Changa Langlands story

[happy_tiger]

Anyone have the story??

Can't get it anywhere

 

[eyewonder]

Graeme langlands had the best sidestep you would ever want a footballer to have.benjs wasn't bad but changas had no peer.
Graeme now finds himself in a nursing home with suspected alzheimers desease traced back to the head knocks he took whilst playing rugby league.
The concussion rule which the nrl is following now is a positive move to protect the safety of players.
Each team wants their forwards to dominate,physically ,their opposition so their team wins games.and that involves head clashes. That's how the game is promoted,and fans all accept that as an important part of the game.
I'd imagine that langlands would be well into his seventies .would he have not played the game and taken all those knocks in his 20's and 30's if he knew the knocks would result in Alzheimer's in his 70's.?
I don't think so.
The game is promoted by the media as the greatest game of all on one hand but leads with a scare story on the front page of the Sunday Tele.
Anyway,I just think it's what happens in life move on . As we all have to.

 

[GoldXR50Leroy]

The article is in today's Sunday Telegraph, unless you are a subscriber some times you can't read the articles that interest you most as they a a 'Premium' story.
Hopefully someone can link the story to here, I'm technically challenged when it comes to computers.

 

[cktiger]

The majority of people suffering Alzheimers haven't taken a lot of head knocks.
Chang has put away a lot of the amber fluid over the years and enjoyed his life - who knows what really causes it.
P.S One of the greatest players I have seen.

 

[innsaneink]

Apologies. . . Difficult To Copy On Phone. . . Photo Captions Etc Included
\
\
Rugby league Immortal Graeme Langlands paying the price for a life lived to the full and a career full of head injuries
PHIL ROTHFIELD Sports-editor-at-large, The Sunday Telegraph
April 2, 2017 12:00am
Subscriber only
AS a rugby league Immortal, Graeme “Changa” Langlands was as fearless as they come. In 13 years playing for St George and Australia, he never took a backward step, never backed out of a tackle.

Now, 40 years on, the footy legend with the dragon-sized heart is paying the price.

A leading neurologist claims old football head injuries have contributed to the brain deterioration that has resulted in Langlands being placed in a Sutherland Shire nursing home suffering Alzheimer’s disease and needing 24-hour care to go about his daily tasks.
\
\
Langlands was part of a legendary Kangaroos side.
From his room in the Lark Ellen nursing facility this week, the former St George, NSW and Kangaroos superstar struggled to complete his sentences as he spoke of his sad decline from football hero.

Langlands, 75, has not just lost his memory, but also his house and life savings from a failed venture in 2011 which led fraud squad detectives to investigate his business partner.

His neurologist, Professor Raymond Garrick, said in Langlands’ medical reports that “a clear history of multiple concussive head injuries during his sporting career” had contributed to his Alzheimer’s disease.

This is a hard interview. Langlands talks slowly and struggles to complete a sentence.

His daughter Monique is there help out. His short term memory is gone.

He doesn’t know Josh Dugan is the St George Illawarra fullback.

He asks if the long-retired Steve Edge is still playing.

WHY DID NRL WAIT FOR CONCUSSION CRACKDOWN?
\
\
Langlands was renowned for living life to the full, on and off the field.
It’s sad when you walk into his room and think this is now the home of one of the country’s greatest sporting athletes.

The name we used to see on the old SCG scoreboard is on the wall at the back of his bed with a warning sign “High risk of fall”. He has slipped a couple of times in recent weeks.

It’s easy to blame the fact Langland’s has had a “hard” life.

The nights out and drinking escapades with teammates Johnny Raper and Billy Smith are legendary. Even on the evening before a game.

As Monique said: “They played in the red and white but they were certainly no Saints.”

But his doctors are convinced the fall in 2008 and old concussions are partially to blame.

Langlands still watches most NRL games on television. He has a poster on his wall of the Cronulla Sharks grand final team, not his beloved Dragons.

“St George never made it — and I’m living in the Sharks area,” he said.

He appears to be enjoying himself as the nursing home’s most illustrious patient. The nursing staff bring him a cup of tea and pikelets with jam and cream as we’re talking.

He still gets chipped by other patients about the white boots he famously wore in the 1975 grand final, a 38-nil loss to Eastern Suburbs at the SCG.

“Jesus, do you have to bring the bloody boots up,” he says, “There’s that many blokes in here who mention them. I threw them over a set of goalposts in England. They’re long gone.”

To help pay for his medical costs and other expenses, the family have set up the Graeme Langlands Trust fund.

