League of Denial
Page 42
PROLOGUE
1 Behold the mighty woodpecker: Numerous articles have been written about the Chinese woodpecker study. See “Why Don’t Woodpeckers Get Concussions?” Toronto Star, Oct. 27, 2011.
2 Displayed a woodpecker skull: Julian Bailes interview, 2012. D
3 uring a closed-door meeting: Multiple sources, including Bailes, provided details about the NFL’s concussion conference.
4 The body of Mike Webster: Information about Webster’s physical condition at the time of his death is from interviews with his family and doctors and his medical records.
5 Hall of Fame: From video of Webster’s induction on July 26, 1997.
6 An arsenal of weapons: Colin Webster interview, 2012.
7 Addicted to Ritalin: Jim Vodvarka interview, 2012.
8 “Oh, probably about 25,000 times”: “Webster Still Feeling Bumps on Road to Hall,” Capital Times (Madison, WI), July 11, 1997.
9 Thousands of letters: Webster’s family, doctors, friends, and attorney provided copies of his personal correspondence.
10 As Webster lay dead: Bennet Omalu interview, 2012.
11 A media empire: Walt Disney Company, 2012 Annual Report.
12 The network pays the NFL: “ESPN Extends Deal with N.F.L. for $15 Billion,” New York Times, Sept. 8, 2011.
13 ESPN’s bet: Barry Blyn interview, 2012.
14 “Ultimate reality show”: Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk blog, Dec. 26, 2010.
15 “Contact ballet”: Michael Oriard, Reading Football, p. 2.
16 A football-loving physicist: Timothy Gay, Football Physics, pp. 29–30.
17 “Journal of No NFL Concussions”: Kevin Guskiewicz interview, 2012.
18 “Frequent repetitive blows”: David C. Viano et al., “Concussion in Professional Football: Comparison with Boxing Head Impacts—Part 10,” Neurosurgery, Dec. 2005.
19 Which concluded it was false: FTC letter, April 24, 2013.
20 Nearly 6,000 retired players: NFLConcussionLitigation.com.
21 Riding a bike: “Researchers Discover 28 New Cases of Brain Damage in Deceased Football Players,” ESPN.com, Dec. 3, 2012.
22 Abolishing tackle football: “Preventing Sports Concussions among Children,” New York Times, Oct. 6, 2012.
23 We asked her: Ann McKee interview, 2012.
24 An estimated $40 billion: ESPN was estimated to be worth nearly half the value of Disney, its parent company. See “Why ESPN Is Worth $40 Billion as the World’s Most Valuable Media Property,” Forbes.com, Nov. 9, 2012.
25 “You mean that guy”: The account of Webster’s autopsy and Omalu’s methodology was drawn from interviews with Omalu, Webster’s medical records, and a viewing of an autopsy conducted by Omalu in French Camp, CA.
CHAPTER 1
1 Opening day of training camp: “Jack Lambert: ‘I’ll Play Somewhere,’ ” Pittsburgh Press, July 16, 1974.
2 The Nutcracker: Details about the Nutcracker derived from several sources, including “OU’s Gift to Football,” The Oklahoman, Aug. 22, 2010; David Maraniss, When Pride Still Mattered, p. 219; “Belichick Pines for Oklahoma,” Boston Herald, July 29, 2006.
3 Noll turned it into a public spectacle: Interviews with Jon Kolb, Stan Savran, and Art Rooney Jr., 2012.
4 “You think I’m mean”: “A Living Legend Called Mean Smilin’ Jack,” Sports Illustrated, July 12, 1976.
5 Lambert’s legend: Art Rooney Jr., Ruanaidh, p. 337; “Rowser Trade for 2 Choices,” Pittsburgh Press, Jan. 30, 1974; “Jack Lambert: ‘I’ll Play Somewhere,’ ” Pittsburgh Press, July 16, 1974.
6 Webster, in contrast, was small and slow: Art Rooney Jr., Ruanaidh, pp. 341–343; Rooney Jr. interview, 2012.
7 It was a clear day: www.almanac.com/weather and www.wunderground.com/history.
8 There was the whistle and then the explosion: “Jack Lambert: ‘I’ll Play Somewhere,’ ” Pittsburgh Press, July 16, 1974; interviews with Robin Cole, Dan Radokovich, and Kolb, 2012.
9 Rarely has the urge to escape: Kolb interview, 2012.
10 West Virginia clinical psychologist: Mike Webster’s medical records.
11 Webster childhood: Interviews with Bill Webster, Pam Webster, Garrett Webster, Reid Webster, and Billy Makris, 2012; Webster’s medical records; court records; “Blood and Guts,” ESPN.com, Jan. 25, 2005.
