With head trauma being a major concern in the NFL these days, a new movie starring Will Smith is looking to shed some light on the issue.
"Concussion," which is based on a true story, stars Smith as Dr. Bennet Omalu, a doctor who specializes in neuropathology and conducts difficult autopsies. Omalu performed autopsies on several deceased Steelers players, including former center Mike Webster, whose death led to the doctor's discovery of a new disease, later labeled chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
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Though Webster, who was 50 when he died, was thought to have passed away from a heart attack, he suffered from amnesia, dementia and depression following his football career and Omalu discovered the impact football played in his declining health. David Morse plays the role of Webster in the film (see trailer below).
Omalu's discoveries helped convince the NFL of the dangers of head trauma to its players, but it was a rocky road getting there. The film depicts Smith as Omalu, struggling as the NFL continues to try to bury his findings and brush it off as a non-issue.
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This film is especially relatable these days as head injuries in all sports have come to the forefront. Several athletes have been cautious about their health, with some NFL players retiring due to the dangers of head trauma throughout the league.
In March, 49ers linebacker Chris Borland announced his retirement from the NFL due to his fear about head injuries. At age 24, Borland became just the latest in a series of young players to call it a career due to health concerns and fear of head trauma.
The real Dr. Omalu opened up about the process of working on Webster's autopsy and said though he was met with a lot of resistance from the NFL, he knew he could prove the health risks of football and show that Webster was a victim of the game.
When he published his findings and tried to shed light on the issues, he was met with a lot of angst.
"Yes, some of them actually said that I'm attacking the American way of life," Omalu told Frontline. "'How dare you, a foreigner like you from Nigeria? What is Nigeria known for, the eighth most corrupt country in the world? Who are you? Who do you think you are to come to tell us how to live our lives?'"
The journey is chronicled in "Concussion," which hits theatres Christmas Day.
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