{"id":19532,"date":"2017-01-17T09:53:54","date_gmt":"2017-01-17T09:53:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=19532"},"modified":"2017-01-17T09:53:54","modified_gmt":"2017-01-17T09:53:54","slug":"bo-jackson-says-blows-cam-newtons-head-scare-hell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/sports\/mlb\/bo-jackson-says-blows-cam-newtons-head-scare-hell.html","title":{"rendered":"Bo Jackson says blows to Cam Newton’s head scare the hell out of me"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Bo Jackson says blows to Cam Newton’s head scare the hell out of me<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Bo Jackson says blows to Cam Newton’s head scare the hell out of me:-<\/strong> The telephone won\u2019t stop ringing at his offices in Chicago and Alabama. The emails and messages keep pouring in.<\/span><\/p>\n

It may have been 23 years since Bo Jackson put on a uniform, but his comments last week to USA TODAY Sports clearly struck a nerve.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jackson’s statement that he “would have never played football” had he been aware of CTE and other health risks reverberated throughout the sports world, and he was floored by the subsequent attention. Jackson was lauded for his candor, but also bombarded by calls and letters from irate football fans, amateur coaches, and even parents, telling him to keep his mouth shut.<\/span><\/p>\n

He was accused of being unqualified to speak out about one of football\u2019s most controversial topics, with others calling him hypocritical.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey wanted know why I would try to deface football when I have football training at my facility (Bo Jackson\u2019s Elite Sports in Lockport, Ill.)?\u2019\u2019 Jackson told USA TODAY Sports after he was honored by the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation. \u201cIt\u2019s different. We teach proper techniques to all sports, not just football, by people who have played the game at its highest level. We teach kids the proper technique to play the game. Tackling is an art form. It\u2019s not about running into each other as hard as you can.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m also getting people saying I know nothing about concussions and head injuries. Let me tell you this, I speak on concussions because I\u2019ve had a couple. I speak on CTE because I have a tendency to forget little things like where I put my keys five minutes ago. Or I forget what items I came to the grocery store for. I had my bell rung a couple of times while I was with the Raiders. One time I got up off the field, came to the other sideline, and actually sat on the wrong bench.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo people shouldn\u2019t make comments about somebody unless you have walked in their shoes, or you have competed on the same level that they have. Period. All of the comments are probably coming from selfish people only looking to make a profit off the sport.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Jackson says he has not and won’t join any legal actions taken against the NFL by former players.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s best for me to stay out of lawsuits,\u2019\u2019 Jackson says, \u201cso the guys who really needs those funds can have them.\u2019\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

Jackson, the former Heisman Trophy winner, Pro Bowl running back from the Los Angeles Raiders and All-Star outfielder with the Kansas City Royals, will be forever indebted to football and baseball, making him one of sports\u2019 biggest icons. And even if he knew about the risk of head injuries growing up, Jackson says, he still would have played football at least through high school.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut the higher you go up that ladder,\u2019\u2019 Jackson says, \u201cthe more risks that you are taking because you are dealing with bigger, stronger, faster caliber athletes, and everybody is trying to impress.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe person I love in the NFL like my own son is Cam Newton (also a Heisman winner from Auburn). I cuss him out like my own son. But every time he takes a hit to his head, that scares me, it scares the hell out of me.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI witnessed him getting hit hard twice, and both times go to the locker room. I know he can take care of himself, but it still scares me. I care about all of those players playing, I don\u2019t want to see anybody getting hurt.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt bothers me when ex-NFL players are walking around homeless, don\u2019t have medical insurance, and are walking around in chronic pain. It bothers me, even though I haven\u2019t played a game in 25 years. When I see something that\u2019s not right it will always bother me.\u2019\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

Source:-\u00a0http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/sports\/mlb\/2017\/01\/16\/bo-jackson-football-cte-cam-newton\/96642018\/<\/span><\/div>\n

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