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Susan · Joined: 06 May 2005 Posts: 6390

I am not a football fan, however I met Junior Seau here at his restaurant and I thought he was a good man not because he was a gifted football athlete or because of business success but because over the years he used that success to do many many things for the youth and under privileged in our community.

His passing is a sad day here in SD and he will be missed.

The article below says it all... the game of football needs to change, I never liked what it did to my brother who excelled at the game and I discouraged my son from playing because of the physical trauma I saw it leave on my brother and his friends.

Remembering Junior: Seau's legacy extends well beyond his NFL feats

"Seau's willingness to give of himself didn't end with me; he gave to the entire San Diego community.

You have to understand: Junior Seau didn't live in San Diego. He was San Diego. Largely because he never forgot where he came from.

He grew up hard in Oceanside, fighting for food and sometimes sleeping on mattresses in the garage. It's one reason he focused on young people and struggling families when he established his foundation in the early 1990s. For instance, each Thanksgiving he would shut down the Mission Valley restaurant bearing his name and feed families affected by domestic violence and military personnel away from home. During Christmas, the foundation partners with a local store to allow underprivileged kids an opportunity to "purchase" gifts for family members. In total the Junior Seau Foundation, which also helps young people attend college, has distributed nearly $4 million since its inception....

.... And now I wonder if that career didn't contribute to his passing.

Seau, one of the game's fiercest strikers during a career that included 12 Pro Bowls, is the third retired player in the last 15 months to shoot himself to death. Dave Duerson and Ray Easterling preceded him, and both suffered from depressions and complications from concussions sustained during their careers.

Seau was the type who refused to leave the field, regardless of his physical condition. He played in an AFC Championship Game with a stinger that prevented him from raising his arm above his shoulder. He partially tore his hamstring one Sunday, but stayed in the game despite being noticeably hindered. Another time he shot up an ankle at least 18 times so he wouldn't miss a game. To think he didn't play through multiple concussions would be naive at best.

In March, we spoke about the perception that commissioner Roger Goodell was making the game too soft with his enhanced enforcement of player safety rules. "It has to happen," he said. "Those who are saying the game is changing for the worse, well, they don't have a father who can't remember his name because of the game. I'm pretty sure if everybody had to wake with their dad not knowing his name, not knowing his kids' name, not being able to function at a normal rate after football, they would understand that the game needs to change. If it doesn't there are going to be more players, more great players, being affected by the things that we know of and aren't changing. That's not right."

I fully believe a man's worth is measured by what he does for others, not what he does for himself. Seau gave so much that I will remember him as a great man. Did he have demons? Who doesn't? Selfishly, my hope is that Seau gives one more time. My hope is that his family donates his brain to research, just as Duerson did after killing himself. It was later learned he was suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease tied to repeated brain trauma.

It would be one final gift from a man who gave so much."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/jim_trotter/05/02/junior.seau/index.html#ixzz1tlMR1st2

apotterdd · Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 8:07 pm

Very sad to hear of his passing. And I agree football is just too hard on players brains. Too many of the retired players having severe issues with that that changes how they think rationally and changes their character.

I do remember hearing awhile back that they're supposed to be developing a better helmet but haven't heard much about it past the development stage.

okiepony · Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 8:20 pm

I never heard of the man, but it sounds like he was a good one. That decision of his is hard for the family, though. Very sad :(

One concussion after another does a lot of irreversible damage to one's brain. It's not just that the brain can't recover, but every blow makes it even worse.

kellyplz · Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 8:29 pm

+1. :(

Susan · Joined: 06 May 2005 Posts: 6390

wendyt · Joined: 28 Aug 2008 Posts: 2090 Location: Australia

Anything that causes permanent damage is not good ...

ruxpriencdiam · Posted: Thu May 03, 2012 6:44 am

Morning all.

Another day again.

So whats happening today?

okiepony · Posted: Thu May 03, 2012 6:44 am

Morning Keedz...

Susan what they did to your brother is insane, and no doubt similar goes on everywhere.
Never mind the damage it does to the player as long as the school gets the gain :|

Skipping basic morals right there... talk about "values" being taught...

ruxpriencdiam · Posted: Thu May 03, 2012 6:58 am

Pro players cut their little pinky toes off so they can maneuver better on the field and i guess the owners think with all that money they make they can get some of the best medical attention that they need so if they get hurt just keep on playing because they will be fixed up and taken care of.

Look at Mohamed Ali and what happened to him after all of the beatings he took as a Boxer.

kellyplz · Posted: Thu May 03, 2012 7:39 am

Good morning people. :)

Susan, that is just so wrong!

Susan · Joined: 06 May 2005 Posts: 6390

I agree with all of you... wrong, sad, insane, greedy, pathetic.

I will not watch football and recent events just reinforce my viewpoints.

It is sad... and like sari mentioned very hard on those they leave behind.

apotterdd · Posted: Thu May 03, 2012 1:02 pm

No much going on today. Trying to work on the list of stuff I came up with last night so I can upload again. Might have to redo the one I finished last night as it looks terrible upon looking at it today. No big deal will take less than an hour to complete.

kellyplz · Posted: Thu May 03, 2012 1:10 pm

On another note, the dl's stink this week.

Are things getting better on the home front Anita?

apotterdd · Posted: Thu May 03, 2012 2:22 pm

Not really. At least they're out of the house today and then going over to his parents house this weekend so we'll have a few days off from it. Had to warn them again yesterday not to smootch up a storm in front of my kids again. So yeah not going any better than before. They need to get jobs and gtfo my house.

kellyplz · Posted: Thu May 03, 2012 2:40 pm

Ugh, what a crappy situation. :(