As bowl season begins, a concussion warning
In July, a Journal of the American Medical Association report that the brains of 110 of 111 deceased NFL players showed evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) — an incurable condition that leads to dementia, mental instability and depression — made national headlines.
But what should have gotten more attention was the finding that the brains of 48 of 53 deceased college football players showed CTE.
There are more than 750 colleges with football programs versus 30 NFL teams.
The AMA report needs to be considered in context.
Families are far more likely to seek autopsies of the brains of former players who showed CTE symptoms, so it is unlikely more than 90 percent of those who played college football will end up with CTE. But with the college football bowl season getting underway, it’s worth noting that the NCAA doesn’t have nearly as strict rules about dealing with concussions as the NFL.
In an August interview with The Indianapolis Star, NCAA President Mark Emmert said it was “up to schools” to do the right things by their football players.
Given that the NCAA faces more than 40 class-action lawsuits over football concussions, this light regulation is hard to fathom.
The NCAA makes billions of dollars off tens of thousands of unpaid college football players.
It should do far more to protect them against brain damage.
— The San Diego Union-Tribune
Bad about disclosing harassment settlements
The latest report about a Treasury Department fund that pays harassment settlements to accusers of members of Congress further illustrates the lack of transparency that has long allowed lawmakers to get away with bad behavior.
The Washington Post story noted that, according to evidence provided by a House committee, $174,000 was paid in 15 harassment settlements related to the behavior of House members from 2008-12.
But with the exception of information about a case involving former Rep. Eric Massa, D-N.Y., details about the settlements could not be ascertained. The Post also noted severance payments also are sometimes used to compensate those who file complaints — and that no information was available on these payments.
As bad as the House has been, the Senate is worse.
It balks at any public disclosures of settlements.
“You cannot solve a problem if you don’t have an idea about (its) scope,” said Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va.
Or if you don’t want to solve the problem.
— The San Diego Union-Tribune