Originally Posted by forgot to bid (Post 974314)

Here is a reason to teach you kid to love football but to play basketball or baseball for a living...

(Withheld) -- Former NFL lineman Shane Dronett's transformation from an affable prankster, quick to flash a wry smile, to a person who was often frightened -- and frightening -- was subtle at first.

It began in 2006, with a bad dream.

"He woke up in the middle of the night and started screaming and told everyone to run out of the house," said Chris Dronett, Shane Dronett's wife. "He thought that someone was blowing up our house. It was very frightening."

Chris tried to dismiss the incident as isolated, except that two weeks later, there was another outburst, then another, until they were an almost-nightly occurrence. And as Shane's fear and paranoia began overwhelming him, so did episodes of confusion and rage that sometimes turned violent.

Only three years after retiring from the NFL in 2006, Shane was suffering. The tragic culmination of his pain came when he committed suicide in 2009 at 38.

Scientists at the Boston University School of Medicine's Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy tested Shane's brain tissue and confirmed that before he died he was suffering with a brain disease -- chronic traumatic encephalopathy -- that seems to afflict football players.

"There is evidence of CTE in his brain making him yet another former NFL player who had definite CTE," said Chris Nowinski, co-director of the traumatic encephalopathy center. Nowinski said the center has found evidence of CTE in the brains of 13 of 14 former NFL players, including Dronett.

Usually found in much older dementia patients, CTE is an accumulation of an abnormal protein in the brain called tau, which is associated with repeated head traumas -- concussions or subconcussive hits -- that are not allowed to heal. CTE can also diminish brain tissue and is associated with memory loss, depression, impulsive behavior and rage.

Ex-Falcons lineman had brain disease linked to concussions - CNN.com

Originally Posted by forgot to bid (Post 974292)

Newk hit a bird... I mean a flock of birds... a flock of geese... a flock of pterodactyls... all flying in single file... right on the nose cone last year.

As you can see, this is a DC-9 flown by Newk after that event:

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviatio.../6/1320675.jpg

Now compare that to an RJ.

Originally Posted by newKnow (Post 974323)

I think one of the members of the '85 Bears, Dave Duerson, committed suicide because of concussions and the aftereffects.

....and the owners want to go to an 18 game season. :mad:

Originally Posted by newKnow (Post 974326)

That's a great pic. Damn. I think the next AE is gonna be sad. :(

Originally Posted by forgot to bid (Post 974335)

When I was flying corporate Newk I met one of the 85 Bears. He handed me his parking pass and I parked under Soldier Stadium or inside it, or what have you. I think it was the first game or one of the first games in 07 and it was on a Sunday night. Well, Madden's bus was there so maybe MNF?

Anyways, I was standing next to him outside of the ESPN zone and people just walked up and took either pictures with him or said thanks for what he did. But he was not in great shape, moved rather slowly and gingerly.

Anyways, he gave my group like 8 tickets or something to the game. Guess what, I was #9. So I parked the van under the stadium and twiddled my thumbs all night. It is really really boring in the shadows of Soldier Field. There is nothing there and you don't even know a game is going on it's so quiet. The joys. The highlight was my other pilot called me before the F-18s flew over and after having listened in on their brief he told me what time they'd be there and they nailed it. Never understood how they figure that out.

Maybe it's because the USN uses ATILLA or something?

And the player? I have no idea who he was and still don't. Never heard his name. All I'll ever remember was he was basically crippled.

Originally Posted by Bucking Bar (Post 974179)

The fact that some people do not know the difference between an enemy and a scare crow is beyond belief.

Mainline MECs negotiated scope sales and our pilots ratified them. ALPA National has mostly watched in dismay (sometimes horror) at how WE have sold out our pilots. ALPA's ranks have DECLINED as a result of our activity. The fastest growing regionals are not ALPA airlines. ALPA loses out all the way around when we sell out our profession.

Politically, the Comair pilots were used as scapegoats. They never negotiated our contracts.

The DPA can chase scarecrows if it wants to waste its time. Stab 'em straw men, they were never alive to begin with and never any threat.

Originally Posted by buzzpat (Post 974332)

Not to worry New. I'm putting you on the ticket for the White House in 2012. We need a 9 driver to bring some sanity to the madness. ;)

Originally Posted by newKnow (Post 974363)

I know you are probably too young to know who Charlie Ward is, but he won the Heisman in the early 90's. When he graduated, he chose to play basketball, and I didn't fault him one bit.

I played football in high school and still have discomfort in my shoulder. The only reason I did it, was the only reason any high school boy plays football ===> Chicks dig it.

But, when you get into your 40's and you can barely stand up straight or open your hand all the way, chicks don't dig that so much anymore.