Dr Ralph's Blog

Sports, Medicine & Life.

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GIL GIBBS LIVES ON

Many of you who have followed me over the last few months may have noticed that I have not been able to bring myself to write any blogs. Much of it has to do with how I feel about the current state of the world – I really felt that there were no words to properly express the levels of negativity that have dominated current affairs lately. 

But my recent travels to the USA have inspired me. This weekend brought me back to my roots and where I was brought up – Montclair, New Jersey. Anyone who knows me knows that I ‘lived and breathed’ the game of lacrosse, and my love for the game peaked in my high school days where I was incredibly fortunate to play for Montclair High School – a lacrosse dynasty. Montclair gifted me lifelong friendships with guys who I continue to respect a great deal to this day; these are the men who built the dynasty of Montclair Lacrosse. 

The man at the centre of it all, the legendary mind underpinning Montclair’s progression, was the great Gil Gibbs who sadly died over 30 years ago, and this weekend he was inducted into the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association Hall of Fame – well overdue and much deserved. When I say this man was a legend, I mean it. He changed the landscape of lacrosse in New Jersey. From 1969 – 1978 he managed 144 wins and only 10 loses, including a state record 42 game winning streak and eight State Championships. No other New Jersey High School has come close to his incredible achievements.

I say in the title that Gil Gibbs ‘lives on’ because when I arrived in New Jersey and was reunited with my dear friends and teammates, I could see his spirit in every one of them. The influence that Gil Gibbs had on all of our lives has been powerful and enduring, the respect and love felt for Gil by everyone in that room was tangible, and he lives on in each and every one of us. 

This man was not only a lacrosse legend; he was a true leader, a man to follow. He instilled values that have stuck with us for a lifetime, gave us a sense of being and helped us understand each and every day what it was to win and be number one. As he would have said – not many people can say that. It was lovely to see Mrs Gibbs, Gil Junior and his daughter Gwen, seeing everyone really took me back and made me very proud. To quote Coach Gibbs: “I can go on and on and on, but I won’t”. I am truly blessed to have had someone of his stature in my life, and it really can’t be denied that Gil Gibbs lives on.

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To Boo or Not To Boo – That is the Question

Let me start this blog out by saying, I hate racism. It’s the most ignorant, stupid creations that mankind has ever devised. It’s up there with nuclear bombs. Both are powerfully destructive, and detrimental to the progression of humanity.

Trust me, I know what I’m talking about. I could write a dissertation on the subject. Throughout my life I have witnessed this ugly trait of human nature, and I have been subjected to racism since I was born. With decades of first-hand experience, it’s safe to say I know a lot about this subject. 

So, where are we going with this latest racism row? Recently it has been reported that fans in at a cricket match booed Moeen Ali because of his religion. I wasn’t there, but is the hostility of the crowd down to racism? Wasim Khan, the Chief Executive of the Cricket Foundation Charity and the first British-born Muslim to play professional cricket in England, believes it’s not. He stated that the booing was due to the complex nature of the relationship between India and Pakistan, rather than any anti-Islamic sentiment. He goes on to state that Mohammed Shami plays for India and he is a Muslim and other Muslims have played for them too. He suspects that the hostility of the crowd was likely about national heritage rather than religion. I don’t excuse the behaviour regardless of the motive, but my question is – is it ever OK to boo or express hostile feelings at a professional match?

Let’s delve into the madness. What is racist? It’s a complex and multi-faceted issue that the sporting industry still needs to confront on many levels. The Boards, Leagues, Associations and Faculties are all theoretically opposed to racism. But if you actually look at these organisations – the people in power, the people who make the decisions – it tells another story.

You only have to look at the Premier League. With so many Black players in the leagues, it is astounding that there is only one Black manager in the top four leagues. These organisations are not fairly representing the masses of our population. And this lack of equality perpetuates old-fashioned attitudes about race. If we don’t see any faces of minorities in power, coaching, managing, at the press conferences, then there will never be any respect. This is what you call ‘Institutional Racism’ and this is where the real problem lies. 

But back to the issue of booing (when to boo, who to boo, and by the way… can I boo?) Booing is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to racism within sport. Hostility towards players is merely a response to the institutional racism that is so ingrained into a lot of sporting culture. The issue that needs to be tackled is the diversification of the bodies at the top.

