Chris Nowinski Nominated for Prestigious SI Award

Former WWE wrestler Chris Nowinski has been nominated for Sports Illustrated magazine's "Sportsman of the Year" award for his research in head trauma and concussions that has helped change safety in youth, college, and professional sports...More?

source: pwtorch.com

Rumor Mill - TNA Now Serious About Concussions

WrestleZone has confirmed through several sources that TNA President Dixie Carter has had at least one conversation with Chris Nowinski, who as many of you know founded the Sports Legacy Institute, an organization that has teamed up with Boston University School of Medicine to research the long-term effects of concussions.

Currently, over 100 professional athletes have donated or pledged to donate, after death, their brains to the organization for use in their research, including soccer player Cindy Parlow and Ravens offensive lineman Matt Birk.

Tonight, several wrestlers at the TNA iMPACT tapings in Orlando confirmed to WrestleZone that the word going around was that Dixie herself pulled Ken Anderson from his scheduled match against Jeff Hardy in Nashville over the weekend because Anderson's doctor warned he wasn't "100 percent healed" from his head trauma yet.

Apparently, after a discussion with Nowinski, the TNA President has ordered the creative staff to be more judicious with head shots that are scripted into the shows.

Chris Nowinski Comments on TNA's Continued Use of Chair Shots to the Head

"I was extremely pleased to see the concussion storyline as it was executed on TNA. I think it was a positive portrayal of the issue, and it was great to see Matt Morgan treated as the babyface for his concern about the consequences of returning to the ring so soon after a concussion. Matt Morgan has been an energetic support of the Sports Legacy Institute and this issue, and I was proud to see him able to reach millions with this message.

However, I must note that I'm not happy the storyline was generated by a chair shot to the back the head of Ken Anderson, another SLI supporter, but I was told it was not scripted that way.

I hope TNA notes the cause and effect of that hit and puts more in place (training, fines, etc.) to prevent future use of the chair in that manner and keep top talents in the ring."

source: pwinsider.com

McMahon Showing Support for Nowinski's Institute

Vince McMahon recently reached out to former WWE star Christopher Nowinski and, acorrding to Nowinski, McMahon said he wanted to get behind and support Nowinski's Sports Legacy Institute and its research on the effects of concussions.

source: wrestling observer newsletter

Chris Nowinski Recalls his Recent Long Conversation with Vince McMahon Regarding Head Trauma

Former WWE wrestler Chris Nowinski discussed the head trauma issues in professional sports with the Philadelphia Inquirer, and recalled a long talk he had with Vince McMahon on the matter last week. ""The WWE interestingly had a more advanced program more quickly [than the NFL] six months after the Chris Benoît tragedy," Nowinski said.

"They instituted neuropsychological testing. They've had it over a year now. They have pre-talks with new hires on concussions and CTE. They limit bumps in their wrestling school, repetitive falls on your back." Nowinski noted that WWE does not advertise their head trauma policies and said it's likely due to liability reasons...More?

source: prowrestling.net

Chris Nowinski Responds to WWE'S Statements About Him

Did They Put A Gun To Your Head?

The idea that wrestlers are ignorant children who need a company they work for to engage in patronizing paternalism, endlessly holding their hands through every single day of their lives in the company, and taking responsibility for every wrong decision that they ever make, is manifestly delusional. Blaming widely hated and wealthy corporations for the volitional actions of individuals is popular because self-reflection and personal responsibility is a challenging human exercise.

Irrespective of how many Harvard alums incessantly prattle to contrary, the fact remains that nobody puts a gun to wrestlers’ heads and forces them into taking drugs...More?

source: bleacherreport.com

WWE Hits Back at Nowinski

Former wrestler and anti-head-trauma advocate Chris Nowinski said some very critical things about Senate candidate Linda McMahon and the WWE in a recent interview with NECN, alleging that the WWE encourages steroid use and provides an unsafe environment for its wrestlers. While the McMahon campaign has not responded, to my knowledge, the WWE has.

The WWE emailed this response to Nowinski's criticisms today:

WWE RAISES CREDIBILITY ISSUES FOR CHRIS NOWINSKI

• Chris Nowinski did not reveal, as required, that he suffered previous concussions before signing his contract with WWE.
• He states WWE suggested that its performers take steroids. However, at no time does he ever state that it was suggested that he do so.
• His comments that WWE talent perform in matches 200 days a year is not factual. In 2009, the average active roster talent performed 135 days.
• A sheer fabrication --- that he went through tables four days a week.
• Mr. Nowinski states, "They have an environment where it's absolutely unsafe to work in that ring." "They have no oversight into what actually happens in the ring." If so, then why would Mr. Nowinski have ever wanted to be a part of such an environment?
• It is very dubious that he ever had a conversation with Lance Cade much less Lance Cade confiding to a total stranger that he used painkillers and steroids.
• Although renowned in the field of CTE, we are unaware of any specific qualifications or medical degrees that he possesses which would qualify him as an expert on steroids and pain killers.

Click here for more.

source: theatlantic.com

Chris Nowinski Claims WWE Encourages Steroid Use: "It's Garbage That They're Not Using Stuff."

"They have an environment where it's absolutely unsafe to work in that ring," said Nowinski, whose wrestling persona was a cocky Harvard graduate.

"They have no oversight into what actually happens in the ring. And they are encouraging steroid use," he said, citing the enormous physiques of recent champions such as Triple H and Batista. "It's garbage that they're not using stuff," he said. "They absolutely know what's going on."..

"The WWE rewards the guys who use them,"...More?

source: thehill.com

Study Says Brain Trauma Can Mimic A.L.S.

