By: Drew Edwards

Former Ticat linebacker Leo Ezerins gets headaches. He has some memory loss. He’s 55 now, so maybe it’s just the onset of age, an inevitable part of getting older.

Or maybe it has something to do with 10 seasons he spent smashing into people as a player in the Canadian Football League.

“I’ve had a lot of concussions, three I remember very distinctly,” says Ezerins, who recalls one big collision in particular. “I couldn’t figure out the entrance from the locker-room onto the field, and I didn’t remember the entire game after that hit.”

With the shocking suicide of former NFL linebacker Junior Seau this week, the issue of concussions and their long-term effects is once again front and centre. Seau, who played 19 seasons and 268 games, struggled with depression after he retired in 2009. He reportedly shot himself in the chest so his brain could be examined for signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a progressive degenerative disease that has been diagnosed in a number of former football players.

But for thousands of players like Ezerins, a post-mortem diagnosis does nothing to help them with the issues they are facing in the here and now. That’s why Ezerins has agreed to participate in a $25 million University of Toronto study that will examine the living brains of 20 former CFL players with a history of multiple concussions, and compare them with 20 players without a history of head injury. A further group of 20 without football experience will be part of a control group.

The study is being led by Dr. Charles Tator, a neurosurgeon at Toronto Western Hospital, the founder of the safety group ThinkFirst Canada and renowned expert on the subject of concussions. He said that this new research is aimed at discovering both the cause and possible treatments for the devastating effects of CTE.

“We’re not just interested in the end result, which is what we see at autopsy; but we want to discover the events leading up to the degeneration,” Tator said. “The object is to determine why this happens to some players, but not others and what we can do about it.”

The multidisciplinary study will involve several physicians at the Toronto Western Hospital and the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. It will incorporate neurophysiological testing aimed at measuring memory and response time, a clinical neurological examination and the use of magnetic resonance imaging or MRIs.

Dr. Robin Green, whose lab will handle much of testing, says that players who are having problems as a result of multiple concussions suffered during their playing careers will also get treatment.

“We have the potential here, if we can understand what’s going on, to dramatically improve recovery from brain injury.” Green said. “The study has the potential of helping anyone who has sustained multiple concussions.”

Though the league is not part of this study, Tator has partnered with the CFL before. He was part of the concussion awareness project, launched in the spring 2011, which brought together the league, the players’ association, alumni, and representatives from Football Canada, Canadian Interuniversity Sport and the Canadian School Sport Federation. The groups joined forces to create “concussion flyers and posters,” which they distributed to more than 100,000 minor football players, 3,200 high schools and 52 universities.

At the same time, league also announced it was partnering with Tator in a study that would perform post-mortem tests on former CFL players to look for signs of CTE, similar to groundbreaking Boston University research that has found the disease in dozens of former football and hockey players. To date, Tator has examined the brains of six players and found CTE in three of them.

The problem, says Tator, is that the league hasn’t given a single dollar to the CTE research or the new study.

“So far, zero,” Tator says of the league’s contribution. “We’d like them to follow the path of the NFL, which has given the Boston University group a million dollars. So I’d like the CFL to at least give us something.”

With the high-cost of MRIs and the technical expertise required to interpret them (routine scans don’t show concussions), Tator said the new research will take more than two years to complete and cost upwards of $25 million. They’ve been able to acquire enough funding to get started via a grant from a physician-funded medical foundation. But Tator said he’d also like to see private individuals, like Toronto Argonauts owner and Hamilton businessman David Braley, step up.

“It would be great if people like David Braley and the other owners made a significant contribution,” Tator said. “It’s in their best interest to look into this, to preserve the brains of their best assets and to keep people wanting to play.”

An avid hockey fan, Tator said it’s not his intention to drive people away from sports, which he believes are vital to long-term heath.

“We don’t want to turn people away from playing football and hockey, we want to give the hockey moms and the football dads some reassurance that they are looking after their kids,” he said.

