June 20th 2015 Bakersfield CA; Central Cardiology Is Hosting the Public For Father's Day Weekend to Breakfast with TEN Legendary NFL Champions: Saturday 8AM-11AM
Bakersfield, California (PRWEB) June 15, 2015 -- On June 20th, 2015, Central Cardiology is hosting the Living Heart Foundation and Ten Former NFL football Players getting together in Bakersfield, CA for a different kind of huddle. They are coming to Bakersfield on Saturday, Father's Day Weekend to inspire themselves and an entire community on heart health and wellness.
All ten former champions have agreed to have a heart, head and health screening to become better prepared for life after football. The community and all dads are invited to have breakfast with the champions, curtesy of Central Cardiology, to learn more about these amazing athletes, while meeting some genuine NFL living history who will be signing autographs and meeting the public, from 8 AM to 11 AM Saturday Morning at the Central Cardiology Office at 2901 Sillect Ave. Bakersfield, CA.
It was Brij Bhambi MD, Chief of Staff of Central Cardiology and Chief Medical Officer of Bakersfield Heart Hospital, who had the idea to work with the Living Heart Foundation and Optimal Wellness to bring these athletes to Bakersfield to inspire their town.
Dr Bhambi knew that after the bright lights had dimmed and the game had ended that these former NFL Players faced very different health challenges, once their playing days had stopped.
“The game with all its excitement and violence takes its toll on their bodies, and in retirement it can lead to heart and health issues they are not prepared for,” Dr. Bhambi said.
In a survey conducted by Newsday in conjunction with the NFL Players Association 61 percent of former NFL Athletes had difficulty adjusting to daily life after their career, while 85 percent said they didn’t think the NFL had prepared them for the reality of life after the game adequately.
Yet, when these warriors were asked if they could make the decision to play in the NFL again, 89 percent said they would.
Otha Bradley who came out of USC was drafted in 1975 by the Chargers in round 10 said “Even though I hurt all over, I miss playing the game.”
Marlin, the Magician, Briscoe became the first starting black quarterback in the American Football League and established a Denver rookie record of 14 touchdown passes that season. He played professionally for nine years. He won two Super Bowl championships with the Miami Dolphins, including their undefeated season in 1972, played three seasons with the Buffalo Bills, and ended with the New England Patriots in 1976.
He is settled in California and will be attending the screening along with Lawrence Godfrey "Larry" Burton a former professional American football player and world-class Olympic sprinter, finishing fourth for the United States team in the 200 meter final at the 1972 Summer Olympic Games in Munich, West Germany. Larry played in the NFL for five seasons for the Saints and the San Diego Chargers between 1975 and 1979. In 2013, Burton was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. “It really is hard to put into words just how violent and how intense those hits are, but its what we did!”
Other famous NFL Players who will be attending the health screening in Bakersfield, CA are Kareen Maktrel Larrimore a retired arena football defensive back who was originally drafted by the Dallas Cowboys. In his career, he played for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL), the Dallas Desperados, Austin Wranglers, and Chicago Rush of the Arena Football League (AFL), and the Amarillo Dusters (then of the IFL). He played college football at West Texas A&M.
Leo Henry Carroll is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League for the Green Bay Packers and the Washington Redskins.
Paul Pratt is a former American football cornerback. He was signed by the New York Sentinels as a street free agent in 2009. He played college football at Nevada.
Jeff Buckey is a Bakersfield native and is a former professional American football player who played offensive lineman for four seasons for the Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers.
Chris Hale is a former professional American football defensive back in the National Football League. Hale played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the USC Trojans. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the 7th round (193rd overall) of the 1989 NFL Draft. He played four seasons for the Buffalo Bills.
Cordarol Scales: is a former wide receiver for the New York Jets.
Tyrone Rodgers is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League who played for the Seattle Seahawks (1992–1994). Emeree Patterson is a former NFL linebacker who played in 1985 for the Raiders and in 1986 for the San Diego Chargers. Now he is a Chaplain to the NFL PA and publisher of a NFL PA Newsletter for former players.
All these players remember the up-close sounds of the game. Life after football is so different for NFL former players than life after any other major sport. In a recent survey, players said they are still affected by injuries to their knees (70 percent), lower back (67 percent), shoulders (65 percent), neck (56 percent) and head (49 percent). Researchers continue to learn more about the long-term effects of head injuries.
“The violence associated with the sport just isn’t there with baseball and basketball,” said Dr. Bhambi. That’s why the biggest challenge in retirement is health and it’s a challenge everyone must come to terms with.
In football, concussions were once considered a natural part of the game. There was even a sense of pride among players for bouncing back quickly from a big hit and returning to the field.
“There was a while in my career,” said Chad Brown, 44, a linebacker for the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks from 1993 to 2007, “where I didn’t think I was playing hard enough unless my bell was rung.”
Cardarol Scales said that when he played for the Jets “we didn’t call them concussions. We got the crap knocked out of us. Or we went to the sideline and got smelling [salts] and said OK, let’s get back in.”
Central Cardiology of Bakersfield is excited to host these amazing athletes and they were selected for this very special screening event because of their physicians’ reputation and because they are one of the few clinics in the country that can offer such a comprehensive cardiac evaluation in one location. So if you are a dad, or want to give your father a gift he won’t forget, don’t miss this opportunity to inspire his health and meet the real heroes of the NFL and have a free breakfast with the Champions.
deborah whitney, PRCA, http://purerecoveryca.com, +1 8055584336, [email protected]
Share this article