San Francisco 49ers Linebacker Retires At 24 Due To Concern Over Brain Trauma

Chris Borland, who had a standout rookie season, told ESPN he doesn’t think playing football is “worth the risk.”

Chris Borland, a 24-year-old linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers, has decided to retire from football after only one season over concerns about the effects of head trauma, ESPN reports.

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From what I've researched and what I've experienced, I don't think it's worth the risk.

I feel largely the same, as sharp as I've ever been, for me it's wanting to be proactive. I'm concerned that if you wait till you have symptoms, it's too late. ... There are a lot of unknowns. I can't claim that X will happen. I just want to live a long healthy life, and I don't want to have any neurological diseases or die younger than I would otherwise.

Borland told ESPN that he suffered a concussion during training camp, and told his parents that "his career in the NFL would be brief because of his concerns about the potential long-term effects of the head injuries."

Borland recalled wondering, "Is this how I'm going to live my adult life, banging my head, especially with what I've learned and knew about the dangers?'

According to ESPN, Borland met with a team of experts, and considered the lives of former players who were diagnosed with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease that causes dementia-like symptoms and is strongly linked to repetitive brain trauma.

After thinking through the potential repercussions, Borland said the decision was ultimately "simple."

The decision comes after a standout rookie season for Borland, who recorded two interceptions, one fumble, and 84 tackles. He also looked to be a promising replacement for linebacker Patrick Willis, who retired last week at the age of 30.

His decision, and the plain language he used to describe his concerns over the effects of repetitive brain trauma, represent the NFL's worst fears. Due to his young age and ability, Borland's decision signifies somewhat of a turning point in the social awareness of the risks to players. Though it is tough to imagine a reality in which the NFL will not have an endless pipeline of talent who would do anything to make it on a roster, Borland's decision will undoubtedly send a signal to players, parents, and possibly, the league.

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New York High School Will No Longer Use "Redskins" As A Mascot

School board members on Monday announced that Lancaster High School will have a new nickname. Earlier this month, three local school districts boycotted the school over the term.

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On Monday night, school board members announced that Lancaster High School in New York will no longer use "Redskins" as a nickname and mascot. The school's new nickname has not yet been decided, but "Red Hawk" is rumored to be a favored replacement.

When the decision was announced, parents in support of the name began chanting "Let's go Redskins," and told the school board that its action will be temporary. One supporter of the name asked, "Why are we being bullied?"

The debate over the school nickname, which it has held for 68 years, heated up when three nearby districts with large numbers of Native American students — Akron, Niagara Wheatfield, and Lake Shore — boycotted the school over the mascot name. Akron and Lake Shore also cancelled lacrosse games between the Buffalo-area teams.

Lancaster School District created a website dedicated to the debate, offering a place for interested parties to hear arguments for both sides. On a page called "Pros and Cons Websites," the school listed two Change.org petitions: One in support of the name with 2,802 supporters, and one opposed to the name, with 1,684 supporters. Another link on the page is RedskinsFacts.com, a PR-firm–backed propaganda website that attempts to defuse criticism of the Washington football team.

During the contentious meeting, school board member Wendy Buchert said that "although the decision is not popular, we must make an immediate decision to change the mascot" to benefit the students. Buchert argued that the debate itself had the potential to cause harm to the educational and athletic opportunities of Lancaster students.

School board President Kenneth Graber explained that the nickname was chosen by football coaches in the 1950s and was meant to honor the bravery and courage of the Native American community.

"That was then, this is now," he said. "People, ethics, and standards evolve. What was acceptable 70 years ago is not acceptable now. Native Americans do not feel honored."

The school board showed unanimous support for changing the name. Patrick Uhteg told the crowd the school has an obligation to set a good example and protect the emotional and academic interests of the school.

"Let's be clear: This debate is over a school mascot," he said. "We are a school institution and not a billionaire-run football team."

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NFL Player Ray McDonald Is Suing His Rape Accuser To "Clear His Name"

The former San Francisco 49er reportedly claims evidence recorded on his home surveillance system helps his case.

Nfl Photos / NFL

Former San Francisco 49ers defensive end Ray McDonald plans to sue a woman who accused him of sexual assault, his attorney told the San Jose Mercury News .

The 49ers terminated McDonald's contract when the San Jose Police Department announced they were investigating him for sexual assault.

McDonald was previously accused of assaulting his then-fiancée, but charges were dropped as a result of conflicting accounts and the victim's refusal to cooperate with the investigation.

Now, the San Jose Mercury News says the Santa Clara District Attorney's office is unlikely to file charges against McDonald after their sexual assault investigation.

McDonald claims that the woman's accusations are a defamation of his character, and the lawsuit is an attempt to send a signal to NFL teams who might be reluctant to sign him. He told ESPN's Josina Anderson that he "know[s] some teams don't even want to talk to [him] because of this past accusation."

In a statement, McDonald's attorney Steve M. DeFilippis said, "in the eyes of the NFL teams, the unresolved threat of charges being filed against him, even though factually unfounded, continues to present a roadblock to this remarkable athlete being able to move forward in his career."

