Thursday, January 20, 2011

A Sort-of Hometown Hero


I should have puffed up with pride when a photo of a ferocious-looking footballer appeared in the University of Wisconsin alumni magazine with this caption: “Mike Webster as a Badger: the Tomahawk, Wisconsin, native was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1974 and played seventeen seasons in the NFL . . .”


Like all small communities, my hometown hasn’t produced a big crop of famous people, so a legitimate hero means a lot. The trouble here is that referring to the man who became known as “Iron Mike” for stellar play that took him to four Super Bowl victories and a berth in the NFL Hall of Fame as a “Tomahawk native” is stretching things.


Webster’s parents were potato farmers north of Tomahawk, but Mike went to school and played high school football at Rhinelander, which is about 18 miles from my hometown. The Rhinelander High School stadium is named for him.


Although he ranks right at the top in discussions of the best center ever to play pro football, the sport did not treat Webster well. He suffered numerous head traumas, was hooked on painkillers by the time he retired, had bouts of amnesia, depression, and dementia, and died while still a young man. His family sued the NFL for disability payments in 2006 and won a $1 million judgment.

The lawsuit and attendant news stories did much to raise the level of concern about effects of concussions on athletes. The topic is on the front-burner today throughout the sports world.


The Webster family saw to it that Mike made a contribution to the cause of better protection for athletes. After he died, his brain was sent to the University of Pittsburgh. There, a pathologist did an autopsy resulting in the first diagnosis of CTE, a condition caused by years of absorbing blows to the head. That made Webster the first NFL player to receive that diagnosis, a research breakthrough upon which others are building as they study effects of repeated jolts to the head and how to prevent the damage.


Webster’s posthumous contribution may turn out to be his finest. He became a hero, hometown or not, once again after he died.


The pro football anti-heroes right now are the greedy owners trying to convince the players’ union to agree to expand the schedule by two for a total of 18 games. This is unconscionable with ample scientific evidence in hand that damage from repeated head-knocking is cumulative.


My favorite club, the Green Bay Packers, is a nonprofit corporation and thus has no greedy owner. We small-fry shareholders should be watching closely on this one to see what position our representatives take. Clearly, the players’ health should be the top priority.

4 comments:

Alan G said...

Well, believe it or not my day started off with the Packers when I noticed a news article noting the current banter going on between Packer fans and Bear fans. Seemingly all in jest.

I wasn't aware of most of what you wrote regarding Mike Webster so I appreciate the info. Indeed, donating Mike's brain by the family was a commendable thing to do. It is obvious they fully recognized the hazards of the sport as relates to head trauma.

I completely agree with your summation regarding not increasing the number of games in the season. I have noted in statistics regarding the league that kickers and punters are those having the longest careers in the NFL because they are subjected to minimal hits. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it all out!

On a lighter note - looking forward to the game this weekend. Of course you know who I am pulling for. And, I am still chuckling about the joke I read this morning in that news article I initially referred to so please indulge me here. Seems the Bear fans are taking shots at the dietary habits of their upcoming foes regarding cheese.

Know what you call a 400 lb Packer fan?

Anorexic!

schmidleysscribblins.wordpress.com said...

I hated it when my oldest son played football. He broke one arm twice and the other once. Then after college he took up the sport of Rugby. He was a very athletic kid (came in second in the 'Mr California Natural' contest back in the 1980s).

Today he is dealing with arthritis and all the aches and pains associated with aging (age 48). I agree with you we need to do a better job of protecting athletes. They are too young to see what the future holds for them.

Dick Klade said...

Yes, Alan, the fans are at it.

Just received an e-mail from Wisconsin. Attached was a Bear Kill Tag issued by the Wisconsn Department of Natural Resources to Clay Matthews at 1265 Lombardi Ave., Green Bay.

Matthews is a relentless Packer pass rusher. I hope they're only kidding. We'd like Matthews to hurt 'em a little with some solid sacks, but not actually kill anybody.

Kay Dennison said...

I like the Packers, too. What an interesting legacy he leaves!!!

Funny you mentioned and you're from Rhinlander. My aunt and uncle had a cabin up there and we visited it several times I remember it as lovely. What a beautiful area!