He signs old photos, footballs and jerseys and the money raised goes towards the junior rugby league club in Picton where his grandsons play rugby league, country junior clinics and other charities.
\
\
Langlands still gets some support from the NRL. Photo: Gregg Porteous
The NRL is aware of Langland’s health problems and have been good to him. They still invite him to functions and provide a hire car to get him and a carer there and back home.

The NRL recently imposed $350,000 in fines to the Gold Coast Titans, the Newcastle Knights and St George Illawarra as part of a major concussion crackdown to avoid threats of future legal action from players and compensation claims like those in America’s NFL.

The NFL has paid out almost $2 billion in brain injury compensation to former footballers.

Not that Langlands is even thinking about legal action. He’s happy living off the pension, which covers his nursing costs and the occasional outing.

The problem is that his medical specialists cannot conclusively define the cause of his illness.

He suffered head injuries when he fell off the back of a car during a parade of former rugby league legends before the 2008 World Cup final in Brisbane. And he is renowned for enjoying a beer and a good time.
\
\
Langlands is treated by medical staff after falling from a car on a lap of honour.
When contacted, prominent St Vincent’s Hospital Professor Garrick said he stands by his 2014 diagnosis that multiple concussions contributed to Langlands’ condition.

He said Langlands had been a “model” patient who has worked hard to achieve a healthier lifestyle.

Concussion tests were not around during Langlands’ career of 13 years in rugby league. Not in the era of head-high tackles, brawls and stiff arms, and long before punches and shoulder charges were outlawed by the NRL.

He had the most lethal sidestep in the game and was always heavily marked by opposing teams.

Old players recall if you got knocked out the trainer would generally run onto the field, hold two fingers up and ask: “How many fingers can you see?” If the concussed player had blurred vision and didn’t know, a team mate would run past and give him the answer. It was a sign of softness to leave the field.
\
\
Footy was a lot different back in Langlands’ day.
Langlands’ family have been an incredible pillar of support as the old champion adjusts to his new life in the nursing home.

He was moved from Port Stephens to Sutherland three months ago to be closer to his family and friends including legendary boxing trainer Johnny Lewis, former TV commentator Barry Ross and old team mates who visit him regularly.

Langlands’ daughter Monique speaks on behalf of the family.

“We’re not blaming rugby league for dad’s condition,” she said. “It’s a contact sport and it’s the way it was played in those days.

“But it’s important for the people who say ‘bring back the biff’ that they can see what the head knocks have done to dad.

“It might be fun watching it from the sidelines or on TV but there are consequences. Everything the NRL is doing to prevent concussed players from staying out there is great.”

“Life’s not too bad,” he says, “I’d like to be outside, but … It’s pretty good here — I’ll be OK.”

 

[jirskyr]

The majority of people suffering Alzheimers haven't taken a lot of head knocks.
Chang has put away a lot of the amber fluid over the years and enjoyed his life - who knows what really causes it.
P.S One of the greatest players I have seen.

Totally agree on the science of it, the cause of Alzheimer's is still unknown. The symptoms are well known but there are very many possible causes and as you note most ppl who develop AD do not have a history of concussions.

And I know this because I work in the field.

 

[happy_tiger]

Very sad story Changa I believe lost his house to some unscrupulous pig businessman as well

Alzheimer's is a horrible disease and to see people you love suffer from it is the worst thing imaginable

 

[happy_tiger]

Apologies. . . Difficult To Copy On Phone. . . Photo Captions Etc Included
\
\
Rugby league Immortal Graeme Langlands paying the price for a life lived to the full and a career full of head injuries
PHIL ROTHFIELD Sports-editor-at-large, The Sunday Telegraph
April 2, 2017 12:00am
Subscriber only
AS a rugby league Immortal, Graeme “Changa” Langlands was as fearless as they come. In 13 years playing for St George and Australia, he never took a backward step, never backed out of a tackle.

Now, 40 years on, the footy legend with the dragon-sized heart is paying the price.

A leading neurologist claims old football head injuries have contributed to the brain deterioration that has resulted in Langlands being placed in a Sutherland Shire nursing home suffering Alzheimer’s disease and needing 24-hour care to go about his daily tasks.
\
\
Langlands was part of a legendary Kangaroos side.
From his room in the Lark Ellen nursing facility this week, the former St George, NSW and Kangaroos superstar struggled to complete his sentences as he spoke of his sad decline from football hero.

Langlands, 75, has not just lost his memory, but also his house and life savings from a failed venture in 2011 which led fraud squad detectives to investigate his business partner.

