Ricky Williams speaks out about concussions on DLHQ (1 Viewer)

[Ministry of Pain]

Hey everyone, I thought this was an interesting article. Not sure what to make of Williams' remarks but I do feel it has some validity. Ricky is talking about things that cannot be explained by science. Actually what Ricky is asking folks to do is think outside of just medical science...it's interesting because when sickness sets in and I'll target in on cancer since it has had an impact on almost everyone I know including myself.

One of the big things in treating cancer patients is their state of mind. I'm not gonna go too deep on the OP into this but there are people who feel they can almost cure themselves by not listening to modern medicine and going thru a more holistic approach and certainly Ricky Williams is in that camp.

The concussion topic has been one that has a lot of people concerned, angry, and yes fearful of football and its future. I'm as guilty as anyone for rushing to judgement and perhaps not always showing my best when it comes to these issues and all of you.

I believe most will assume Ricky is crazy and dismiss him but I found his POV different as usual and also needed even though i don't agree with everything he says.

Yahoo Sports

Sometimes, the best way to deal with a problem is to pretend that it doesn't exist. At least, that's the impression put across by former NFL running back Ricky Williams when he discussed the recent concern about concussions in football with ESPN's Dan Le Batard. Williams, who played for the New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens during an 11-year career in which he gained over 10,000 rushing yards, retired in February. And when it comes to the possible effects of the game as he enters a new phase of his life ... well, Williams can't really be bothered.

"I have no idea, and I'm not a really big fan of the way the NFL is handling concussions," Williams said on Tuesday. "Maybe I'm stupid or whatever, but if I got a concussion, and I could see straight and I could carry a football, I'm not telling anybody ... From what I've seen, [the NFL is] all about prevention -- but can you prevent a concussion? I mean, you can definitely have safer helmets, and I had what I think was the safest helmet when I played, and I think you can definitely pay more attention. But ultimately, it's about the players. And I think all this attention given to prevention -- it seems like they haven't done anything, because they don't believe they can actually treat a concussion."

When Le Batard said that he didn't understand Williams' statement (put us in that camp as well), Williams elaborated.

"Most of the research around concussions is to find that 100 percent of football players have brain trauma. Well -- I don't want someone to tell me that, right? I don't want someone to tell me that, because if it's a 'doctor' [Williams used air quotes when he said the word 'doctor'], I don't buy it."

The now incredulous Le Batard asked Williams to clarify his stance -- did he believe that there is not a link between football and concussions?

"I don't buy it. I'm only speaking from my personal experience, because I haven't allowed myself to buy it, and I haven't been affected. Yes, I'm aware that football is a rough sport, but instead of saying, 'Oh -- I'm doomed to brain trauma,' I said, 'What can I do about it?' And I just started taking care of my body. I found people, places and things that really helped me -- again, I don't know what's going to happen to me in 10 years, but I look at the other things I've learned about, and the way I see the world.

"And to me, it's like -- OK, yes. If we're going to spend six months brutalizing our bodies, I said, 'That makes sense. I'm going to spend six months taking care of my body.' I started to equip myself with tools. I started practicing yoga, and I started learning some hands-on healing stuff. I found really good chiropractors and massage therapists, and I found that I was able to peel off layers of trauma on my body. I actually move better now than I did [when I played]."

When asked about the science of brain trauma, Williams passed it off. "Science is the deity, but should it be?"

I'm not about to tell Ricky Williams how to deal with the effects of football -- he's certainly taken many more violent hits than I have, and he appears to be none the worse for wear. I'm also in the camp that believes in the positive effects of a holistic approach. The "mind over matter" stuff works to a degree, and maybe Williams is just on a higher plane with it. And if it allows him to bypass the sometimes horrific results that happen when you bang your helmeted head into another helmeted head ... well, good for him.

I just hope he isn't on the outside looking in from a medical perspective when he's 44 years old instead of the 34 he is now.

 

[DoubleG]

The "mind over matter" stuff works to a degree, and maybe Williams is just on a higher plane with it. And if it allows him to bypass the sometimes horrific results that happen when you bang your helmeted head into another helmeted head ... well, good for him.

The "to a degree" is the problem. As you said, Williams is still relatively young. Let's wait and see if he's singing the same tune at 44 and if he's still alive and well at 54. You can have a positive mental attitude all you want, but if you jump out a 15th story window you're still going to fall and get hurt...to a degree. I don't think his "positive mental outlook" (or his "I've smoked enough pot that I don't really give a ####") attitude is allowing him to bypass anything. He may be able to ignore it for a while or maybe he hasn't sustained the severe damage that Seau or others have. Or maybe he's as "hazy" as usual and hasn't noticed some of the side effects yet.

