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Post by blny on Sept 21, 2015 7:16:57 GMT -5
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Post by BadCompany on Sept 21, 2015 7:55:26 GMT -5
Another enforcer.
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Post by blny on Sept 21, 2015 8:18:02 GMT -5
Yep. It will be interesting to see if information gets out to show exactly what he was dealing with. Was it depression and mental illness, or did he have full on dementia? Perhaps he was diagnosed with something akin to the latter, and chose to end it quicker. Regardless, it's a shame.
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Post by Polarice on Sept 21, 2015 9:22:42 GMT -5
I'm not sold on this CTE theory....guys have been beating each others heads in since the dawn of time with out killing themselves. Now, I'm not saying that CTE is not a factor, just not the only factor. There has to be more going on, whether the person already has a mental condition and CTE is just just the thing that pushes them over the edge, or other outside conditions that are affecting the person.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Sept 21, 2015 9:24:22 GMT -5
A terrible loss ... RIP Todd ...
Cheers.
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Post by blny on Sept 21, 2015 9:37:45 GMT -5
I'm not sold on this CTE theory....guys have been beating each others heads in since the dawn of time with out killing themselves. Now, I'm not saying that CTE is not a factor, just not the only factor. There has to be more going on, whether the person already has a mental condition and CTE is just just the thing that pushes them over the edge, or other outside conditions that are affecting the person. It's hard to say. There's so much more reporting on everything now. How many people slipped through the cracks of society and were forgotten in the past? If a Todd Ewen in 1930 had suffered as much brain trauma and committed suicide, would we have heard about it? Back then, they would have self medicated with alcohol or legal opiates. Players of the last 20 years would have had access to things far harsher than alcohol. Those things, combined with the repeated trauma, may have done more damage. Hard to say. I would add that it's not just former athletes turning to suicide as a solution. We're seeing far more youth commit suicide as the result of bullying. It's so prevalent that society has begun to treat bullying like it's something new. I had a lengthy chat with a colleague, and former teacher, shortly after Rataeh Parsons took her life here in NS. Neither of us could come up with a reason why it's so common place now. Bullying isn't new. Some of the mediums are, but it's always been there.
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Post by CentreHice on Sept 21, 2015 9:49:34 GMT -5
CTE is a result of brain injury.
Fighting -- the deliberate targeting of another's head -- leads to brain injury.
Not to mention the angst and stress these drafted-for enforcers go through.
The NHL has taken a good stance on dirty hits, finally….and they can't get rid of clean, hard body checks that can rock the brain. The risk lies on the player in many apsects.
Maybe it's impossible to eliminate fighting altogether….but as long as it's only 5:00 (because the fans love it and want it) those players will continue to be developed and drafted….and we'll continue to see cases such as these.
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Post by habsorbed on Sept 21, 2015 10:46:49 GMT -5
RIP Todd and the other enforces.
My theory is that they become addicted to various narcotics to numb the pain during their playing careers and are unable to extricate themselves once they retire. It hurts to constantly be hit in the head and to constantly hit your hand against someone's helmet over and over again. How many times do you see these guys with ice packs on their hands when in the box, yet they're ready to go again shortly thereafter. It's not difficult to become addicted to pain killers and they will mess with your head over the long term.
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Post by CentreHice on Sept 21, 2015 11:03:20 GMT -5
RIP Todd and the other enforces. My theory is that they become addicted to various narcotics to numb the pain during their playing careers and are unable to extricate themselves once they retire. It hurts to constantly be hit in the head and to constantly hit your hand against someone's helmet over and over again. How many times do you see these guys with ice packs on their hands when in the box, yet they're ready to go again shortly thereafter. It's not difficult to become addicted to pain killers and they will mess with your head over the long term. An enforcer drinks a potentially lethal cocktail that the NHL and its fans are only too happy to continue serving. The emotional stress and physical toll leads to what you're talking about….and then there's CTE on top of it. Drink now….pay later….big-time.
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Post by BadCompany on Sept 21, 2015 11:30:58 GMT -5
I'm not sold on this CTE theory....guys have been beating each others heads in since the dawn of time with out killing themselves. Now, I'm not saying that CTE is not a factor, just not the only factor. There has to be more going on, whether the person already has a mental condition and CTE is just just the thing that pushes them over the edge, or other outside conditions that are affecting the person. Not sure I agree with that. I think that the problem has always been there, but 2 and 2 were just never put together. Here is an old article about the 1972 Edmonton Eskimos; Fifth EstateStevenson, an offensive tackle, died last year at age 55 after falling down stairs while drunk. Hentschel, a member of the Eskimos' famed "Alberta Crude" defence, died two years ago at 52 of organ failure after years of alcohol and drug abuse and depression. In 2005, Boone shot himself at home in Point Roberts, Wash., after years of profound depression.The article also goes on to say that (s)tudies in the United States show that men who play five or more years in the NFL have a life expectancy of 55, 20 years less than the average in the general public. For linemen, perhaps due to their size, the life expectancy is 52.That's disturbing. While this is a football article I'm sure similar stories could be told about hockey players. Doug Harvey of course, famously ended up homeless after battling alcoholism and bipolar disorders. And that's one of the most famous hockey players not just of his era, but of any era. As BLNY asks, if we're talking about a fringe fourth liner who played 5 seasons in the 50s would anybody know if he killed himself ten years after being forced out the game? Has anybody gone and checked? I think that would make an interesting comparison, to see what the life expectancy of players who played in each decade ended up being, compared to the general population of the same era.
