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Win ... win ... win!

By A.J. RUSSO, Ph.D.
As published July 18, 2007

Baseball, apple pie, red white and blue. Oh beautiful for spacious skies. Most of our leaders knew.

They all played the all-American sport from youth through teenage years, and now it came time to lead our nation, despite the cries and tears.

For in competitive sports, players learn to never relent. When the coach said get out there, despite the score-you went.

If a player hesitated, the coach would scream and yell, "I don't care what the score is, we'll win or go to ....!"

"Never give up!" they'd say in vain, despite the lopsided score. It could be 50 to 1, but each time the coach would yell for more.

The coach would whine and stamp his feet. "Keep fighting until the end!" "Don't you know," he would say, "it's the sign of a champion never to bend."

In the locker room, the mantra was always clear, "Win, win, win!" Success was always near.

"The game is never lost. There's always a chance at success." So men of all types would never accept anything less.

Our baseball playing youth have now grown up to be in charge. And the mantra they chanted in sport has carried over to the government at large.

But, trying to win at all cost, thinking in vain that there's more, has minor consequence in sport competition, compared to countries at war.

For decisions of war can mean life or death. In sport the most that can be lost is pride. When bad decisions of war are made by our leaders, young men on the line can't hide.

But those that think the mantra of sport doesn't pervade their normal being, ask a mother who's lost a child in war and tears and sorrow you will be seeing.

Because men of sport have grown to adult and now they lead our land. "Win, win, win," they chant, when decisions are at hand.

Those who think the mantra doesn't affect our lives are na‹ve. And now as time passes, more and more believe.

***

One of the first things President George W. Bush did after the attacks of September 11, 2001, was throw out the first pitch at the 2001 World Series. The moment not only continued a Presidential tradition, but it symbolized America's desire to continue undaunted life after the attacks.

President Bush's love of the game began during his childhood in Midland, Texas, where he played Little League and dreamed of following in the footsteps of baseball great, Willie Mays. His adoration continued when he became managing partner for the Major League, Texas Rangers.

America's Presidents have always enjoyed playing or watching baseball. A soldier's diary reveals that George Washington and his men played an early version of baseball called "rounders" on the fields of Valley Forge. John Adams played bat and ball and Andrew Jackson played a similar game of baseball called one old cat. Abraham Lincoln's love of the game was so well known that a 1860 political cartoon showed Lincoln and his opponents on a baseball diamond.

The 20th Century ushered in a Presidential and baseball tradition-throwing out the first pitch on opening day. William Howard Taft was the first President to do the honors on April 14, 1910.

Franklin Roosevelt made a momentous decision when he encouraged Major League Baseball to continue playing ball during World War II. Roosevelt knew that continuing this popular past-time during wartime would boost the spirits of the American people.

Ronald Reagan so loved the game that he worked as a radio announcer for the Chicago Cubs.

From George Washington to George W. Bush, America's Presidents have shown their love of the game. "Win ... win ... win! Doesn't matter the cost." Life will never be the same.

[A.J. Russo received his BS at Hobart College and Masters and Ph.D. at Roswell Park Memorial Institute. He is a professor at Mount Saint Mary's College in Emmitsburg and the author of 10 novels and more than 30 scientific papers. He is the former head men's lacrosse coach at RIT and Mount Saint Mary's College. His opinions do not necessarily reflect those of Mount Saint Mary's College nor the Mt. Airy Messenger.

Russo's novel, The Healer, published by Port Town Publishing, has been critically acclaimed. His novel, the Fragile Egg was re-released in 2007 and his novel, New Lodge Affair released in August 2006. All are available at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.

Visit A.J. Russo's Podcast, Novels in Progress, where you can listen to the first five chapters of his newest novel, Recall. New chapters will be posted each week at web.mac.com/ajrusso1]

"Bell Ringers"

By A.J. RUSSO, Ph.D.
As published July 5, 2007

Joe Danakowski stood on the sideline of his third NFL Game and stared up at the 60K-plus screaming fans. Waiting for the captains to finish their pre-game ritual in the center of the field, he contemplated the significance of the moment. This would be his first start at running back, replacing an injured teammate, in a game he had waited to play his whole life.

