Concussions: More than Just a Bump on the Head

On an Autumn Friday night thousands of fans gather to watch the boys of Flint Powers Catholic take on Oxford in a high school football game. All the fans are on the edge of their seats, but they sit in complete and utter silence, watching in horror as the events unfold near midfield.
A 16-year-old boy lie unconscious after taking a vicious hit moments earlier. Worse yet, the boy’s body begins convulsing violently. His hysterical mother runs to his side, pushing her way through concerned teammates and trainers. The horns of an ambulance resound and the injured player is hurried away on a stretcher.
In Michigan, as well as in most areas of the country, football is a major part of many young men’s lives. However, until recently, many players and fans were unaware of the dangers of the game and the precautions that must be taken. Several recent articles in the New York Times, as well as on ESPN.com have discussed the long-term effects of multiple concussions received while playing football. Most of these articles have focused on the former NFL players Andre Waters and Ted Johnson.
Waters, a former Philadelphia Eagle, committed suicide last fall at the age of 44 and Johnson, a former linebacker of the New England Patriots, claimed he saw signs of depression and Alzheimer’s disease. According to an Alan Schwarz article in the Times, repeated concussions had caused Waters’ brain tissue to resemble that of an 80-year-old with Alzheimer’s. And doctors of Johnson said he was exhibiting depression and memory lapses associated with oncoming Alzheimer’s. Johnson’s neurologist told the Times that his symptoms were probably the result of a postconcussive syndrome and that the damage to his brain is thought to be permanent.
While one concussion might seem as harmless as a bump on the head, multiple concussions, especially in a short period of time, can be very dangerous to one’s health.
In Ronald Pfeifer and Brent Mangus’ book, “Concepts of Athletic Training,” the authors cite Dr. Robert Cantu, the same neurologist who is treating Ted Johnson. Cantu’s research says that, “in some concussions there is some level of structural damage and that brain cells not destroyed remain extremely vulnerable to subsequent trauma...”
Pfeifer and Mangus also cite Dr. Cantu when they discuss Second Impact Syndrome, which is something that occurs when an athlete sustains an initial head injury, most often a concussion, then sustains a second head injury shortly after. Second Impact Syndrome is a very serious condition because it involves swelling of the brain which can put pressure on the brain stem, leading to a coma and/or rapid respiratory failure.

For these reasons, Mike Strong, 21, was told by trainers and doctors that it was time to hang up his cleats before his senior football season at Kalamazoo College.
Strong, the player mentioned in the opening of this story, received his first concussion in his junior year while playing running back at Flint Powers Catholic High School. It was a grade three concussion – the most severe.
Strong said he was unconscious for eight minutes before he woke up in the ambulance and he said he definitely felt the effects of the postconcussive syndrome. “I had headaches and nausea for a while afterward,” he said. “I also had vertigo for like a week. I couldn’t participate in any physical activities for six months and I wasn’t allowed to drive. I also only went to school for half a day for a month afterwards.”
Strong returned to play for his senior year and continued his career at Kalamazoo College. He said he had three or four minor concussions between his senior year of high school and junior of college, but didn't think any of them were too serious.
However, more than four years after his first concussion, Strong received his second grade three concussion. “It was at Olivet College,” he remembered. “It was either a trap or a dive. I took the handoff and saw the linebacker overflowing, so I cut back. But I got sandwiched there by the defensive end and the linebacker. My vision flickered in and out like in the beginning of those old movies and then I passed out for a few seconds. They checked me out and told me I had another grade three concussion so I had to sit out the rest of the season.”
Strong tried to return to play for his senior year, but on the first day of hitting he received another concussion and was told his playing days were over. Over the years he had played through at least six concussions and had developed a slight stutter from taking so many hits.
Despite all of the pain he went through Strong enjoyed his football career and is thankful that his symptoms are not any worse than they are. He is also thankful for the careful attention from the trainers and doctors that consulted him through his playing days. If it weren’t for caring and knowledgeable medical staffs, Strong knows he may have ended up in a similar condition to some of the former football players that have been making news as of late.
“I’m sorry that I couldn’t finish up my career, but I know it was what I had to do for my health,” Strong said. “I’m just happy I got to play for as long as I did.”

Sex, Drugs and Updating Your Blog

Above is a link to a Times story that I think would be good to read before working on our final pieces. The author, Clive Thompson, had to do a lot of research and included several sources for the story. The story begins by introducing us to the lifestyle of Jonathon Coulton, a musician who posts his music on his blog and interacts with his fans. Coulton is used by the author as a way to hold the story together. This is a long piece that is addressing a big-picture issue so it's important that we have a common theme to hold it all together. By leading the story with Coultron and repeatedly referring back to him, the author can continue to explore the bigger issues while the reader is able to have something to hang on to - something that shows us what the reader wants us to see. If the author were to just give us his findings of his research, the story would be bland, like a lab report or an essay. The story needs character and character is what holds this story together.
One line particulary grabbed my attention: "Coulton’s fans are also his promotion department, an army of thousands who proselytize for his work worldwide." It's so cool how getting a cult gathering online can propel a career and how fast word can spread with the internet. And that's what this story is getting at. By showing us how Coulton's business works, the author can now address the bigger picture of the story - which is how the internet has changed the way artists of all kinds are trying to get their work to the world.
I think the biggest thing to take from this story is that when your exploring a phenomenon of some sort - which I think is what we're doing for the final piece- it's important not to forget that your story needs something to hold it together and the easy way to do this is by developing good character. Developing good character will make for good reading and drive your story.