But until that happens, tackling booing is a good place to start. So this weekend, instead of booing I will be cheering at everything and let’s see if I am accused of something. Maybe I will be accused of being happy, and, as one of my Professors once told me, ‘don’t  ±%§+ with happy.’

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BODY IMAGE CAUSING UNHAPPINESS IN CHILDREN

A recent article has stated that British children are among the unhappiest in the world – and negative perception of body image is largely at fault. The article claims that children in England are less satisfied than their counterparts in developing countries, according to a global wellbeing chart published by the Children’s Society. 

Despite the fact that we have some of the highest living standards in the world, English children are less satisfied with their life compared to children in developing countries such as Brazil and South America. England ranks 9th out of 11 countries based on this study in terms of happiness and sources of stress, with only South Korea and Uganda scoring lower.  Matthew Reed, Chief Executive of the Children’s Society rightly states that we cannot shut our eyes and ears to half a million children who say they are unhappy and dissatisfied with their lives. 

The study showed that 1 in 5 pre-teen girls were plagued with anxieties about their bodies. We’re all well aware of the body pressures that teen girls and young women put themselves under – but it’s troubling to see this issue affecting much younger children. Children have the right to be carefree and enjoy their lack of responsibility; it’s awful to think that their happiness is being depleted by something as petty as appearance.

Although these findings are very sad indeed, they are not exactly surprising. I have often commented on the unrealistic expectations of our ‘size zero’ culture, idolisation of ‘skinny’ and the unhealthy obsession with body image in our society. Don’t get me wrong, I feel it is very important to look after yourself and keep your body in the best health, especially in this age of rising childhood obesity, but the levels of obsession are now bordering extreme and are causing a great deal of heartache and even mental illness. I believe that this change in attitude is, at least in part, down to the media. The perpetuation of unrealistic body images and unattainable ideals in every form of media will surely be feeding the insecurities of these young girls and boys, especially as children are exposed to technology, celebrity culture and social media at younger and younger ages. 

A positive element that we can take from this study is that it was found that children who play sports and active games were more likely to score highly for happiness. Surely the answer is a simple one. Tear your children away from iPads/televisions/Twitter and get them into sport.

My own opinion is that, in general, children are given too much too quickly. Instead of watching the Kardashians and posting selfies on Facebook, encourage your kids to get outside, join a sports team or just play tag. Allow them to be kids for as long as possible and I believe their happiness will see a vast improvement. 

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Prostate Cancer: Get Clued Up

Every once in a while you read a great article that stirs you to your core. I would like to praise Angela Epstein who interviewed Professor Roger Kirby, Director of The Prostate Centre in London, for her fantastic interview with Professor Kirby in the Good Health section of the Daily Mail on Tuesday 26 August. Professor Kirby was very candid in his interview entitled, “Why all men over 50 must demand a prostate test – it helped save my life”. He describes his diagnosis with cancer about a year ago. Because of his specialist knowledge he was able to act quickly when he suspected the disease and because he had the best tools at his disposal he was able to give himself the best chance at beating it.

But most men aren’t so lucky. Epstein states that unfortunately most of the 40,000 men diagnosed with prostate cancer in Britain each year cannot bank on such in-depth expertise. There is more of an arbitrary approach to the diagnosis, which is usually driven by symptoms such as rushing to the bathroom or a conscientious GP who does a check-up of the prostate and provides PSA (prostate specific antigen) test.

It always puzzled me that there is no National screening programme for prostate cancer; with my public health hat on I feel there should be, many other doctors would believe that as well. But a European randomised study of screening for prostate cancer involving 162,000 men aged between 50 and 74 concluded that, whilst screening could save around 2,300 lives in Britain annually, 2 out of 5 men who were told they had cancer would be over-diagnosed (i.e. they will be diagnosed even thought the disease would never cause symptoms or death in the patient). Epstein suggests that this could lead to unnecessary investigations such as biopsies, radiotherapy or even surgery. However, the article then states that over-diagnosis could be ruled out if every man over 50 were to ask for an annual PSA test. Anyone with the raised level could then have an MRI scan performed to identify the presence or extent of cancer. Epstein correctly deduces that that doing this could eradicate the scattergun approach with biopsies that could cause side effects and intense anguish.  

I was very happy to hear of Professor Kirby’s own personal experience, but as is stated at the very beginning; knowledge is power. Finally, the article goes on to state that since 10,000 men are dying of prostate cancer every year, his advice would be that men over 50, especially those with a risk factor such as family history, should have a PSA test. And don’t be distracted by a GP who says results are unreliable.  

