Second Judiciary Committee Hearing on Concussions
Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) is holding the second Judiciary Committee Hearing on concussions at the Wayne State School of Medicine Conference Center in Detroit Michigan on Monday Jan. 4, 2010 at 1:00 pm EST. This hearing appears to be much more wide-ranging and the scheduled testimony includes independent doctors and even World Super Welterweight boxing champ Thomas “Hitman” Hearns is testifying, along with Rev. Al Sharpton. Bernie Parrish, Hall of Famer Lem Barney, Kyle Turley and George Martin are the retired players slated to testify this time.
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WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The NFL will be attempting to show that they’re “embracing” the importance of recognizing concussions by embracing long-term studies such as those being conducted by the likes of The Sports Legacy Institute and Dr. Bennett Omalu. Why? Because they’re long-term and results will be slow in coming (Think about it this way: the studies depend on retired players donating their brains AFTER they die …many years later). They have nothing to lose by appearing to support these types of studies in the present time.
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WHAT YOU WON’T SEE: Roger Goodell has decided not to show up at this hearing to avoid looking like a deer in the headlights once again. Watch as George Martin is sent in instead as the NFL’s “Independent Players’ Representative.” You WON’T be hearing anyone from the NFL talk about reforming retired players’ disability and pension issues.
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You’ll be able to watch a live streaming webcast as soon as it’s available by clicking the link below (the link won’t work until it’s live):
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We did notice that Ira ‘Dr. No’ Casson – listed as the “Former Co-Chair” of the NFL’s “Mild” Traumatic Brain Injury Committee – is scheduled to speak twice this time around, perhaps to make up for conspicuously missing the first hearing. Just as the NFL’s studies of brain concussions have been compared to the tobacco companies’ denial of lung cancer being caused by smoking, we also have to wonder if “Mild” Traumatic Brain Injury is like being half-pregnant? Who else tries to call a TRAUMATIC brain concussion “Mild”?
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Here’s the speakers’ list as posted on the Judiciary Committee website (each speaker’s testimony will be made available as a PDF document after the hearing – just click on a speaker’s name to access the transcript file once it’s posted online):
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Witness List
| Members Panel |
| Hon. John Conyers, Jr. U.S. House of Representatives 14th District, MI … |
| Hon. Steve Cohen U.S. House of Representatives 9th District, TN … |
| Hon. Linda Sánchez U.S. House of Representatives 39th District, CA … |
| Panel I |
| DeMaurice Smith Executive Director NFL Players Association Washington, DC |
| Joseph C. Maroon, MD Vice Chair Department of Neurosurgery University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA |
| David Klossner, Ph.D. Director of Health and Safety National Collegiate Athletic Association Washington, DC |
| Bob Colgate Assistant Director National Federation of State High School Associations Indianapolis, IN |
| Scott Hallenbeck Executive Director USA Football Vienna, VA |
| Lemuel J. Barney Detroit Lions Hall of Fame Player Southfield, MI |
| Thomas Hearns Retired Professional Boxer Southfield, MI |
| Bennet I. Omalu, MD Co-Director Brain Injury Research Institute West Virginia University Morgantown, WV |
| Ira R. Casson, M.D. Former Co-Chairman NFL Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee Forest Hills, NY |
| Vincent R. Ferrara Founder and CEO Xenith, LLC Lowell, MA |
| P. David Halstead Technical Director Southern Impact Research Center Rockford, TN |
| Panel II |
| Randall R. Benson, MD Assistant Professor of Neurology Wayne State University Detroit, MI |
| Ira R. Casson, M.D. Former Co-Chairman NFL Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee Forest Hills, NY |
| Jeffrey S. Kutcher, MD Director Michigan Neurosport Ann Arbor, MI |
| Christopher Nowinski President and CEO Sports Legacy Institute Waltham, MA |
| Kyle Turley Retired NFL Player Boston, MA |
| Ted Johnson Retired NFL Player Boston, MA |
| Robert L. Schmidt Chairman Vincent T. Lombardi Foundation Washington, DC |
| George Martin Executive Director NFL Alumni Association Ft. Lauderdale, FL |
| Luther “Big Lu” Campbell Trainer of Professional Athletes Detroit, MI |
| Bernard P. Parrish Retired NFL Player Gainesville, FL |
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Dave Pear
January 4th, 2010 at 11:50 AM #
The NFL’s Dr. No (Ira Casson) is attending and will speak twice? We can only hope that he’ll be asked the same questions that he answered, “NO” several times to already.
http://davepear.com/blog/2009/11/dr-no-resigns/#more-4588
Dr. No has lost his credibility and respect as a doctor; however, he’s still part of the coverup for concussions and head injuries in the NFL.
