Drifting off Subject From Time to Time - Sep. 21, 2011

 Many of you know I'm a former sportswriter for the provincial daily and other publications over the years.

 Many of you don't know I was officially diagnosed with five concussions through sports related injuries and probably two more that went undiagnosed...if memory serves me correct.

 So, from time to time, I like to flex my sportswriting old muscles and branch of subjects of animals when something sticks in my teeth.

 Concussions are the story right now in sports.

 Pro or amateur. Hockey, football, baseball, soccer, you name it.

 Head injuries are finally being taken seriously.

 I can honestly say concussions messed me up, but there was a determination to continue playing despite one doctor's orders that I hang them up.

 I didn't.

 Once you get the first one, the next ones come much easier.

 We're much more educated these days and all you hear about is head shots. How to deal with head shots.

 Reporters delve into the subject. We see countless clips of Crosby and Vick being hit, being concussed and we have seminars and week long conventions on hows to treat head injuries...or at least how to prevent them.

 So why in the name of all that is holy do we see sports programming continually lauding hits and fights on replays?

 Why?

 TSN will tell you to come after the commercial break for the week's bone jarring hits. ESPN will give you Jack You Up smackdown NFL bone crushing, brain jarring hits.

 All in the name of fun.

 Anchors love to say 'doffed the flippers,' or 'chucking knuckles' or 'bam,' when someone is blindsided or smoked with a heavy hit or punch.

 Give me a break.

 One the one hand we have the quiet voice and soft music that tells us that Crosby is trying to get back in form and report sympton free.

 Then we've got two training camp hopefuls kicking the bejesus out of each other without helmets...all in the name of 'these kids are really trying to make an impression.'

 I love physical play. I was a physical player. My girls are physical players in their choice sport of basketball.

 Nature of the beast.

 But I don't sit them in front of the television and say 'hey girls, check this hit from behind that caused another head injury.'

 There are people who scream at the top of their lungs that we need to protect the planet...while they sit in a donut shop line longer than a Highway 401 traffic jam waiting for their double double in an unrecyclable cup.

 There are people who scream at the top of their lungs to clean up sport and stop concussions.

 And they applaud the replays each morning on a special segment of hard knocks.

 Give me a break.