Ezerins says his motivations are broader than just his own health and those of his fellow alumni. He points out that concussions are an issue that affects a wide swath of society, from car accident victims to those injured in the workplace, to the elderly who have experienced a fall. And he’s adamant that suing the league — as a number of former players in the U.S. have done — is not part of his agenda.

But he’s also hoping for answers to his own troubling questions.

“One of the things I want to do through this study is evaluate whether what I’m going through is just a natural part of aging, or is it a result of concussions? If it is because of concussions, then what can we do about it?

Family fears bad news after donating former CFLer’s brain to research

ALLAN MAKI | Columnist profile | E-mail

Doug MacIver Jr. hasn’t been told anything definitive since his father died on Jan. 26 but he suspects what researchers at Boston University will find: that Doug MacIver Sr., a nine-year Canadian Football League veteran, was suffering from the degenerative brain disease Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).

MacIver Sr., who last played for his hometown Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1984, the year they won the Grey Cup, died of heart failure at 58 but had also been experiencing some mental difficulties. Aware of the concussions he’d suffered as a defensive lineman, the family decided to donate MacIver Sr.’s brain to BU and the Center for the Study of CTE.

The examination of MacIver Sr.’s brain and how it was affected by repeated blows to the head will take another two to three months. The son already has a sense of what’s to come.

“I spoke with Chris Nowinski [from BU] and he said they’ve yet to find anyone who played as long as my dad did who doesn’t have CTE,” MacIver Jr. said Monday. “I felt my dad’s memory wasn’t what it was. He was a very smart guy and it was getting a little harder for him to find the right words. We want to know for sure. I’ve had concussions and I know I was never the same afterwards.”

The BU Center has examined the brains of U.S. football players and discovered CTE in many subjects, including former Chicago Bear Dave Duerson, who took his life last year by shooting himself in the chest to preserve his brain for science. BU is still hoping to secure the brain of former San Diego Charger Junior Seau, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest earlier this month.

At the Krembil Neuroscience Centre at Toronto Western Hospital, the brains of six former CFL players have now been tested. Two players, Jay Roberts and Bobby Kuntz, died of dementia/lung cancer and Parkinson’s, respectively, and had CTE. Tony Proudfoot and Peter Ribbins died of ALS and Parkinson’s but did not have CTE. Two others have yet to be named but, according to neuropathologist Dr. Lili-Naz Hazrati, “one had CTE, the other severe Alzheimer’s.”

“There are differences between the two games [the CFL vs. the NFL] and how they’re played, and it’s positional as well,” said Leo Ezerins, the executive director of the CFL Alumni Association, which has formed a working relationship with the Krembil Centre. “Doug was a nose guard. His claim to fame, if you will, was he wasn’t afraid to stick his head in. He played with a lot of pain. … We need to do more testing.”

MacIver Jr. and his father shared a love for sports and knew the after-effects of concussions. The son was a 6-foot-5 defenceman who played in the Ontario Hockey League and once had his head rattled so badly during a game in Ottawa he wasn’t sure where he was. He also attended an NHL rookie tournament with the St. Louis Blues and fought Derek Boogaard of the Minnesota Wild.

When Boogaard died of an accidental drug overdose last May, his brain was analyzed and showed CTE. That proved to be a talking point for the MacIvers.

“When Derek passed away, my dad, we’d sit down and chat about how Derek’s family had donated his brain,” MacIver Jr. said. “My dad suspected several times he could have CTE. He talked about sending his brain off.”

MacIver Jr. recalled how his father once had a concussion playing for the University of Manitoba that was so bad he was hospitalized. By his count, MacIver Sr. figured he had three concussions, meaning he was out cold three times. The other instances he described as “seeing stars.”

“I knew dad would have wanted it,” the son said of the decision to donate his father’s brain. “I didn’t know the CFL was conducting similar tests in Toronto. My dad and I had talked about the one in BU. … After we found him [dead in his bed], I called [BU] and had the papers faxed to me before the ambulance even got there.”

The MacIvers also donated Doug Sr.’s eyes and spinal fluid for research.

