Section B·Page 4
The University Daily Kansan
Monday, August 23,1999
Soccer headers could damage players' brains
The Associated Press
BOSTON — Adult soccer players appear to suffer a loss of some mental abilities, possibly from whacking the ball with their head, two researchers suggested Friday.
Their study, which was outlined at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, bolsters a growing body of research pointing to possible mental harm from headers.
But researchers caution that no study has conclusively demonstrated that headers—as opposed to concussions from colliding with other players—are to blame. It is also unknown if the impairment, as measured by psychological tests in such studies, translates into any real handicaps in everyday life.
The U.S. Soccer Federation had no immediate reaction to the report.
"Given the findings, I think it may be worth pursuing this further by asking: Does a lifetime of soccer playing lead to problems with social or occupational functioning?" said psychologist David Abwender, a neuropsychologist at New York State University-Brockport.
He and Danielle Symons, a doctoral student in sports science at the University of Florida, studied a total of 26 men and women playing soccer at the Brockport campus and six current or former professionals ages 30 to 55. Researchers used a group of swimmers for comparison.
On tests of reaction time and ability to deduce unstated rules of a card game, soccer players did 12 and 16 percent worse on average than swimmers. Soccer players who have
competed at relatively higher levels — and presumably did more frequent heading — performed significantly worse on 5 of 11 tests, even when age differences were accounted for.
Frank Webbe, a Florida Institute of Technology psychologist who has also studied mental impairment in soccer players, said the Brockport study appeared to buttress similar findings elsewhere. He said simple common sense suggested headers might do harm in the long run.
"If you were to go up to someone and say, 'Would you bang your head against that wall 20 or 30 times a day?' ,you'd probably say. 'No.' Webbe said.
George S. Baroff, a psychologist who studies brain impairment at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, said such cognitive loss might stem from a mixture of repeated concussions from collisions and banging from headers.
In interviews, researchers differed in their recommendations for parents and soccer leagues because so many questions remain. Several encouraged use of the correct size of ball by children. But some went as far as broaching the idea of soft helmets or even banning headers among children younger than 11.
Symons, a former player and coach, said children's coaches often lacked experience and need better instruction.
"Kids go out and kind of bonk the ball with their heads for awhile, but they're never properly taught until high school," she said.
Comets soar past Monarchs in last game
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — It was time to play, and Cynthia Cooper didn't want to be a spectator for a second straight game.
The Associated Press
Cooper returned after missing one game following the death of teammate and best friend Kim Perrot. She scored 27 points and had 10 assists Saturday night as the Houston Comets closed the regular season with a 74-65 victory against the Sacramento Monarehs.
The league's two-time MVP sat in street clothes Friday night as the Comets dropped a game in Los Angeles. There was no thought of missing the season-finale.
fighting through them."
"I decided I was going to play when I saw my team out there struggling with the same things that I was struggling with last night," Cooper said. "I couldn't stand another night watching them go through the same things I was, but
Houston definitely needed Cooper. Comets All-Star forward Syneryl Swoopes sprained her right knee going for a rebound at the 6:58 mark of the first half and did not return. She is expected to be available for the playoff opener Thursday
"When she went down, I was thinking 'enough is enough,'" Cooper said. "But I believe she's not hurt and will be back practicing with us on Monday."
Cooper made 9-of-18 field-goal attempts, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range. She also converted all five free throws.
Despite her play, Houston still trailed 57-52 with 8:50 remaining. Cooper ignited an 18-4 run, scoring 10 points and putting Houston ahead 70-61 with 55 seconds remaining.
"I felt it was time to take charge and make some things happen," Cooper said. "It didn't have to be me, but I was trying to get my teammates involved."
For the Monarchs, it was the third straight loss, all without center Yolanda Griffith, the league's leading rebounder who will miss Tuesday's game and perhaps the entire playoffs. She had surgery last week on her right knee.
"Yolanda brings a lot to this team both on offense and defense," Monarchs guard Ticha Peniheiro said. "But we've seen we can play without her. We need to bring our 'A' game to the playoffs."