I would like to congratulate Professor Kirby as this prompted me also to rethink my ideas and made me also aware of the necessity and the value of having this test performed.

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ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

The latest craze to take the internet by storm – our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram feeds have been inundated with sodden, screaming people soaking themselves with icy water – what a way to fundraise! The amount of people (including some high-profile celebrities; David Beckham, Eminem, Jennifer Anniston, to name but a few) who have got involved and donated has been truly astonishing. This really highlights how social media can be used in a fantastic way to fundraise and raise awareness about crucial issues. The Ice Bucket Challenge has been around since 2013, the origins are actually unclear but it can be traced back to Northern United States. The task usually involves the option of either donating money to a cancer research charity or having to jump into cold water. But it seems that ALS fundraisers have adopted the craze, and the money raised so far has been incredible. But with so many people getting involved, how many really know what ALS is and what they are really donating for?

ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), or Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a rare neurological disease with various causes. ALS is characterised by muscle spasticity and rapid progressive weakness due to muscle atrophy resulting then in difficulty speaking and swallowing and breathing. In fact ALS is the most common form of motor neurone disease. I find it truly amazing how this internet craze has raised he profile of this disease to another level, skyrocketing their donations to a level researchers could never have dreamed of. But is the ice bucket challenge really the best way to go about this?

I was recently shown a YouTube video of a very young child doing the Ice Bucket Challenge (what were the parents thinking?) and then the child swearing. I didn’t find this funny. It just sends out the wrong message. Seeing the vulgarity of this toddler’s language and the unconcerned response from the parents filming it just caused me concern over this child’s welfare. Normally I would include the video clip in the blog, but I don’t want to give this clip any unwarranted exposure. If you have seen it then I’m sure you will understand my complete disgust. 

The Independent has also recently found that over half of Brits polled didn’t actually donate to ALS after posting their Ice Bucket Challenge online. This just suggests that the challenge itself is losing it’s way and is becoming just another way for people to gain attention online and boost their popularity and ‘cool’ factor – that’s not what this challenge was meant to be about.

I’m sure many of you will have also seen posts online voicing concerns about how the donated money is actually being used and whether or not the ‘text-in’ system is actually causing the charity to lose out. This suggests more research needs to be done into the realities of this charity venture, and I would advice people to really consider all the facts before jumping on the latest Internet bandwagon.

But the facts can’t be denied. The Ice Bucket Challenge has created a tidal wave of donations for a fantastic cause and regardless of the shadier aspects of this particular challenge, more money and awareness is a fantastic thing! The craze shows how we can come together as a society to do something brilliant and I would love to see more of this in the future for a wide range of under-publicised diseases.

If you would like to donate to ALS but don’t fancy the Ice Bucket Challenge, then you can donate directly to the US ALS Association: https://secure2.convio.net/alsa/site/Donation2?df_id=27420&27420.donation=form1

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The Dangers of Sugar

In a recent report it has been stated that sugar is as dangerous as alcohol and tobacco and it goes on to state that Britain’s obesity crisis could be reversed within five years if food companies reduce sugar in products by 30%.  Wow! This is an incredibly surprising statement. 

For me, the obesity crisis has a great deal more to do with the lack of physical activity and regular exercise, not purely sugar intake. And I can’t help but recall the days when the first cotton candy machine came to my street. I grew up in a neighbourhood of about 15 kids and when this cotton candy machine came we used tons of sugar and obviously loved it. But when I was growing up I don’t remember seeing many obese children. It’s only now, over the last 25 years, that we have seen such dramatic increase in obesity. Why is that? We were eating our fair share of sugar when I was growing up – so sugar can’t be held completely accountable.

I go back to my point that it is not only our diets but again the lack of physical activity that is perpetuating the obesity crisis – children being driven to school and not walking or riding their bikes, after-school physical activity programmes dwindling, kids becoming addicted to their iPads and Playstations. But I have to concede that it would be a good idea to cut at least 100 calories from each person’s daily diet – and with the high content of sugar in many of today’s processed foods I have to agree that these levels must be lowered if we’re to see improvement. 

Simon Capewell, a Professor of Clinical Epidemiology, states that sugar is the new tobacco and I agree with his sentiments: ‘Everywhere, sugary drinks and junk foods are now pressed on unsuspecting parents and children by a cynical industry focused on profit not health. The obesity epidemic is generating a huge burden of disease and death.’ 

