I’m so glad Will Smith is nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance in Concussion — not just because he really brings Dr. Bennet Omalu to life, but because that recognition may encourage more people to go and see this vitally important movie that the NFL is hoping you’ll ignore or write off simply as entertainment.
Based on Jeanne Marie Laska’s GQ article, Game Brain, the movie focuses on Dr. Omalu, the real-life neuropathologist who performed autopsies on professional football players who had died inexplicably — “Why does a superstar who is the city’s favorite son end up homeless, self-mutilating and dead at the age of 50?” he asks when examining the body of Hall of Famer Mike Webster — only to discover it was the game itself that killed them.
He realized that, after sustaining more than 700,000 blows to the head over the course of his career, Webster (and many of his colleagues) died from what Omalu ultimately diagnosed as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).
Of course, the NFL tried to hide this finding, threatening Omalu although they knew he was right. “I hate it but, as a scientist, I can’t deny it,” admitted one of their own doctors.
The NFL is revealed to be as evil as the tobacco industry, lying about the facts so they can profit at the expense of the players’ health. As we watch football players in the movie lose their minds, suffer from depression and become increasingly angry and uncontrollably violent, it becomes apparent why there seems to be so much domestic violence in the world of professional football. And, close to home in San Diego, Junior Seau’s suicide now makes sense to me.
As a movie, Concussion is good but not great. It focuses too much on Omalu and his relationship with his future wife, and none of that serves the main point although Smith’s Omalu is so smart and compassionate, you will wish he were your family doctor.
As a story, though, Concussion is riveting. In fact, it’s so important that Sony Pictures is offering free admission to all NFL team owners, players and families for the run of the movie.
Last week, the real Dr. Omalu wrote a powerful New York Times Op-Ed piece, “Don’t Let Kids Play Football.” In it, he stresses, “The human brain becomes fully developed at about 18 to 25 years old. We should at least wait for our children to grow up, be provided with the information and education on the risk of play, and let them make their own decisions. No adult, not a parent or a coach, should be allowed to make this potentially life-altering decision for a child. We have a legal age for drinking alcohol; for joining the military; for voting; for smoking; for driving; and for consenting to have sex. We must have the same when it comes to protecting the organ that defines who we are as human beings.”
I agree.
I have become very aware of the prevalence of traumatic brain injuries recently, thanks to my friend, Ruth Curran, who wrote Being Brain Healthy: What My Recovery From Brain Injury Taught Me … And How It Can Change Your Life based on her own experience.
Because of what I’ve learned from her, certain facts brought forth in the movie really stood out to me. If you take nothing else away from the movie or if you don’t get to see it, here’s what you need to know:
1. 28% of all professional football players will suffer from CTE
2. Since 2011, the NFL has settled 5000 lawsuits from retired players on the condition that the organization didn’t have to reveal when it knew about the damage playing football could cause
3. If just 10% of mothers decide that football is too dangerous for their sons, there goes the game. That’s what really freaks out the NFL so let me repeat it:
If just 10% of mothers decide that football is too dangerous for their sons, there goes the game.
See the movie, learn more about CTE and be one of those mothers.
I heard them talking about this on the radio the other day. It’s am important topic, but I am not sure if I want to see a movie about it, you know?
Really? Why? It’s definitely thought-provoking.
It is, but I am not sure if a movie like this would hold me for 2 hours 🙂
Miss Oregon 2015, Ali Wallace has had concussions, and her Platform at the Miss America Pageant this year was “Traumatic Brain Injury & Awareness.” She should have won an award for having the Best Platform at the Pageant. She recommends seeing this movie. Parents see this film for the sake of your Children. Miss Oregon’s Message at the Pageant was: “Sit that one game out because of that Concussion, or sit out the rest of your life.” Thank you Miss Oregon for your wisdom!
This movie should be required viewing for any parent that wants their kids to play football. Will Smith delivered a passionate, compelling performance.
Thanks, Lois. I am surprised the NFL wasn’t able to get this movie production halted somehow just based on the sheer damage it can cause their pocketbooks if Mamas and Daddies start keeping their children out of the game so there’s no future players coming up. The paychecks are so huge, it’s hard to turn their heads away. I’m going for sure!
As a band mom I go to football games every Friday night and it frightens me how rough this sport really is. I’ve seen teenagers taken out in ambulance from getting hit so hard. It is frightening.
That was always scary to me. Even one concussion would be bad and they play so many games in high school and college before they even get into the NFL.