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Post by CentreHice on Sept 21, 2015 13:00:59 GMT -5
Pretty sure Chris Nilan was well on his way there. Fortunately, he somehow got the help he needed…and seems to be doing very well. I wouldn't be surprised if he's talking about it right now on his radio show.
Not saying he has CTE…but definitely the substance abuse and depression problems the other enforcers faced.
I have a quote from Dave "Tiger" Williams (who still holds the record for most penalty minutes at close to 4,000)….
(On being an enforcer) Does anybody want that job? Anybody who says yes, you know the guy's an idiot! You just do what you do. And then again, you get in that lane and you better stay in that lane or you won't be in any lane."
So, other than the "idiots" who want/enjoy the role….the rest must have a lot of inner conflict.
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Post by blny on Sept 21, 2015 13:05:05 GMT -5
Pretty sure Chris Nilan was well on his way there. Fortunately, he somehow got the help he needed…and seems to be doing very well. I wouldn't be surprised if he's talking about it right now on his radio show. Not saying he has CTE…but definitely the substance abuse and depression problems the other enforcers faced. That brings up a point I touched on in the Montador thread: getting help. It's out there if you want it. You have to be brave enough to ask for help though, and as tough as these guys were on their respective fields of battle many didn't/don't have the courage to ask. The bravado of 'being a man' gets in the way. Once they do ask though, they have to make it a part of the rest of their lives. The biggest mistake those with mental illnesses make is to stop treatment as soon as they feel better.
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Post by habsorbed on Sept 21, 2015 13:53:34 GMT -5
Pretty sure Chris Nilan was well on his way there. Fortunately, he somehow got the help he needed…and seems to be doing very well. I wouldn't be surprised if he's talking about it right now on his radio show. Not saying he has CTE…but definitely the substance abuse and depression problems the other enforcers faced. That brings up a point I touched on in the Montador thread: getting help. It's out there if you want it. You have to be brave enough to ask for help though, and as tough as these guys were on their respective fields of battle many didn't/don't have the courage to ask. The bravado of 'being a man' gets in the way. Once they do ask though, they have to make it a part of the rest of their lives. The biggest mistake those with mental illnesses make is to stop treatment as soon as they feel better. While i agree the patient needs to step up, I can't excuse the society we live in which stigmatizes those with mental health issues. We've made some strides in the last few years but still a long way to go.
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Post by blny on Sept 21, 2015 15:01:54 GMT -5
That brings up a point I touched on in the Montador thread: getting help. It's out there if you want it. You have to be brave enough to ask for help though, and as tough as these guys were on their respective fields of battle many didn't/don't have the courage to ask. The bravado of 'being a man' gets in the way. Once they do ask though, they have to make it a part of the rest of their lives. The biggest mistake those with mental illnesses make is to stop treatment as soon as they feel better. While i agree the patient needs to step up, I can't excuse the society we live in which stigmatizes those with mental health issues. We've made some strides in the last few years but still a long way to go. Agreed. Bell Let's talk has done a lot. More still needed.
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Post by Polarice on Sept 21, 2015 16:57:24 GMT -5
I think it has a lot to do with their life style. A lot of these enforcers live life like rock stars. They hit the bars and the women hard early in their careers. A lot of them are made out to be hero's to their local fans, much more than the goal scorers at times. They get addicted to the fame and the drugs, then when their career is over they are forgotten about. Thought of as meatheads, thugs etc. They get depressed, and take more drugs and with the combination of developing CTE they loose it.
The same happens in other sports like football where substance abuse is much worse. I think people blaming it on CTE are looking for a pay day more than admitting the real problems.
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Post by CentreHice on Sept 22, 2015 9:06:23 GMT -5
I think it has a lot to do with their life style. A lot of these enforcers live life like rock stars. They hit the bars and the women hard early in their careers. A lot of them are made out to be hero's to their local fans, much more than the goal scorers at times. They get addicted to the fame and the drugs, then when their career is over they are forgotten about. Thought of as meatheads, thugs etc. They get depressed, and take more drugs and with the combination of developing CTE they loose it. The same happens in other sports like football where substance abuse is much worse. I think people blaming it on CTE are looking for a pay day more than admitting the real problems. Good points, Reap. They're celebrated when they're at their pugilistic best…but when their fists begin to fail, they lose favour quickly. No chance at the Hall of Fame, even though their jobs were deemed to be a big draw at the gate…and integral to winning. The realization sets in that they're there to do the dirty work…and to enjoy their few years of big money, if they've won most of their fights. And as you said, almost all of them fade away or retire and become the forgotten thug. How many get lucrative, national sponsorship deals? The "forgetful" nature of their careers doesn't stop there. In instances such as Ewen, Rypien, Boogaard, Belak...how long does the issue stay on the media's front burners? How much does the NHL do to curtail such an outcome?
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