It is also stated that 1 in 4 adults in England is obese and these figures are set to go up to 60% of men, 50% of women and 25% of children by 2050. The incidence of type 2 diabetes leading to cardiovascular disease and morbidity is going to be unmanageable unless this stops. Currently, obesity and diabetes already cost the UK £5 billion every year and experts state that it could reach £50 billion in the next 36 years. This is an astronomical rise, and should have us all very worried. 

So, is taxing the food industry the right way to go or should we be focusing on education?  There is a general consensus that children are the primary targets of food marketing and as a very vulnerable group, heavy marketing of sweets and sugary drinks contributes to skyrocketing childhood obesity. I am of two minds here. I am a huge advocate of public health and believe that it’s vital for public health officials to educate us in the right choices.  But, I think somewhere along the line we must take responsibility for ourselves as individuals; we can’t always blame everyone else for our problems. I do feel deep down that the government has a role to play with healthy messages to deal with the ill effects of high calorie intake, but it must be a structured push from the government and ultimately the onus lies with us to take action. 

I am still very happy that this report didn’t come out when I was a kid, as I’ll never forget those fantastic days when we had our own cotton candy machine.

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Notting Hill Carnival – Staying Safe

I am always up for a good party, as many of you who grew up with me can remember the three-day parties at 104 High Street. But since those days things have changed and it’s more important than ever to be aware of your personal safety. Notting Hill Carnival is one of the oldest carnivals held in Europe and has been the pinnacle of fun at the end of summer for as long as I can remember. I can’t wait. But to make the most out of your weekend make sure you take the following precautions and keep yourself, your friends and your family safe. 

Do not over-indulge in alcohol and make sure that you are well hydrated with other sources of non-alcoholic beverages.

Be very careful what you eat and where you eat from – make sure that foods have been handled well by the vendors you go to and that the meats are thoroughly cooked. We love jerk chicken, but food poisoning can be very dangerous.

You should wear sensible footwear. With stray glass and debris on the ground cuts can easily get infected.

If you sense trouble/danger, do not go towards it – move away from it quickly and calmly.

Be very careful of your valuables. We want to look our best at carnival, and show off our bling - but it’s a great opportunity for pickpockets.

Always have an exit strategy and be very aware of your surroundings. Arrange a meeting point for if you become separated from your friends – phone signal can be unreliable in big crowds.

If you follow these guidelines you’re going to have a fantastic time soaking up the Caribbean atmosphere and catching the last of the summer rays. Have a fantastic weekend!

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SHOULD DOCTORS BE ROLE MODELS?

This is a tricky one. This blog has no intention of causing offence to any of my colleagues, but simply to give my opinion. I have written extensively on the subject of athletes as role models, and I don’t believe that we should hold them on a pedestal or put sport stars in that elevated position. However, doctors should be role models and, in my opinion, they need to look ‘healthy.’ Doctors have a responsibility to their patients to exude an aspirational image of health.

A close friend of mine was very disturbed about the amount of obese and overweight doctors and the amount of doctors who smoke. The first thing that comes to mind is ‘practice what you preach.’ Would you go to a financial advisor who was bankrupt, or to a plumber who’s sink was leaking? How are patients supposed to take advice from a doctor who doesn’t project the image of a healthy lifestyle?

But then again appearances can be deceptive. People come in all shapes and sizes and we know we can’t make snap judgments about overweight physicians; they may practice good habits while many seemingly fit physicians may have very bad habits. So, do we rush to judgement? Dr Regina Benjamin, former US Surgeon General, once said that, ‘what makes a physician credible is whether they practice what they preach and the lifestyle recommendations they propose.’ I can’t help but agree with this sentiment – but judging physicians solely on their outward appearance could be detrimental.  

Now the NHS has spoken up on this issue. A recent article in the Telegraph states that overweight doctors and nurses have been told to slim down by the NHS Chief. There are 700,000 NHS staff classed as overweight or obese and they must shed these excessive pounds in order to set a good example to patients according to Simon Stevens, NHS England Chief Executive. My question is: how are they going to implement this? I can understand the NHS’ urgency to address this issue as it emerged recently that obesity and its related health problems, may now account for a third of the 110 billion NHS budget. But is it a feasible task?

