Will Smith stars in Concussion, a dramatic thriller that tells the astonishing true story of American immigrant Dr. Bennet Omalu, the brilliant forensic neuropathologist who made the first discovery of CTE, a football-related brain trauma, in a pro player, and fought for the truth to be known. Omalu's emotional mission puts him at treacherous odds with one of the most powerful establishments in the world.
Football is the hype in a lot of places and institutions, from high school to college and onwards. However, it’s not so enjoyable to witness when you come across the risks this particular sport poses on the players (mental, psychological, physiological, etc.)
In fact, many Americans rave at this ‘phenomenon’ and practically worship it as it’s sort of like a ritual, for instance, during Thanksgiving and summer holidays (especially). Nonetheless, they may not realize how severely compromising it could be for someone who is a football player. Yes this is indeed a physical contact sport that involves backbreaking and bone-shattering work, and with the right training and practice, one can most likely make a touchdown without any injuries. But that doesn’t mean one won’t get tackled so hard that they get the wind knocked out of them, even with all the protective gear.
By now, several NFL fans are aware that head injuries are a serious concern in the sport, one that has amassed not only been glorified (absurdly to a certain extent), but has also been altered by the hands of corporate institutions. This Christmas, the Hollywood blockbuster Concussion is determined to spread that message to the public.
"I probably won't be getting my free Super Bowl tickets this year," said actor Will Smith. "Dr. Omalu is an immigrant, and a big part of why he fought so hard to have this information come out is because he believes in America and American ideals…. I believe firmly in the ideas and in the concepts of what this country stands for, and I'm impelled and compelled to do whatever I have to do to make sure they aren't trampled upon…You know, it's not just a movie. It's people's lives that we're trying to do justice to their suffering."
Smith even visited families of some NFL players who have experienced CTE.
CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease found in athletes that have had brain trauma, concussions, and sub-concussive hits to the head, or head injuries. This disease has occurred and is present in athletes of contact sports such as wrestling, ice hockey, etc.
In the weeks leading up to the release of Concussion, leaked emails from Sony mentioned not to upset the NFL, but the director of the movie, Peter Landesman, had no intention of changing the plot (as he mentioned to the New York Times).
Nevertheless, the NFL seemed to be open to the analysis and criticism and soon proclaimed that they have been making many changes to ensure the safety and good health of the players. This includes strict concussion protocols, better training, and medical care. "We're seeing measurable results, including a 34% decrease in concussions in NFL games since the 2012 season…. Also, we’re funding independent scientific and medical research and the development of better protective equipment…The game continues to change, and the safety of our players remains our highest priority.”
This issue of player safety isn’t going to fade away anytime soon. Recent reports show that 87% of the 91 former NFL players tested for CTE were positively identified (Boston University and Department of Veteran Affairs).
Currently, NFL players are tested for concussion symptoms by team medical staffs as well as by independent neuro-trauma consultants before they can return to play. “Any player who loses consciousness is barred from returning on that day,” a league spokesman confirmed.
NFL has had run-ins with Hollywood. It goes to show, that art imitates life and that the athleticism behind a good old pastime can be compromised by such hidden dangers.
http://edition.cnn.com/2015/12/18/sport/nfl-head-i...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3322364/?ref_=nv_sr_2
http://www.bu.edu/cte/about/what-is-cte/