“The Wednesday night [before his death] we had a meeting at the office [of the Ride Time auto dealership MacIver Sr. founded]. He then headed off to the movies,” recalled the son. “He said, ‘Love you. See you in the morning.’ Many of us found peace knowing that by donating his brain something good was going to come of this.”

TORONTO — Today at the Hot Docs International Film Festival, TSN unveiled the slate of films in its ambitious original documentary series, ENGRAVED ON A NATION: STORIES OF THE GREY CUP, THE CFL AND CANADA.  Commissioned by Bell Media, ENGRAVED ON A NATION celebrates the 100th Grey Cup with eight original documentaries demonstrating how the Grey Cup has become such an intrinsic part of Canadian heritage.

Engraved on a Nation will air on TSN, CTV, and in French on RDS beginning in September.

The individuals involved in ENGRAVED ON A NATION are among Canada’s most accomplished and respected documentary filmmakers.  The filmmakers and the working titles of their documentaries are:
•    Manfred Becker – The Photograph: 1942 RCAF Hurricanes
•    Christie Callan-Jones – Mavericks: The Story of the 1971 Argos
•    Paul Cowan – The Crash of Flight 810
•    Barry Greenwald – Western Swagger
•    Charles Officer – The Chuck Ealey Story
•    Shelley Saywell – The Anthony Calvillo Story
•    John Walker – Grey Cup 1969 and the FLQ Crisis
•    Larry Weinstein – The 13th Man

“ENGRAVED ON A NATION is a project unlike anything we have ever tackled at TSN.  As long-time partners of the CFL, we felt the 100th Grey Cup was the perfect opportunity to show Canadians how the Grey Cup has transcended sports and left an indelible mark on Canada,” said Stewart Johnston, President, TSN.  “To tell great stories has always been something that we’ve taken great pride in doing.  This ambitious project is an extension of our storytelling philosophy as we weave tales about family, relationships, legacies, politics and culture around the remarkable role that the Grey Cup has played in shaping our national identity.”

“By engaging the Canadian documentary film community, we’ve had the privilege of working with eight acclaimed filmmakers who, over a short period of time, have become custodians of the compelling stories that reflect our country’s history and society through sport over the years,” said Shawn Redmond, Vice-President, Programming, TSN.  “Their passion and enthusiasm will make these human interest stories truly memorable – not just for football fans, but for all Canadians.”

Below are summaries of the original documentaries with working titles that will air this fall on TSN:

Mavericks: The Story of the 1971 Argos
•    Synopsis:  It was a magical moment in time. Toronto was shedding its “Toronto the Good” image and coming alive both on and off the gridiron.  Toronto Argos GM Leo Cahill had built a team of mavericks and renegades who embodied the wild spirit of the times.  Leo wasn’t just a coach, he was a showman, a director with a team that was just as crazy as he was.  They were the team everyone loved to hate, but that just made them better.  And, Toronto loved them. They reflected a city coming into its own.  From the CN Tower to burgeoning multiculturalism, Toronto was developing confidence and attitude that matched that of its beloved football team. With the adoration of an entire metropolis behind them, the team make it to the Grey Cup – only to watch their championship dream all but fade away on a last-minute fumble.

•    Director: Christie Callan-Jones is a multiple award-winning director. Her career highlights include winning a Silver Medal at the New York International Film and Video Festival and a Silver Hugo award at the Chicago Television Awards.

The Anthony Calvillo Story
•    Synopsis: A classic “against all odds” story. It’s about hardship, family, hope, endurance and second chances.  It’s the story of a poor Hispanic kid from east L.A. who found a way out, despite overwhelming odds, through the love of football. Anthony Calvillo’s remarkable life mirrors the game he has mastered.  Off the field and on – he has faced every possible challenge. Even with the odds stacked against him, Calvillo overcame tremendous obstacles relying on unwavering support from family and inspiration fueled by the power of football.

•    Director: Shelley Saywell is a producer, director and writer. The Emmy Award winner was shortlisted for the Academy Awards and has won UNESCO’s Gandhi Silver Medal.


