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had broken his spirit, transforming him from an upbeat and gregarious young man to someone who is now irritable and withdrawn.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.
Yeah. Mutual combat.
Would you feel the same if he was a mediocre linebacker? It sounds like you're cutting him slack because he was good. He doesn't deserve it. This man has been out of control for years. What he did was beyond the fights that go on in practice. He needs to be subject to punitive action before her kills someone. The authorities couldn't or wouldn't file a criminal complaint, so the civil action was the only recourse. Don't lump this into the category of a frivolous lawsuit.
Fights are not a risk inherent in football.
Romanowski committed an act that was both tortious and criminal. End of story.
Ummm, no. A sucker punch broke out on the practice field, and Romo wasnt even involved in the play. He is an ass, and deserves to lose his ass in this suit. I hope he does...JFK
Yes, ESPN's "Playmakers" was entirely fictitious and not at all reflective of the National Football League. ;P
You have never played football at any competitive level - Your statement above confirms this - Fights at practice are routine in football - You may not like it...but that is a fact -
This is as heavily qualified a piece of 'expert witness' testimony as I've ever heard.
Sounds like a bogus auto insurance claim by some shakedown artist.
Correct me if I am wrong, but ripping off a teammate's helmet and punching him in the face is not part of the normal day to day occurrences in the NFL. Within sports there are unwritten rules that players do not violate. What Romo did falls within a violation of those rules. The dude is and always has been a mental patient who should have been kicked out of the NFL long ago.
Have you ever played football? You have a problem with someone, on the next play you track him down and light him up within the rules of the game. Then you help him up and do it again on the next play. That way at least he has a chance to defend himself.
This was a cheap shot and nothing more. To consider people wimps because this idiot acted outside of the rules of play, written and unwritten, is truly sad...
Maybe it's qualified because the doctor has never seen a patient whose eyesocket was jammed into his brain by some roid-raging cro magnon in a sucker-punch sneak attack.
It was dealt with - Deal with it - What you do is grow a sack - you don't run and sue -
Please. We growing a nation of wimps.
Me, I'll just wait to see how the trial shakes out.
Hmmm. Is that Romo's story of the week? He was heard complaining the day of the attack of holding, not chop-blocking.
This Williams guy needs to grow a sack.
No matter what, huh?
Right.
Pity your football hero has to be such an ass...it leaves you in an indefensible position that you're too proud to abandon.
Do you realize that if that was enforced we would be minus about half the NHL and a good portion of the NBA?
Might be a good way to weed out the thugs.
LVM
Playing a sport is NOT a license for assault.
Ooh, what a manly man you must be. A guy smashes your eyesocket into your brain and you just...deal with it...walk it off...don't want to be a wimp.
Sorry, that's beyond 'dealt with'. That's 'brain damage inflicted by a borderline psychopath', which should not be a routine part of NFL training camp.
Ahh, the old NHL concept: 'legal system doesn't apply here'. So if Romo had shot the guy in the face, it would be OkeyDokie? Don't want to take it off the field, after all...
You wouldn't have a problem with a hockey player slitting the throat of a competitor with his stick during a game. I mean, that goes without saying.
Have you ever noticed Romo's persona when interviewed by tv media? He likes to portray himself as a soft-spoken, gentle soul who is the embodiment of professionalism. But when the cameras are off, he's a roid-raged freak. I've disliked him ever since the camera caught him spitting in the face of an opposing player on MNF.
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