Ms. Mark: Thanks for this piece.
Every day brings news of more $$$$$ being spent on diagnoses and “preventatives.” The NFL wants the public to believe that they’re spending $$$ on research that will make a difference. Dr. Omalu outed just one of their shortcomings. But what are they doing for the nearly 20,000 veterans of the NFL who need help with their brain injuries?
We are working on a New Concussion Protocol: The TreatNOW Protocol.
It respects the current Protocols, all of which are essentially passive, relying on
“rest” and “watchful waiting” and the”breakthrough realization that we must have graduated return to play.”
In essence, the NFL wants players to follow a protocol that advises you to check with a professional to ensure your symptoms are gone and that you can pass some tests that purport to prove you’ve regained full functionality and that you’re “healed.”
This illogical approach is belied by what happens, not after the second concussion, but after the 3rd concussion. Suddenly, whether in the military of on the playing filed, there is HUGE concern that permanent damage might have occurred. Think about it: conventional medicine says that 90% of concussions resolve with no permanent damage. Yet a 3rd concussion is likely to cause you to lose your scholarship [NCAA Drs are much more attentive than NFL Drs.] and in the military you are shunted to a more elaborate protocol.
But think about it: all the responses are designed to watch and wait. Check it out: the current Concussions Protocols DO NOT intervene with treatment that starts immediately to treat the underlying damage to the brain. Medical schools and neuropsych types depend on “neuroplasticity” the innate power of the
body to heal itself. Yes, it is true that the brain can rewire itself, and that
former capabilities can seem to be restored — balance, memory, focus, etc.
And symptoms will abate. But what about the injury? The tissue
damage, the stunned cells that are idling, preparing to die unless turned back
on? The cascade of damage that a concussion sets off leads immediately to
swelling, causing hypoxia/reduced blood flow, denying the brain of the O2 it
needs to heal, much less function.
In what other injury to the body do we ignore swelling?
As you’ll read in the attached, there are active, positive, healing interventions that we are implementing, and we are researching adjunct therapies that can accelerate healing.
• US DOD studies of Hyperbaric Oxygen in the Treatment of Veterans (Wolf-Cifu, Journal of Neurotrauma 2012 doi 10.1089/neu.2012.2549) (Miller- JAMA Internal Medicine November 17,2014) Showed “significant improvements in post concussive symptoms and secondary outcomes, including PTSD (which most participants had), depression, sleep quality, satisfaction with life, and physical, cognitive and mental health functioning.” To date Hyperbaric Oxygen is the only therapeutic approach that is able to produce consistent and reproducible improvements in individuals with neurological injuries.
• JAMA Internal Medicine Hoge, C and
Jonas W November 17,2014 E1-2 “….significant improvements in post concussive
symptoms and secondary outcomes, including PTSD (which most participants had),
depression, sleep quality, satisfaction with life, and physical, cognitive and
mental health functioning.”
• Wolf G, Cifu D, Baugh L, Carne W,
Profenna L. The effect of hyperbaric oxygen on symptoms after mild traumatic
brain injury. J Neurotrauma. 2012;29(17):2606-12. (DoD) (USA).
28 August 2015 “Randomization to the chamber . . . .
offered statistical and in some measures clinically significant improvement
over local routine TBI care.” Also: “…. total scores for [both]
groups revealed significant improvement over the course of the study for both
the sham-control group …. and the HBO2 group…..”
• Expert outside consultants hired by
DOD/VA/Army declared that “[HBOT] is a healing environment.” JAMA
Internal medicine, November 17, 2014, pp. E1-E2. The Ritual Of Hyperbaric
Oxygen and Lessons for the Treatment of Persistent Postconcussion Symptoms in
Military Personnel, Charles W. Hoge, MD and Wayne B. Jonas, MD.
