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Praise for Truth Doesn’t Have a Side If you want to understand Dr. Bennet Omalu, don’t look at the acronyms that come after his name or read the papers he’s authored; listen to his laugh. It’s the laugh of someone who possesses the freedom that can only come when you know that you are doing exactly what you were destined to do. Will Smith The name Bennet Omalu is one that many people may not be familiar with. But if you are a current or former athlete, a wife or a significant other of an athlete, or a parent of an athlete who competes or has competed in a contact sport that could produce concussions, his is a name you should know. His discovery of CTE gave a name to a cause of a neurological condition that many former athletes suffered from later in life. For many former football players like me, Dr. Omalu is our hero because he was that one person astute and bold enough to dig deeper in his neuropathology research to discover the cause of neurological ailments that may have af- fected countless former athletes long after the cheering stopped. Harry Carson, New York Giants (1976–1988), and a member of the Professional Football Hall of Fame, class of 2006 Truth Doesn’t Have a Side is a critically important book. If you care about your brain or the brains of those you love, please read it. Daniel G. Amen, MD, author of Memory Rescue Dr. Bennet Omalu’s tireless pursuit of the truth is inspiring, and being able to relive his journey alongside him makes it all the more incredible. The world is a better place with doctors like Bennet Omalu in it. Giannina Scott, actress and producer 9780310351962_TruthDoesntSide_int_HC.indd 1 6/9/17 1:05 PM The world craves elite examples of courage from selfless crusaders who genuinely care first about the needs of others. Dr. Omalu is that man, and his story will inspire you and challenge the sleeping hero in each of us! Ben Utecht, musician, former NFL player, and author of Counting the Days While My Mind Slips Away Truth Doesn’t Have a Side is a provocative, passionate, and enlightening discussion of football, forensic science, and religious faith. Dr. Bennet Omalu’s research has focused much-needed attention on sports-related brain injuries. Whether readers agree or disagree with Dr. Omalu’s dramatic conclusions, they will find his life story fascinating, highly informative, and truly remarkable. Dr. Cyril Wecht, forensic pathologist and medicolegal consultant; past president, American Academy of Forensic Sciences and American College of Legal Medicine Truth Doesn’t Have a Side tells the remarkable story of Dr. Bennet Omalu’s journey of perseverance in an imperfect world and his reliance on the absolute faithfulness of God. It is the story of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. Father Carmen D’Amico, pastor of Miraculous Medal Parish, Meadow Lands, Pennsylvania 9780310351962_TruthDoesntSide_int_HC.indd 2 6/9/17 1:05 PM TRUTH DOESN’T HAVE A SIDE My Alarming Discovery about the Danger of Contact Sports DR. BENNET OMALU with Mark Tabb 9780310351962_TruthDoesntSide_int_HC.indd 5 6/9/17 1:05 PM ZONDERVAN Truth Doesn’t Have a Side Copyright © 2017 by Dr. Bennet I. Omalu Requests for information should be addressed to: Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546 ISBN 978-0-310-35196-2 (hardcover) ISBN 978-0-310-35254-9 (ebook) All Scripture references, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. Used by permission of the copyright owner. All rights reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book. This book was written to inform the public and is not intended to give medical advice or serve as a substitute for medical expertise. Readers seeking medical advice or assistance should consult a competent and licensed medical professional. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means— electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other— except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher. Cover design: Curt Diepenhorst Cover photo: Mel Melcon / Getty Images® Interior design: Kait Lamphere First Printing June 2017 / Printed in the United States of America 9780310351962_TruthDoesntSide_int_HC.indd 6 6/9/17 1:05 PM To my wife, Prema, my daughter, Ashly, and my son, Mark— you are all I live for. I love you. 9780310351962_TruthDoesntSide_int_HC.indd 7 6/9/17 1:05 PM Contents Foreword by Will Smith ..........................11 Preface: God Did Not Intend for Human Beings to Play Football .............................13 1. My Father’s Son ..............................17 2. Child of War ................................27 3. To Be Myself ................................37 4. Answered Prayer ..............................45 5. “Heaven Is Here, and America Is Here” .............55 6. Welcome to America. 