Narrator the news that day would start a chain of events that would threaten to forever change the way americans see the game of football. It is hard to find a former pro Football Player whose body hasnt paid a very high price. Narrator mike websters body was delivered to the Allegheny County coroners office. Webster ends up in the autopsy room. And the pathologist whos on call that day is this guy, bennet omalu. Omalu parked his car and walked into the office and he said, whats going on . And one of his colleagues said, its mike webster. Hes up in the autopsy room. And omalus response was, whos mike webster . And everybody looked at me like, where is he from, is he from outer space . Who is this guy who doesnt know mike webster in pittsburgh . Hes a nigerianborn, incredibly welleducated guy, but he doesnt know anything about football. Narrator a doctor, omalu was also a trained neuropathologist. From the beginning of the autopsy, dr. Omalu could see the effects of 17 years in the foot
The abnormalities. Narrator a decadeslong battle between scientists, players and the nations most powerful sports league. You cant go against the nfl. They will squash you. Narrator next, league of denial the nfls concussion crisis. Im really wondering if every single Football Player doesnt have this. Frontline is made possible by contributions to your pbs station from and by the corporation for public broadcasting. Major support for frontline is provided by the john d. And catherine t. Macarthur foundation. Committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. More information is available at macfound. Org. Additional funding is provided by the park foundation. Dedicated to heightening Public Awareness of critical issues. The wyncote foundation. And by tfrontline Journalism Fund with a grant from and scott nathan and laura debonis. horns blowing erenberg touchdown listen to this crowd, theyre on fire the steelers have their key receivers in. Stallworth on the left, 82, swann
The abnormalities. Narrator a decadeslong battle between scientists, players and the nations most powerful sports league. You cant go against the nfl. They will squash you. Narrator next, league of denial the nfls concussion crisis. Im really wondering if every single Football Player doesnt have this. Frontline is made possible by contributions to your pbs station from and by the corporation for public broadcasting. Major support for frontline is provided by the john d. And catherine t. Macarthur foundation. Committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. More information is available at macfound. Org. Additional funding is provided by the park foundation. Dedicated to heightening Public Awareness of critical issues. The wyncote foundation. And by tfrontline Journalism Fund with a grant from and scott nathan and laura debonis. horns blowing erenberg touchdown listen to this crowd, theyre on fire the steelers have their key receivers in. Stallworth on the left, 82, swann
Plan every weekday listen to a recap of todays events at 5 00 p. M. Eastern on washington today. You can hear audio of the fifth networks beginning sundays at noon eastern. Cspan on audio radio now. Long distance and phone charges may apply. Members of congress are returning to washington for a four week session before the august recess. Up next, from washington journal, a look whats ahead on capitol hill. This is 40 minutes. Provider. Washington journal continues. Host joining us now to discuss capitol hill, Gail Chaddock and susan ferrechio. Thank you both for joining us. Guest morning. Host morning. Guest morning. Host what is the Biggest Issue facing capitol hill lawmakers this week . Guest there could be authorization on the executive action lawsuit. That could get a lot of press because the republicans are upset that the president has used his socalled pen and phone change regulations that he cannot get congress to agree with him on. That will be an interesting storyline to follo
The nfl agreed to eliminate 675 million cap on concussion related claims available to thousands of players as part of a major lawsuit. So without objection i will enter the nfls statement in the record. Part of what were going to discuss today is traumatic brain injuries, a bump, a blow, a jolt to the head or penetrating head injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain. More mild t. B. I. S, more commonly referred to as concussions have been the center of increasing discussion within the Sports Community in recent years as a growing number of current and former athletes say that they are suffering from memory loss and other impairments caused by repeated blows to the head. Of course, we are seeing the t. B. I. S that are coming home from overseas with our men and women in uniform and the performance of their duties as well. The centers for Disease Control and prevention have looked at 1. 6 to 3. 8 million recreational sports related t. B. I. S. They say they occur in the u. S