The top headline in today’s NY Times Sports section chronicles the tragic life of former Ohio State football player Kosta Karageorge who, after sustaining an estimated 15 concussions, fatally shot himself.
This is yet another instance wherein the consequence of contact sports is becoming a problem that demands our attention.
For parents whose sons have an interest in football—whether it is Peewee league, high school, or college—I implore you to consult with a medical professional who specializes in athletic neuroscience so your family can make intelligent and informed choices.
Many parents of young men who are permanently disabled because of blunt head trauma say that if they would’ve known then what they know now, they never would allow their son to participate in contact sports.
The price the whole family pays far exceeds any potential benefit of contact sports participation
No matter what the coaches tell you in terms of new and improved helmets, and/or better tackling techniques, nothing will prevent severe and permanent brain damage when the very essence of the sport is to physically pummel your opponent.
As I have said many times, if someone wants to ride a motorcycle without a helmet they should first have to spend a week at Cleveland Metro Hospital Surgical Intensive Care Unit and spend time with victims of motorcycle accidents. The same is true for participation in the blunt sport of football.
Parents and their children should have to spend a week with brain injured players and their families.
I invite you to read the story on Kosta Karageorge. It is sad and yet chilling at the same time because the circumstances that caused his death have not changed. Karageorge was diagnosed posthumously with Stage 1 C.T.E.
As a parent and a personal injury lawyer, my goal is that each and every parent, player, and coach receives education on the dangers of contact sports before condemning our young athletes to the seemingly unavoidable outcome of head injuries.
As your Ohio catastrophic injury attorney, I will be there for you and I’ll Make Them Pay!®
Author: Tim Misny | For over four decades, personal injury lawyer Tim Misny has represented the injured victim in in birth injury, medical malpractice, and catastrophic injury/wrongful death cases, serving “Cleveland, Akron/Canton, Columbus, Dayton and neighboring communities.” You can reach Tim by email at misnylaw.com/ask-tim-a-question/ or call at 1 (800) 556-4769.