There are times when the strange confluence of events is remarkable. And so it was with the erroneous report of the death of former star safety, Orlando Thomas:
“Former Vikings All-Pro safety Orlando Thomas did not die Wednesday morning, as was reported on the Vikings’ own website, according to his agent, Mark Bartelstein, who spoke to Thomas’ family Wednesday night.
Thomas, who lives in Youngsville, La., has been battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, for five years. ALS is an incurable progressive neurodegenerative disease with an average life expectancy of two to five years following diagnosis.”
link: Vikings’ website report citing Thomas’ death was incorrect
The reminder of Orlando Thomas’ condition reinforces the seriousness of the hearings in Washington. There is a congressional hearing into the long term, debilitating head injuries suffered by football players.
Although it may not be possible to draw a direct causal relationship between the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ASL) and Orlando Thomas’ football activities, it cannot be discounted. ASL may have a dementia component. The involvement of brain functions reinforces the empirical and anecdotal evidence of cognitive and psychological problems that former football players are suffering.
Orlando Thomas is only thirty eight.
Catherine Forsythe
[Photo by Doug Pensinger/ALLSPORT]
additional link: Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers president Gay Culverhouse testifies to Congress about NFL players injuries
addlitional link: Hearings Reveal the True Price of Football
additional link: Gay Culverhouse blasts NFL during brain injury hearing in Washington
