Harry’s Hits

Today is my birthday! I’m beginning to see a lot of birthdays come and go. And, for those of you who really know me, I am very happy to say that I am doing very well. As birthdays go, my family and friends will once again attempt to do their best to surprise me in some way or with a gift. I can honestly say that I’ve been truly blessed beyond measure and they know that I have never been about receiving gifts, instead I get my pleasure out of giving to others. And that is what I want to do for you if you are interested.

For my birthday I want to give you a gift to keep or pass on to someone that you admire, adore or respect for Christmas. Don’t make the request for the sake of making a request for a free autograph, make the request for someone who you think would really be surprised and pleased to get a photo personally autographed to them from me. From now until December 17th 2011 if you send me a self addressed stamped (manila) envelope I will send to you or the person of your choice an autographed photo from my personal private collection. I only asked that one request is made per person, you indicate the name of the person the photo should be made out to and the correct postage is placed on each envelope. All requests will be processed and mailed on December 19th and should arrive prior to Christmas Day.

H. Carson

All requests should be sent to:

Carson Birthday Request
Harry Carson Inc.
P.O. Box 852
Westwood, NJ 07675

I am extremely heartbroken over the passing of Lee Roy Selmon. Lee Roy was the top pick in my draft class in 1976 by the Tampa Bay Buccaners. Everyone who ever saw him play at Oklahoma and Tampa Bay will readily agree he was an outstanding player on the football field. But as great as he was on the field he was nothing but class off the field. He carried himself with dignity and was respected by all who knew him especially those who played with and against him. I am honored to have had the opportunity to call him a friend!

Noticed last week that when the NFL lockout was lifted many players rushed back to their respective ball clubs to begin working out. Some were so eager to get back they arrived before the team facilities opened and had to wait until the doors were unlocked to get in. I don’t want want to sound like a disgruntled former player but I’ve been there myself having gone through a strike and a lockout, I know what the glee was all about. It was not about the game, it was all about the money! That is what they were running back to. For all who beg to differ, i dont want to burst your bubble but you certainly don’t know professional athletes!

As each player ran back to his team I hoped each would read the poster that should now be in every NFL locker room. Last year the National Football League finally acknowledged that concussions and head trauma sustained in practice and games could lead to serious neurological issues later in life. The League made that acknowledgement by placing posters in locker rooms around the country. While I hope every player is aware of the poster and is now fully informed of the risks of dimentia, alzheimers and ALS later in life from concussions sustained in today’s games it is more warning than John Mackey and countless others like him who were strong willed football players got when they played “back in the day”. Many of those who never got the memo are either now living a life of being cared for by others or have passed away like John Mackey
several weeks ago.

Knowing what I know now, at the end of the day, the gray matter of the brain is much more valuable than a two year 50 million dollar contract that can be rescinded or voided after a player sustains multiple concussions (can you say former Eagle and Giants killer
Brian Westbrook).

There is no “if” but there is a strong “when” players of this generation begin to experience memory loss or lose their personal dignity I hope they can at least remember what they were running back to in 2011 when their lockout ended.

My daughter texted me the other day and said “Dad you really need to update your blog!” She was absolutely right in that while I don’t get many comments on the articles I write, there are quite a few Harry Carson “loyalists” who come here to hear what I have to say.  So for those (you know who you are) I apologize for being away for so long (again). I will do my best to stay up to speed with my thoughts and activities.

From the dating of my last blog entry many things have occupied my time and energy.  Much of my time and energy went into the planning of the Giants 25th Anniversary celebration of the 86 Team’s Super Bowl victory.  I have been accused by some in the past of sometimes being a “control freak”. With this endeavor I plead “guilty” as charge of maintaining control over the venture because I wanted it to be a success. Unfortunately I feel that if you want something done right, do it yourself! That was the case with the endeavor I took on. There are very few things that I feel as passionate about as the people I played with on any level but especially the 86 Team. I planned, organized and worked with the team to make the Reunion Weekend one that will always be remembered by my fellow players, coaches and their spouses. Long story short it was better than even I expected it to be. When it was over some of the players expressed their feelings. One former player said it was “the best weekend of his life!”, one of my coaches said it was an “unbelievable, awesome experience that all of us will remember for the rest of our lives!”  I think all involved would agree that the weekend of being in the presence of one another one more (and perhaps one last) time was something we all needed.

While it was not my goal to garner such compliments, taking control of the situation and making sure it was memorable and everyone was included was my wish. Out of the 53 players on the roster for Super Bowl XXI, 51 players attended and participated and 8 of the 11 coaches were able to attend. The weekend is one of the best things I have ever done and I’m happy that everyone had a great time! If you all knew the time I put into the Reunion you will get a better understanding of where I’ve been and what I was doing. 

Team Photo 25 Years later (courtesy William Hauser)

The recent death of former Chicago Bears (Giants & Cardinals) safety Dave Duerson is tragic and certainly shocking for his family, Bears teammates and friends. Dave apparently took his own life but before he did he instructed his family to donate his brain to science to study the effects of concussions he sustained as a football player.