The Chuck Ealey Story
•    Synopsis:  In the midst of racial unrest south of the border, Chuck Ealey, an undefeated African-American college quarterback, was passed over by the NFL.  Undeterred, Ealey came to Canada for an opportunity to play in the CFL, where the only things that mattered were his abilities on the field and his will to win. Chuck broke boundaries on the field that resulted significantly off the field. He played a role in the Civil Rights movement through his athletics. This is an inspiring human story about standing up for your rights, beating the odds and changing the game.

•    Director: Charles Officer is a talented director who, in his short career, is a four-time Leo Awards winner and Genie nominee. He recently directed the documentary Fuelled By Passion, The Return of the Jets that aired across the country.

The 13th Man
•    Synopsis: This is a classic love story about the Saskatchewan Roughriders and their adoring fans. Their love was put to the test when the Riders were defeated in the 97th Grey Cup after the team was penalized for having a 13th man on the field – an error that caused an entire province of adoring fans and millions of television viewers to shake their heads in disbelief. In the wake of the heartbreaking defeat, the team’s fiercely loyal and proud fan base shows why they are the most faithful fans in professional sports.

•    Director: Having directed more than 25 films, Larry Weinstein is one of Canada’s most accomplished and prolific documentary filmmakers. A multiple Emmy Award and Gemini Award winner, Weinstein’s film Making Overtures: the Story of a Community Orchestra was nominated for an Academy Award.

The Crash of Flight 810
•    Synopsis: All his life, rookie Calgary Stampeders lineman Edwin Harrison was told that he looks like his grandfather, Cal Jones.  But Harrison never got the chance to meet Jones, as he was killed in a mysterious 1956 plane crash that took the lives of four other All-Star Canadian football players.  The tragedy had a tremendous impact on Canadian football and ultimately led to the creation of the modern day Grey Cup game.  Now more than 50 years later, Harrison embarks on an emotional journey to learn more about his own family history and identity, and how football lived on in his family despite the odds.

•    Director: Paul Cowan is an Academy Award-winning cinematographer, Academy Award nominated director and retired member of the National Film Board of Canada.

Grey Cup 1969 and the FLQ Crisis
•    Synopsis: In 1969 at the boiling point of FLQ terrorism in Quebec, CFL commissioner, Jake Gaudaur not only plans to hold the Grey Cup in Montreal for the first time since 1931, but he invites the FLQ’s arch-enemy, the Prime Minister of Canada, Pierre Elliot Trudeau, to kick off the game. Gaudaur, a passionate Canadian nationalist with a vision of football as a unifying force, may not have fully understood what he was getting himself into from his comfortable office in the sedate city of Toronto. Russ Jackson, the first Canadian born quarterback hero of the Ottawa Rough Riders, oblivious to the dangers plaguing Montreal, knew exactly what he had to do. This was the last game of his illustrious career and he was determined to beat Saskatchewan in what was destined to be one of the greatest games in CFL history against a backdrop of terrorism.

•    Director: John Walker is an internationally acclaimed director and writer. The Donald Brittain Award winner is also a Genie and five-time Gemini Award winner.

The Photograph: 1942 RCAF Hurricanes
•    Synopsis: Jackie Gaudaur, daughter of former CFL player and Commissioner Jake Gaudaur, always wondered why her father’s prize possession was a tattered photograph of his old team, the Toronto Royal Canadian Air Force Hurricanes.  The team won the 1942 Grey Cup before most of them went overseas to fight during the darkest days of the Second World War. Jake, who was a flight instructor, stayed behind in Canada and was devastated when many of his teammates were casualties of war.  Now 70 years later, Jackie embarks on an emotional quest to discover why the Hurricanes and the old team photo were so important to her father and ultimately the rest of the country.

•    Director: Manfred Becker is a Donald Brittain Award winner. His critically acclaimed films have won Gemini, Genie, Chalmers and International Emmy Awards.

Western Swagger
•    Synopsis:  Western Swagger is as much a story of political drama as it is of football.  Documenting the decades after Alberta struck oil and solidified Canada as an energy superpower, Alberta’s prowess on the gridiron was ignited by five successive Grey Cup wins by the Edmonton Eskimos.  With the National Energy Program putting Alberta’s economy in a tailspin, Western Swagger demonstrates the unshakable determination of the West both on and off the football field and the beginnings of an East vs. West rivalry that still persists.