Professional Athletes Trek to Mass. Statehouse to Push for Sports Concussion Awareness Bill

Concussion Talks Heating Up at Super Bowl

Activist Chris Nowinski is keeping the issue of concussions and their long-term consequences for NFL players in the public eye, and he is doing it during the league's week-long celebration that leads up to Super Bowl Sunday...More?

source: pittsburghlive.com

Former WWE Wrestlers to Donate Brains for Research

Former WWE wrestler Chris Nowinski issued a memo to PWTorch today listing several former WWE wrestlers who have agreed to donate their brains following death to aid the research of brain trauma from repeated blows to the head.

"Over 20 wrestlers have already enrolled or recently pledged to join the study, including Rob Van Dam, Matt Morgan, Lance Storm, Ken Kennedy, Molly Holly, Tony Garea, Antonio Thomas, Dawn Marie, Kevin Fertig, and other big names who at this point choose to remain anonymous," Nowinski said in a memo. "The only group of professional athletes so far with a greater commitment to this research is NFL players, with over 60 current and retired players involved."

Nowinski issued the memo in response to ESPN's report that Andrew "Test" Martin showed signs of long-term brain damage as a result of repeated trauma to his head during his wrestling career...More?

Matt Morgan Joins the Sports Legacy Institute

Matt Morgan stated the following on his twitter page:

“I’m now an official member of Chris Nowinski’s Sports Legacy Institute! I have signed on to donate my brain to this very earnest, admirable cause. Concussions is a very serious topic that desperately needs more addressing so I’m proud to be part of something that will def help future wrestlers and other athletes for yrs to come. I've noticed more & more, that wrestlers are starting to see the ramifications that concussions can cause. Its leading to more guys to take more self-preventative measures when in the ring. I know it has for me! I encourage any and all athletes to please look into the Sports Legacy Institute to see how u may be able to help, and most importantly, learn more!”

Former WWE Wrestler Calling for Change in the Business

The Sports Legacy Institute, which is co-chaired by Chris Nowinski, who played college football at Harvard and wrestled professionally for WWE (and whose wrestling career ended due to a concussion), studies the degenerative neurological condition these football players have experienced, which is called Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). Through the study, Nowinski says his group will get an idea of the risk factors, how the disease progresses, the symptoms and potential treatments. He is also calling for change in the professional wrestling business:

"The idea of going off the top of the cage into the ring may actually be as stupid as it looks," Nowinski says. "You cannot slow down the trauma to your brain. Your brain absorbs a ton of trauma. Even if it's not concust, it's a high level of trauma that didn't used to exist in the wrestling industry."

Nowinski calls today's WWE "an extremely unsafe workplace."

"Everybody who got black lung going into the mines and died knew they were going into the mines," he says, "but they didn't know the full consequences.The only way to get real change is for the McMahons to get out of the business or for the federal government to come in and declare it an unsafe workplace."

source: the pitch

Former WWE Superstar to Donate his Brain for Research

Former WWE Superstar “The Promise” Antonio Thomas, is combining brains with brawn—literally. Thomas is the latest professional wrestler to donate his brain to concussion research.

The Sports Legacy Institute (SLI), founded by former WWE wrestler Chris Nowinski and Dr. Robert Cantu, is the recipient of Thomas’s donation, which is part of an effort to further understand concussions and their effect on the brain...More?

NFL Pros to Contribute to Concussion Study

Three NFL players announced Monday they will donate their brains and spinal cord tissue to a Boston University medical school program that studies sports brain injuries.

Even though dozens of former NFL players have agreed to donate their brains after death, Baltimore Ravens center Matt Birk, Seattle Seahawks linebacker Lofa Tatupu and Arizona Cardinals receiver Sean Morey are the first active players to do so.

The goal of the university's Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy, a collaborative venture between BU Medical School and Sports Legacy Institute (SLI), is to better understand the long-term effects of repeated concussions. Former WWE superstar Chris Nowinski is the co-director of SLI...More?

source: associated press

Sports Legacy Institute Reveals Study on Benoit's Brain

In the first educational presentation ever provided on the Benoit murder/suicide, the Sports Legacy Institute (SLI), founded by former WWE pro wrestler Christopher Nowinski, details what SLI found, what it tells us about the tragedy, and how this information will change the professional wrestling industry forever.

Hosted by SLI founder and President Christopher Nowinski and SLI Athlete Advisor Booker T. The 20 minute presentation will be followed by 10 minutes of Q&A. Christopher Nowinski will also sign autographs for anyone attending the seminar.

Admission Fee: $20

100% of proceeds will benefit the Sports Legacy Institute and Booker T Fights for Kids, both 501(c)(3) charitable organizations. This educational event is being run with the knowledge and support of Michael Benoit.

Brain Damage from Repeated Concussions Now has a Name

Until recently, the best medical definition for concussion was a jarring blow to the head that temporarily stunned the senses, occasionally leading to unconsciousness. It has been considered an invisible injury, impossible to test -- no MRI, no CT scan can detect it.

But today, using tissue from retired NFL athletes culled posthumously, the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy (CSTE), at the Boston University School of Medicine, is shedding light on what concussions look like in the brain. The findings are stunning. Far from innocuous, invisible injuries, concussions confer tremendous brain damage. That damage has a name: chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

Chris Nowinski knows well the impact of concussions. He was a football star at Harvard before wrestling professionally with World Wrestling Entertainment. In one moment, his dreams of a long career wrestling were dashed by a kick to his chin. That kick, which caused Nowinski to black out and effectively ended his career, capped a career riddled with concussions.

"My world changed," said Nowinski. "I had depression. I had memory problems. My head hurt for five years."...More?

source: cnn.com

Chris Nowinski provides progress report on NHL and pro wrestling handling concussions

source: pwtorch.com