67 7. Through the Wilderness ........................77 8. Land of Contradictions .........................87 9. A Bold Gamble ...............................99 10. Finding Myself ..............................109 11. A Divine Appointment. .119 12. Prema .....................................129 13. A Game- Changing Diagnosis ...................139 14. Nearly Over before It Begins ....................151 15. The NFL = Big Tobacco .......................163 16. “In the Name of Christ, Stop!” ..................177 17. The Baton Is Passed ..........................187 18. Marginalized, Minimalized, Ostracized ............199 19. I Wish I’d Never Met Mike Webster ..............211 20. Finding Life in the Wilderness ..................223 21. Omalu Goes Hollywood. 233 22. Concussion ..................................245 9780310351962_TruthDoesntSide_int_HC.indd 9 6/9/17 1:05 PM 23. From Doctor to Dad: What Will I Say When My Son Asks, “Can I Play Football, Pleeeaaaassse?” ...255 Afterword: “I Bet My Medical License That O. J. Simpson Has CTE” ....................265 Appendix: Questions from Parents about Brain Trauma and Contact Sports, Especially Football ............269 Acknowledgments. 285 Notes ......................................289 Index ......................................295 9780310351962_TruthDoesntSide_int_HC.indd 10 6/9/17 1:05 PM Foreword used to love football. Some of my fondest memories came watching I my oldest son, Trey, stretch for the pylon beneath Friday Night Lights. He was a wide receiver; I was a proud dad doing my best to keep from running onto that field myself. That’s the nice thing about being a spectator: it’s easy, when you’re watching from the safety of the sidelines. One step forward, though, and the game— like life— has a way of hitting you in the mouth. But shock can be good for the system. Challenge yourself, and you’ll likely be surprised at what you learn. And what did I learn from playing the role of a Nigerian- born forensic pathologist in Concussion? I learned what it means to be American. If you want to understand Dr. Bennet Omalu, don’t look at the acronyms that come after his name or read the papers he’s authored; listen to his laugh. It’s the laugh of someone who possesses the freedom that can only come when you know that you are doing exactly what you were destined to do. It was that laugh— not the accent, the body language, or the medical jargon— that I knew I had to capture if I hoped to do justice to Dr. Omalu and his legacy. And while many will cite his discovery of CTE as his lasting contribution, I choose to point to his fearlessness in the face of derision, exile, and skepticism. That courage is what is quintessentially American about Dr. Omalu: when everyone thought him a kook, a fraud, or worse, he persevered and held fast to what he scientifically knew to be true, at great personal and professional risk. Life punched him in the mouth, but he kept fighting. He endured that initial shock in order to bring closure to the grieving families of so many whose deaths would have otherwise gone ignored or misdiagnosed. I still love football. Ironically, I have Dr. Omalu to thank for that. 11 9780310351962_TruthDoesntSide_int_HC.indd 11 6/9/17 1:05 PM Truth Doesn’t Have a Side While Trey wore a helmet and pads and Dr. Omalu wears a white coat, they have something in common: day after day, they fought, yard by yard, to attain something they knew they deserved— a touchdown, or the truth. And what’s more American than that? Thank you, Dr. Omalu, for reminding me why I love this game, and this country. Will Smith 12 9780310351962_TruthDoesntSide_int_HC.indd 12 6/9/17 1:05 PM Preface God Did Not Intend for Human Beings to Play Football herever I go, people ask me one question more than any other: W“Dr. Omalu, is it safe for my child to play football?” The answer is simple. “No. It is not.” I believe God did not make human beings to play football, especially children. Full- contact football is not safe for children, nor do I believe football can be made safe for adults. Of course, an adult can weigh the risks and rewards of playing and make the decision for himself or herself. Children cannot do so, for their brain, mind, intellect, intuition, and understanding are not yet fully developed. As a society, we recognize this fact and do not allow children to smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, or engage in other high- risk activities.