R.I.P., Tragic deaths of sports idols

The 2nd member of Real Madrid's great teams from the late 1950s, early 1960s died in the past two months, last month it was defender Marquinhos, this month midfielder Jose Maria Zarraga. He was 81. RIP

RIP to Zárraga, only Paco Gento (with 6) has won more European Cups than he did (5). An unheralded member of those great Real Madrid teams, Zárraga did a lot of the "dirty work" in midfield so that Di Stefano, Puskas, Gento, Rial, etc. could shine.

Another sad death in the sports world as Junior Seau, a former NFL linebacker, most notably with the San Diego Chargers committed suicide today. Seau was age 43 and was very popular in San Diego where he grew up and played for most of his professional career. He was known for his charitable contributions to the community and also owned a popular restaurant in the city.

His death has really shocked San Diego as he was one of the most popular sports icons from here.

Very sad, indeed

RIP, Junior Seau

Sad to read of the charismatic Seau apparently taking his own life. he was a star on the 1994 San Diego Chargers team which advanced to the club's one and only Super Bowl in early January 1995, which they lost by the way, but that team seems to have become cursed as now 8 members of that team are now dead only 18 years afterwards.

I too am saddened to read of Seau's suicide. This is becoming a serious problem for former NFL players as the constant blows they receive to the head throughout their careers does apparently have an effect on their health even if it is still not fully understood how much an impact that does have on their future lives. But the amount of suicides and other depression related matters amongst former NFLers is startling.

I read today where Seau's family agreed to donate his brain to the medical school in Boston which is making an intensive study on brain injuries in sport, especially from American football.

While not as frequent in soccer, but still prevalent, there should be similar concern (see American players like Twellman and Eskandarian).

I don't buy into the theory that repeated heading of the ball leads to brain damage, particulary with the modern soccer ball. Most instances of concussion in soccer result from elbows and, to lesser extent, collisions with goal posts or kicks to the head.

Will head gear become a mandatory requirement?

I do not think head gear will become mandatory in soccer shel. Despite the concussions which forced the retirements of US players like Twellman and Eskandarian, this still seems to be an isolated problem. Does anybody recall of any other player outside the US who was forced to retire due to concussions? I don't.

As for Junior Seau, as Merengue wrote, he was a sporting icon in San Diego, probably the 2nd most popular athlete in town after Tony Gwynn, the retired baseball player, and now baseball coach at San Diego State University. So Seau's death was particularly felt in San Diego.

It is sad to read of so many NFL players who have suffered mental problems likely relating from concussions they suffered playing the game. That is such a brutal sport, each hit is practically like being involved in an auto accident!

Another sad death in sports as Rashidi Yekini, the giant striker from Nigeria who scored his nation's first ever goal at a World Cup, has passed away aged 48.

RIP to an excellent striker whose celebration after scoring that opening goal versus Bulgaria in 1994 is still the single most joyous goal celebration I have ever seen. This is how I will remember Yekini.

That is sad to read about Yekini. As Martin noted his goal celebration in 1994 was one of the unforgettable moments of the 1994 World Cup. Although Yekini is now gone, is happy celebratiion will live on for years to come.

Thanks for posting that video, Martin. Such an talented player on an excellent team. RIP.

RIP Rashidi Yekini, you will always be in the hearts of every Nigerian football fan. His goal was one of the most enjoyable moments I have ever experienced following this sport, not only for the pure emotion of it but also because it was the first goal Nigeria ever scored in the World Cup Finals.

The story of Yekini's passing is becoming more tragic.

http://www.kickoff.com/news/28285/details-...kinis-death.php

http://saharareporters.com/news-page/%E2%8...i-says-saharatv

Very sad but sounds as if there are many unanswered questions as those two stories are contradictory, the first one says he was taken away by family members in chains to get psychiatric help, either traditionally or through a "healer." The second claims he was murdered.