If only Dr. No was under oath when he earned his new title!
Regards,
Dave & Heidi Pear
Second Judiciary Committee Hearing on Concussions - Dave Pear's … city university
January 4th, 2010 at 1:16 PM #
[...] the original post: Second Judiciary Committee Hearing on Concussions – Dave Pear's … By admin | category: University of PITTSBURGH | tags: association, [...]
George Visger
January 4th, 2010 at 1:45 PM #
I am very glad to see they have Dr. Bennett Omalu slated to testify. I have met with Bennett several times lately (and was asked to sit on his board) and he is as pure a person as you would ever want to meet. His studies, though scientific in nature, are conducted purely because they are the right thing to do. He is not swayed by – nor held hostage to – any constituents’ ideals, and will relay the scientific facts, pure and simple. Repeated head trauma causes a build up of tau proteins, which has been linked to cognitive declines in patients. The NFL can continue trying to avoid the facts, much like the tobacco industry did for years, but their day of reckoning is near.
To all our NFL brothers who have battled the memory and anger management demons much like I have for years, I cannot stress to you how important it is to get down to Dr. Amen’s clinic in Newport Beach, CA for a FREE brain evaluation. I have walked this path for 28 years since my first brain surgery and can honestly say it is the first time I feel like I am taking control again. Do it for your families.
With my memory as it is, I almost forgot to mention I offered to donate a sample of living brain tissue to be collected during my next VP Shunt brain surgery, to be tested for tau proteins. Dr. Omalu said it has never been done with living brain tissue but offered to contact my neurosurgeons to sit in on the next surgery and assist in collecting the sample.
My thought was to be able to collect data on how quickly tau protein builds up over the years and correlate it to test results we obtained from Dr. Amen’s clinic.
Despite all they have put us through, we can still maintain our pride and turn this into a positive to help other young players and families avoid what many of us are facing today.
The NFL is all about the $$$. I read in the paper today where our good buddy, Commissioner Goodell, would like to offer incentives to encourage teams from resting starters for the playoffs. This definitely comes from someone who has never gone through an NFL season. Four pre-season games, 16 regular season games, 2 or 3 playoffs and the Super Bowl is not a long enough time to take a beating, so let’s keep the starters on the field as long as possible so we can sell more tickets and get more TV revenue for the next game.
Good old Roger Dodger. Always thinking about what’s best for the players – that’s why he’s the Commissioner!
The Tide is Turning.
George Visger
San Francisco 49′ers
1980 & 1981
Survivor of 9 Football-Related Brain Surgeries
Dave Pear
January 6th, 2010 at 12:44 PM #
Thank you, Bernie Parrish, for your very articulate presentation of the facts!
Dr. NO Ira Casson continues to commit medical fraud and malpractice by denying the harmful effects of repeated hits to the head. These concussions are head injuries and ALL head injuries are serious.
However, he’s doing what the owners have paid him to do since 1994.
This coverup is like the tobacco industry’s denial of the harmful effects of smoking.
As more and more facts become available about this crime, Rep. Maxine Waters is correct in saying to Roger Goodell on 10/28/09 in Washington, DC when she scolded him and said, “it is time to remove the anti-trust exemption” from the NFL!
Well said and we the retired players thank you.
When I say that I wish I had never played football, it’s because of the illegal denial of disability benefits by the NFL to injured and disabled retired players.
Parents, I recommend that you do not allow your children to play football (especially youth football) because of the concussions that your child will receive that will affect him for the rest of his life.
Please let me repeat myself, “that will affect him for the rest of his life!”
Dr. NO will never be this truthful about the harmful effects of head injuries and football.