Penicheiro said he knew a victory in
the playoff game against Los Angeles meant a three-game series with Houston — no easy chore.
"They are still the two-time champs, the best in the world," Penicheiro said. "They've gone through a lot emotionally, but they've handled it like real professionals. They are still the team to beat."
Both Tina Thompson and Sonja Hening scored 12 points for Houston (26, 6), which has won 12 of 14. The Comets defeated Sacramento three of four times this year.
Ruthie Bolton-Holfield scored 16 points and Tangela Smith added 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Monarchs (19-13), making their first playoff appearance.
The game drew a franchise-record 15,689 fans, the most since the Monarchs' inaugural home game in their first WNBA season.
Davis troubled by rain is out of Olympic trials
The Associated Press
BLOOMFIELD, N.J. - Actress Geena Davis lost her bid to be an Olympic archer, but she said she loves the challenge and will try again in four years.
"I think I did well. I was very happy." Davis said Saturday after finishing 24th out of 28 women competing in the U.S. Olympic trial semifinals.
Davis, 43, made it to the semifinals just two years after taking her first archery lesson. The top 16 archers advanced to yesterday's competition.
Her coach, Don Rabska, said she was having trouble adapting to the rain.
"It's tough for us because we never get to practice in the rain in California," Rabsa said. "It caught her a little off guard."
Davis also said the first serious media attention in her two years as an archer distracted her a bit.
"I was ill-prepared for this onslaught," she said. "It was like being at a premier."
The star of "Thelm and Louise" and "The Accidental Tourist" — for which she won an Oscar in 1988 — was inspired to take up archery after watching Justin Huish win two gold medals at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
Few people knew of Davis' hobby until she finished 29th out of 300 women in Ohio to qualify for the Olympic semifinals. On Saturday, reporters blanketed this small suburban park along with about 40 movie fans who watched from behind a rope, hoping to catch a glimpse of the actress.
Davis said she loved to challenge herself and wanted to stay with archery "to see how good I can get." She said she would try out for the Olympics again in four years.
Janet Dykman, 45, a 1996 Olympian, and Denise Parker, a two-time Olympian, were among the group to advance, while Huish was among the 16 men to advance.
Dykman has shot with Davis in California and said she thought the media attention had been a little distracting to the actress.
"We've kept it pretty low-key for her, and this is the first time it's exploded for her like this," Dykman said.
Others archery enthusiasts say Davis' participation is giving needed recognition to a little-known sport.
"A lot of people think archery, and they think hunting and stuff," said archer Jessica Carlson, 22.
Rodman jailed for disturbance
The Associated Press
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — Denis Rodman was released from jail yesterday, several hours after police were called by someone at a
restaurant-bar, who said the flamboyant former NBA star was drunk and causing a disturbance.
The 38-year-old Rodman, known for his dyed hair and numerous tattoos and body piercings, spent a few
Rodman: Arrested outside restaurant-bar.
hours in custody before being released on his own recognizance, Set. Jim Kaminskv said.
Rodman was booked for investigation of being intoxicated in a public place, a misdemeanor, Kaminsky said. Rodman was ordered to appear in court Oct. 1. Before then, prosecutors will determine whether to file any charges. Kaminsky said.
Police had few details of the incident, but the restaurant owner said
it didn't appear to be instigated by Rodman.
"From what I understand, a woman was verbally abusing him, and he said something back to her and her boyfriend grabbed him and the police were called," said Ralph Furra, whose wife Julie was managing the restaurant at the time.
His wife did not place the call, he said.
Police arrested Rodman outside the restaurant, where he is a regular. Furra said.
"We've never had any problems with him, he's well-behaved," Furra said.
Rodman played for the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls before joining the Los Angeles Lakers for a short stint this year. The Lakers waived him in April.
Rodman, who has made headlines off and on the court for years, has been sued twice this year. A Kentucky woman has filed suit against him in June, claiming he assaulted her in the lobby of a Las Vegas resort.
On May 19, a casino security guard sued Rodman, accusing him of grabbing her breast while she was working at the Las Vegas Hilton.
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