11 Reasons Why The NHL Must Take Head Shots Seriously and Take Better Care of Youth

11 more news stories show that the NHL has to take head shots seriously. With the Pominville incident, in which the league shows that it thinks a head shot is as bad as making a rude sexual gesture, the league showed it does not take the problem seriously.

The league must defend the players or it will eventually be held liable, when the inevitable death of a youngster or concussion of a marquee player occurs. Networks could be held liable too.

1) Muscle Injuries Rattle an Oregon High School: Two dozen Oregon high school football players who went to a hospital last week complaining of sore and swollen muscles — including three who required surgery — probably suffered from an extreme version of a muscle syndrome caused by intense exercise, sports medicine experts said Monday. Youngsters need to be pushed less -- at least, they need to not get muscle damage from anaerobic exercise.

2) College football player commits suicide, had brain disease.

3) Fox TV announcers including Aikman fail to ask tough questions when injured player returns to a football game.

4) A study showed that college players sustain more total hits to the head in practices than in games. "During a full season of practice, each team averaged 2,500 total hits to the head that measured as significant blows (50 to 79 g’s of force) and about 300 hits to the head that were considered in the concussion-causing range (80 to 119 g’s). Each team experienced almost 200 practice collisions that measured above 120 g’s, which experts have likened to crashing a car into a concrete wall at 40 miles an hour."

5) Could we be witnessing the demise of American football as we know it? "The pressure is on football, at all levels, to deal with recent revelations that concussions are more dangerous and pervasive than most people had thought."

6) Despite Law, Town Finds Concussion Dangers Lurk. It's difficult to prevent concussions in teenagers playing football.

7) The House of Representatives is considering action. (But it's Congress -- could take years, unless a young person dies.)

8) Former ref Kerry Fraser blasts NHL on head shot policy, consistency. Kerry Fraser was one of the best.

9)You can sustain a life threatening injury from falling off your bicycle, even while wearing a helmet.

10) Video: Carolina coach miffed after Foligno headshot non-call. There was no suspension.

11) Rutgers Player Is Paralyzed Below the Neck

Along With Miller, I'm Furious About the Pominville Hit Too

My gf and I were watching the free NHL Center Ice preview, taking in the gamecast from her home town Buffalo, when her favorite player, Jason Pominville, was crushed to the ice from behind. Unconcious before he hit the ice, he sustained a concussion and was carted off on a stretcher. His wife was with him as he was evaluated by team doctors. Their baby's first birthday is less than a month away.

Today, we learned that the NHL regards this assault as the equivalent of a rude gesture. The NHL handed down two 2 game suspensions. One went to James Wisniewski for a rude gesture. The other went to Niklas Hjalmarsson for the hit on Pominville.

Sabres goalie Ryan Miller and coach Lindy Ruff said they expect the league to take care of this by handing down a real suspension, but if not, they can take care of the Blackhawks when they play them next, on Saturday, in Chicago.

The NHL has to understand that if it permits this, it's liable for the consequences.

The NHL has to choose whether it wants to deliver a game of skill or the WWE.