Finally, there is another side to the argument. Physicians are still people, and they can be just as imperfect as their patients. Expecting a doctor to always follow recommendations that he or she gives their patients, whilst intuitively logical to expect, is probably not realistic in real-life situations. This is a very interesting debate. I look forward to see whether Stevens’ order will actually change the aesthetics of the NHS. 

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THE REAL DANGERS OF LONELINESS

‘So long as the memory of certain beloved friends lives in my heart I shall say that life is good’ – what a fantastic quote by Helen Keller.

Where does that leave many Londoners? A recent study shows that 1 in 20 Londoners have no close friends. This would surely leave many without vital support. Ruth Sunderland, the Chief Executive of RELATE, said that this survey reveals a divided nation with many people left without support, friends or partners. She goes on to say that it appears a significant number of people have no close friends or rarely feel loved. WOW!

This sense of isolation would have a devastating effect on someone’s self-esteem. Who would you turn to during life’s challenges? London throws a whole array of challenges in your face on a daily basis, your career, romantic relationships, finances, injury, illness – without a close friend, dealing with these problems can become overwhelming.

Could this be a result of modern technology? Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn have all but eliminated the need to talk to people face-to-face. Is this technological distancing killing our ability to maintain meaningful relationships? With divorce rates constantly on the rise it’s clear that as a nation our ability to preserve long-term bonds is slipping. But why is the incidence of loneliness so high in London? Does the fast-pace of this vibrant city overwhelm us and sweep us along in an autonomous current? The evidence suggests so.

Maybe there are some people who actually prefer to be alone. Maybe we have become such an untrusting society that people don’t want to venture out for the risk of being hurt.  These are all questions that need to be investigated. But regardless of preferences, humanity need friendships and relationships in order to survive, and this study highlights a worrying shift in our culture 

Personally I can assure you that our approach to friendships now feels much different than 30 or 40 years ago when values, trust, politeness and behaviour was much different. Maybe generational factors have a part to play in this whole issue. I am sure that there will be more academic work to determine why we seem to be a society with less and less close friends.

‘The best time to make friends is before you actually need them.’

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England Netball miss out at the Commonwealth Games

Who’s to blame? 

As you may know, I am a real netball fan. I was so disappointed, as many netball fans were, at the performance of the team in the recent Commonwealth Games. After recovering from the initial shock, I would like to dig a bit deeper and analyse what went wrong for the girls.

With any lack of performance or under-achievement there are always questions to be asked. The question in this blog is – who is to blame? Did the girl’s choke? Was it a coaching error? I can imagine there is going to be some serious soul searching. Sara Bayman was very critical of the team’s performance in the bronze medal play-off where England lost 48 to Jamaica 52. Mid-courter Bayman felt that there were too many simple mistakes that cost them the match. She was quick to state that the girls did not step up when it mattered: “if you don’t bring it in International matches then this is what happens.”

The decisive match against New Zealand was agonising to watch. England fell to a one-goal defeat in the final few seconds in a result that could’ve changed the face of the competition. Despite a stunning effort from the entire squad, England just couldn’t hold out until the final whistle and it was young Goal Attack Kadeen Corbin who made the poor pass, allowing New Zealand to score the winner. Corbin, like all of the England girls, was clearly feeling the pressure of this high-stakes game, and no doubt she will replay that moment in her mind for many years to come. But in sport, individuals don’t make or break teams, and we can’t hold Corbin responsible for the loss. It was clear that this young player was tired and feeling the pressure – surely this was a problem for the coaching staff to address and to adjust the team accordingly? That is an issue that the performance team at England Netball will have to answer for themselves. But it begs the question – how much responsibility is on the players and how much lies on the coach’s shoulders?

There will be a great deal of time for reflection after the disappointment before the ladies get ready for the Netball World Cup just a year away. I personally still think this is a great side and maybe, just maybe, a loss like this will make them come back stronger. This is often the case with many great teams.

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WHAT DROVE ROBIN WILLIAMS TO SUICIDE?

This is an incredibly sad story. Another very successful and talented person, and one of the funniest men that has ever graced the silver screen, has allegedly taken his own life. Depression is a dark and complicated illness that manifests itself in many harrowing forms, and Williams’ lifelong battle with the disease makes his death all the more tragic.

