Here come the NHL lawsuits

[ChicosBailBonds]

http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/10036795/former-players-sue-nhl-concussions

[Benny B]

My doctor told me that concussions from hockey made me dumb, but I proved them.

[Tugg Speedman]

Chicos,

I conceptually agree with your ideas of personal responsibility. What I have been arguing in these threads for months is these lawsuits will come and come and come and will not stop until they have all but ended High School Football (and now hockey) and gutted College and pro football and hockey.

Next will by lawsuits for concussions against the premiership, champions league and FIFA.

So while I do not agree with what is happening, I understand these sports will be under perpetual attack until they run out of money and/or the public loses interest in them.  Think tobacco lawsuits, they took 20 years before they prevailed.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Chicos,

I conceptually agree with your ideas of personal responsibility. What I have been arguing in these threads for months is these lawsuits will come and come and come and will not stop until they have all but ended High School Football (and now hockey) and gutted College and pro football and hockey.

Next will by lawsuits for concussions against the premiership, champions league and FIFA.

So while I do not agree with what is happening, I understand these sports will be under perpetual attack until they run out of money and/or the public loses interest in them.  Think tobacco lawsuits, they took 20 years before they prevailed.

I know you have argued it, but I don't think you are right. The tobacco comparison I think is wrong on so many levels.  We'll agree to disagree, especially the part about gutting the sports.  Running out of money?  I don't think so.  Sure, you could have some high schools give up the sport, and then what?  Are we getting rid of AYSO?  How about Little League?  At some point in this country the people will also say enough, kill all the lawyers and we can function again (I kid, I kid).

[Galway Eagle]

Jeeze all these "tough" guys are so sensitive! If I filed a lawsuit for a concussion from boxing I'd be laughed out of the court room. 

[brandx]

Jeeze all these "tough" guys are so sensitive! If I filed a lawsuit for a concussion from boxing I'd be laughed out of the court room. 

I think we need to remember that the problem is these teams denied the concussion problem and sent players with concussions onto the field for the sole purpose of keeping the money flowing in.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I think we need to remember that the problem is these teams denied the concussion problem and sent players with concussions onto the field for the sole purpose of keeping the money flowing in.

I disagree with this POV.  The "sole" purpose.  Come on.  Let's not forget the players of the past also were tough guys that wanted to play no matter what, whether they were hurt or not.  I remember Jack Youngblood playing with a broken leg....was that to keep the money flowing in or because he wanted to play very badly?

I'm not disagreeing with you that there is culpability on the part of the teams, league, owners, but let's not pretend the players didn't know football (hockey, soccer, etc) can be dangerous...they are not idiots.  This is the biggest problem I have with a lot of this stuff and why it becomes a total money grab. 

[brandx]

I disagree with this POV.  The "sole" purpose.  Come on.  Let's not forget the players of the past also were tough guys that wanted to play no matter what, whether they were hurt or not.  I remember Jack Youngblood playing with a broken leg....was that to keep the money flowing in or because he wanted to play very badly?

I'm not disagreeing with you that there is culpability on the part of the teams, league, owners, but let's not pretend the players didn't know football (hockey, soccer, etc) can be dangerous...they are not idiots.  This is the biggest problem I have with a lot of this stuff and why it becomes a total money grab. 

I think this is the one point we disagree on. They knew there were dangers - but they worried more in terms of being able to walk without pain later in life. They had no idea of the long term effects of concussions or the dementia and depression that went along with the constant blows to the head let alone the concussions they received during games.