Later ... near the end of the first half ... Danakowski's team was driving toward the goal line, less than a minute before intermission, fourth and one on their forty-yard line. At the snap, Joe stepped right, received a pitch from the quarterback and followed a pulling guard toward the line of scrimmage-where he was met by Nick Brusky, one of the fiercest linebackers in the league.

Danakowski and Bruski both lowered their heads and shoulders in preparation of meeting like two runaway trains.

A moment later, on the bottom of the pile of half a dozen or so players, Joe regained consciousness, heard the moans from the crowd and knew Bruski got the best of the collision.

The runner jumped to his feet as fast as he could and, on wobbly legs, jogged to the sidelines. The ringing in his ears was just beginning to subside.

"You okay?"

At first he didn't know where the voice was coming from. He felt a tap on his shoulder pad. "You okay?" It was one of the assistant coaches.

"Oh ... yeah, yeah, no problem. I'm fine."

***

The rate of diagnosed clinical depression among retired National Football League players is strongly correlated with the number of concussions they sustained, according to a study recently published in the Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine.

The study was based on a general health survey of 2,552 retired N.F.L. players. It corroborates other findings regarding brain trauma and later-life depression in other subsets of the general population, but opposes assertions by the N.F.L. that concussions in football have no long-term effects.

The study found that, of the 595 players who recalled sustaining three or more concussions on the football field, 20.2 percent said they experienced depression. That is three times the depression rate of players who have not sustained concussions.

Recent studies have also shown that athletes who get a concussion are at a much higher risk of suffering another, more-damaging head trauma if they return to the field too soon.

Dr. Julian Bailes, chairman of the University of West Virginia's Department of Neurology, said players who suffer three or more concussions in a career are three times more likely to have memory problems later in life and five times more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease.

Playing with concussions has drawn increased scrutiny because of stories like the one told by former New England Patriot Ted Johnson. The 34-year-old former linebacker went public earlier this year with details of dementia that has plagued him after Coach Bill Belichick sent him back on the field with a concussion.

But who's really to blame for players going back on the field after a concussion?

The fictional character, Joe Danakowski, in the story above, didn't want to admit he was hurt, because if he left the game he would lose playing time, a starting position and/or let his teammates down. This was his livelihood. One he had been preparing for for many years. One that very few would ever have the opportunity to participate in.

From youth league on up, young athletes are taught to work through the pain, never quit. As a pro, after decades of conditioning, what makes the NFL think that will change?

Most concussions are not noticed by the trainer or coach. The players grit their teeth and work through the injury, or don't even know they have had one. In fact, in a 2004 study of college athletes, 92 percent mistakenly believed concussions were different from "bell ringers."

Until we educate our youth to recognize and admit to the injury, and encourage professional as well as non-professional athletes to speak up, the incidence of depression, memory loss and Alzheimer's in retired NFL players will continue to increase.

[A.J. Russo received his BS at Hobart College and Masters and Ph.D. at Roswell Park Memorial Institute. He is a professor at Mount Saint Mary's College in Emmitsburg and the author of 10 novels and more than 30 scientific papers. He is the former head men's lacrosse coach at RIT and Mount Saint Mary's College. His opinions do not necessarily reflect those of Mount Saint Mary's College or the Mt. Airy Messenger.

Russo's novel, The Healer, published by Port Town Publishing, has been critically acclaimed. His novel, the Fragile Egg was re-released in 2006 and his novel, New Lodge Affair released in August 2007. All are available at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.

Visit A.J. Russo's Podcast, Novels in Progress, where you can listen to the first five chapters of his newest novel, Recall. New chapters will be posted each week. web.mac.com/ajrusso1/]