The Big Event

Gordon, Meryl. "Mike Webster Brain Injury" 09/24/2003 via Reader's Digest. Public Domain Dedication License.

This is the story of the one brain that catalyzed the discussion of an issue ignored far too long. It was a cold Pittsburgh morning in the autumn of 2002. Retired “Iron” Mike Webster, one of the game’s all-time greats, reportedly died from acute myocardial infarction and depression secondary to post-concussion syndrome. Pathologist Bennet Omalu was not buying it, and wondered exactly what the hell post-concussion syndrome even means. Webster, following his retirement from professional football, became lethargic, forgot to eat, wandered aimlessly through the cold, dark streets of Pittsburgh, slept recklessly under bridges and in the Amtrak station, scared strangers with his guns, Super Glue-d his falling teeth back into his gums, shocked himself with a Taser to get a few hours of sleep, and finally, arrived at the morgue where Dr. Omalu was to conduct an autopsy. Every CT and MRI scan was normal, but Omalu knew this was not; something wasn’t just wrong with Webster’s physiology, but his brain. After sitting in a white plastic bucket of formaldehyde for weeks to solidify it for analysis, Mike Webster’s brain became the gateway to the concussion crisis. Webster’s brain revealed degeneration and cerebral injury as a result of repeated head trauma and every booming thud resulting from collisions between players that have been entertaining fans for decades. The myth that was the NFL’s boogeyman now had a name and the world’s, NFL’s and medicine’s attention, thanks to Mike Webster and Dr. Bennet Omalu.