Drugs in D.C. Are Dead, But There Are Always Concussions in Connecticut

Daniela Altimari blogs at the Hartford Courant’s Capitol Watch that World Wrestling Entertainment’s Linda McMahon would be a welcome witness at hearings of the Connecticut State Senate’s Education Committee on a proposed bill to protect high school athletes from what research is showing to be long-term damage from untreated sports concussions.

This is a great illustration of how McMahon’s campaign for U.S. Senate can provide important new scrutiny of the sleazy practices of the publicly traded company that has made her so rich she can afford to throw $50 million of her fortune at a first-time race for elective office. The Altimari post, “Student athletes, head injuries, and the WWE,” is at http://blogs.courant.com/capitol_watch/2010/03/student-athletes-head-injuries.html#more.

Confirming that the co-chair of the committee, Tom Gaffey, thinks McMahon’s testimony would be enlightening, Altimari writes: “You might think the woman whose company created what her spokesman calls ‘a very thorough wellness policy’ that includes a detailed protocol for preventing and treating head injuries might have something to add to Wednesday’s discussion — especially since she also serves on the state Board of Education, which will work with the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference and the Connecticut Association of Schools to make sure coaches have the training they need to implement the bill’s requirements.”

McMahon spokesman Ed Patru told Altimari, “She cannot say specifically what her position is on this until she first has a chance to look at the bill and preferably read it.... [T]hat said, she supports efforts to keep high school athletes safe.”


Irv Muchnick