Fanfare. So can star wars the force awakens soar past the galaxy far, far away . But first the nightline 5. But grandma, mommy says we dont have to watch to get clean because we use charmin ultra soft. Charmin ultra soft has comfort cushions you can see that are softer and more absorbent. Use up to four times less. Enjoy got with charmin. Constipated . Trust dulcolax tablets for gentle overnight relief. Suppositories for relief in minutes. Stool softeners for comfortable relief of hard stools. Dulcolax. Designed for dependable relief. Good evening. Thank you for joining us. Tonight youre about to meet the real life doctor who discovered that insidious disease found in the brains of athletes who suffered repeated blows to the head. And who paid a terrible price. Now after those countless concussions, even deaths, will smiths latest movie concussion, concerns are intensifying and people are questioning whether the beloved sport of football is simply too dangerous. Reporter vin is living the dream. Twice. Im standing strong reporter today at age 34, an aspiring artist in nashville, married, father of four. His second shot at stardom. Manning. Ben utek. Reporter for five seasons he performed on one of the biggest stages in america, the nfl, 150 million fans according to the league. Utek played in cincinnati, won a super bowl with the indianapolis colts. A bruising tight end, he dished out punishment and took it. At 28 it was over. A portion of his legacy not what he dreamed. At 28, to start experiencing memory problems. And cognitive changes. Was quite alarming. Reporter a story that rings painfully true for more and more nfl retirees every season. Legends of the game. Chicago bear great jim mcmahon. Guys leave me a message and ill erase the message thinking, ill call them right back. Then i forget who just called me. Reporter hall of Famer Frank Gifford passed away from Natural Causes at the age of 84. His family had his brain studied and released this statement. Our suspicions that he was suffering from the debilitating effects of head trauma were confirmed when a team of pathologists recently diagnosed his condition as that of chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Its become a whos who of former nfl stashes. Enough to line a wing of the hall of fame. Who have complained about or are diagnosed with ailments connected to repeated blows to the head. So much so even hollywood took notice. The new film concussion starring will smith as dr. Ben anamalu, the reallife physician who diagnosed cte, a brain disease caused by brain trauma affecting a number of pro players. In a Statement Released today about the movie the nfl said in part, the nfl has made numerous changes to the game to enhance Player Health and safety at all levels of football. We are seeing Measurable Results including a 34 decrease in concussions in nfl games since the 2012 season. Nightline first reported on cte in the early days of dr. Amalus findings. I slept in the car probably a year and a half out of the last five years. Reporter the Pittsburgh Steelers mike webster won four super bowls. Famous, wealthy, revered. He died homeless, broke, and alone. Mike webster died today. A heart attack took his life at the age of 50. Reporter believing that Behavioral Changes were caused by trauma to the brain, the nigeriaen born coroner performed websters extensive autopsy. The heart attack cannot explain his life after football. I had to provide an explanation for that. I was extremely disappointed when i opened up his skull and his brain looked normal. Reporter determined to find answers, he analyzed websters brain and uncovered a new medical condition. Were looking at a region of the brain in a Football Player about 40 years old. And what you can see, it looks ugly. Reporter he named it chronic traumatic encephalopathy, cte. The most significant contributing factor to cte is exporch sue exposure to Blunt Force Trauma of the head. What happens is over sometimes 40 years you would not begin to manifest in a progressive man similarly on course. Symptoms at mild as constant headaches. Very sult changes in personality. Very subtle but diminishing intelligence. The mood disorders. Chronic alcoholism. Drug abuse. Are we talking general slaps to the head . Violent slaps that would make your brain move forward and backward, sideways, in your skull. Causing shearing injuries. Reporter amalus published findings were dismissed, even demonized by fans and some in the nfl. What were some of the things people called you back then . Insinuated that i was a fool doctor, that i was fraudulent, that i was synthesizing my data and my findings. Some pretty much called me the n word. I actually lost my job. Even National Institute of Health Officials had been told in the meeting, one of the officials said, that african, i dont trust him. Reporter someone who did trust him and bolstered dr. Amalus dribblety was neurosurgeon and former Steelers Team doctor julian bales. Weve got several linemen who did not have careerending concussions who later were found at an early age to have extensive brain damage. Reporter they collaborated for years. Hes played in the movie by alec baldwin. The league has kept everyone in the dark. And you turn on the lights and gave their biggest bogeyman a name. Whats happening now, what you think theyre doing to you, thats nothing. Reporter though symptoms may be present for years cte can only be diagnosed after the player dies. Nobody informed them that there was a risk they could be damaged in their prime. Reporter hall of fame junior sand, one of the leagues most beloved players, played on the field and his image off of it, retired from football and in time withdrew from his family. He commit suicide, shooting himself in the chest, which allowed doctors to study his brain. The mood swings and the depression, the insomnia was terrible. Honestly, i have a whole other level of compassion for what he went through at the end. He hid it so well. It doesnt help ease our pain and our grief, but understanding that he suffered from cte certainly is a big piece to the puzzle to help us understand part of the why. Reporter in 2011, the Class Action Lawsuit against the nfl over concussionrelated injuries was filed. The case was settled in april 2015 without an admission of wrongdoing for over 1 billion to be paid out over the next 65 years to more than 20,000 nfl retirees. Bloomberg business estimates the nfls revenue was 9. 