Regards,
Dave & Heidi Pear
NFL 1975-1980
Pro Bowl 1978
Super Bowl XV (Gene Upshaw was my teammate)
Social Security Disability in 2004 (at the age of 51)
Thane Gash
January 6th, 2010 at 2:03 PM #
Dave,
I was wonder if Mr. Parrish was stating a fact about the membership of NFL Alumni: “…that there are fewer than 100 retired players that are members of NFL Alumni.” Thank you for your help once again and any information that can be furnished will be greatly appreciated.
Thane Gash
NFL Retired Player
Cleveland Browns (1988-1991)
San Francisco 49ers (1992-1993)
John Hogan
January 6th, 2010 at 3:37 PM #
Thane,
More hyperbole from Bernie! If you check just the Atlanta Alumni chapter, you will see at least a hundred members and the teams they played for.
(www.nflalumniatlanta.com)
John Hogan
Disability Attorney
Kathy Smith
January 6th, 2010 at 7:56 PM #
‘
What is the total number of retired NFL player members of the NFL Alumni? Does it show how many years each of them played?
John, are you a member?
Kathy Smith
Bob Grant
January 6th, 2010 at 11:47 PM #
Who really cares how many members of the Alumni were actually Players in the NFL? Without the Alumni, we’ve made great progress in the past two years. Independents like Bernie Parrish have been at the forefront of our advances. “Nuff said.”
Finally, as I wrote earlier, George, I will be happy to give you ABSOLUTE proof that a few of your “so-called” supporters speak very disrespectfully about you behind the scenes. You and I will meet and talk at some point, probably, and I will pay for the lunch if I can’t prove what I’ve said.
You go on with your work and we in the Independent Movement will do the same.
I’m also curious as to why the Alumni has chosen to use the word “Summit” to describe their upcoming Meeting in Florida. I certainly don’t own the word but the fact is that I alone came up with that particular term to name the Meeting that Marvin Cobb and I produced in Las Vegas in May of the past summer. (The First Independent Retired Players’ Summit.) Hopefully, your Meeting will turn out well but I hope that no one will confuse the two.
I earned the right to “call” you on this. (By the way Bruce, Tony, Abner, Jane, Robert, Liffort, Marvin and some others did join in after Bernie and I came up with the idea of a “Retired Players Summit.) You, George, played absolutely no role in it nor did the NFL or the NFLPA.
At some point in the future I will have a post here on the Blog that will tell everyone – step-by-step – who played what role in the first Independent Summit and exactly how and why it worked.
Bob Grant
Independent Activist/Advocate
John Hogan
January 7th, 2010 at 3:44 AM #
I don’t know the total number, but it was silly for Bernie to assert that it was only 100. I don’t think the Atlanta roster lists the years that the guys played, but we have guys from all the teams – not just former Falcons. Yes, I’m an associate (and non-voting) member.
The Alumni’s focus for the past twenty years has been “Caring for Kids” charity golf tournaments. A lot of guys either cannot play golf or don’t care to. WE GET THAT. The new Advocacy role is going to be totally focused on retired players and the key to success will be in strength of numbers. Bernie testified that the new Alumni was a hoax set up by Roger Goodell. Could be. I don’t believe that is the case, but I don’t know. I do know that if we don’t grow membership and get more retirees and their families and advocates involved, surely Goodell and the League can ignore us. However, if we have a substantial majority of retired players as members, it will be impossible for the League, or the Union for that matter, to ignore us.
I would think that the Union would be the natural advocates for retired players, but they are not. Furthermore, non-players like me who have the desire and expertise to help change the disability and pension can’t join.
I have absolutely no problem with an Independent Retired Players association. It would probably be the ideal situation. However, as I have suggested before, it would need to be organized. That requires time, money and employees.
Bernie’s lawsuit was incredible and I can only imagine the time and effort that went into it. As he testified the other day, he has been fighting these issues since the mid-60′s! The Summit last year was also an incredible event – just think if we had a couple of thousand guys and their wives there! Perhaps the best thing to come out of the Summit was guys getting hooked up with Dr, Amen. Everyone I know who has seen him has raved about the experience and the help. Wouldn’t it be great if we could get organized to the point that we could pay for ALL former players to go to his clinic and be tested and to at least help pay for any follow up treatment?
I do agree with Bernie that to date, the League has treated concussions like the Tobacco industry when they fought against any links to lung cancer. However, from a retired player advocate perspective, I want to focus on treatment and cures. (Surely the Union and League will be working on rules and equipment to try to limit concussions, but that doesn’t help retired players.) Merril Hoge testified at the prior Congressional hearing about leaving the League as a result of concussions and that for two years he was a basket case. HOW DID HE GET BETTER? Was it great access to the best medical care?