•    Director: Barry Greenwald is a critically acclaimed and multiple award-winning filmmaker who has won the prestigious Palme d’Or for Best Short Film at the Cannes International Film Festival.

OTTAWA - It’s a touchdown for Jeff Hunt and his partners with the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group.

But it’s not a Grey Cup … yet.

OSEG’s dream of putting a CFL team back in Ottawa in 2014 got a huge jump-start Monday when a Friends of Lansdowne appeal on the park’s redevelopment was unanimously shot down by a three-judge panel of the Ontario Court of Appeal.

“It’s obviously a great sense of relief,” said Hunt, who also owns the Ottawa 67′s. “We were very confident that the decision of the earlier court would be upheld. This whole process is like a season. You have some painful losses and you have your victories and when you have your victories, you celebrate them. We’re still not celebrating a Grey Cup yet, but it’s another step closer.”

The Friends of Lansdowne have been haunting OSEG for nearly two years.

“This has been the most frustrating period for me, personally,” said Hunt. “This has been a five-year epic journey. Certainly, we’ve had lots of adversity. This stage now, where everything is so ready to go, to have the uncertainty of a matter before the court, is very frustrating. We kind of knew going in there would be opposition. It’s nice to get that decision in today. It’s a big relief for our whole group.

“Our plan is still 2014, unless something else were to occur, we should be good to go. The CFL has been terrific throughout this entire process. They’ve been great partners.”

One thing is certain, the team will not be called the Rough Riders. The Saskatchewan Roughriders, as a condition of their yes vote to add Ottawa, won’t allow it. So what will the Ottawa team be called?

“Once we have absolute certainty as to a start date and we’re in the ground, which is what I believe is symbolically the certainty we need, we’ll begin to do a lot of things, including engage the community in a name-the-team program.”

What does Hunt think of the Friends of Lansdowne?

“It’s disappointing that people would be so disruptive in what we all think is such a positive thing for the city,” said Hunt. “I guess it’s part of being in a democracy. Hopefully, they’ll take two decisive decisions and we can start to move forward without any more legal issues.

Ticat great Angelo Mosca is being honoured as the first CFL player to be inducted into the NFL Gridiron Greats Hall of Fame in Detroit, Michigan.

Here’s your opportunity to join Angie, current and former Ticat players along with a bus-load of fans on the road for a great time.

Gridiron Greats Road Trip Highlights (May 18-19, 2012):

• Deluxe motor coach transportation
• 1 night stay at the Hilton Garden Inn in Novi, MI
• Breakfast included at the hotel
• Dinner reception including open premium bar
• VIP Afterparty with the Kyle Turley Band
• Alumni Autograph session at the hotel
• Taxes and gratuities included

For immediate release: March 20, 2012

Levy Named to Gridiron Greats Hall of Fame

Former CFL and NFL coach Marv Levy has been named to the Gridiron Greats Hall of Fame.

Levy will join fellow inductees, including former CFL legend Angelo Mosca and NFL stars Barry Sanders, Billy Sims and Dan Dierdorf and be honoured at the Hall of Fame Dinner on May 18, 2012 at Novi, Michigan.

“The Hall was started about six years ago by a bunch of former players including Gale Sayers, Mike Ditka and others,” says Mark Lewis, Director, Detroit Chapter of the Gridiron Greats Hall of Fame. All profits from the event go to the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund to support former players who have fallen upon hard times. The Fund is supported through numerous donations and fundraising activities throughout the year including special events, auctions of memorabilia, autograph events, corporate and public donation drives, sponsorships and special Super Bowl related events.

“I am very complemented that this has occurred,” says Levy. “I stay in close contact with Mike Ditka and others involved in the Gridiron Greats. It is a very worthwhile cause that can sometimes be overlooked. I am very proud to be part of it.”

