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SPORTSThursday 4 February 2016
Former NFL QB Ken Stabler had brain disease CTE
JIMMY GOLEN In this Dec. 27, 1976, file photo, Oakland Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler stands on the sidelines that his grandsons would
AP Sports Writer during the second half of AFC championship game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Oakland, choose not to play.”
BOSTON (AP) — Former Calif. McKee said the extent of
Oakland Raiders quar- the damage to Stabler’s
terback Ken Stabler, the Associated Press brain was surprising be-
late NFL MVP and Super cause he was relatively
Bowl winner who is a final- be diagnosed only after winski, the founder of the “What is interesting about young when he died and
ist for the Pro Football Hall death, is linked to repeat- Concussion Legacy Foun- Ken Stabler is that he an- because he was a quar-
of Fame, has been diag- ed brain trauma and asso- dation, Stabler told his fam- ticipated his diagnosis terback and thought to be
nosed with the brain dis- ciated with symptoms such ily he wanted to have his years in advance,” Nowin- less exposed to repeated
ease CTE, Boston University as memory loss, depression brain studied after learning ski wrote in an email to the head trauma.
researchers said Wednes- and progressive dementia. that former NFL linebacker AP. “And even though he’s “There was no evidence of
day. CTE has been found in the Junior Seau had been di- a football icon, he began any other brain disorder to
Stabler, who died of colon brains of dozens of former agnosed with the disease. actively distancing himself explain the difficulties he
cancer at 69 in July, had football players. In 2012, Seau shot himself in from (the) game in his fi- experienced during life,”
Stage 3 chronic traumatic According to Chris No- the chest at the age of 43. nal years, expressing hope McKee said.
encephalopathy, Dr. Ann The left-handed Stabler,
McKee told The Associ- nicknamed “Snake” for his
ated Press. McKee said the ability to escape from de-
disease was widespread fenders, led Alabama to
throughout his brain, with an undefeated season in
“quite severe” damage to 1966.
the regions involving learn- A second-round draft pick
ing, memory and regula- by Oakland, he was the
tion of emotion. NFL’s Most Valuable Player
“We’ve now found CTE in 1974 and led the Raiders
in former NFL players who to victory in the 1977 Super
played every position ex- Bowl.
cept kicker,” said McKee, In all, Stabler threw for
a professor of neurology 27,938 career yards and
at Boston University. “While had a .661 winning per-
we know on average that centage over 15 seasons,
certain positions experi- which also included stints
ence more repetitive head with the Houston Oilers and
impacts and are more like- New Orleans Saints. He was
ly at greater risk for CTE, no selected as a finalist for the
position is immune.” Hall of Fame by its Seniors
The diagnosis was first re- Committee; the induct-
ported by The New York ees will be announced
Times. Saturday.q
The disease, which can
NBA Capsules have lost five in a row and
20 of their last 22.
Continued from Page 17 CELTICS 97, KNICKS 89
NEW YORK (AP) — Isaiah
Andrew Wiggins scored with a thigh injury. Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant, center, comes down Thomas had 20 points and
30 points for the Timber- Smith scored a season-high with a rebound while under pressure from Minnesota Timber- eight assists, and Boston
wolves, who have lost five 19 points in his second start wolves center Karl-Anthony Towns, left, and forward Julius Ran- wore down New York.
straight and 16 of 18. this season and first since dle watches during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Jae Crowder and Ty-
ROCKETS 115, HEAT 102 returning to Houston in a Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016, in Los Angeles. ler Zeller each added 16
HOUSTON (AP) — James trade from the Clippers on points, while reserves Evan
Harden scored 26 points Jan. 22. Associated Press Turner and Kelly Olynyk
and tied a career-high Luol Deng had 17 points were also in double figures
with 14 assists as Houston for the Heat whose season- points and 11 rebounds, Phoenix rookie Devin Book- as the Celtics were fresher
snapped a three-game high four game winning both season highs, for the er added 27 points, match- and sharper in dominating
skid. The Rockets had a streak ended. Suns, who fired coach Jeff ing his career best with six the final 15 minutes.
double-digit lead for most RAPTORS 102, SUNS 97 Hornacek on Monday and 3s. Archie Goodwin had 18 Turner had 14 points and
of the second half and PHOENIX (AP) — Kyle Lowry promoted the 36-year-old points and a career-best 10 rebounds, and Olynyk
were up by 10 when Josh scored 26 points, includ- Watson to the interim job. 12 assists for the Suns, who scored 13 points in the
Smith scored all of the ing five 3-pointers, DeMar Celtics’ fifth victory in six
team’s points in a 7-2 run DeRozan added 22 points games.
that pushed the advan- and Toronto spoiled the Carmelo Anthony had 16
tage to 104-89 with about debut of Phoenix interim points and 14 rebounds
five minutes remaining. coach Earl Watson. but shot just 4 for 16 in the
Houston started Smith, a The Raptors, whose fran- Knicks’ sixth loss in seven
6-foot-9 forward, at center chise-record 11-game los- games. Robin Lopez add-
with Dwight Howard serv- ing streak ended Monday ed 17 points and 13 re-
ing a one-game suspen- night in Denver, led the en- bounds, while Arron Afflalo
sion for making contact tire second half but had to ended a shooting slump
with an official this week- hold on at the finish. with 18 points but had
end and Clint Capela out Markieff Morris had 30 some careless turnovers. q