The lawsuit, filed today, reportedly claims that footage captured on McDonald's surveillance camera shows the accuser participating in consensual sex throughout the night.

According to the search warrant issued at the beginning of the investigation, the woman told police she left a local bar with McDonald but slipped and hit her head while walking near his pool – and therefore doesn't remember the rest of the night. She told police she woke up naked next to McDonald, who denied they had sex, then later admitted they had spent the day together.

McDonald claims the woman's sexual assault accusation should be discredited because she allegedly had consensual sex with him later that day.

When news that McDonald would likely not be charged broke earlier this month, his agent sent a letter announcing the news to all 32 NFL teams.

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Here's The Domestic Violence Presentation For NFL Players And Coaches

The league published their “domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual assault webinar” on Friday.

The NFL on Friday published its presentation on domestic violence and sexual assault that officials said was shown to everyone on league and team payrolls.

NFL

In Fall of 2014, nearly everyone in the NFL, including some family members, participated in broad-based domestic violence (DV), child abuse (CA), and sexual assault (SA) education. Mandatory for all league and club office personnel, owners, coaches, and players and available to and highly encouraged for friends, family members, and loved ones, the education sessions were conducted at all 32 clubs, all US based league offices and the NFL's offices in Canada and the United Kingdom. The following webinar was created for those who could not attend in person and is the same presentation in a digital format.

The 26-minute presentation attempts to convey the seriousness of domestic, sexual, and child abuse through education, clarification of misperceptions, and personal anecdotes.

The presentation, by NFL Director of Player Engagement and Education Deana Garner and Director of Transition and Clinical Services (and former Miami Dolphins linebacker) Dwight Hollier, is thorough and the league's decision to release it stands in sharp contrast to the scrambling and shortsightedness the league has displayed in its handling of these same issues in the past.

NFL

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This Dude Skated 700 Miles For Fun

Clay Shank is an American hero. Via Jenkem Magazine.

Jenkem Magazine recently interviewed skateboarder and documentarian Clay Shank about his 700-mile skate trip from San Francisco to Tijuana.

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He survived mainly on peanut butter, bread, canned fish, and McDonald's.

vimeo.com / Via Clay Shank

And slept in a sleeping bag on a tarp on the ground for most of the trip.

vimeo.com / Via Clay Shank

But got to see some pretty dope shit along the way.

vimeo.com / Via Clay Shank

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Aaron Hernandez's To-Do List: "Send Rounds," "Troll"

Jurors for the former New England Patriots player this week were shown a list found on his Blackberry.

For the last two days, attorneys on both sides in the Aaron Hernandez murder trial have questioned Kyle Aspinwall, who works for Glock, in an attempt to identify an object seen on Hernandez's surveillance camera the night Odin Lloyd was killed.

Steven Senne / Reuters

Because the Glock .45 used to murder Odin Lloyd was never recovered, prosecutors are relying on Aspinwall to identify the object Hernandez was holding.

Aspinwall testified that it does appear to be a Glock pistol, but Hernandez's attorneys have presented the notion that it could be a replica or a knock-off meant to resemble the popular pistol.

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Pool / Reuters

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Little League Dissolves Jackie Robinson West District After Baseball Recruitment Scandal

Little League has elected to re-allocate the six Chicago teams in Illinois District 4 instead of finding new league leadership. The teams that will be affected are looking into severing their Little League affiliation.

The fallout from Jackie Robinson West recruiting players from outside their designated boundaries continues a month after the team was stripped of their title as U.S. Little League World Series Champions.

Pool / Getty Images

In the aftermath of Little League's investigation into the recruiting practices, District 4 leader Mike Kelley was removed from his position. Team president Anne Haley and treasurer Bill Haley were also removed from their positions.

Four teams, including Jackie Robinson West, could be relegated to a district that includes teams on the North and West sides of Chicago, while the remaining two teams would be relegated to another district on the city's South Side.

In a statement, Little League spokesman Brian McClintock said:

This decision allows the local Little League programs in the area to continue with their operations under veteran, established district leadership and to continue to provide quality Little League experiences for the children in their communities.

However, DNAinfo Chicago reports that Bill Haley is looking into transitioning the Jackie Robinson West team out of Little League into nearby Cal Ripken and Babe Ruth leagues. DNAinfo also spoke with another District 4 team, Roseland, whose president Maurice Johnson said, "If they split us up, Roseland is no longer with Little League."

The Ripken and Ruth leagues are less strict with their recruiting boundaries, and DNA info Chicago reports that if Jackie Robinson West is approved by either of these youth leagues, Haley would be at a strong advantage for recruiting players from the South Side.

An attorney for Jackie Robinson West, Victor Henderson, who did not respond to a BuzzFeed News request for comment, told the Chicago Tribune that the team felt disrespected by Little League's decision to announce the vacation of the team's World Series wins to the media without informing them first.

He continued, "This insensitive act by Little League International is a critical factor affecting JRW's decision to explore other opportunities."

LINK: Little League Champion Team Stripped Of Title For Recruitment Violations

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