Think of his huge roles, The Genie in Aladdin, Mrs Doubtfire, Peter Pan in Hook… this man dedicated most of his life to making millions of people laugh, and yet, below the surface, an inescapable sadness was destroying him. How can this troubling disease be combated? In Williams’ case, he was allegedly never diagnosed with clinical depression or bipolar disorders, so many of our responses are mere speculation. It is reported however, that although he was not diagnosed he was plagued with a pervading sadness.

With such a talent, success, wealth and comic persona, many of us would think: ‘What did he have to be depressed about? He was so successful.’ But this sad event underlines the fact that mental illness does not discriminate, nor does it pick or choose who it affects.  Regardless of economic status, social class, gender, race; Mental illness can attack any one of us. So, let’s give a thought to all sufferers of depression and mental illness and the man who made us so happy with his infectious smile and unique humour… Robin Williams. RIP.

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You Are What You Eat

The emergence of obesity represents one of the most widespread threats to public health and wellbeing in the UK, with 67% of men and 57% of women either overweight or obese.

The NHS is estimated to spend over £5bn a year on diseases linked to obesity such as strokes and diabetes. Within a few decades, that is predicted to climb to £15bn. Ok, so where do we go from here? Surgical solutions? This is an extremely contentious issue, and one that I feel very strongly about. The issue of diet in this country needs addressing – now!

The intrinsic problem with diets is one of sustainability. Most diets demonstrate some short-term weight loss, but these loses don’t seem to be maintained over a long period of time. Therein lies the problem – overweight people turn to diets to lose weight, they achieve short-term weight loss, but then gain the weight back, if not gaining even more than they started with. 

Diets work because they are highly restrictive eating programs. Trust me… most diets I have seen (and I have seen a lot) are not a lot of fun. Food is to be enjoyed and is a very important part of our culture and how we interact with each other. That’s why it’s more important to teach people how to eat rather than resorting to just limiting your food. EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION.

With such a widespread obesity problem it is surely wise to investigate why people overeat. The underlying, psychological factors are a crucial factor. I truly believe that being over weight has a great deal to do with behavioural issues and as health professionals we should be providing behavioural support and psychological counselling as part of the weight control programs.  

These restrictive diets just can’t work as a long-term solution – they restrict you from eating foods that you actually enjoy and this may even lead to a diet-bingeing cycle. In addition, when you restrict food, your body has a mechanism where it doesn’t want to be starved; in response the body actually slows its metabolism, which of course makes it more difficult to lose weight. Diets can also be very harmful as they may lack essential nutrients and force you into bad eating behaviours leading to yo-yo dieting. And I haven’t even touched on the potential psychological problems and eating disorders that can be a by-product of intense dieting. Let’s face it, as I said earlier there’s no pleasure in a restrictive diet. 

Finally people should be wary of the diet industry that peddles magic weight loss potions; THEY DON’T WORK…. Remember, these products, pills and potions are marketed for one purpose – money. Do you think these companies are primarily concerned with the state of the nations health? I don’t.

The bottom line is, fad diets just don’t work. The most important thing is to develop proper eating habits with a healthy variety of different foods and regular physical activity – that is the key for a healthier lifestyle and weight management.

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NBA Pioneer Change With First Female

Well done NBA!  More specifically, well done to the San Antonio Spurs. It has recently been announced that the soon to be retired Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) great and six-time All Star, Becky Hammon, is to become the first woman to join the coaching staff of an NBA franchise. Wow, this is exciting news – women breaking into the NBA. Could you ever have imagined this happening 20 years ago – even just four years ago?

This reminds me of the history of the first Black Americans in professional sport. It goes back to Jackie Robinson and Larry Doby of the American Professional Baseball Leagues. Although we still have a very long way to go in the United States, barriers are coming down at an encouraging rate. Could you ever see this happening in the world’s biggest game and in the world’s biggest league, the Premiership?  I don’t think so. We can only hope however. I hear a lot of talk from League officials but I am yet to see any real changes in the UK.

But let’s talk a little bit more about the exciting news of Becky Hammon. She has been welcomed with open arms by coach, Gregg Popovich. He stated: “I’m confident her basketball IQ, work ethic and interpersonal skills will be a great benefit to the Spurs.” I love his sentiment; her gender is irrelevant, it’s all about her ability. Hammon was given this opportunity based on a level playing field – which I see very little of here in England. 