Rough Rough Draft

After a few beers, a little conversation and a game of pool Ted Vadella and Scott Makohn’s pipedream started taking shape.

Vadella, 32, was a Western student working at Buffalo Wild Wings when he and his friend, Scott Makohn, came up with the idea of opening their own bar. “We were playing pool after close and I said ‘we should do this ourselves,’” Vadella said. Nearly six years later, Vadella and Makohn opened Shakespeare’s Pub, an increasingly successful bar in downtown Kalamazoo. In Vadella’s words, “The whole thing started over a game of pool.”

After graduating from Western Michigan University, Vadella worked as a financial consultant for a few years until he got a call from Makohn, who worked as a bartender, suggesting they take a shot at opening their own bar like they talked about during their college days. “I didn’t love what I was doing,” Vadella said. I wasn’t happy, so I decided I’d do what I wanted. I like the bar atmosphere – every day is a party.”

The atmosphere that Vadella speaks of though, isn’t that of the typical college-bar environment. At Shakespeare’s it’s unusual to see vomit on the bathroom floor, lines of people pushing their way to the front of the bar or bouncer’s dragging drunken patrons out the door. You don’t even get harassed about how you’re dressed or have to stand in line to pay a cover charge. The bar isn’t meant for an older crowd but isn’t student-dominated either. Vadella puts it best: “We don’t have a demographic here. We’ve got a comfortable setting where people can get together, have a few drinks and talk. It’s a nice little niche – it’s everybody’s place.”

It took a lot of work to get Shakespeare’s to where it is now. The building was constructed in 1897 by Shakespeare Rod and Reel Company – the company that has the first patented fishing reel. According to Vadella, when he and Makohn first looked at the building it was “basically in shambles” and a fire had burnt out the back of the building. Vadella’s financial advising days told him it would be a bad investment but Makohn’s instincts said otherwise. A loan was granted, a whole lot of construction took place and the rest was history.

Travis Willey, a former employee of Shakespeare’s, remembers the enthusiasm of Vadella and Makohn when the bar opened in 2003. “I filled out the first application that they ever handed out and they hired me on the spot,” he said. “They were just excited to get the business started and to have people working for them.”

Vadella and Makohn’s relationship with their employees sets the tone for the family-type atmosphere they like to stress at Shakespeare’s. “If I’m ever in need of a job I know I can come back and work here,” Willey said.

Shakespeare’s turned a profit almost immediately after its opening and continues to grow in reputation. However, the bar’s ever-increasing popularity has become an area of concern for its loyal patrons. In the last couple of years the bar has begun to grow too crowded as lines formed to get in and ordering drinks became difficult.

For this reason, Vadella and Makohn decided to expand. They bought an adjoining portion of the building, knocked out the wall connecting the two sides and started working on a new wing that will more than double the size of the bar.

The new wing, which is being constructed almost entirely by Makohn, will feature eight big-screen televisions, three pool tables, 31 taps and plenty of seating – not to mention the outdoor patio that can hold up to 250 people. “In the summer people will be able to sit on the patio and watch the downtown festivals and hear the music that’s being playing,” Willey said. “The festivals (i.e. Bluesfest, Greekfest and Ribfest) bring people from all over the world to Kalamazoo and now they’ll be able to watch and listen from Shakespeare’s back porch.”

But the upcoming expansion has caused some apprehension among the Shakespeare’s faithful. Rob Gray, a 22-year-old Western student is worried that the bar will become more “mainstream.” “I like coming here because it’s a pretty quiet place where my friends and I can come every week to just sit, talk, drink and chill,” Gray said. “I’m hoping that the addition won’t make this place frat-dominated and stuffy like Wayside or Firehouse or any of the other bigger bars in the area.”

But Vadella encourages the Shakespeare’s faithful not to worry. “We’re not going to change the scheme of things,” he said. “We’ll never charge a cover and we’ll still keep the comfortable quaintness of the place. This will always be a place where anybody can come and hang out in a relaxed atmosphere.”

The new wing of Shakespeare’s was originally scheduled to be opened on New Years. Due to city licensing restrictions the opening-date has been pushed back several times. Vadella said he doesn’t want to make any promises but he is shooting for June.

Whether the wing opens this June or in two years, it’s safe to say Ted Vadella’s pipedream has become a reality.