Jim McMahon: ‘My memory's pretty much gone'

Sad news from one of the most interesting and entertaining players of this last generation -- According to the Chicago Tribune, former Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles (among other teams) quarterback Jim McMahon is suffering from memory loss that he ties to head injuries he suffered during his NFL career. The 51-year-old McMahon was the controversial "punky QB," and the winning signal-caller in the Chicago Bears' 46-10 Super Bowl XX victory in January of 1986.

"Back then, it was just tape an aspirin to your helmet and you go back in," McMahon said Friday at the Bears' recent Super Bowl XX reunion. "I've worked with some neurosurgeons and it's a very serious thing, man.
"My memory's pretty much gone. There are a lot of times when I walk into a room and forget why I walked in there. I'm going through some studies right now and I am going to do a brain scan. It's unfortunate what the game does to you."

Unfortunate indeed, and even more unfortunate that it took so long for the NFL to even acknowledge the tie between head injuries and their long-term effects. Former players such as Wayne Chrebet, Merrill Hoge and Ron Jaworski have been talking about the issue for years; McMahon's case is hardly an isolated incident.






http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shu...urn=nfl-284214

Thats terrible, I pray it does not get any worse for him.

it puts it in perspective when you read this for us selfish fans calling the new rules pussification of the nfl. Sure its not as fun without the killer hits but if it helps some of these guys quality of life get better it makes total sense.

Dude's probably high. Yeah i said it.

I think every rule is subject to scrutiny, even the helmet-to-helmet contact issue. They make a case by saying that every incident is malicious and intended, but what about the time in the Eagles/Colts game over the weekend where Austin Collie was hit by, I think, Asante Samuel? I agree that a rule needs to be in place, but it needs to be subject to relative debate because some of these players are getting fined exorbitant amounts of money and aren't intentionally "headhunting", so to speak.

I heard his interview on the radio, it was a good interview, he was pretty funny to listen to because he joked alot about it. He has a really good attitude about it all.

That's good that he does, because humor often is the determining factor in getting people through tough medical times.

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Originally Posted by Dagan81

I think every rule is subject to scrutiny, even the helmet-to-helmet contact issue. They make a case by saying that every incident is malicious and intended, but what about the time in the Eagles/Colts game over the weekend where Austin Collie was hit by, I think, Asante Samuel? I agree that a rule needs to be in place, but it needs to be subject to relative debate because some of these players are getting fined exorbitant amounts of money and aren't intentionally "headhunting", so to speak.

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They guy that hit Collie wasn't fined for the hit. It was determined that the first hit on Collie caused him to turn in a way that led to him being hit in the head. I'm glad they ruled it that way. Seems they are trying to not take the rules too far.

I think it's good that folks are addressing the issue but for Pete's sake start with BOXING and work your way down the trauma ladder. There is more safety in place for football than ever before and not enough emphasis in other venues.

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Originally Posted by motownbear

it puts it in perspective when you read this for us selfish fans calling the new rules pussification of the nfl. Sure its not as fun without the killer hits but if it helps some of these guys quality of life get better it makes total sense.

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The problem is that players don't tackle anymore the way they used to do. Highlight film play rules the day (killer hits). Not only does this cause more injury, it causes players like Kevin Payne to look great for a couple of games (hits) and then not be on a team the next year. Chicago has a number of players who are big hit guys, but the ones who are the best are good tacklers.

Coaches need to spend more time on that. I just posted and article from NFP about this very subject in the NFL Banter forum.