12 There was a kind of desperation in the way he prepared: Makris interview, 2012.
13 The University of Wisconsin: Interviews with Reid Webster, Bill Webster, Pam Webster, Greg Apkarian, 2012.
14 Her upbringing was everything Webster’s was not: Pam Webster interview, 2012.
15 The greatest single draft: Art Rooney Jr., Ruanaidh, pp. 343–346; “Steelers Haul in 1974 among Best Ever,” ESPN.com, April 21, 2003.
16 Webster was the biggest long shot: Art Rooney Jr., Ruanaidh, pp. 342–343.
17 “I’m gonna go home and get bigger”: Ralph Berlin interview, 2012.
18 The Red Bull Inn: Interviews with Jon Kolb and Colin Webster, 2012; “Reflections in Iron,” StartingStrength.com, 2011.
19 Brought his training home with him: Interviews with Pam Webster, Colin Webster, and Garrett Webster, 2012.
20 Pushing a sled: Chuck Finder, The Steelers Encyclopedia, p. 147.
21 Webster’s training regimen included anabolic steroids: Webster’s medical records.
22 Rocky Bleier … Steve Courson, later admitted using steroids: “I Used Steroids, Bleier Says,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 15, 1985.
23 Webster stopped at nothing: Interviews with Colin Webster, Pam Webster, and Garrett Webster, 2012; “Reflections in Iron,” Starting Strength.com, 2011.
24 The strongest man in the game: “Big Night,” ESPN The Magazine, July 21, 2003; “The Strongest Man in Football,” CBS video, 1980.
25 Webster appeared in every game: ProFootballReference.com.
26 Webster was slightly goofy: Interviews with Charles Kelly and Tunch Illkin, 2012.
27 Pittsburgh was being depopulated: http://www.census.gov.
28 An estimated 30,000 steelworkers were laid off: Robert W. Bednarzik and Joseph Szalanski, “An Examination of the Work History of Pittsburgh Steelworkers,” Institute for Labor Study, 2012.
29 Webster built the stable family life: Interviews with Pam Webster, Colin Webster, Garrett Webster, and Brooke Webster, 2012.
30 Sometimes overruled Bradshaw in the huddle: Interviews with Bleier and Savran, 2012.
31 One of Webster’s greatest assets: Interviews with Harry Carson, Fred Smerlas, and Gerry Sullivan, 2012.
32 Training camp: Interviews with several former Steelers players and coaches, including Kolb, Radokovich, Cole, and Gerry Mullins, 2012.
33 It was not recorded: Webster’s Steelers medical records.
34 Webster rarely acknowledged: Interviews with family members and former teammates and coaches, 2012.
35 Admitted to the hospital: Bob Stage interview, 2012.
36 Webster never missed a snap: ProFootballReference.com.
37 When the streak finally ended: “Turk Has Unenviable Task of Replacing Webster,” Pittsburgh Press, Sept. 3, 1986.
38 His name was Merril Hoge: Hoge interview, 2012.
39 The Steelers effectively cut Webster: “Webster among Free Agents Who Jump Ship,” The Sporting News, April 10, 1989.
40 He was devastated: Interviews with Pam Webster, Colin Webster, Garrett Webster, and Sunny Jani, 2012.
41 Took a job in Kansas City: Interviews with Tim Grunhard, Bob Moore, and Marty Schottenheimer, 2012.
42 As for Webster, he was done: Interviews with Pam Webster, Colin Webster, and Garrett Webster, 2012.
43 On a medical form: Webster’s medical records.
44 A 3,000-square-foot home: Pam Webster interview, 2012.
CHAPTER 2
1 Noll had a question: Joe Maroon interview, 2012.
2 A Renaissance man: “Teacher, Scientist, Innovator, Coach,” Sport
s Illustrated, Aug. 23, 2007.
3 In one series of early experiments: T. A. Gennarelli et al. “Acceleration Induced Head Injury in the Monkey,” Acta Neuropathologica Supplement, 1981.
4 Oddly shaped sphere of Jell-O: Joe Maroon, Ann McKee interviews, 2012; Mitch Berger interview, 2013, et al.
5 “Nobody thought”: Jeff Barth interview, 2012.
6 A front-page article: “Silent Epidemic,” Wall Street Journal, Nov. 24, 1982.
7 The results were startling: Jeffrey T. Barth, Mild Head Injury, 1989.
8 Novel “secrets”: Joseph Maroon, The Longevity Factor.
9 When Maroon sold: “Pittsburgh Medical Center Buys Properties Partly Owned by Staff Surgeon,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Sept. 15, 1999.
10 Personal experience with concussions: Mark Lovell interview, 2012.
11 One of the first guinea pigs: Much of Merrill Hoge’s concussion history was drawn from Merrill Hoge interview, 2012, interviews with Maroon and Lovell, and Hoge’s subsequent lawsuit against Bears team physician John Munsell. See Hoge v. Munsell, No. 98 WL 0996 (Ill. Lake County Ct, July 5, 2000).
