RIP Dave Duerson

[Dick Whitman]

Member of the '85 Bears defense:

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/news/story?id=6135463

Bizarre that the story conspicuously omits the domestic violence accusations/charges against him a few years ago.

 

[holy bull]

As a Notre Dame fan, sad to hear this. My father called me in sick on a bogus "college visit" when I was a senior in high school so we could drive from upstate NY to South Bend to watch ND play Michigan State in 1980, when Duerson was a sophomore.

 

[Dick Whitman]

This story is about to get a whole lot bigger.

Shot himself in the heart.

Because he wants his brain preserved to study effects of football on the brain.

That was his text-messaged suicide note.

 

[21]

Self inflicted gunshot wound to the heart, specified that his brain be donated to research studying long term effects of head injuries and athletes.

 

[shockey]

This story is about to get a whole lot bigger.

Shot himself in the heart.

Because he wants his brain preserved to study effects of football on the brain.

That was his text-messaged suicide note.

holy crap. this is already the front-runner for 'sports story of the year.' damn.

 

[NoOneLikesUs]

Football is ****ed.

 

[21]

Seems unclear whether he did this because he was having medical issues, or for other reasons and donated the brain as a secondary issue. Either way, horrifying and sickening story. I knew duerson pretty well in the 80s...so bright and interesting and really accomplished. Just a horrible tragedy, I hope we can get the rest of the real story here.

 

[Drip]

Football is ****ed.

RIP

 

[Herbert Anchovy]

That's two strong safeties in about five years. And Goodell wants to play more games.

 

[blacktitleist]

Wow. That news floored me.

How tragic.

 

[Sleeper]

Holy moly.

Before he shot himself fatally in the chest Thursday, the former Chicago Bears defensive back Dave Duerson sent family members text messages requesting that his brain tissue be examined for the same damage recently found in other retired players, two people aware of the messages said Saturday night.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/20/sports/football/20duerson.html

 

[BYH]

Whatever Greg Aiello's plans were for Monday just got scrapped. Gotta meet with the big cheese, come up with a way to steadily dismiss whatever findings are found on Duerson's brain.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

That's two strong safeties in about five years. And Goodell wants to play more games.

With the commissionership comes a Ph. D. in advanced hypocrisy.

 

[holy bull]

Goddamit, this is mind-boggling. I'm already cringing in anticipation of the whitewash treatment that will come from the league office.

 

[YGBFKM]

Let's hope DeMaurice Smith will not sell out retirees like his predecessor did.

What's mind-boggling is the tragedy surrounding the '85 Bears. First Walter, now Duerson. Chances are the Fridge will soon make three significant members of that team dead by 50.

 

[Herbert Anchovy]

Todd Bell was a year-long holdout from that team. Also dead. Heart attack while driving.

 

[RickStain]

Dead by 50 is about the average for football players, isn't it?

 

[YGBFKM]

Todd Bell was a year-long holdout from that team. Also dead. Heart attack while driving.

Holy ****, did not know that. Along with Al Harris, that holdout turned out to be one of the dumbest in sports history.

 

[Piotr Rasputin]

That's two strong safeties in about five years. And Goodell wants to play more games.

I don't get how anyone could think this is anything but a negotiating ploy.

"Owners, you have to give up something too!!!"

"Ah, OK . . . I guess we'll drop this whole 18-game thing. Man, what a sacrifice!"

 

[Ben_Hecht]

Todd Bell was a year-long holdout from that team. Also dead. Heart attack while driving.

Yep. Cost himself a ring. And portended the full flexing of the Halas/McCaskey cheapskate genes that would demolish that defense, in record time.