- Jul 28, 2016
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Bennet Omalu was born as his Biafran refugee camp was being bombed and his father left for dead. His father survived that day and named his son Benoit, meaning "blessed by God". His African name, Onyemalukwube, manes "If you know, come forth and speak" He is a man who has lived through systematic persecution and abuse during childhood and admits that, because his father saw education as the way out of being pegged inferior, his multiple degrees and publications "may be a bit of compensation".
Wikepedia Commons, Photo, Josh Adkins
He has a unique laugh. He needs to laugh because, as a young pathologist, he didn't believe that a person could become psychiatrically ill without reason. This opinion ultimately led him down the path toward recognition that concussions and traumatic brain injury are the brain's predictable response to repeated hits and made him very unpopular with the NFL and others who do not agree with and/or minimize his findings. He has lived up to his name of Onyemalukwube and continues to speak out on this topic.
He has, for example, expressed the opinion that no amount of padding or protection can protect a brain from this type of trauma and its predictable consequences, which runs counter to NFL wisdom. He also does not see the current concussion guidelines, which focus on protecting an injured brain from being injured 'too soon' as adequate if they ignore that any timing will not protect a brain that has been repeatedly injured. He has also been quoted as saying “Someday there will be a district attorney who will prosecute for child abuse [on the football field], and it will succeed. It is the definition of child abuse.” and “If you play football, and if your child plays football, there is a 100 percent risk exposure. There is nothing like making football safer. That’s a misnomer.”
No beating around the bush. The man has clarity
He has done the science and he has collaborated with others in the field. One study published in the well known medical journal JAMA found that, of the 111 brains of former NFL players donated for research on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (as this syndrome of brain injury from repeated trauma is called) 110 of the players showed damage consistent with the disease.
This article outlines his early career and later findings that have placed him in the spotlight as an advocate of protecting brains, young and old, but especially young, from repeated trauma, such as from sports. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/28/concussion-prevention-football-safety-brain-injury-bennet-omalu-nfl-will-smith It also discusses the first autopsy that led him down this road, that of Iron Mike Webster of the Pittsburg Steelers.
This one contains the quotes above: https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/08/08/bennet-omalu-cte-football
Here is the site of a father who has spent a lot of time thinking about this and agrees with Dr. Omaly: https://modernfatheronline.com/2013/11/30/sports-and-the-hypocrisy-of-parenting/
He is getting lots of publicity, with the movie, "Concussion" starring Will Smith, dramatizing his life. He is also getting lots of negative press, and no surprise, as the NFL is the most lucrative sport in the US and they do not like his message. He is certainly speaking out about what he knows, and so living up to his name.
Can we prove that sports like football predictably cause brain injury that leads to disabling bodily and psychiatric illness? Dr. Omalu says we can.
Would you say 'no' to your kids playing sports that involve repeated head trauma, despite societal norms and concussion guidelines saying it's ok? I'm not.
Is the NFL being sued? Yes, by more than 4000 players!
What do you think? Please be respectful in your comments!

He has a unique laugh. He needs to laugh because, as a young pathologist, he didn't believe that a person could become psychiatrically ill without reason. This opinion ultimately led him down the path toward recognition that concussions and traumatic brain injury are the brain's predictable response to repeated hits and made him very unpopular with the NFL and others who do not agree with and/or minimize his findings. He has lived up to his name of Onyemalukwube and continues to speak out on this topic.
He has, for example, expressed the opinion that no amount of padding or protection can protect a brain from this type of trauma and its predictable consequences, which runs counter to NFL wisdom. He also does not see the current concussion guidelines, which focus on protecting an injured brain from being injured 'too soon' as adequate if they ignore that any timing will not protect a brain that has been repeatedly injured. He has also been quoted as saying “Someday there will be a district attorney who will prosecute for child abuse [on the football field], and it will succeed. It is the definition of child abuse.” and “If you play football, and if your child plays football, there is a 100 percent risk exposure. There is nothing like making football safer. That’s a misnomer.”
No beating around the bush. The man has clarity
He has done the science and he has collaborated with others in the field. One study published in the well known medical journal JAMA found that, of the 111 brains of former NFL players donated for research on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (as this syndrome of brain injury from repeated trauma is called) 110 of the players showed damage consistent with the disease.
This article outlines his early career and later findings that have placed him in the spotlight as an advocate of protecting brains, young and old, but especially young, from repeated trauma, such as from sports. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/28/concussion-prevention-football-safety-brain-injury-bennet-omalu-nfl-will-smith It also discusses the first autopsy that led him down this road, that of Iron Mike Webster of the Pittsburg Steelers.
This one contains the quotes above: https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/08/08/bennet-omalu-cte-football
Here is the site of a father who has spent a lot of time thinking about this and agrees with Dr. Omaly: https://modernfatheronline.com/2013/11/30/sports-and-the-hypocrisy-of-parenting/
He is getting lots of publicity, with the movie, "Concussion" starring Will Smith, dramatizing his life. He is also getting lots of negative press, and no surprise, as the NFL is the most lucrative sport in the US and they do not like his message. He is certainly speaking out about what he knows, and so living up to his name.
Can we prove that sports like football predictably cause brain injury that leads to disabling bodily and psychiatric illness? Dr. Omalu says we can.
Would you say 'no' to your kids playing sports that involve repeated head trauma, despite societal norms and concussion guidelines saying it's ok? I'm not.
Is the NFL being sued? Yes, by more than 4000 players!
What do you think? Please be respectful in your comments!

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