Dave was a friend, a peer, a teammate on several Pro Bowl teams, was only 50 years old but apparently suffered in silence from the effects of traumatic brain injuries. Dave was not a disgruntled former player who had an ax to grind with nothing to live for; instead he was a smart and astute businessman who had much to look forward to in life. Dave’s suicide as well as the NFL finally acknowledging the correlation between concussions and ailments like dementia later in life should open the eyes of players on every level of football as well as the parents of young players and spouses of professional football players. We all better start asking the very personal question, is the neurological risks of playing the game worth it?

I am saddened with the death of a friend but I must admit that I am not overly surprised. There have been other former players who have committed suicides and unfortunately I suspect there will be others who will see that as a way to alleviate their internal pain. I was diagnosed with Post-Concussion Syndrome in 1990. I’ve spoken very publicly about my own issues with concussions since about 1995. In doing so many individuals (players and non-players) have reached out to me as a resource fully understanding that I can relate to the issues of Traumatic Brain Injuries and not judge or ignore.

Football players especially professional football players are very proud individuals and are not always open to sharing their issues and pain to just anyone. I just wish Dave had reached out to someone for help, if he had perhaps he might still be here.

Did an interview with Investor’s Business Daily a couple of months ago and it was just published. Thought one or two of you loyal Harry Carson “faithful” fans might want to see what it was all about.

http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article/559160/201101071751/Harry-Carsons-Giant-Tackles.aspx

Sorry Giants fans, even with a respectable win-loss record there will be no playoffs this year. From a new “old-timer” I learned as a player long ago to not rely on others to do your work but to take care of your business when YOU have the opportunity.

Better luck next year!

When I was coming out of college I originally did not want to be drafted by a New York football team.  But after I got over being selected by the Football Giants I decided to make the most of the opportunity. I was scouted by Giants Hall of Famers Emlen Tunnell and Rosie Brown while still at South Carolina State University. With names like that still involved with the team it didn’t take long for me to realize that the New York Football Giants were an organization rich in history and tradition. Some of you may have heard me say this before but I will share it one more time. My one goal as a player was, at the end of my career, to be “mentioned in the same breath” as other Giants greats like those I became familiar with.

On October 3^rd at halftime of the Giants/Bears game my goal was formally realized as I was inducted into the Giants “Ring of Honor”. That evening my name was formally mentioned with New York Giants greats like: Tunnell and Brown along with Frank Gifford, Charley Conerly, YA Tittle, Sam Huff, Andy Robustelli, Dick Lynch, Joe Morrison and Pete Gogolak. Those were the Giant players who preceded me on the football field.  Other players who also gained the same recognition but were my peers or followed my career were George Martin, Phil Simms, Lawrence Taylor, Michael Strahan Jessie Armstead, Tiki Barber and Amani Toomer.

I congratulate them all and acknowledge that the honor is all mine to be recognized with them as all our names are mentioned in the same breath being a part of New York Giants history!

It’s been a while since I posted anything online within the Retired Players community. Part of that is by design (quite frankly we all need a break some time). But the other reason is because I recently spent time undergoing Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy treatment. The subject of hyperbaric therapy was first brought up to me when I was engaged in a conversation with the wife of a former player who reached out to me for some advice. She did so because her husband who played in the NFL years ago was exhibiting early signs of dementia. She worked in the medical field and through our discussions I thought it made sense to investigate oxygen therapy.

After appearing in the ESPN “Outside the Lines” feature earlier this year during Super Bowl coverage I received an invitation to undergo hyperbaric therapy at Hyperbaric Therapy of the Low Country in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Dr. Pete Stevens who runs that facility graciously made the offer to allow me to see what oxygen therapy was all about. During our initial conversation I automatically thought going through the therapy once or twice might be a good way to experience the therapy and would be enough to give others an understanding of what it might be about. I was informed by Dr. Stevens that to truly get the full benefit of the therapy I would need to do at least 40 “dives” or sessions in the chamber. I generally keep a pretty full schedule and to do 2 dives a day at 1 hour and 10-15 minutes per dive was not something I thought I could realistically do. The most I thought I could do was to make a 10 day commitment to undergo the therapy.

My rationale for even considering undergoing the therapy was purely for my own fact finding mission to see what it was all about. Over recent years I’ve gotten numerous calls or inquiries from other former players or wives of former players looking for resources either because the former players are beginning to lose their focus, are having problems with their memory, are having problems with depression or any of many other neurological issues. Some of these players have been very open with their concerns while others have asked in strict confidence that I not share any information with anyone including their wives or “significant others”. I’m not a doctor but it’s clear to me that some of the retired players I’ve encounter are experiencing residual effects of concussions or traumatic brain injuries they sustained from playing football. For me to even try to be a resource for others I felt it was important to undergo this experience before possibly recommending it to others who seek help.

