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Mark Fainaru-Wada

League of Denial: The NFL, Concussions and the Battle for Truth Hardcover – October 8, 2013

by Mark Fainaru-Wada (Author), Steve Fainaru (Author)

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“PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYERS DO NOT SUSTAIN FREQUENT REPETITIVE BLOWS TO THE BRAIN ON A REGULAR BASIS.”
So concluded the National Football League in a December 2005 scientific paper on concussions in America’s most popular sport. That judgment, implausible even to a casual fan, also contradicted the opinion of a growing cadre of neuroscientists who worked in vain to convince the NFL that it was facing a deadly new scourge: A chronic brain disease that was driving an alarming number of players -- including some of the all-time greats -- to madness.
League of Denial reveals how the NFL, over a period of nearly two decades, sought to cover up and deny mounting evidence of the connection between football and brain damage.
Comprehensively, and for the first time, award-winning ESPN investigative reporters Mark Fainaru-Wada and Steve Fainaru tell the story of a public health crisis that emerged from the playing fields of our 21st century pastime. Everyone knew that football is violent and dangerous. But what the players who built the NFL into a $10 billion industry didn’t know – and what the league sought to shield from them – is that no amount of padding could protect the human brain from the force generated by modern football; that the very essence of the game could be exposing these players to brain damage.
In a fast-paced narrative that moves between the NFL trenches, America’s research labs and the boardrooms where the NFL went to war against science, League of Denial examines how the league used its power and resources to attack independent scientists and elevate its own flawed research -- a campaign with echoes of Big Tobacco’s fight to deny the connection between smoking and lung cancer. It chronicles the tragic fates of players like Hall of Fame Pittsburgh Steelers center Mike Webster, who was so disturbed at the time of his death he fantasized about shooting NFL executives; and former Chargers great Junior Seau, whose diseased brain became the target of an unseemly scientific battle between researchers and the NFL. Based on exclusive interviews, previously undisclosed documents and private emails, this is the story of what the NFL knew and when it knew it – questions at the heart of crisis that threatens football, from the highest levels all the way down to Pop Warner.

Print length

416 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Crown Archetype
Publication date

October 8, 2013
Dimensions

6.42 x 1.22 x 9.54 inches
ISBN-10

0770437540
ISBN-13

978-0770437541
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Journalistically bruising." -- Peter King

"It is meticulously researched, artfully structured, engaging and well written... this is an informative, intriguing and sobering book about power and control. I recommend it strongly." - Nate Jackson, The Washington Post

"Mark Fainaru-Wada and Steve Fainaru's book 'League of Denial' should be required reading in secondary schools for all athletes. Those of us outside the lines will be wiser, as well, for having invested just a few hours to read it." - Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News

"Meticulously documented and endlessly chilling." - The New York Times

“'League of Denial' may turn out to be the most influential sports-related book of our time." -The Boston Globe, Best Sports Books of 2013

About the Author

Mark Fainaru-Wada is an investigative reporter for ESPN. With his colleague Lance Williams, he co-authored the New York Times best-seller "Game of Shadows -- Barry Bonds, BALCO and the Steroids Scandal That Rocked Professional Sports." He lives in Petaluma, California, with his wife Nicole, son Max and daughter Ella.

Steve Fainaru is an investigative reporter for ESPN. While covering the Iraq war for the Washington Post, he received the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting for his investigation into the U.S. military’s reliance on private security contractors. He lives in Berkeley, California, with his wife Maureen Fan, and son Will.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crown Archetype; 1st edition (October 8, 2013)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 416 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0770437540
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0770437541
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.5 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.42 x 1.22 x 9.54 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,317,819 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #491 in Sociology of Sports (Books)
- #516 in Sports Medicine (Books)
- #2,336 in Football (Books)

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4.7 out of 5

794 global ratings

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ClickTrainer

This will change how you view the NFL and it's players

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 5, 2014

Verified Purchase

I have watched the Frontline story, "League of Denial", twice now. The first time I saw it, I was intrigued and wanted to know more. I read this book and the information was stunning. The Frontline story was a bare-bones, very edited version of this book.

There is SO much more content revealed here. From the 'early days' of football and how concussions were (not) treated, to current topics such as the multi-million dollar 'settlement' that is now being reviewed, this book covers everything in a good timeline format.

The tragedy is that so many players' lives have changed, or even ended, due to repeated brain injuries that occurred during their careers. The injustice is that the NFL has had data for decades about concussions and player safety, yet claimed that, as a body, the NFL members were not medical experts. The NFL has been adept at passing the buck to medical researchers, whom the NFL had funded specifically to examine the issue of brain injury and concussion. The NFL claims they have had no medical expertise, yet they funded research on these very topics. Wait until you read about the members of the NFL's "Concussion Committee", and the actions of said committee.

Concussions and repeated TBIs are not the same as a broken arm or dislocated shoulder. A player only has one brain, and any damage might only show up as the player ages. The NFL even attempted to design a helmet intended to reduce the frequency of concussions for its players (design, production and claims were all done by a major NFL helmet supplier). The helmet manufacturer made wild claims about the hemet reducing concussions, sent them to the NFL, and then marketed the helmet to high school and college players. Finally, the false claims were finally discounted, and could no longer be used in marketing the helmet.

The second time I watched the Frontline story, I realized how much information was left out from this book. Stunning, really, how much was left out.