Sorry, but Ricky Williams is not the first place I am going to look for suggestions on mental health and dealing with injury. That's more akin to asking Jamarcus Russel for QB advice.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

The "mind over matter" stuff works to a degree, and maybe Williams is just on a higher plane with it. And if it allows him to bypass the sometimes horrific results that happen when you bang your helmeted head into another helmeted head ... well, good for him.

The "to a degree" is the problem. As you said, Williams is still relatively young. Let's wait and see if he's singing the same tune at 44 and if he's still alive and well at 54. You can have a positive mental attitude all you want, but if you jump out a 15th story window you're still going to fall and get hurt...to a degree. I don't think his "positive mental outlook" (or his "I've smoked enough pot that I don't really give a ####") attitude is allowing him to bypass anything. He may be able to ignore it for a while or maybe he hasn't sustained the severe damage that Seau or others have. Or maybe he's as "hazy" as usual and hasn't noticed some of the side effects yet.

Sorry, but Ricky Williams is not the first place I am going to look for suggestions on mental health and dealing with injury. That's more akin to asking Jamarcus Russel for QB advice.

Hi DG, I can't say you are wrong in feeling that way but I do want to point out that Ricky has done a tremendous amount of work in the holistic community and I do believe he has a lot of good information from that world even if it doesn't jive with some of the things we all believe to be true. Williams played well into his 30s, granted he took a lot of time off but he kept his body in top shape. Thanks for the post, I also will be interested to see how Ricky ages and what he thinks in another 10 years.

 

[Sweet Love]

I think he could be onto something..ask a woman, any woman who tried Invitro to get pregnant, stopped and got pregnant naturally...my guess is that if you find someone like this, they will talk to you about "Chinese Herbs"...not sure what this is exactly, but I now know 4 women who have tried invitro after not being able to conceive, and then try this method...in fact, by the third one (my wife's best friend), I overheard a phone conversation as the couple was about to spend their 4th payment of 10k on invitro...told them to stop and try "the herbs"...they did and and it was "one and done".

Now, Ricky is not saying he has a specific agenda to thwart the affects of concussions, but it would not surprise me at all, if he comes away unscathed...

In 20 years, you can take all the 10k rushers of the league, put them in room and Ricky will be bouncing around like the guy who is just 12 years old today and waiting for his ticket to be punched.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

puff puff pass. Its a miracle drug and helps with concussions too

 

[cstu]

The "mind over matter" stuff works to a degree, and maybe Williams is just on a higher plane with it. And if it allows him to bypass the sometimes horrific results that happen when you bang your helmeted head into another helmeted head ... well, good for him.

The "to a degree" is the problem. As you said, Williams is still relatively young. Let's wait and see if he's singing the same tune at 44 and if he's still alive and well at 54. You can have a positive mental attitude all you want, but if you jump out a 15th story window you're still going to fall and get hurt...to a degree. I don't think his "positive mental outlook" (or his "I've smoked enough pot that I don't really give a ####") attitude is allowing him to bypass anything. He may be able to ignore it for a while or maybe he hasn't sustained the severe damage that Seau or others have. Or maybe he's as "hazy" as usual and hasn't noticed some of the side effects yet.

Sorry, but Ricky Williams is not the first place I am going to look for suggestions on mental health and dealing with injury. That's more akin to asking Jamarcus Russel for QB advice.

Hi DG, I can't say you are wrong in feeling that way but I do want to point out that Ricky has done a tremendous amount of work in the holistic community and I do believe he has a lot of good information from that world even if it doesn't jive with some of the things we all believe to be true. Williams played well into his 30s, granted he took a lot of time off but he kept his body in top shape. Thanks for the post, I also will be interested to see how Ricky ages and what he thinks in another 10 years.

Clearly he takes care of himself but it's a lot easier to play until you're 34 if you only run the ball 174 times during four years of your prime. He was effective from 31 to 34 but he also only averaged 167 carries a season in that time.

 

[petenice15]

Ricky is burnt and I'm shocked anyone could buy a word of this. There is no such thing as mind over matter when dealing with concussions. Basically he's claiming that bc players are aware of the science behind concussions now they are more prone to being concussed? Thats insane. Take Mohammed Ali, an athlete who was not afraid of anything and I can guarantee he never thought a moment about concussions in his day. Clearly we know how things turned out for him.

The bottom line is concussions happen bc players are stronger and faster then ever and helmets and pads are harder then ever. Human brains are not a muscle that can be strengthened no matter how much weight you can lift. If you want to decrease concussions, give players leather helmets again and get rid of HGH and the other PEDs we haven't heard of yet. Unfortunately my suggestions are good for TV ratings and the bottom line.

 

[Matt Bitonti]

there may not be mind over matter but there's no cure for CTE either and they can't even diagnose it until the autopsy. Ricky is taking a denial approach to a scary problem but it's not like if he was worried about it, that would improve his health.

 

[Gandalf]

I think Ricky Williams' thought disordered quote suggests that his brain is damaged. Concussions, pot or both???