BTW, the best thing I heard the other day was Congresswoman Sanchez, who in response to Kyle Turley’s great testimony, remarked that the reason that they got into these issues was the problem with disability denials and the disability system and that she fully intended to get back on that. I know that there are others on the Judiciary Committee who feel the same way.
John Hogan
Disability Attorney
Thane Gash
January 7th, 2010 at 4:24 AM #
Dear Mr. Hogan,
Thanks for the heads up. Also do you know where a former NFL player can go for help? The reason I ask is that one of Atlanta’s own, Mr. Randy Johnson, just died in Brevard, NC. Homeless and broken. If NFL ALUMNI ATLANTA would let Mr. Randy Johnson live and die alone like that, what do you think they can do for someone like myself? (Not there yet but headed that way FAST AND PENSIVELY).
I am not arguing, just pointing out the fact that the ones who are supposed to be caregivers are forgetting the ones in the most Dire Need?
Thane Gash
Cleveland Browns (1988-1991)
San Francisco 49ers (1992-1993)
John Hogan
January 7th, 2010 at 8:04 AM #
Thane,
Randy was a special and tragic case. I don’t think any of the existing plans or benefits offered to former players could adequately take care of his needs. Heck, to get dire need assistance these days, a guy has to jump through a lot of hoops, including a background check. While I cannot speak for George Martin and what role the NFL Alumni Association will take in advocating for retired players, I can tell you that those of us at Fourth and Goal who spent so much time and effort in the creation of the new Alumni mission, clearly envisioned that the Alumni office would be THE place for a retired player and his family to call for guidance, assistance and answers to questions for any significant problems they might have. For example, hooking guys up with a wonderful resource like Dr. Amen.
In his congressional testimony the other day, George Martin said “…I will not rest until every surviving retired player and their families are aware of the many medical and financial programs already available to retirees. I will not rest until assistance is given to each and every retired player in need.”
Change doesn’t happen overnight, but hopefully, it is coming. The more of you who lend a hand, rather than try to tear it down, the better chance it has of succeeding.
John Hogan
Disability Attorney
Bob Grant
January 7th, 2010 at 1:48 PM #
John is right about getting help in any way that we can for Retired Players. That is exactly why Dave, Robert and I entered into an agreement with Dr. Amen that sent the last 60 Retired Players down to Newport Beach. He had exactly 12 scans before Robert took over the recruiting drive for the program.
I love kids as much as any of the rest of you and any program that raises money for “kid’s problems” is to be commended. That said, there are already a lot of groups in this great country doing exactly that. Like most of you, I myself have worked with many of them over the years.
However, at this stage in my life, my concern and my focus in “our fight” is to simply get some things done for my old Retired Friends. Over the years, there hasn’t been a great deal done for them. We get older by the minute and die off every year so I intend to be more aggressive in the coming months than I have been in the past in our battle.
If you’re going to build a new house and you try doing it on an old foundation that’s rotten, you’ll end up with a pretty new house that will still fall down. Most of us know that the old foundation in our Game relative to the care of Retired Players is rotten and you know that yourself. Heck, even the NFL and the NFLPA are admitting right now that it’s the truth. Why else do you think there’s finally been so much attention over concussions now? So Yes! We’re tearing it down and Congress is helping us. At this point, I’m just happy to see that even the NFL and the NFLPA have joined our wrecking crew – SORT OF.
I’m not the only one who thinks that our foundation has to be rebuilt. Concussions are only one of the many problems that plague us but isolated good works in that single area could distract from the many other serious issues that affect Retired Players.
If there are any among you who disagree with me, I understand. I’m just getting started though and I’ll be in touch in a few weeks to let you know how you can sign up saying that you will support Bernie Parrish in the new lawsuits that he has been working on that will hopefully get more victories and will hopefully put some $$$ in all of your pockets – even if you only played one single year and never signed one of Gene’s GLA’s.
For the record, I would like to clear something up that people keep floating out there. At this point in time, we Independents are not a formal Association or even a legally recognized Organization. But neither were those of us who fought in the American Civil Rights/Apartheid battle. We did okay in that one though, didn’t we? Presently, we’re just a group of independent retired football players who are simply “working together” to save ourselves. Our annual dues charged are ZERO $$’s ($000.00)!
