New York Times, Concussions, and Bullshit Propaganda

I just read an article in the New York Times (shocking, I know). but this one was an Op-Ed by a total dipshit who questioned the American "obsession" with concussions.

Good god, sir.  You (Steven Rothman) are a pediatric neurologist.  While a small percentage of athletes might overestimate their symptoms, for a fucking neurologist to write into the New York Times and say that a "head bump" and "being a knocked-out boxer" aren't the same thing is the most irresponsible thing I've heard in a very long time.  Why do you think football players who can't fucking see straight and have no idea where they are willingly go back into a football game?  Because of their ignorant coaches who tell them to "man up" and get back in the game).

I teach high school, so I have seen these student athletes try to reintegrate after a blow to the head.  Were they boxers?  No.  Did they get knocked unconscious?  No.  Were they unquestionably, mentally altered?  Yes.

Parents should absolutely not keep their kids out of contact sports, BUT ... they should know the possible outcomes.  I know.  I watched my kid come off the football sideline in a punch-drunken stupor, not even able to climb the stairs back to the locker room at halftime.  I watched the coach do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING after my kid got rammed into the field, head-first.  I watched the rest of the coaching staff literally ignore him at halftime while he was trying to climb the stairs, but kept repeatedly falling to one knee.  The only person who helped him was the athletic trainer, a girl, who half-dragged him up the stairs after it was apparent that he couldn't make it by himself.

And then I saw the other after-effects, the worst of which were the uncontrollable mood swings.  You know, when he tore all the ligaments in his knee, the doctors and coaches were all concerned, and wanting him back on the field the next year.  When he fucked up his head senior year, they just gave up on him.  He didn't matter anymore, because he couldn't pass that baseline test.  He also tanked his grade in all his classes (because he couldn't study or remember anything), failed to get the ONE extra point he needed on the ACT retake (because he couldn't study or remember anything), and had an existential breakdown about the direction of his life.
So, Dr. Rothman, be careful what kind of verbal vomit you spew.  Some people don't know any better, and they might listen to you.  Anyone with an ounce of common sense knows the difference between a knock on the head and brain injury.  And parents ought to be aware that one of the side effects of a bad concussion is that their child's personality might change.  Forever.  It helps to know, because most coaches (especially football coaches) don't know and don't care.  They're more concerned about the win-loss record than anything else.