The saddest part is that there is no definitive method of diagnosing CTE (at this time) until autopsy and sampling brain tissue. I believe the issue will be right in the forefront again as players age, and we hear more tragic stories of lives changed or lost, while the NFL all but ignores the issue of concussions and CTE.

With all the background and information in this book, the game of NFL football, it's place in American culture, and how football is seen, will all be changed forever----much like the story of Big Tobacco and smoking. The curtain will be raised, as in The Wizard of Oz, revealing what has been known for decades. The NFL will no longer be able to claim ignorance, or innocence, in this matter. Last summer's cash settlement with former NFL players is likely to be just a drop in the bucket of funds that will be needed as we see more players retiring. These are players who are now bigger, faster and stronger than those who played decades earlier.

The settlement was an agreement reached by the NFL, and the NFLPA, including representation for retired players. Under the terms of the agreement, the NFL was not required to acknowledge any responsibility, liability or previous knowledge concerning what it knew about concussion brain injury, and CTE. My hope is that the judge now reviewing the settlement (because of doubts that the dollar amount of the settlement will be adequate) will help the injured players and their families get some sort of restitution for the lives changed for these players, as well as for the future retirees who have suffered these brain injuries.

If you have children of any age, once you finish reading this book, you may have very different views as to whether you would allow your child to participate in football.

(Edited for typos)

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

K. Durkin

Very well documented, thorough history of concussions, CTE and brain damage in NFL players

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 13, 2013

Verified Purchase

First, I will note that I myself had a concussion when I was 7 after I fell off my bicycle and fractured my skull. I was "out" for four hours and don't recall anything of the hour before the accident. It is part of the reason that I am very interested in the research.

As an avid NFL fan since the late 70s, I found this book difficult to read. The stories of what many players have had to endure after they retired is heartbreaking. The first time that I recall concussions being discussed in the media were in the time of Al Toon's retirement at the age of 29 after he said he had 9 concussions. I vaguely remember it being said then that there was a belief that having had one made a person predisposed to another and also there was a theory that some players are more prone to them, like Toon.

In reading this book, it carefully lays out what was known about concussions by whom and when. And the startling thing is that a lot of what we take for granted, still wasn't considered hard science even 20 years ago. In 1990, a team doctor wanted to keep Bubby Brister out of a game and the Steelers Coach Chuck Noll wanted to know why and on what basis or evidence. At the time, they were guidelines. But the doctor had no conclusive proof exactly how much time was necessary to heal a concussion. Healing times are different. There was no test, no baseline.

What the book does well is take the reader from that time when things were murky to the death of Mike Webster when there was a change. A Nigerian, Dr. Omalu, made the decision to study the Hall of Famer's brain even though he died of a heart attack due to what the doctor had read about the player's odd behavior over the last few years. After the brain was "fixed", stained and placed the brain tissue under a microscope he saw something that had not been seen before. He saw Tau. Tau, a substance in the brain, was strangling portions of Websters brain. Tau also goes a little crazy in Alzheimer's patients in a different way. The brain damage in boxers is not the same either. It was something new. And it opened up a whole new can of craziness for the NFL.

There is so much in here that is infuriating. The NFL Retirement board paid benefits for brain damage, yet the Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee said "football doesn't cause brain damage". There were people who wanted to help find out exactly what was going on and they were discredited or marginalized by the NFL.

I think the book is extremely well written and it lays out all the people who have been involved (including their flaws and all) and just tells the story without really trying to steer a person in a direction. One thing that is interesting is that many of the people involved in identifying the issue love football and they're working to benefit the players they love and respect.

The one thing that I wish were included is more about why the players are not reporting concussions to the team doctors. Of course, part of it is that they're competitive and want to play, but I feel that another part of it has to do with the fact that contracts aren't guaranteed. In baseball, someone like Mike Witt could have a 5 year guaranteed contract and only end up throwing a few innings over those five years. But in football, you can't play, you get cut. Dave Duerson's wife alluded to it briefly.

41 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Mr J Maughan

Great book. I became interested in this after watching ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on July 27, 2017

Verified Purchase

Great book. I became interested in this after watching "Concussion" with Will Smith. No surprises in the outcome given the Capatistic approach of most Sporting arenas nowadays. Sad but true indictment of the "Moneymen" who happily allow the true talent to harm and injure themselves during their careers and then drop them like a lead welly when they need support the most.

One person found this helpful

So.Hi

Probably one of the very finest books I've read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 7, 2016

Verified Purchase

Probably one of the very finest books I've read. Proper investigative reporting and a great page turner. Watch the doc too, excellent film making.

One person found this helpful

lyndon

AWSOME READ

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 31, 2013

Verified Purchase

WHAT A FANTASTIC GRIPPING POWERFUL STORY HAD ME IN TEARS AT TIMES. ALSO HAD MY BLOOD BOILING WITH THE BLINKERED APPROACH OF THE NFL DENIAL WHEN A BLIND MAN COULD SEE THEY WERE IN THE WRONG.

3 people found this helpful

Michael Garvey

Good read. It would be interesting to see if ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 27, 2014

Verified Purchase

Good read. It would be interesting to see if a similar book came out about Rugby union, I imagine the issues might turn out to be quite similar

One person found this helpful

MATHEW J NOBLE

Wonderfully researched with a terrifying message

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 11, 2015

Verified Purchase

Superbly written, engages not only those interested in Sports. Wonderfully researched with a terrifying message.

See all reviews

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