Hammon knows this game inside and out. She played at Colorado State and then signed with New York Liberty in 1999 where she spent eight years. She was the leader in All-Time Assists 3-pointers and rates 4th in the franchise history in points and games. She also received the most votes in a poll of the Stars All-Decade Team. I’m really going to enjoy following how she does and will be supporting this appointment.  

The Premiership needs to follow suit and emulate the progressive work of the NBA. We need more than just words – action needs to be taken to ensure that there are more women and ethnic minorities in the Premiership.

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EBOLA – THIS IS NOT A JOKE

I started this blog with the idea of looking at sports and medicine and life and the intrinsic relationship that links these three elements. In other words, I wanted to discuss other relevant medical topics. With this in mind, it’s absolutely imperative that I address the latest medical crisis, the Ebola outbreak.

It’s vital to understand that this is not just an African problem. I say that because I can remember as a medical student, when HIV first came to prominence, many people thought it was a problem limited to the Gay community and most heterosexuals felt safe and that it was not their problem. As we all know now, this was not the case. The same is true of the Ebola virus. This is not a problem that we can sweep under the rug or confine to certain part of the world – this is a global crisis and the sooner we recognise that the better.

The Ebola viral disease is severe and is reported to be 90% fatal in humans. It first appeared in the mid-1970s in a village situated near the Ebola River from which the disease takes its name. The virus is transmitted through close contact of bodily fluids such a sweat and blood. The symptoms include fever, muscle pain and sore throat which rapidly escalate to diarrhoea, vomiting and external and internal bleeding. When you think how this virus is transmitted, you have to consider whether could it affect sporting competition, especially in contact sports such as football.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the US Center for Disease Control (CDC) have both said that the risk of Ebola spreading beyond Western Africa is extremely low. In fact, Gregory Hartl, a spokesman for the World Health Organisation, stated that the virus is actually difficult to transmit. But just imagine what would happen if Ebola came to the UK?  Despite what the WHO and CDC state, I don’t think this scenario is as far-fetched as it might sound – especially with air travel as common as it is. Borders don’t mean as much as they did in the past. 

 Remember, this is not just an African problem… this is a World problem.

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Age is Nothing but a Number

It is often stated there are three types of lies – ‘lies, damn lies and statistics’. But how much can we rely on statistics in sport? Are they a vital component in understanding the game? One statistic I stumbled across during the World Cup was concerning the age when footballers reach their peak; I find this statistic very interesting. 

A recent article by BBC News stated that footballers peak between the ages of 27 and 29. This is backed up by the fact that most successful World Cup teams had an mean age of 27.5. So it was very interesting to note (especially if you are a betting person) that the German team average age starting line-up was 27.7 and the average age of the Argentine starting 11 was 28.4. But then in the semi-finals Argentina beat the Netherlands whose starting 11 had an average age of 27.5. Statistics just can’t be taken as gospel. 

The headlines pointed out that Roy Hodgson picked a very young team, but the truth of the matter is that England’s average age was 27.4 –England’s starting 11 in the 1966 World Cup was a lot younger at 26.7, so going by this statistic the 2014 squad should have performed better than the 1966 squad… we all know that this was far from the case. What is also worth mentioning is that Brazil’s 1958 World Cup winning team was the youngest at 26.3 but their 1962 winning team was the oldest at 30.7. So what all these statistics prove is that performance can’t be determined solely by age, but it has a great deal to do with talent. My personal point of view is that with the increase in technology and nutrition, Sports Medicine and Sports Science in years to come, the average age of a winning World Cup with increase dramatically. Ultimately, statistics do give us some knowledge about patterns and trends in sport, but they can’t be used to determine any real results, as there are just too many variables that can’t be predicted.

Just look at Ryan Giggs’ performances over the last five years. It just goes to show you that all statistics have outliers.

[drralphrogers-blog]

Welcome Back Tiger Woods

His back surgery was 31 March 2014, his last competition was 9 March 2014, and as I said on CNN… Tiger will be back – and not a moment too soon because golf has sorely missed him. 

Even Tiger’s haters have missed him. Whether they like it or not, it can’t be denied that Tiger has had a profound effect on golf (which is an understatement). They called it ‘The Tiger Effect’ and there have been some amazing changes in golf since Tiger turned Pro in 1996. Tiger is the one who pulls in the crowds; you only have to look at the stats. The viewing figures for this year’s US Open were down 46% from last year – this could only be because the iconic Mr Woods wasn’t on the course. He’s the one we all want to watch.

