I watched the Aaron Hernandez story and I am still kind of haunted by it

[Baltimike]

It's like the energy of ick, or my being exposed to how foolish this all was, has sat unwell with me.

And it was 2 days ago that I saw it. So that's weird.

[hlthe2b]

1. I haven't seen it, but I remain aghast at how readily it seems we have written him off--blamed him

alone, despite knowing that he suffered from CTE. I guess it is easier write him off and consider him just a "bad" criminal, rather than use his tragedy to focus on the entire issue of contact sports and CTE. I'm not saying the issue isn't complex, but...

How is it portrayed in the film?

[Baltimike]

2. I think it might be CTE, but could be wrong...

his family donated his brain to science after his death and they maintained it was the worst case for someone as young as him that they have ever seen.

[milestogo]

3. He definitely had CTE and people with CTE often become violent.

The scary thing is knowing that some of the players we are watching now are going to develop it.

[Nevermypresident]

4. I can't watch because I believe my brother has CTE - would be too

painful to watch.

He presents with almost all of the symptoms.

No diagnosis prior to death, no resources. No cure. But, at least if you have dementia due to Alzheimer's , etc. you can probably qualify for Social Security Disability. Not so with no diagnosis.

My brother has not been able to keep a job since he was 50 yo. - was an accountant. (He's 58 currently and has been supported by my sister (mostly) and I. She has about used her life savings doing so. Combined with the emotional toll it's taking on all of us, it's just heartbreaking.

(He played contact football since middle school, through high school, and had a scholarship and played for an ACC team.)

Sorry for venting...

[Baltimike]

5. No problem venting...I am sorry to hear about your brother...

I hope he gets a diagnosis for some sort of help.

We need to do better by these players. The owners are making a killing that's killing them.

[Nevermypresident]

6. thank you Baltimike. The only way to definately diagnose CTE is thru

autopsy. To get any financial, etc. resources, we've been denied over and over because you have to have a diagnosis.

In other words, all of these players, incl. Aaron Hernandez, who have been diagnosed, was after their death.

[Nevermypresident]

7. This is a shocking article in the Times that is extremely informative:

"111 N.F. L. Brains"

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/07/25/sports/football/nfl-cte.html