2,400 High School Football Injuries Resulted in Permanent Disabilities

Colin Hart
Staff Writer

REDMOND, CA— Pete Stenhoff, former high school football player, never expected that one play would confine him to wheelchair for the rest of his life.

That, however, was not the case. While playing for the Chula Vista High School football team, Stenhoff rammed his head into an opposing ball carriers chest fracturing a vertebra in his spine.

The result? He was unable to graduate with his class, lost 38 pounds, and is now confined to a wheelchair for life.

Chula Vista High school football players stand on
the sidelines during practice.

He’s not bitter; “I knew the risks involved when I decided to play.” While he may have known there were risks, did he really understand what they were? Each year there are 20,000 injuries in high school football. 7,000 of those are to the head or neck and 2,400 of them result in permanent disabilities to the players.

Last year alone, 13 high school students died from football related injuries. Many critics blame the helmet design for these numbers.

For students like Stenhoff, injuries are something that comes with the territory. “But,” he adds, “I wish I would have known just how bad it could be.”

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Further Reading on Helmet Reform:

Does Football Have a Future?: click here

It's the Concussion Crisis: click here

Tackling Head Trauma: Safety Guidelines for Football Helmets: click here

What do you think? Should the government mandate helmet reform to protect our children? Comment below.

Michael Jordan Ranks Number 20 in Forbes' Celebrity List

Colin Hart
Staff Writer




The towering basketball hero is an even bigger giant in advertising. He was recently ranked #20 in Forbes’ celebrity list due entirely to his 30-year success and his agent David Falk.

Michael Jordan was considered to be the most expensive of all athletes earning a total income of $40 million a year. He now makes around $55 million a year, according to Forbes.

His success is not on the decline. His endorsement portfolio continues to grow.

Falk was a large factor in orchestrating this success. Falk’s first major endorsement deal between Nike and Jordan is widely considered to be the most successful sports endorsement in history.

Jordan endorsed such memorable products as Nike, Wheaties, Chevrolet, and Coca-Cola along with many others with the help of Falk. Nike’s ‘Brand Jordan’ alone continues to make $1 billion dollars in sales business.

Jordan is still considered to be one of the most powerful endorser’s of products in sports history.

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Sidebar stories:

• Tiger Wood's Rise and Fall: The Endorsement King: click here

Barn Fire Kills 15 Horses at Race Track

Colin Hart
Staff Writer

SPRINGFIELD – With their backs ablaze, two horses stampeded out of a burning barn this morning at Lincoln Downs Race Track, the day before the opening season.

A suspected arson fire killed 15 horses at Lincoln Downs Race Track here early this morning, one day before the start of racing season.

Thirteen thoroughbreds and two saddle horses died in the blaze. Ten horses escaped, two of them with their backs ablaze. Blackened wood supports rose from the ashes of the fire that burned from 4 a.m. till about noon.

The fire exploded at the center of the barn said fire chief Bernard Perry. All the electrical outlets and heaters were at the end of the barn not the middle, assistant track manager Dan Bucci said. Fire officials are considering arson in their investigation.

A jockey watching the cleanup said, “Those are my best friends. I love horses more than I do people. I feel like I want to cry.”

Photo caption: (see above) Image taken of the fire at Lincoln Downs Race Track in Springfield just after 4 a.m.