wonders for my stepdaughter.

Larry's right, if it could save a life.

Agreed have seen this before. Those kids will need therapy the rest of their lives at the least. RIP.... I knew he played football but to do this is unbelievable...Just goes to show money isn't everything

quote:

Originally posted by bluefish:
Anyone who would do that in front of young children loses my sympathy. Just screwed them up permanently.

Same treatment I got....I still think the pluses outweigh the minuses in my case its shoulders and knees but everyone is different. Growing up these 53 years only till recently I have heard of people killing themselves as a result of playing football

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:

quote:

Originally posted by cable68:
Other stories stated Jason himself claimed he had CTE symptoms before his passing.


"I played linebacker, and the way I played the game, I led with my head. I played the way they tell us not to play now," Hairston told CNBC in 2016. "I have all the symptoms of CTE."

I played from 7th grade through the end of high school and one year of division 2.

Helmets were horrible in small town Texas in the 70's. I got my first severe concussion in the 7th grade. Coach held ammonia under my nose until I woke up...then sat out 2-3 plays...that was my treatment. Had at least 5 more severe ones before I quit the sport.

Growing up as a cowboy on a ranch working with livestock and riding broncy horses and as a equine veterinarian...I have had several more.

I am reluctant to let my boy (9 now) play football...will decide when he gets to the 7th.

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
May God rest his soul and comfort his family.

I will only add a couple of things:

1) I was not in his shoes thus can't relate

2) But, as a father, my #1 duty in life is to take care of my kids. I would endure anything to spare my children pain or suffering. Can't imagine doing such a thing to them. If I knew I had the disease, which he apparently did, I would have sought help for no other reason than to spare my kids.

Right On Lane. Whatever it takes.

quote:

Originally posted by BaxterB:

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
I don't see anything on the official KUIU website that says anything about what, in front of who and/or where he did it. Am I missing something? I would be surprised if any of that information would be found there. All it says is, along with Jason's picture (1971-2018): "THE VISIONARY We are saddened to announce the tragic passing of KUIU founder Jason Hairston. The family has requested that donations be made to support CTE-related research at the Boston University Concussion Legacy Foundation in lieu of sending flowers" That is all it says, and nothing more.

It’s a couple pages deeper:

https://www.kuiu.com/about-us.html


Frankly, I’m glad they are upfront about this. CTE and especially depression (whether or not related to CTE) are BIG DAMN DEALS, and these tragic stories remind us NO ONE is beyond their reach.

100%

https://people.com/sports/jaso...utm_content=20180912 Good article on Jason in recent post-suicide interview with his wife.

It would appear that Jason sought treatment, to no avail.

Judge not, lest you be judged.

That's exactly what I said before.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/0...ston-super-bowl.html


Article concerning Mr. Hairston's CTE.

Sad

A great article on a tragic situation. Very sad.

I have a friend that was on The Cowboys when they won three Super Bowls. He is very involved with former players and their head injuries. The NFL has been very generous helping Ex players. It is so sad.