Progress Vs. Epidemic
Posted 11:22 AM ET | Comments 0
Yesterday I wrote a missive about the similarities in the evolution of concussion treatment and diagnoses in sports, and that in other areas of medicine and society. Last night shortly after it was announced that Chris Pronger would be sidelined for the remainder of the NHL season and playoffs, agent Allen Walsh issued a very direct verbal attack on the NHL and the lack of urgency with which this is being dealt. The Hockey News as well as some former players weighed in as well.
I may be wrong, and I often am, but I fail to see how this in not progress in the battle to prevent the horrible effects of head injuries in later years. The fact alone that 23 players are sidelined with head injuries, at least from my corner of the world, signifies that the league is finally taking even the most minor instances more seriously and erring on the side of caution.
While their is an optics issue with the length of the list, there is certainly nothing wrong with it. The circumstances of each injury vary, meaning there is no clear type of hit or play that has crept into the game which is causing the increase. At least 3 of the hits were collisions between teammates.
Some have suggested that the speed of the game is the perpetrator and it needs to be slown down. This is somewhat the law of unintended consequences, the rule changes have helped contribute to the increase in open ice. That said, hockey is a dangerous contact sport with which injuries can occur. The world is an imperfect place and the rules don't need to be changed every time somebody gets hurt. Plainly said, if you want to completely avoid a concussion in hockey, you probably should'nt play. I write this with no disrespect to the health and safety of any player. There is danger, just as in racing a car or flying a plane, that no matter how many of the rules get changed will not eliminate the threat of injury.
Again I will be live tweeting the Leafs-Sabres game tonight, for anybody interested
twitter: @mullen93robbery
I may be wrong, and I often am, but I fail to see how this in not progress in the battle to prevent the horrible effects of head injuries in later years. The fact alone that 23 players are sidelined with head injuries, at least from my corner of the world, signifies that the league is finally taking even the most minor instances more seriously and erring on the side of caution.
While their is an optics issue with the length of the list, there is certainly nothing wrong with it. The circumstances of each injury vary, meaning there is no clear type of hit or play that has crept into the game which is causing the increase. At least 3 of the hits were collisions between teammates.
Some have suggested that the speed of the game is the perpetrator and it needs to be slown down. This is somewhat the law of unintended consequences, the rule changes have helped contribute to the increase in open ice. That said, hockey is a dangerous contact sport with which injuries can occur. The world is an imperfect place and the rules don't need to be changed every time somebody gets hurt. Plainly said, if you want to completely avoid a concussion in hockey, you probably should'nt play. I write this with no disrespect to the health and safety of any player. There is danger, just as in racing a car or flying a plane, that no matter how many of the rules get changed will not eliminate the threat of injury.
Again I will be live tweeting the Leafs-Sabres game tonight, for anybody interested
twitter: @mullen93robbery