In spite of what some would have you believe, in the past year we’ve had direct dialogue and contact with both the NFL and the NFLPA. That places each of you at the table as a man who has not compromised himself in any way. We’ve had all of these so called Groups around for more than fifty years now and look at us. When I talk with my friends who are Retired Baseball Players, I’m almost ashamed to share with them what we get for having played. You yourself have talked with people who thought that you “had it made living on easy street with that million-dollar pension check that you get each month (or the one that you don’t get).”
And don’t forget – you’ll have a chance very soon to sign up for the Parrish Team’s return to the Courtroom on your behalf.
Forget about these guys who keep trying to tell you bad things about Bernie. I don’t know what’s wrong with them.
Thank you for your support over the past year and as we used to say back in the 1960′s, “Keep the faith, baby.” We’re going to win this darn thing.
Bob Grant,
Independent Activist/Advocate
& Parrish Team Member
Thane Gash
January 8th, 2010 at 4:22 AM #
Bob,
I’m thankful for all of this information. I wouldn’t have heard a word of this without this site. That being said, we’re all connected Past, Present and Future. I’m trying to alter my future by learning from the past and doing something about it!
Thane Gash
Plan B Free Agent
Retired NFL Player
Cleveland Browns (1988-1991)
San Francisco 49ers (1992-1993)
John Hogan
January 8th, 2010 at 5:37 AM #
Bob,
Good, positive post. While I find myself in an awkward position trying to take issue with a civil rights pioneer like you who helped integrate college football in the South, etc., as a student of history, it seems to me that there were a number of organizations (not just prominent independents) who were vital to the civil rights movement: NAACP, SNCC, CORE, SCLC.
Yes, you, Dave, Bernie etc. have done tremendous things for retired players. I just think that a lot more can be accomplished – and in a quicker time – with formal organization.
John Hogan
Disability Attorney
Dave Pear
January 8th, 2010 at 11:28 AM #
Thank you ‘RobertinSeattle’ for being the editor of this blog!
You, my friend, are a master of technology and an expert communicator.
We will continue to make the truth about the NFL transparent to:
1) Congress
2) ALL football players (past and present)
3) The public
Retired NFL players are seeking: PENSION/DISABILITY REFORM and MEDICAL AFTER FOOTBALL.
We’ll continue to relentlessly pursue justice for ALL retired players.
Stealing is a crime (even for the mighty NFL).
So is breaching their fiduciary duty to the retired players who apply for disability benefits.
When will the NFL be completely honest about the harmful effects of repeated blows to the head from playing football (at any level: youth football, high school, college or the NFL)?
Dave & Heidi Pear
Bernie Parrish’s Congressional Testimony
January 21st, 2010 at 12:52 PM #
[...] We finally have Bernie Parrish’s testimony before the Congressional Judiciary Committee on concussions which was recently held at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit on January 4, 2010. Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) and his staff did an incredible job of organizing this hearing on such short notice just after the new year. You can still watch the entire 5:22 hearing in an earlier post by clicking HERE. [...]
Preston Carpenter
January 21st, 2010 at 7:39 PM #
Kathy – and to all who want to know:
To explain what Bernie is talking about: There are probably only 100 or so Players sending in $100.00 for membership to be an Alumni. We received a single Brochure once a year for that $100.00 – some players can’t afford this. I stopped sending in my $100.00. I am sorry but I think there are a lot of Players who can’t afford this kind of money for nothing more than 3 or 4 pages to tell us about the League. This is what Bernie is talking about. There are probably 3500 players but maybe only one or two hundred are paying dues. Call the front Office and check out the number of paying players – they should tell you. MAYBE???
Preston Carpenter
Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Redskins, Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins
1956 – 1967
Bernie Parrish's Next Lawsuit | Bernie’s Full Testimony
February 4th, 2010 at 1:05 PM #
[...] We finally have Bernie’s testimony before the Congressional Judiciary Committee on concussions which was held at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit on January 4, 2010. Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) and his staff did an incredible job of organizing this hearing on such short notice just after the new year. You can still watch the entire 5 hr :22 min hearing in an earlier post by clicking HERE. [...]