On Saturday May 18th my wife Maribel and I set out on our journey and drove from our home in Northern New Jersey to the Low Country of South Carolina. We eventually arrived at the Clinic in Hilton Head on Sunday afternoon. Upon arriving I immediately opted to begin the therapy. Not only did I opt to begin the therapy but also made the decision to do 3 dives a day to get the maximum out of the time and the experience. To that point Dr. Stevens had never had a patient to submit to 3 dives in a day. To my surprise, Maribel had consulted with her doctor who thought it would be a good idea for her to also undergo the therapy since she underwent some surgery late last year and was experiencing some post-surgical pain. She knew why we were going to Hilton Head but she never gave me an indication that participating in the treatment was something she wanted to do as well. Dr. Stevens and his staff made it possible from a scheduling standpoint for Maribel to undergo the therapy as a couple.

As we underwent the first couple of days of hyperbaric therapy the most immediate result we noticed was we got the absolute best sleep either of us had gotten in years. With an almost steady dose of being subjected to 100% oxygen being carried through our bloodstream it was easy to see the first benefit of the treatments. On a more personal level the effects were not so obvious. Maribel is very much into fitness and is a runner. She had been experiencing pain in her right knee from running prior to the treatment and of course the pain from the surgery. Aside from the great rest, Maribel noticed that the pain she had been experiencing subsided significantly. From my own experience I did not notice any major significant changes in my overall general health. Fortunately unlike many former players I do continue to work out in my gym and consider myself in excellent physical condition. From a mental or emotional standpoint, I did feel a sense of calm and serenity I had not felt in quite some time. Eventually we extended our trip to make it possible to complete 40 dives in the chamber.

In reflecting on the experience, after more than a month of just being still and listening to my body, I am happy that I took the time to experience Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. I was diagnosed with Post Concussion Syndrome in 1990 long before the issues of concussions or head trauma became hot button topics like they are today. I knew I was having some problems while still a player in the National Football League but at that time I couldn’t quite put my finger on what was going on or why. I had no clue that the concussions I was giving and receiving on the football field was the culprit. After my diagnoses and educating myself on my own issues I’ve learned (over the years) how to manage my condition when I started to experience my own neurological issues. Currently I do not suffer from some of the issues many former players might be afflicted with. When I was offered the opportunity to undergo the therapy I had absolutely no expectation of HBT but in doing so I feel an increased ability to express myself with a bit more clarity than I may have been able to do in the past.

I feel the time spent (2 weeks) undergoing Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy was time well spent. Initially I had some reservations about undergoing the treatments because I have had issues of being claustrophobic in the past (with MRI machines) but that was not the case here at all. From the time I first entered the chamber I had absolutely no adverse effects from being in the chamber. I thought the experience was personally beneficial and see the treatment as a means to distribute more oxygen into the bloodstream to be carried throughout the body to accelerate healing, reduce aches and pains and provide more oxygen to the brain. Increasing the oxygen flow to the brain was the key attraction for me with the treatment. Along with the therapy we have incorporated a daily dosage of Fish Oil, CoQ10 and several other supplements to aid the flow of oxygen to the brain.

I’ve shared some of my HBT experiences with my good friend Sylvia Mackey. Sylvia is also one of those people who has long been a strong advocate on behalf of the wives of husbands who are looking for help for their spouses. Sylvia is in the process of learning more about HBT and other ways to assist those in the retired player community looking for resources.

I am of the opinion that if access to Hyperbaric Therapy is available to more former players many of their neurological issues could be addressed and helped in some way. I am now on record as a supporter and will do what I can to help bring a greater awareness of that form of therapy to former players looking for a resource.

Again, I’m not a doctor (I don’t even play one on television) but for anyone interested in this form of therapy I would strongly suggest they do their own investigation to gain a greater insight in that type of therapy. Hyperbaric Therapy been around for hundreds of years but has been slow to be accepted in the United States.

Much has been made of former football players donating their brains to science for research. I applaud all of those players who have made that choice for others. Fortunately I’m one who cares not to wait until I pass away to be able to get some kind of understanding as to whether there is a connection between head trauma sustained as players years ago and dementia or other neurological problems former players have been diagnosed with later in life. With all due respect, donating brain tissue will most likely make the game of football a little safer for those who have yet to play one down of football. It does absolutely nothing for those who have already played and are looking for answers to their neurological issues now! To that end, I am willing to be a mouse in the cage to experiment with ways to help improve the brain functions of all who have played football on any level.

Harry Carson
NY Giants 1976-1988
Hall of Fame 2006

The passing of someone special always means different things to different people. The passing of Merlin Olsen may not mean anything to those who never saw him play defensive tackle with the Los Angeles Rams or know him as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But I considered myself privileged to have been able to share time with him and work with him once I was inducted into the Hall working on Hall of Fame projects together. More importantly I was honored to serve as an advocate with Merlin on behalf of all former players for better benefits and pensions as part of the NFL Alliance. To those who didn’t know Merlin he was a tremendously compassionate and gentle man who wanted the best for his NFL brethren. If you are a former player I hope you know we’ve suffered a huge loss in the football fraternity.

We all love you Merlin, you’ve earned our respect. Rest in peace!