re: Former LSU linebacker, Mike Anderson, sues NCAA and Riddell

Most guys knowing the possiblity of an injury later in life would still play college or pro football. If he hadn't played football he'd be about to retire from a plant or an assistant manager at popeye's

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Cut him some slack. The restaurant as I remember it was good. I always thought the food was good. I"m not surprised at the reaction of this board. I figure you all consider him a pussy for just not keeping his mouth shut and accepting his brain damage as just the price to pay since no one forced him to play football.

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In all fairness, I did always like the food. And, if clear and obvious evidence shows that the NCAA did, in fact, knowingly conceal information that could have led to Mike avoiding brain trama, then I say go for it. As far as Riddell, he would need to show they knowingly dumbed down designs for profit versus safety.....that one will be tough considering the lack of data in the 60's.

I haven't read the whole thread so sorry if this has been covered but whether you agree with Mike or not, this may turn out to be groundbreaking litigation. I have not seen any former college players suing...just former NFL players. At what point does it get walked back to the high school level.
Would be interested in what some OT lawyers think about this.

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"At what point does it get walked back to the high school level." When a plaintiffs attorney finds a rich enough HS to target.

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Yep...

This is totally a money grab by Mike. I have known him a long time.

I don't know why he did not sue LSU and Lee High as well, Charlie Mac and the Steelers?????

Without football, his restaurant business would not have made it out of the first year.

I notice he had to got to Plaquemine to get a lawyer? What no one in Brusly would take the case?

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who can I sue for being at risk for dying? I wont some money.

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I just remembered. In 1962 I was driving on a country road and had a near head on collision in a curve. If that Mercury had the proper detection equipment on board I would have known a car was about to come around that curve. I now have nerve damage, trouble walking, numbness and limited use of my left arm. I just realized that is a direct result of that wreck. I am going to see a lawyer tomorrow about suing Ford Motor Company for selling me defective equipment, the Parish for constructing narrow crocked roads thus subjecting unsuspecting citizens to dangers, and the company I was working for putting me in such a dangerous situation without warning me that other cars might be using the same road I was driving on. I may even include the state for providing a way allowing me to even get to that dangerous place.

Seriously – Not to make fun of people with genuine injuries but it seems to me we are held responsible for our decisions even if all the facts and repercussions were not know at the time the decision was made.

There are threads like this where the consensus is "suck it up, he should have known the consequences." Then there are threads about the kids deciding not to play football or their parents not letting them, and the consensus is "pussification of America." You guys can't have it both ways. It's either a dangerous sport or it's not.

And then there are posts of "I enjoy watching, but my son won't play." If you think people should risk their health and safety for your entertainment, you should have zero problem with your kids playing it.

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Let's all sue tigerbait in 20 years saying we all have hand/joint issues from typing these discussions amongst each other. They provided these forums for us and I see no warnings of the potential risks...

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I have hand issues because I don't have a girlfriend. Who can I sue ??

Well, like you, I began playing football at a young age, and played every year until I was 18 years old. Even at a young age if you did not know that injuries (to any part of the body) were commonplace before you started playing the game, all it took was full-contact practice to come to the conclusion that pain was very much a part of the game and that injuries were not only possible, but likely to occur at some point. Nevertheless, I chose to continue playing.

In high school I played at a big time 5A school. In that time I took some pretty wicked hits, including more than a few blows to the head. I suffered at least one concussion, and on multiple occasions got dazed, disoriented, and got up with a pretty good headache after I had gotten my "bell rung". Did I have a concussion on those occassions? Maybe. Did I know that blurred vision and a headache wasn't normal? Absolutely. Same as if I had fallen and hit my head without wearing a helmet. I didn't need a coach or doctor to explain to me that I may have just suffered a head injury. I could FEEL that I had just suffered some degree of head injury. Most of the time I just shook it off and kept on playing. It was part of the game. The coaches didn't remove me from the game because I never said anything about the pain I was experiencing. It was MY choice to keep silent. Plus, if they would have wanted to, I suspect they would have had a hard time doing so because I chose to continue playing. I suspect Mr. Anderson can relate the same sentiments, but to a much higher degree than I can.

You can argue that if we knew then what we know now, then nobody would just keep silient if they felt they had just suffered a head injury. But the fact is that every Friday, Saturday and Sunday there are guys who know that they may have just suffered a potentially severe head injury, yet say nothing because they want to keep playing. One only has to see the numerous occasions were a player is seen nearly fighting with a trainer or team doctor to get back into the game after his helmet has been taken from him. I guarantee the same midset would have been prevalent in the eara that Mike Anderson played even if they knew what we know now.

Though head injuries may not have been discussed to the extent they are today, no one who has ever played football and taken a helmet-to-helmet hit can honestly say that they A) did not know that head injuries were a possibility or that B) they did not know at the time that they actually did suffer a head injury to some extent. If you ever blacked out momentarily or got up with a headache and an inability to balance yourself after a collision on the football field then I think it's a bit disingenuous to say that "I knew I was risking a broken leg, or a sepearated shoulder, but I had no idea I was risking a head injury." Even the dumbest of football players probably would have told you 10, 20, 30, 40 years ago that it wouldn't be a good idea to strap on a helmet and bang your head against a wall repeatedly for 2-3 hours at a time because it would probably cause injury to your head. However, that is essentially what they are doing in a game. Nevertheless, we're supposed to believe that they had no idea that they were at risk for a head injury? Certainly an athlete should have reason to believe that his helmet should protect him from some degree of head injury. However, the first time he picked himself up off the field with a throbbing head after a big hit should have been a CLEAR indication that no helmet would protect him from all or even just substantial head injuries. This lawsuit is basically stating that you (the NFL, college, NCAA, etc) were negligent in failing to protect us from ourselves, and that we maintain ZERO accountability in the decision WE MADE to play a violent game.

So with all due respect, my opinion is not based on conjecture, but, like you, through the experience of playing football.

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headaches and memory loss

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Is he sure its not all that Johnny Walker Red?