Links - Footballs hidden injury - North River Minor Hockey Association

Footballs hidden injuryskip to main content (press enter)Current WeatherCharlottetownChange weather location12C FogCBC Global Header NavigationCBCca News news drop down menu Sports sports drop down menu Radio radio drop down menu TV tv drop down menu My Region drop down menu More drop down menu Watch drop down menu Listen drop down menu Search CBCca Submit Search Sign Up Log In Hockey Headlines Scoreboard Standings Stats NHL Schedule Teams Players Hockey Night in Canada Highlights Fantasy Pool Football Headlines CFL Scoreboard CFL Standings CFL Stats CFL Teams NFL Scoreboard NFL Standings NFL Stats NFL Teams NFL Players Video Alpine Skiing Curling Figure Skating Basketball NBA Scoreboard Standings Stats Teams Players Basketball News Feed Baseball MLB Scoreboard Standings Stats Teams Players Baseball News Feed Soccer MLS Scoreboard MLS Standings International Stats Soccer News Feed Amateur Sports Golf Tennis REPUBLISH EMAIL PRINT Text Size S M L XL REPORT TYPO SEND YOUR FEEDBACK Footballs hidden injury Growing body of evidence correlates neurological disorders and contact sportsLast Updated Thursday October 22 2009 1257 PM ET Comments18Recommend18By Malcolm Kelly CBC Sports Former CFL player Tony Proudfoot (left) talks to Montreal Alouettes receiver Ben Cahoon after the first day of training camp on June 1 2008 Proudfoot is battling the deadly incurable neurological disorder Lou Gehrigs disease Andy BlatchfordCanadian Press) Tony Proudfoot can no longer speak but that doesnt mean his voice cant be heard Proudfoot has ALS Lou Gehrigs disease an incurable neurological disorder that his own research shows has taken more Canadian Football League players over the last 50 years than stats say it should haveEight CFLers either have it or have died from it including Larry Uteck OJ Brigance Jim Coode Billy Swan Ed Buchanan and a recently retired 10year veteran who doesnt want to be identified Thats eight out of roughly 5000 players since 1950 whereas the national average for 100000 people is between one and two Twice an allstar Proudfoot played 178 games for the Montreal Alouettes and BC Lions Hes heading for 60 and wonders whether all those head hits he took might have had something to do with his affliction Or it could be genetics Or it could be environmental Or caused by heavy stress Or all of those things I dont think football is a direct factor but I do think repeated head trauma with the resultant damage perhaps provides an environment that might make it more likely to initiate the death of motor neurons he says by email because he can no longer communicate orallyThis shouldnt be taken to mean all those concussions (I must have seen stars once every two weeks from 10 years old until I was 34 and retired averaging a fourmonth schedule yearly) didnt cause the ALS The thing is Proudfoot says researchers dont really know ye...