Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 sports
Friday 15 September 2017

Brady: Concussions part of ‘the physical nature of our game’

By Jimmy Golen NFL title by rallying them degenerative brain disease
AP Sports Writer from a 25-point deficit to chronic traumatic enceph-
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) the first overtime victory in alopathy. The NFL has also
-- Tom Brady doesn’t wor- Super Bowl history. The net- created game-day pro-
ry about concussions and work said co-host Norah cedures in an attempt to
considers them part of O’Donnell interviewed identify concussions when
playing football, the New Brady multiple times, both they happen and keep
England Patriots quarter- at his suburban Boston concussed players from re-
back says in a television home and at his TB12 Sports turning to the game.
interview to be broadcast Therapy Center near the In light of a recent study
this weekend. Patriots’ stadium. Now 40, that found CTE in the brains
“I’m not oblivious to them,” Brady repeated his desire of 110 of the 111 former NFL
Brady tells CBS Sunday to continue playing until his players that were studied,
Morning. “I mean, I under- is 45 - something no non- O’Donnell asked Brady
stand the risks that, you kicker has done in modern what he thought the effect
know, come with . the phys- In this Dec. 4, 2016, file photo, New England Patriots quarterback NFL history. would be on the league.
ical nature of our game.” Tom Brady speaks to the media following an NFL football game The NFL has struggled to “I don’t know what the fu-
Brady’s wife, supermodel against the Los Angeles Rams,in Foxborough, Mass. come to terms with the ture is going to look like,
Gisele Bundchen, had said no evidence that Brady or last year at the age of 39. danger of concussions and you know, and I’m not go-
in a May interview that the the team failed to follow After missing the first four the lifetime health risks they ing to pretend to predict
quarterback has had un- the league’s policies or pro- games to serve his “De- pose. The league this year it,” Brady says. “And I’m go-
reported concussions and cedures on concussions. flategate” suspension, he agreed to pay as much as ing to do everything I can
she worried about his long- A five-time Super Bowl threw for 3,554 yards and $1 billion to former players to take care of my body in
term health. A joint NFL and champion and two-time 28 touchdowns with only who have been diagnosed advance of the, you know,
players union investigation league MVP, Brady had two interceptions, lead- with post-concussion symp- of the hits that I’m going to
found this week there was one of his best seasons ever ing the Patriots to their fifth toms that could include the take on Sunday.”q
Kobe Bryant

Italy, I always dreamed of (22), Gail Goodrich (25), career while Bryant ended
my jersey hanging in the Magic Johnson (32), Ka- three consecutive seasons
Lakers rafters, but I cer- reem Abdul-Jabbar (33), early with injuries, and the
tainly never imagined two Shaquille O’Neal (34), franchise delayed its re-
of them,” Bryant said in James Worthy (42), Jerry building in favor of show-
a statement. “The Lakers West (44) and Jamaal Wil- casing Bryant to his ador-
have bestowed a huge kes (52). O’Neal’s jersey ing worldwide fans.
honor on me, and I’m was the most recent to be Bryant largely stayed
grateful for the fans’ enthu- hung on the wall in 2013. away from basketball dur-
siasm around this game.” Bryant is eligible to enter ing retirement over the
Bryant scored almost ex- the Hall of Fame in 2021, past year, but his influ-
actly as many points in his but the Lakers decided ence remains outsized on
No. 8 jersey (16,777) as he not to wait for that formal- the Lakers. Rob Pelinka,
did while wearing No. 24 ity to enshrine Kobe in their Bryant’s longtime agent,
In this March 28, 2016, file photo, Los Angeles Lakers forward (16,866). He returned to his own exclusive club. became the Lakers’ gen-
Kobe Bryant (24) walks onto the court during the team’s NBA high school jersey numbers “This honor is very well eral manager in February
basketball game against the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City. midway through his career deserved,” said Johnson, when Buss put Johnson in
Associated Press in an attempt at a fresh now the Lakers’ presi- charge of the front office.
Continued from Page 18 steals (1,944) and free start following allegations dent of basketball opera- “Kobe carried the torch for
throws (8,378), among of sexual assault leveled tions. “Kobe was one of the Lakers for 20 seasons,
Once again, Lakers fans countless superlatives. against him three years the greatest Lakers and keeping the franchise at
will celebrate our hero, Bryant is the third-leading earlier, causing him to NBA players of all-time, the forefront of the NBA
and once again, our foes scorer in NBA history after lose numerous sponsorship and he’s definitely on my following the ‘Showtime’
will envy the legendary becoming the first player deals even after the case Mount Rushmore.” Era,” Pelinka said. “Beyond
Kobe Bryant.” to spend at least 20 sea- was dropped by Colorado Bryant teamed with the championship banners
The five-time NBA cham- sons with one franchise. authorities. O’Neal to win three con- and individual accolades,
pion and 18-time All-Star He retired in 2016 with The 16-time NBA cham- secutive NBA titles from Kobe’s ‘Mamba Mentality’
selection is the Lakers’ a bravura 60-point per- pion Lakers have only re- 2000-02, and he worked is something the Lakers will
franchise leader in points formance in his farewell tired the numbers of Hall of with Pau Gasol to win two always try to emulate. It
(33,643), games played game against Utah. Fame players: Wilt Cham- more in 2009 and 2010. The alone daily inspires all of us
(1,346), 3-pointers (1,827), “As a kid growing up in berlain (13), Elgin Baylor Lakers struggled late in his to strive for greatness.”q