Posted on 03/07/2005 3:16:50 PM PST by SmithL
OAKLAND - Former Oakland Raider Marcus Williams has suffered "irreversible" brain damage as a result of being punched in the face in August 2003 by then-teammate Bill Romanowski, a doctor testified today.
Dr. William Mathews, who has 37 years' experience as a brain surgeon, testified in Alameda County Superior Court in Oakland as a witness for Williams in the ex-player's multimillion-dollar civil lawsuit against Romanowski.
Williams, 27, alleges his promising National Football League career when Romanowski knocked his helmet off and delivered a practice-field uppercut on Aug. 24, 2003. James Brosnahan, Williams' lead attorney, said the punch broke Williams' eye socket and caused brain trauma, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Mathews, who is affiliated with several Bay Area hospitals including John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek and Mount Diablo Medical Center in Concord, testified today about his observations of the effects of the blow.
"Overall, I think that Marcus Williams has a traumatic injury to his brain that in some aspects is irreversible," Mathews testified.
The surgeon said the injury has manifested itself in changes in Williams' personality and has also affected his intellect, speech, memory, vision and balance. Some of those changes, the doctor testified, are "probably irreversible."
Several of Williams' family members, including his mother and grandmother, testified last week in the civil trial that the punch had broken his spirit, transforming him from an upbeat and gregarious young man to someone who is now irritable and withdrawn.
Romanowski's attorney have rejected that notion that the punch resulted in any serious injuries and have characterized Williams as a marginal player now looking for an illegitimate payday.
Mathews is expected to continue testifying this afternoon.
There you have it: Irrefutable proof that Williams is entitled to $$$$$millions$$$$$$ of dollars of someone else's money.
ROFLMAO
[DevSix replied:] To some extent - yeah (especially when you have helped provoke the situation) -
And on another extent - You are da*n thankful to have exactly these type men out on the tip of the spear with regard to the front lines of the WOT - It is exactly these type men who (not wimps) who are fighting and winning our WOT -
These type men don't come out of wimps who sue simply over a fight on a practice field. Two completely different animals - and because of them you sleep better at night whether you like to admit it or not.
JACK NICHOLSON! IS THAT YOU? Come on, you ordered the code red didn't you?
I've been following the thread, and I was just curious DevSix - since it is out of the question that one player would shoot another, but a "fight" is A-OK... where is the line? If Romo had continued to pummel this guy - how many hits? If he had jumped up and down on his face, how many jumps or seconds of face jumping are acceptable? If Romo had started to smash the guy in the head with the torn off helmet just where does it stop being competitive football and cross the line into assault? Once you have given an answer, I have a follow up question - who the heck are you to say so? Why do you get to set that line - that limit? I think I should get to, and not you. Or perhaps Blowfish should be able to. Or wait! Here's an idea - let's have a court do it, since it is their job.
Are we sue happy in this country? Yup. Should it be curtailed? I think so. Where? I'm not sure, but at least I know enough to say so.
And BTW, Romo was not in Iraq, he was on the practice field. Our troops are fighting for freedom and, intermittently, for their lives. To draw comparisons with a jackass who is trying to get out of responsibility for his latest bout of roid-rage is low. While I understand the comparison you are trying to make, to equate this in any way with the WOT is lame.
Well written. There are lots of great athletes that understand how to control their emotions. Lots of athletes who are worthy of respect. Romo is not on that list.
If this surgeon has a second career testifying on the intellect of football players, I wouldn't be surprised to discover that he picks up chump change in his free time sexing chicken eggs.
Try again - Read what I wrote not what others have simply misread - I never equated Romo with our troops - What I said was those who happen to get into a fight...or those who happen to get punched AND THEN run and sue are not the type of people we have at the tip of our spear in the WOT -
Those who would simply suck it up and deal with the situation (outside of running to a court room) are the type that are out there leading on the WOT -
The mindset of the people is what I was referencing nothing to do with Romo whatsoever (go read what I wrote and what I was addressing). Don't simply make straw-man arguments.
Your above statement is so intellectually empty I don't even know where to being (though your line of reasoning was already addressed somewhere prior).
However you are taking a ludicrous extension to what took place - No one was killed or even close -
By your logic why don't we through everybody who gets a speeding ticket into jail for 5 to 7 years....because reckless speeding could potential kill people and therefore they should get jail time regardless if anyone was actually killed
This was a fight on a football field. Simple as that - It was not an attempted murder (please). Romo said after the fact he was sorry.
There was a time in America where a simple apology from a grown man would have been more than enough. Today we run to court rooms....buy doctors to say we are terribly hurt and sue for millions.
Ok by me. Split those hairs any way you want; I disagree. Readers can decide for themselves. I've said what I had to say; thanks for posting.
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