51–60 of 135 posts
I wonder if this has compounded the TBI and concussion issue over the years. I think sports medicine in general has gotten much better and the average player is probably bigger and stronger and thus able to hit harder than 20+ years ago...
In other words, steroids have become more effective.
How accurate are these figures? I know that many teams will inflate the posted weight and height of their players. There is no regulation requiring that the publicly posted figures are accurate so they nudge them higher for psychological effect.
The player equipment has also become much more advanced, but is it helping or hurting? They should go back to leather helmets and no pads (like rugby) and see what happens.
It seems to become bimodal towards the last decade or two. Any idea as to why?
It seems to become bimodal towards the last decade or two. Any idea as to why?
Steroids. Relevant: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigger,_Stronger,_Faster*
Steroids don't make you taller. Also if you devote yourself to nutrition and weight lifting, as a 6 foot male it's not too hard to exceed 200 pounds. I don't doubt steroids play a part, but there are many other factors (in addition to just the fact that football became a national obsession so is attracting more potential players). And prior to 1940, the same players played offense and defense, along with limited subs…
Steroids. Relevant: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigger,_Stronger,_Faster*
Steroids don't make you taller. Also if you devote yourself to nutrition and weight lifting, as a 6 foot male it's not too hard to exceed 200 pounds. I don't doubt steroids play a part, but there are many other factors (in addition to just the fact that football became a national obsession so is attracting more potential players). And prior to 1940, the same players played offense and defense, along with limited subs…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Malcolm Gladwell has looked at this issue[1]. He sees football as being analogous to dogfighting. Popular at the time and with fans, but the science behind it is scary. I've experienced a severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI), meaning I've seen many brain doctors. I have seen a neuro-omptomolgist (brain-eye doctor) who sees a football player who can't even add up his checkbook (meaning he can't add, not this his check…
I know a few people who do neuropsychological testing (testing IQ, various kinds of memory, spatial reasoning, attention, and so on). Some college athletes are now getting "before" tests, as a baseline to evaluate the severity of damage after any subsequent concussion. One tester says she's seen players attempt to do poorly on the "before" tests, so they'll be able to keep playing even after a concussion impairs thei…
My old man once commented that he his Big 10 college alma mater once had someone on the football team whose only virtue was being 275 pounds.