12 He told a reporter: “Injury Will Keep Hoge Out,” Chicago Tribune, Oct. 4, 1994.
13 Hoge’s baseline scores: Henry “Tim” Bream III, “Postconcussion Syndrome: A Case Study,” Human Kinetics, 1996.
14 “Fuck Ass Shit Test”: Lovell interview, 2012.
15 Neurosurgeon was shaken: Maroon interview, 2012.
CHAPTER 3
1 Turned into a nightmare: This account of Webster’s unraveling is from interviews with Pam Webster, Colin Webster, Garrett Webster, Bob Stage, and Billy Makris, 2012.
2 Webster returned to Kansas City: Interviews with Grunhard, Moore, and Schottenheimer, 2012.
3 Sunny Jani was his given name: This section on Webster’s relationship with Sunny Jani is based on interviews with Jani, 2012.
4 Sleeping in his car: Mike Webster Feature, ESPN, Feb. 2010; “Man on the Moon,” ESPN.com, Jan. 26, 2005.
5 Living out of his truck: Interviews with Garrett Webster and Jani, 2012.
6 Mike’s life was coming apart: Pam Webster interview, 2012; court records.
7 His health continued to get worse: Webster’s medical records.
8 Super Glue to stanch the bleeding: Pam Webster and Garrett Webster interviews, 2012.
9 Offices of Dr. Stanley Marks: Webster’s medical records.
10 At the Amtrak station: Joe Gordon interview, 2012; “Man on the Moon,” ESPN.com, Jan. 26, 2005.
11 Gordon was a Pittsburgh native: “Joe Gordon, Former Steelers Director of Communications,” Pittsburgh Sports Daily Bulletin, Aug. 5, 2012.
12 Gordon decked an Oakland TV reporter: “Steelers vs. Ravens Latest in a Long Line of Football Feuds,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Jan. 16, 2009.
13 Gordon also was impressed by Webster’s generosity: Gordon interview, 2012.
14 The train station: The details of Gordon’s encounter with Webster at the Pittsburgh Amtrak station and Webster’s extended stay at the downtown Hilton are from Gordon interview, 2012, and “Man on the Moon,” ESPN.com, Jan. 26, 2005.
15 ESPN aired a story: Mike Webster feature, ESPN, July 1996.
16 The fallen hero: “Webster’s Induction Comes Amid Chaos,” Houston Chronicle, July 26, 1997; “Humbled Hero; Webster Fights to Overcome Despair,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution, July 25, 1997; “A Life Off-Center,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 24, 1997; “A Man of Steel Crumbles,” St. Petersburg Times, July 24, 1997; “From Super Bowls to Sleeping in Bus Stations,” Associated Press, July 20, 1997.
17 A business opportunity: Interviews with Garrett Webster, Colin Webster, and Jani, 2012.
18 Webster asked Bob Stage: Stage interview, 2012.
19 A check for $175,000: Interviews with Garrett Webster and Jani, 2012.
20 Webster repeatedly rebuffed offers: Interviews with family, friends, and former players, 2012.
21 The ceremony: Details derived from video of the Hall of Fame ceremony.
22 Bradshaw rarely had set foot in Pittsburgh: “Bradshaw: It’s Great to Be Home,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Oct. 20, 2002.
23 At Bradshaw’s own induction: “Bradshaw Delivers Sermon That Revives Steelers Memories,” Pittsburgh Press, Aug. 6, 1989.
24 Ritalin was one of his best friends: Interviews with Dr. James Vodvarka, Dr. Charles Kelly, Garrett Webster, and Jani, 2012; Webster’s medical records.
25 Bob Stage cringed: Stage interview, 2012.
26 “I expected more”: “A Bittersweet Day in Canton,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 27, 1997.
27 Webster’s festering enmity: Interviews with Colin Webster, Garrett Webster, Pam Webster, and Jani, 2012.
CHAPTER 4
1 The conference: “Concussion from the Inside: The Athlete’s Perspective,” Sports-Related Concussion, 1999.
2 “Somebody somewhere isn’t bleeding”: “A Steeler Turns Anger into Commodity,” New York Times, Oct. 24, 1993.
3 Sitting in the audience: Micky Collins interview, 2012.
4 Sexy paper: Michael W. Collins et al., “Relationship between Concussion and Neuropsychological Performance in College Football Players,” Journal of the American Medical Association, 1999.
5 A rising star: Maroon interview, 2012.
6 The son of a Louisiana Supreme Court justice: Julian Bailes interview, 2012.
7 “May be anticipated”: “Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury,” Sports-Related Concussion, 1999.
