Former Alabama Running Back Kevin Turner Has ALS and Why That Matters So Much
[Bumped. How bad is CTE? Often, doctors basically can't tell the difference between it and Lou Gehrig's disease.--AJ]
As a study connecting ALS and concussions comes out, Roll Bama Roll takes note that one of the Tide's past heroes is diagnosed with the disease. The painful quote:
"You get up there in the NFL, you're so dadgum excited, it was a dream come true," Kevin Turner said Thursday night as part of a Prattville YMCA benefit dinner in his honor. "It's something you dream of as a kid. The first six years were incredible. Looking back on it, I should've given it up earlier."
almost 2 years ago
Bama Hawkeye
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About ALS
I knew someone who died of ALS.
Basically, you lose control of your muscles. A little. Then a little more. Then a little more. Until finally you can’t control them at all.
First comes a cane. Then a walker. Then a wheelchair. Then you just lie in bed and wait to die. You’re on oxygen because you can’t control your diaphram to breathe properly. If you’re lucky, you will die of pneumonia before you suffocate from not being able to breathe, or end up on a respirator and wait for another cause.
Through it all, you mind remains sharp. You know what is happening. People interacting with you would might think you were a little drunk if they didn’t know better. Then a lot drunk. After that it really doesn’t matter because you won’t be going out much anyway. And you are fully aware of every minute.
It’s horrible for your loved ones to watch, and much worse for you of course.
"If you need a rah-rah speech at halftime, you’re playing the wrong sport." - Pat Angerer
Tip of the iceberg?
Are we just beginning to see the tip of the iceberg with respect to traumatic brain injury research and sports? I concede that I have not been following this much until recently, but the news about this seems to be coming more frequently and it all seems to suggest that sports, particularly full contact sports, are much, much more dangerous that I ever thought. I appreciate BHGP following and sharing the various stories in the media about this topic, and would welcome additional related posts.
former Hawkeye also involved
In the article linked yesterday from the NY Times, it goes into a little detail about the study that is the source for this link…
basically 3 athletes diagnosed w/ ALS while alive who had autopsies which showed brain effects of CTE as oppossed to true ALS
one of those athletes was Wally Hilgenberg
Yep, this touches PSU as well.
One of our mid-80’s heroes, too.
--
Slow States - Lacking SEC speed since, like, a month ago.
by Run Up The Score on Aug 20, 2010 4:40 PM CDT reply actions
all this football related traumatic brain injury stuff
makes me wonder if I should still be playing ball. I only play division 3 football, but it still makes me nervous
Everybody has to go at some point.
Football is not a death sentence. A lot of people do many more dangerous things on a daily or weekly basis all year: drive a car, eat food with too much fat, have too much booze, live in places with mildly-questionable air quality, and I’m not even going to get into the whole “safe sex” topic.
Bottom line, if if you were playing football and you weren’t afraid of breaking your neck or having a heart problem, then you probably shouldn’t worry too much about this.
Unless you are a Chuck Cecil-wannabe maniac who spears everything in sight with your helmet. Then, worry away.
I've sentenced boys younger than you to the gas chamber. Didn't want to do it. I felt I owed it to them.
-- Judge Smails
by WaterlooChazz on Aug 21, 2010 8:39 PM CDT up reply actions
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