Tiger has had a colossal impact on golf; the amount of money invested, the globalisation and the skill level of the game. It seems mad to attribute this growth to one individual, but this is the general consensus of golf pundits throughout the world. Just look at how golf has skyrocketed in Asia, the Middle East, Central America and Australia. Yes, I concede that golf was developed in Europe and played in Scotland for over 600 years, but it took the prowess and skill of Tiger Woods to make the tour what it is today. 

Tiger oozes charisma, and it is this enthralling charm that has fuelled years of media coverage and a wider interest in the game. With this increase in popularity comes more sponsorship, more television rights, bringing even more money to the game. The TV channels need Tiger back to revitalise their waning viewing figures, but the sponsors need him too. It has been suggested that Nike might have been the biggest beneficiary from ‘The Tiger Effect’, but Nike’s competition are also indebted to him. When he is absent from the game, or even getting less of the PGA spotlight, almost every brand suffers. But the biggest victims in Tiger’s absence have to be the fans. Nothing beats the pleasure of watching Tiger glide across the golf course displaying a dexterity and precision that is just exquisite to behold.

Yes, golf has missed Tiger Woods. I am usually a strong advocate of the fact that no individual is bigger than the game, but that said, golf without Tiger is like peanut butter with jelly, the Yankees without their pinstripes and Beyonce without her dance moves. 

 Good luck and do your thing Tiger!

[drralphrogers-blog]

50 YEARS AGO THIS MONTH

 ‘A Change is Gonna Come’ 

I got so caught up in the World Cup, especially the beating that Germany put on Brazil (I am still in shock), that I completely forgot that one of the most significant laws in the United States was passed 50 years ago this month. Well, to be honest, while talking (yet again) about the World Cup over dinner, it was one of my British friends who reminded me of the law. The law I am talking about is the Civil Rights Act, signed by then-President, Lyndon B Johnson, on 2 July 1964. Without this law we never would have seen Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan… the list could go on. And, of course, we would not have seen the first Black President, Barack Obama. 

I am surprised that there hasn’t been a bigger celebration of this landmark legislation. I think many of us today take this law for granted and forget the suffering, unlawful killings, beatings and incarceration, that our parents and grandparents endured in order for this law to be enacted. This legislation outlaws discrimination based on race, colour, religion, sex or national origin. It ended unequal application of voter registration requirements and racial segregation in schools, at the work place and by facilities that served the general public – It was truly monumental. But despite this huge step forward, minorities are still facing an uphill struggle. There are still many places in United States (for example country clubs) where Black people are not welcome. And it’s a much wider problem than just the USA.  Although this piece is about US law, it’s clear that this is a global issue. If you look at many of our institutions in Britain (even the faculties of various academic groups) you wouldn’t even think that there is a Black population here as there is so little representation.

Just to give you a further history, this law was called for by John F Kennedy in his Civil Rights Speech, He wanted to give all Americans the right to serve in facilities that are open to the public; hotels, restaurants and theatres, and greater protection for the right to vote. However, as history tells it, John F Kennedy was assassinated on 22 November 1963 so did not live to see the passing of this bill. This was not an easy law to pass. When the law came to the Senate for debate in March 1964 there were Senators led by Richard Russell who launched a filibuster to prevent its passage. Russell stated: “We will resist to the bitter end any measure or any movement which would have a tendency to bring about social equality and intermingling and amalgamation of the races in our southern states”. So the passing of this law was an enormous step forward in the plight of Black Americans, which has helped to shape the world in which we now live – despite vehement opposition, the Civil Rights Act prevailed and changed the fate of our lives, our children’s lives and generations to come.

Today is a day to reflect on freedom, and the unending fight for equality. I think it would be appropriate at this point to mention that today is Emmeline Pankhurst’s birthday. She was a British Political Activist and Leader of the British Suffragette Movement who helped women to win the right to vote.   

All in all I feel it’s a time to acknowledge that 50 years ago this month we took a giant leap in helping to heal some of the wounds of the United States and make it a greater country.

I would like to end this blog with a video of Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come,” released in December 1964. The song concerns the ill treatment of African-Americans and contains the iconic lyric, "It's been a long time coming, but I know a change is gonna come." The song was inspired by various personal events in Cooke's life, most prominently an event in which he and his entourage were turned away from a Whites-only motel in Louisiana. Let’s hope that Cooke’s sentiment is right and more change is yet to come.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkWZjTPlQhc