Chris Nowinski Discusses Concussions, The Sports Legacy Institute, More

Posted by Larry Csonka on 02.08.2010

See what the former WWE performer has to say…

Credit: Paul Moran and Pwinsider.com

During BBC Radio Five Live's Super Bowl preview coverage, they had an interview with Chris Nowinski of The Sports Legacy Institute. He was asked about his efforts in raising awareness of CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy). I briefly tried to summarize the interview as follows:

The interviewer introduced Chris and the concept of CTE and that athletes in high-impact sports were at risk of dementia. Chris mentioned that concussions and the consequences of which threatened the existence of the game (football). They've looked at what players went through on the field 25 years ago and noticing the long-term effects now noting that there hadn't been any evidence of the dangers until recently. He said that players have died young with brain disease stemming from the concussions suffered through sports like football.

Chris was asked what the NFL's response was to Chris and his Institute. Chris's message to the NFL initially was that CTE threatened the modern day sport and that the way football has been played in the past has been wrong because it has contributed to the deaths of so many people. He noted that the efforts of his team at the Institute and Boston University made front page news in the New York Times. It wasn't until two months ago that the NFL addressed the issues and made very positive changes to the sport. Chris said that the only people against the changes were the NFL and the money makers associated with the sport. But Chris praised the NFL for taking note of the Institute's findings and acting on them.

Most players believed that there was a problem - they knew that damage was being done, even if it was long term damage.

Chris was asked about the NFL players association. Chris said they weren't in a good position. They run the risk of pushing too many reforms which could hurt them but that they have been very supportive of this issue. Chris stresses that changes need to be made to make it safer, but also make it no less fun to watch and he went into a little bit of detail about these changes (mentioned changes in practice camps and other points).

Chris was asked what the biggest problem/cause was in terms of causing damage to player's brains. Chris said there were two answers. Firstly that they were not completely sure yet and secondly that it is likely a mixture of the high-impact collisions and contact that cause concussions but also a cumulative effect of smaller 'dings' that add up over time.

Chris mentions that medical opinion in the past was that CTE did not exist outside of boxing (it was known as 'punch-drunk syndrome - dementia pugilistica). He says it happens in football, hockey and soccer.

He was asked about players donating their brains to further research. Chris notes that Boston University have 22 brains in their research facility and that over 250 athletes across all sports have pledged to donate their brains to the Institute, including 5 active NFL players (although he didn't list names).

The interview concluded with Chris talking more about future changes to the NFL that are being discussed, including measures against two and three point stances in the line of scrimmage.