http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2...tml?s_campaign=bostonglobe:socialflow:twitter Troubling news concerning the late Jordan Parsons who was killed earlier this year in a hit-and-run incident. The 25-year old was examined by famed neuropathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu and found to have had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), the degenerative brain disease that appears to be widespread in sport. Parsons is the first MMA fighter to be diagnosed with CTE (the disease can only be detected via autopsy, but some fighter such as Gary Goodridge are very likely to have similar diagnoses). At just 25-years old and with only one knockout loss on his record, it would indicate that the process of becoming an MMA fighter is as dangerous as the fights itself.
Meh, sad news and all, but these guys know the risks of fighting. I don't like how sports are vilified over stuff like this.
The NFL was vilified because they knew about it and tried to sweep it under the rug. I don't think MMA fighters are under any illusions when it comes to brain damage but I think it should shock the average fighter to find out that it occurs this early on. It also shows that the scans that fighters get as part of their self-paid medical clearances for fights do not reveal everything.
The NFL swept it under the rug but at the end of the day, the players are the ones playing. Shit, just this last week Jordan Reed of yet Washington Redskins admitted that he played last game with a concussion and didn't tell anyone. Where I fault the NFL is in their post career insurance coverages. These players should be getting top of the line insurance but they're not.
