Disease Found In ex-Wing Proberts' Brain Tissue
TECUMSEH, Ontario (AP) - The life and premature death of a hockey player who once starred on the ice in Detroit -- is raising serious questions about violence in sports.
Two newspapers are reporting researchers at Boston University have found a degenerative disease in brain tissue donated by former Red Wings enforcer Bob Probert.
The New York Times and The Globe and Mail in Toronto reported on their websites Wednesday night that Probert had chronic traumatic encephalopathy when he died last July of heart failure at age 45. Probert played 16 seasons in the NHL and his 3,300 penalty minutes ranks fifth on the league's career list.
Officials from the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy tell the newspapers that Probert is the second hockey player from their program to exhibit the degenerative disease. Reggie Fleming, a 1960s enforcer who played before helmets became mandatory, also was diagnosed.