His neurologist, Professor Raymond Garrick, said in Langlands’ medical reports that “a clear history of multiple concussive head injuries during his sporting career” had contributed to his Alzheimer’s disease.

This is a hard interview. Langlands talks slowly and struggles to complete a sentence.

His daughter Monique is there help out. His short term memory is gone.

He doesn’t know Josh Dugan is the St George Illawarra fullback.

He asks if the long-retired Steve Edge is still playing.

WHY DID NRL WAIT FOR CONCUSSION CRACKDOWN?
\
\
Langlands was renowned for living life to the full, on and off the field.
It’s sad when you walk into his room and think this is now the home of one of the country’s greatest sporting athletes.

The name we used to see on the old SCG scoreboard is on the wall at the back of his bed with a warning sign “High risk of fall”. He has slipped a couple of times in recent weeks.

It’s easy to blame the fact Langland’s has had a “hard” life.

The nights out and drinking escapades with teammates Johnny Raper and Billy Smith are legendary. Even on the evening before a game.

As Monique said: “They played in the red and white but they were certainly no Saints.”

But his doctors are convinced the fall in 2008 and old concussions are partially to blame.

Langlands still watches most NRL games on television. He has a poster on his wall of the Cronulla Sharks grand final team, not his beloved Dragons.

“St George never made it — and I’m living in the Sharks area,” he said.

He appears to be enjoying himself as the nursing home’s most illustrious patient. The nursing staff bring him a cup of tea and pikelets with jam and cream as we’re talking.

He still gets chipped by other patients about the white boots he famously wore in the 1975 grand final, a 38-nil loss to Eastern Suburbs at the SCG.

“Jesus, do you have to bring the bloody boots up,” he says, “There’s that many blokes in here who mention them. I threw them over a set of goalposts in England. They’re long gone.”

To help pay for his medical costs and other expenses, the family have set up the Graeme Langlands Trust fund.

He signs old photos, footballs and jerseys and the money raised goes towards the junior rugby league club in Picton where his grandsons play rugby league, country junior clinics and other charities.
\
\
Langlands still gets some support from the NRL. Photo: Gregg Porteous
The NRL is aware of Langland’s health problems and have been good to him. They still invite him to functions and provide a hire car to get him and a carer there and back home.

The NRL recently imposed $350,000 in fines to the Gold Coast Titans, the Newcastle Knights and St George Illawarra as part of a major concussion crackdown to avoid threats of future legal action from players and compensation claims like those in America’s NFL.

The NFL has paid out almost $2 billion in brain injury compensation to former footballers.

Not that Langlands is even thinking about legal action. He’s happy living off the pension, which covers his nursing costs and the occasional outing.

The problem is that his medical specialists cannot conclusively define the cause of his illness.

He suffered head injuries when he fell off the back of a car during a parade of former rugby league legends before the 2008 World Cup final in Brisbane. And he is renowned for enjoying a beer and a good time.
\
\
Langlands is treated by medical staff after falling from a car on a lap of honour.
When contacted, prominent St Vincent’s Hospital Professor Garrick said he stands by his 2014 diagnosis that multiple concussions contributed to Langlands’ condition.

He said Langlands had been a “model” patient who has worked hard to achieve a healthier lifestyle.

Concussion tests were not around during Langlands’ career of 13 years in rugby league. Not in the era of head-high tackles, brawls and stiff arms, and long before punches and shoulder charges were outlawed by the NRL.

He had the most lethal sidestep in the game and was always heavily marked by opposing teams.

Old players recall if you got knocked out the trainer would generally run onto the field, hold two fingers up and ask: “How many fingers can you see?” If the concussed player had blurred vision and didn’t know, a team mate would run past and give him the answer. It was a sign of softness to leave the field.
\
\
Footy was a lot different back in Langlands’ day.
Langlands’ family have been an incredible pillar of support as the old champion adjusts to his new life in the nursing home.

He was moved from Port Stephens to Sutherland three months ago to be closer to his family and friends including legendary boxing trainer Johnny Lewis, former TV commentator Barry Ross and old team mates who visit him regularly.

Langlands’ daughter Monique speaks on behalf of the family.

“We’re not blaming rugby league for dad’s condition,” she said. “It’s a contact sport and it’s the way it was played in those days.

“But it’s important for the people who say ‘bring back the biff’ that they can see what the head knocks have done to dad.

“It might be fun watching it from the sidelines or on TV but there are consequences. Everything the NRL is doing to prevent concussed players from staying out there is great.”

“Life’s not too bad,” he says, “I’d like to be outside, but … It’s pretty good here — I’ll be OK.”

Thanks Ink for going to that trouble , truly appreciated