5 billion per year. These guys have been suffering for a long time. Both financially and mentally. And now its going to be hopefully bring some relief to those families. Reporter from peewee players to the pros, football is americas ga. Beloved by millions. But as concerns deepen, parents have been pulling their kids off the football field. Last season, there were nearly 10,000 fewer High Schoolers playing the game than the previous season. The issue honestly is not about concussion. No . It should be concern more about exposure to blows to the head. Reporter as dr. Amalu sees it those highly publicized concussions which the nfl hopes to address with its new concussion protocol are rare, compared to repeated blows to the head when the brain gets jostles to the skull in sports like boxing, hockey. Today more lawsuit were filed by more nhl players. Bottom line, is football too dangerous a sport . All i would say is that there are certain types of sports that are highimpact contact sports. Would you let your son play football . Having seen what i have seen in the brains of people who played football, i wouldnt let my son play. You think theyre still in denial in ways . In some ways. Reporter he insists he isnt out to take down americas favorite pastime, simply raise the safety standards. As a former college Football Player myself i went to the theater expecting to see a movie about football and concussions. But what i walked away with was a movie about an American Hero from nigeria. Its not a movie about football. Its a movie about our common humanity as for ben utecht, counting the daysntil my mind slips away chronicles his battles with head injuries and the aftereffects. He like many nfl players forever grateful for what the great game gave them, now haunted by what it may have taken away. Movie concussion hits theaters christmas day. Next, why these Little American girl dolls are big business. And later, its a galaxy far, far away. And yet the opening of star wars the force awakens is so close. 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Once youre hooked its only a matter of time before your child is begging you for clothing, accessories, tea party visits. It can add up to a small fortune. How these dolls are big business raking in millions every year. Heres abcs david wright. Reporter if you dont know any girls of a certain age you might have been spared this phenomenon. But if you do know any, girls about madelines age its funny reporter just surrender. What are you going to tell santa . To get grace. Reporter grace this years American Girl doll available for just two more weeks in stores, then she disappears onto ebay where soldout items like the grace dolls french bakery set are already being scalped for a caggering 4,900. For parents of Little American girls, the American Girl doll can become an obsession, especially this time of year. Happy . Reporter an oldfashioned doll marketed like a collectors item like mega stores like this one on new yorks fifth avenue, American Girl place. The Company Founded in middleton, wisconsin, 30 years ago by a woman named pleasant roland who sold out to mattel, the folk hot make barbie. Barbie sales have been tumbling, down 16 last year. Mattel grossed 620 million on American Girl dolls last year alone. At American Girl place you can special order a doll that looks just like you, right down to the texture of her hair and the color of her eyes. Every year theres a featured doll, grace this year. Sage, mckenna, isabel, and others from years past. I have her. Reporter all of them and their accessories available only for one calendar year. Even of them has an elaborate back story. In graces case shes a kid trying to save her grandparents bakery. Theres even a movie that brings her story to life. Welcome to the new england cupcakers your favorite color. Reporter the store has interactive exhibits immersing you inn your dolls life story. Here a girl can pick a mood and see herself in the past of what it would have been like in rebeccas time. Reporter theres a restaurant where you can treat your doll to lunch. And a hair salon to primp and pamper her. For dolls that are broken or bruised the American Girl dolls have a hospital. Were going to put it to the test. These are two actual dolls open t owned by my two daughters. They have loved them a little too well. The haircuts and the makeup, theyve a Little Something to be desired. Now were going to see if they can be fixed. The package shipped off to wisconsin, American Girl headquarters. Very well loved dolls. Reporter about that rehab process which in our case American Girl comped. More in a moment. Most little girls treat theirs with a little more care than mine did. 11yearold annabella cohen from manhattan has been collecting them since she was 2. How many do you have here . Here is 31. But there are a couple out at my beach house. Thats a lot of dolls. Reporter she has all the accessories too. How are you . Good. How much do you think all of this cost . Im not that good at math so thousands of dollars. All this stuff is very girlie. Yeah. But do you think that its too girlie . Wheres the science kit . There is. A lot of this is super, super girlie, i dont think a boy would go near it. Reporter thats fine with her and her friends. Girl hot might otherwise be playing with barbie dolls. I never liked barbie dolls, theyre so tiny, you cant really play with the different pieces. I would always step on them. Reporter each year the company tends to sell out of some deposits and that can lead to huge disappointments this time of the year. Parents like lynn it puts a lot of pressure on mom. I had a very disappointed girl last christmas. Presumably the kids are not that understanding. No. Of course not. They want what they want. Santa can sort it out . Santa makes everything happen, but sometimes mom and dad cant. Reporter so as you can imagine, its with some small sense of concern about the college fund that i brought my youngest, madeline this one is my favorite. Reporter to American Girl place. Having explained that stacy markland, the store manager this is grace. Walk in and meet her. Reporter is one of santas elves. This is the one you like . Yes. Why . I dont know why. Actually reporter we stop to meet with the doctor to hear about those two dolls her sisters trashed. Our doctors at the doll hospital know exactly what to do. Reporter and to pick out some outfits for them when they come back. Should we get those for your doll . Yeah. Reporter back at American Girl headquarters, those two dolls are getting the full makeover. Were all back from surgery. And things look like they went pretty well. They went very well. These dolls look beautiful. Reporter a miraculous transformation. Shes in a hospital gown. Reporter when they arrive back home its like christmas has come early. For the older two. We just got them back. Reporter little madeline will just have to borrow her sisters dolls. Thee at least for one more week. Im david wright for nightline in new york. And next, star wars the force awakens is about to detonate on screens across the country. Heralding in a new era. Fans are geeking out. Starthe first star iht, see tonight i wish i may, i wish i might, have the wish i wish tonight wishes do come true. The lincoln wish list event is on. Right now get exceptional offers on the entire lincoln family. For a limited time sign and drive off in a new 2016 lincoln mkx for 489 a month with zero due at signing. But zzzquil is different have Pain Medicine because why would you take a Pain Medicine when all you want is good sleep . Zzzquil a nonhabit forming sleepaid thats not for pain, just for sleep. Take the zantac it challenge pill works fast . Zantac works in as little as 30 minutes. Nexium can take 24 hours. When heartburn strikes, take zantac for faster relief than nexium or your money back. Take the zantac it challenge. Finally tonight, its the movie everyones talking about. The hype train that has hit hyperdrive. The light speed saepdcy to otherworldly glory that survived nearly four decades. What made this franchise a force to be reckoned with . Heres my nightline coanchor dan harris. 38 years ago in a galaxy not so far away wideeyed dreamer created what has today become a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, star wars. With total franchise revenue of more than 30 billion, its hard to imagine that it all started with an original budget of just 11 million. Since then the seven films have been shot around the world in ten trees on five different continents. Chewbacca is the tallest towering in at 72. The shortest, yoda, 22. Runnerup, r2d2, 38. Nothing small about the oscar attention though. The current six films together have been nominated for an incredible 25 statues and taken home 10. Three of them were for special achievement awards. Every year star wars fans celebrate may the 4th as an official star wars holiday, as in may the 4thn with you. Fans took two days and 250,000 lego bricks to build a 15foot model of the millennium falcon. Not nerdy enough for you . Lehigh University Math students calculated it would take 852 quadrillion dollars to build a real death star. When the first trailer for episode 7 was released 55 million excited fans viewed it on youtube in the first 24 hours. If thats any indication something tells me the force will seem strong this friday. Our thanks to dan. Star wars the force awakens comes from our Parent Company disney. Yoda said, do or do not, there is no try. Thank you for watching. Tune into Good Morning America first time tomorrow. And as always were online 24 7 on our Nightline Facebook page and abcnews. Com. Good night, america. Have you been on . So how mas well, tonight was the third one, and i know its kinda early, but im getting this feeling. I dont know i think she might be. What do you mean . The one . Arare you saying th you think angela might be the one . Awright, whoa. Lets not jump the gun, okay . Dont forget, he married one that wasnt the one. So when are we gonna meet her . Well, listen, i would love that, but im a little afraid about bringin her over here cause, you know, mom and dad will pop by, and i kinda dont want her to meet them until. Ever. No, no, no you bring her over to meet mom and dad right away you gotta get it over with quick its like rippin off a bandaid. Yeah, you let her know what shes in for, and if she doesnt run away screamin, then you know you got a keeper. Am i i right, sqeezioli . Go away. What about saturday night . cause your parents are goin to Atlantic City with lee and stan. Youre sure . Yes, it woululd be perfect. Saturday night. Ill make dinner thats ather bandaid