Bettman flat-out denied a connection between hockey and CTE as recently as two years agoGETTY IMAGES
WFAN hosts Maggie Gray and Chris Carlin "grilled a clearly agitated" NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on the league's "reluctance to entertain the idea there may be a link between hockey and head injuries," according to Evan Grossman of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS. Bettman said, "All I can tell you is what the medical community says. The last International Conference on Concussion in Sport, which I believe was held in 2016 in Berlin, issued a consensus statement by the experts who were attending, and that statement says that there's yet to be a proven link between the two." Two years ago, Bettman "flat-out denied a connection between hockey and CTE." Asked about the status of a lawsuit with former NHLers alleging the league's role in their deteriorating health, Bettman said, "We believe the lawsuit is without merit." Carlin called out Bettman on the NHL's public perception and the "notion that it seems like the league doesn't want to make an honest effort of curbing head injuries." Bettman: "I really respectfully disagree with your characterization of the public perception. And if that's your perception, I think it's off the mark." Bettman was also "dismissive" of the Boston Univ. study that found 110 of 111 brains of former NFLers "were diagnosed with CTE." Bettman: "They will tell you that as it relates to hockey, they don't have enough evidence to reach any conclusions, and they have told me that directly" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 4/12).
POST-CAREER REALIZATIONS: Pro Football HOFers Brett Favre and Kurt Warner, former MLBer David Ross and former soccer player Abby Wombach this morning joined the first half of NBC's “Megyn Kelly Today” for a segment discussing the dangers of concussions. Favre said, "When you have ringing of the ears, seeing stars, that's a concussion. If that is a concussion, I've had hundreds, probably thousands throughout my career, which is frightening.” Favre noted his memory “has gotten a lot worse in regards to short term.” He also will “stammer” when it comes to using “simple words.” Favre: “My football career has meant a great deal to me and has provided a lot of things, a lot of joy for not only me, but ... had I known (about CTE) in Year 5, I probably would have looked at my future a little bit closer.” Wambach said of not wanting to know about concussion issues while playing, “You don't want to know because you're in it, right? You have to pay your mortgage, you represent your country, or represent your club vying for this championship. You've worked your whole life for it. As you get closer to retirement, then you get into retirement, that's when you really start thinking about, ‘What have I done here?'" Ross said of symptoms he has suffered, “The memory stuff for me. It sounds simple, but ... I was driving home one day, picked up a friend from the airport, and was supposed to grab my daughter from school. Showed up at the house and my wife was like, ‘Where is our child?’ I laugh about it, but it's not funny.”
HOPE FOR THE FUTURE? All four former athletes are investors in Prevacus, a possible concussion medication. Favre said of Prevacus, “Concussions are going to happen. ... This drug, if it can ever get approved and used, I think it'll greatly help long-term health.” Warner: “I love the sport of football. I can’t imagine my parents coming to me and saying, ‘You can’t play anymore.’ ... So, when you talk about Prevacus, and you talk about ‘Why are you involved?’ I feel like I have to be involved. It is something that is out there, it’s ground-breaking, it’s something that can change the complexion of things. I don’t think I’m ever going to be able to tell my kids, ‘Oh, you can’t play’ or pull them off the field. I want something there if they do suffer an injury" (“Megyn Kelly Today,” NBC, 4/12).