“We are very proud that another member of the CFL fraternity will be joining these greats,” says Leo Ezerins, Executive Director of the CFL Alumni Association. “Marv Levy made a tremendous contribution to both the Canadian Football League and the NFL and is a well-deserved selection for this honour.”

Levy coached the Montreal Alouettes from 1973-77 and led the Als to the playoffs in each of his five seasons as Head Coach. The team made three Grey Cup appearances under Levy, winning in 1974 and ’77. He was named CFL Coach of the Year in 1974. Levy coached the Kansas City Chiefs from 1978-82 and the Buffalo Bills from 1986-97. During his time in Buffalo the Bills appeared in an unprecedented four straight Super Bowls (1990-93). Levy was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.

“I coached for 47 years and only five were in Montreal but they are a very memorable part for me,” says Levy. “Everything was so uplifting – the ambience of the City of Montreal. I loved it. We had great owners and great players like Peter Dalla Riva, Sonny Wade and Wally Buono and so many others.  I left Montreal not feeling five years older but five years younger.”

For more information on the event contact Leo Ezerins, Executive Director, CFLAA at 905-464-0007 or email at leo@cflalumni.org.

Phone:  (306) 525-5014

Email:  brooks@rockbridge.ca

Phone:  (613) 792-3352 ext. 104

Email:  javery@coltonaverydeacon.com

Second Annual Flag Football Camp in Thompson, Manitoba

Thompson, Manitoba will be the site again this year for the Second Annual Flag Football Camp, whose aim is to promote “life” through sport and prevent suicide.

Kurtis Stolth, organizer of the event, is an alumnus of Manitoba Bison’s Football and relocated to Thompson, Manitoba to work with the Community Mental Health Team.  In addition, he has become involved with the Burntwood Suicide Prevention Committee that is coordinated by the Burntwood Regional Health Authority.

“KURTIS Quote”

The region’s rate of attempted suicide in persons aged 10 years and up is 4 times the provincial rate. The Burntwood Region makes up 54% of the province and is spread over 210,000 square miles. The population is 50,000, with 47% being under the age of 19 years. 76% of the population declares aboriginal descent and 51% are living on reserves.  Of the 26 communities, 19 are First Nations Communities, 7 are Northern Affairs communities and only 12 of these communities have road access.  All of the other communities are reliant on rail, air or winter roads for travel.

The initial camp included 185 youths registered, 50% from outlying communities, such as God’s River, Brochet, Split Lake, Nelson House, Lac Brochet, Lynn Lake, St. Theresa Point and Nelson House. The Suicide Prevention Committee was provided with 20 flag football packages from Football Canada which were sent into the communities shortly after the camp and we have been advised that many of these youth are still playing football in their communities.  Last year’s camp had major support from the community, including over 40 volunteers and a partnership with McDonald’s who dedicated the McHappy Day proceeds to the event.

Last year, packages were sent out to 20 communities that included enough football equipment to start a league. The Committee partnered with the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Football Manitoba, Football Canada and the Winnipeg Rifles. Twenty coaches from the University of Manitoba which included current players, coaches and alumni attended. Glen January and Buck Pierce from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers were in attendance and Troy Westwood opened the camp. From Football Manitoba, two instructors attended the weekend to certify individuals from the communities in refereeing and coaching. Through heavy sponsorship from the province youth were provided with dry fit t-shirts, water bottles, mouth guards, playbooks, meals and insurance. Everyone who attended the camp shared their skills and passion for the game of football and assisted the youth by being positive role models and teaching them a game that is non-existent in the north.

This year’s camp will take place June 1-3, 2012 and will be open to the first 200 youth who sign up from the ages of 11- 17. Coaches from the Manitoba Bison’s and the Winnipeg Rifles will be at the camp. While the kids are enjoying the weekend, adults and chaperones will have the opportunity to be trained and certified by Football Manitoba to be coaches and referees.  The coaches and referees would return to their communities with a package to start their own leagues.

“The vision is to have youth attend from every community in the Region.” Said Curtis.

For more information about the event please contact Kurtis Stolth at (204) 677-5364 or the Suicide Prevention Coordinator, Liz Lychuk, at (204) 778 6513, extension 1.