See these videos for more insights:
ATHLETES
Joe Namath http://tinyurl.com/kflu9up
Joe Delamielleure (Buffalo Bills) http://tinyurl.com/m5q8ued
NFL player Steve Bowman http://tinyurl.com/oj2pggg
Marv Fleming (Packers, Miami, Patriots) https://vimeo.com/57116161
Bill Romanowski – Broncos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?f…
Sidelined: Concussions in Sports Visger http://vids.kvie.org/video/231…
Brian Fleury – Hockey Player http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
Professional Skateboarder http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
VETERANS
MAJ Ben Richards
https://www.youtube.com/watch?…
CAPT Matt Smotherman / Congressman John Bennett
http://tinyurl.com/lvcf22r
The Honorable Patt Maney (BG, USA)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
GnySgt Rotenberry
http://www.chris-free.com/vide…
RMHI with Margaux and SGT Ramirez
http://vimeo.com/77100044
Anthony’s personal testimony: 1st 10 dives
https://www.youtube.com/watch?…
Healing long-term brain injuries
http://videos.oeta.tv/video/23…
One Florida story/Dr. Eddie Zant
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
CIVILIANS
Robin Read, Stroke Patient
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
Curt Allen, car accident
https://www.youtube.com/watch?…
Tom with TBI from 1981
https://youtu.be/9siaVwoLmTw
Teenager/Impact Seizure and PCS
https://youtu.be/4YNRZ8W4jtI
Police Officer/Car Crash
https://youtu.be/e6eqbXKFva4
Brain Injury at age two
https://youtu.be/43bZ-Lp-_d8
Stroke Recovery
https://youtu.be/_XQtYz2xU8g
Thank you so much for sharing all of this information with us. These are great resources which I will pass around. I appreciate all the work you’re doing, and hope that those who have already been injured can be helped.
I haven’t seen the movie Concussion, but I love Will Smith. I need to get out more and see some movies.
I have to admit I haven’t heard of Concussion before – I definitely need to watch out for it though, such an interesting sounding subject matter. x
I really can not see a reason for a child to play football. I am a proponent of golf, track and tennis. Yes clubs, rackets and balls are involved potentially dangerous with rowdy kids but head concussion is not a great threat!
I recently saw the trailer for this on t.v. I love Will Smith, I cannot wait to see this – looks great!
Wow, I really need to see this movie.I’d love to do some research on the history of this issue in the NFL too.
Me too! I know nothing about the NFL. I will have to ask my husband who does.
My father suffered a TBI in the military, back during World War II. It impacted the rest of his life. My father’s injuries were not football related. For football, I wonder – did it take so long for this to become an area of concern? Good for Sony for their free admission offer for those who need to see this the most.
This would be a great movie for parents and children to watch who are actively playing on a football team. Will Smith is a quality actor.
Oh how I want to see this movie. A great movie, great topic to bring to light and a great actor.
This movie sounds very thought provoking. While I am not a huge Will Smith fan, if he can spread awareness to the dangers of football playing, especially for children, then I hope this film is a huge success!
I think I’m going to pass on this movie. I do believe that it is a very important subject though
I am part of the 10% that refuses to let my kid play football or be a cheerleader (and I was a highly competitive one). Too dangerous, coaches are not properly trained and even so they make calls that are not safe for kids. Nope, no way.
I haven’t heard of it until now. We have to sign the concussion forms (read the info, sign the form) before the kids are allowed to sign up for sports in their school, but one time we forgot to bring ours back and no one even noticed. It’s a measure, but not one followed up on, which only brings minimal awareness.
I think it’s incredibly interesting that admission is being offered free to all NFL team owners, players and families. I’m certain this took a lot of dedication and strategy to come to the big screen as it’s certainly focusing on an unpopular problem. I’m proud to say I’m part of that 10%. 🙂
My husband was talking about this the other day. I hadn’t really heard much about it, but it looks interesting!
Football really is terrifying. My sister had a friend in high school who sustained permanent brain damage from football. I’m not sure why no one does anything about it! Maybe this movie will get someone to do something!
I’m really interested in seeing this movie with my husband. We saw the trailers for it last time we went to the movies.
Oh snap! I love Will Smith. Never seen him do an accent before so this will be interesting. The story line really got me curious. I don’t watch nor am I into any thing football related but its WILL SMITH!!! lol
I love Will Smith movies & it looks like his performance has been at its best in Concussion. The trailer looks great & your review adds more interest that we would love to watch it soon.
I never realized how dangerous football can be. It’s sad that the NFL has kept the information they knew to themselves. I would definitely fall into those 10% of moms.
This is a conversation we all need to have and as you have heard me say (ad nauseum) it is not just football! Concussions are scary and scarring and oh so common. Thank you for bringing the right facts to light Lois — the ones that make us think, pay attention, and consider the impact of a decision!
And thanks so much for the book shout-out! You rock.
Thanks for highlighting the alarming facts about head injuries to NFL players. Wow. I had no idea it was that severe.
For the life of me I don’t understand parents allowing their kids to play contact sports. This info has been around a while no matter who tries to deny it or play it down.