8 Collins told: “Tests Offer Key to Concussions,” Detroit News, Sept. 8, 1999.
9 Slapped the turf: “Steelers Are Betting the Ranch on Lloyd,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 1, 1997.
10 “A cannonball hitting me”: Associated Press, Nov. 27, 1992.
11 “A process of remembering”: “Post-Concussion Syndrome,” NFL Gameday, Oct. 23, 1994.
12 One of the smartest players in the league: “From Football to Finance,” Capital Times (Madison, WI), Nov. 24, 1995.
13 Weeping softly: “With Sadness in His Eyes, Toon Bids Farewell,” New York Times, Nov. 28, 1992.
14 Penalty box: “NFL May Consider Using a Penalty Box,” New York Times, Nov. 29, 1994.
15 Lacerating his tongue: Associated Press, Oct. 23, 1994.
16 Three questions: “Aikman Left Woozy by Sixth Concussion,” Dallas Morning News, Oct. 24, 1994.
17 The prototypical new player: For more information on how Lawrence Taylor transformed the NFL, see the classic first chapter of Michael Lewis’s book The Blind Side (electronic).
18 The physical consequences: Tim Gay interview, 2012.
19 Football players got bigger: Timothy Gay, Football Physics, 2004.
20 When it came time to edit: Greg Garber, e-mail.
21 “A disgrace”: “Playing the Hits Is NFL’s Disgrace,” Plain Dealer (Cleveland, OH), Oct. 26, 1994.
22 “A tragedy”: “The NFL Is Asking for a Tragedy,” New York Times, Nov. 27, 1994.
23 “Hey, they do occur”: “Suiting Up with a Concussion Is a Dangerous Game,” Times Union (Albany, NY), Jan. 31, 1995.
24 Maroon did his own calculations: “The Breaks of the Game,” Baltimore Sun, Dec. 28, 1994.
25 Tagliabue appeared: “Taglia-Boo,” Sports Illustrated (Scorecard), Dec. 26, 1994.
26 A staggering bet: “Fox Network Outbids CBS for Rights to Pro Football,” New York Times, Dec. 18, 1993.
27 Steinberg was astonished: Leigh Steinberg interview, 2012.
28 The immediate consequences: “Aikman Recalls Little of NFC Title Game,” Dallas Morning News, Jan. 25, 1994.
29 Sometimes vomiting: Steinberg interview, 2012.
30 A year later: “Looking at Concussions, and the Repercussions,” New York Times, Feb. 18, 1995.
31 Plummer’s view: Gary Plummer interview, 2013.
32 28 team doctors: “NFL Medical Standards, Practices Are Different Than Almost Anywhere Else,” Washington Post, March 16, 2013.
33 10 or 20 deep:
Ben Lynch interview, 2012.
34 “Straddling a line”: “Players Schooled on Concussions,” Orange County Register, Feb. 18, 1995.
CHAPTER 5
1 Living with his oldest son, Colin: Colin Webster interview, 2012.
2 Dad was in trouble in Philadelphia: Colin Webster interview, 2012.
3 Webster’s mental or physical deterioration: Details of Webster’s deteriorating physicial condition are from interviews with Colin Webster, Garrett Webster, and Jani, 2012; Webster’s medical records; and “A Steeler’s Melting Point,” ESPN.com’s five-part series on Webster, Jan. 24–28, 2005.
4 Courson was concerned: Vodvarka interview, 2012.
5 Vodvarka had grown up: Details of Vodvarka’s biography and his first meeting with Webster are from Vodvarka interview, 2012.
6 People hanging around Webster: Interviews with Colin Webster, Garrett Webster, and Jani, 2012.
7 The Bert Bell/Pete Rozelle NFL Player Retirement Plan: Plan documents.
8 Viewed the plan with contempt: There are numerous accounts detailing the frustrations of former players with the NFL retirement plan. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation held hearings on the subject on Sept. 18, 2007.
9 Deserved disability benefits: Vodvarka interview, 2012.
10 Neither of them slept: Bob Fitzsimmons interview, 2012.
11 When Mike and Sunny first went to meet him: Jani interview, 2012.
12 The man to turn to: Fitzsimmons interview, 2012; Fitzsimmons biography at www.fitzsimmonsfirm.com.
13 He sent him first to see Fred Krieg: Fitzsimmons interview, 2012; Webster medical records.
14 Fitzsimmons also sent Webster: Kelly interview, 2012; Webster’s medical records.
15 Fitzsimmons turned finally to a forensic psychiatrist: Webster’s medical records.
16 Webster came to believe it was his destiny: Interviews with Colin Webster, Garrett Webster, Jani, Fitzsimmons, Vodvarka, and Kelly, 2012.
17 Webster raged: Interviews with Garrett Webster, Colin Webster, and Jani, 2012.
18 An array of firearms: Colin Webster interview, 2012.