Brain Injuries Inside the Ring

the sport of boxing is ancient. its history encompasses a variety of cultures and eras. but it is in boxing's recent years that disturbing issues have come to light.

doping.
greed.
blatant cheating.
and the long-term effects of a brutal combat sport.

Muhammad Ali and Freddie Roach are two of boxing's finest both in the ring and at its corner. they suffer from either Parkinson's Disease (PD) or a Parkinsonian syndrome that is arguably a result of their participation in a sport they love. the disease itself is relentless. it attacks the person's motor skills causing tremors, instability and rigid movements. the senses can be affected and dementia may occur in the later stages. thus boxers who are world-renowned for their strength, agility and grace in the ring become trembling shadows of their physical selves. many of us remember Ali lighting the torch at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. and many of us, i'm sure, still feel the tears well up when we recall that historic moment.

to combat the effects of PD, Freddie Roach - the outspoken boxing trainer of champ Manny Pacquiao - is reportedly on a regimen that includes medication and injections. but there's another part of his treatment that other sufferers are unlikely to have: daily hardcore training of the athletes at his Wildcard Boxing Club. Roach believes, as do his health professionals, that it is his elite-level participation in boxing that is holding off his PD. it seems then, that the sport that caused his disease is also the sport that is keeping his incurable PD at bay.

boxing can be a tough sport to watch. acquiring a brain injury is a virtually inescapable outcome but the sport itself will endure for years to come. so what can be done to maintain the health of the fighters? how might we balance the combative nature of boxing with the risks of head injuries? i offer that much of the responsibility lies with the corner: the team that surrounds the boxer and has the authority to stop the fight when it appears there is no hope for a victory.

i understand pride in battle and the 'never say die' attitude of most alpha-dog elite athletes. but causing undue harm to someone you care about seems outrageous to me. the fighters will likely not say the words themselves, so it is up to their corner to understand and love this person. when is it a good and balanced fight? and when is it unfair target practice? when there is clearly no chance for victory, and the person is being irreparably damaged for no reason, it is time to stop the fight. the stigma against throwing in the towel must be removed for the good of the fighters.

live well to fight another day.

End of the Hiatus

my attention wanders very easily. i get bursts of creativity that need outlets and thus my blog was born. or there is a new canvas of acrylic paint in my house. or i learn a different song on guitar. the thing is, i never stay on any one activity for very long. can anyone say "attention deficit disorder"?

but anyway, after some encouraging statements by friends and family, i've decided to blow the dust off this blog and open it up again. a friend asked for stories on a daily basis but that might be a little ambitious. we'll start small and see how it goes.

stay tuned for the resurrection of Hit & Miss Thoughts from EmJay...