A movie about concussions is coming to a theater near you on Christmas Day.
Will Smith figures that the subject is important enough that he hung his star on it.
Will Smith as important Bennet Omalu. (From SONY)
I’ve seen the trailers for Concussion on the big screen. I’m a football fan, have been my whole life. Yet I’ve become increasingly concerned about what’s happening out there to these fellows because of the shots they take to their head. Football, the world is finally coming to grips with, is dangerous to the brain.
Why does this serious subject find itself on the Blog of Funny Names, you ask?
From his WikiPedia page:
“Omalu was born on September 1968, the sixth of seven siblings. He was born during the Nigerian Civil War, which had caused his family to flee from their home in the predominantly Igbo village of Enugwu-Ukwu in southeastern Nigeria. They later returned, two years after Omalu’s birth. Omalu’s mother was a seamstress and his father a civil mining engineer and community leader in Enugwu-Ukwu. The family name, Omalu, is a shortened form of the surname, Onyemalukwubew, which translates to ‘if you know, come forth and speak.’ ”
The real Bennet Omalu. (From PBS)
Omalu came to America in 1994 to study epidemiology at the University of Washington. In 1995, he left for Columbia University’s Harlem Hospital Center and switched to anatomic and clinical pathology.
After residency, he moved to Pittsburgh and took up forensic pathology, and became interested in neuropathology.
That takes us to the brain, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the NFL, Will Smith and the upcoming movie.
In short, Omalu studied how the hard knocks of football drastically hurt NFL players. NFL players did not like what he found. It got ugly.
From a review on Time.com by Sean Gregory: “Omalu faces off against the film’s bogeyman, the NFL, which goes all out to crush his findings. The league tries to discredit Omalu as a quack, even though, as we find out at the beginning of the film, he has about a dozen degrees. The racial overtones are clear: Who’s this African guy mucking with America’s passion? Omalu is harassed, and even receives a death threat.”
Oh, yeah, lest I forget. Omalu’s wife is played by one of my BoFN favorite actresses, Gugu Mbatha-Raw.
Here’s the source for the photo of Will Smith.
Here’s the source for the photo of Bennet Omalu.
Here’s the link to Bennet Omalu’s WikiPedia page.
Here’s the link to the Time review.
The Blog of Funny Names 
Hi Mark, I just read an article yesterday about how some doctors are saying kids should not even start playing football until after they are 18 years old because of the damage inflicted upon the brain. I know when my son went out for football all I could think about was him getting a horrific head injury and him having to deal with that the rest of his life. Luckily he decided football wasn’t for him, although they said he would have been a shoo in for a full scholarship at 6’6″ and 250lbs (and he is only 17). Oh well, I am relieved about it.
SD Gates… does that name have any connection to one of San Diego’s best football players… Antonio Gates? That’s what I think of when I see “SD Gates”
No, no connection to him or to Bill (unfortunately). I have seen that name as well, I didn’t know he was a football player.
I am conficted, SD. I love watching the game but hate the ramifications that are starting to become so evident. And it’s not just football, but all contact sports. Even soccer, with heading the ball, I heard on a radio talk show yesterday, has dangers for growing youth.
I accidentally headed a ball while playing soccer when I was much younger – it really hurt!!!!
I could hardly contact the ball with my feet, no less my head, SD!
Hmm… so many juicy little morsels in this post… I’m intrigued that the players didn’t like his research. I would have thought the executives would’ve been more averse to it.
Gugu Mbatha-Raw is one of those amazing amazing amazing names that pleases me every time I read it, haha. I want her to be more and more famous because that name is superb!
Getting degrees ain’t easy… it’s impressive when someone has as many as him.
I thought of you at least 50 times when I reseached and wrote this post, King Dave. It’s right in your wheelhouse because of sports, medicine, and Funny Names!
i love the names and love his story. i’m really looking forward to seeing this. i’ve been concerned about this as well, and wonder what i would do if i was raising a son who wanted to play –
Me, too, Beth. It’s a big dilemma for we football fans.
Excellent! Willard Carroll Smith Jr. making a movie about Bennet Onyemalukwubew co-starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw. It’s gold, Jerry, gold!
Should be an interesting flick. Great subject matter for sure. Reminds me of The Insider, just with less Pacino yelling on a beach, and more accents.
One review said Willard nailed the Nigerian accent and another said he botched it. Can’t trust movie reviewers at all, Arto!
This alone is amazing: Onyemalukwubew, which translates to ‘if you know, come forth and speak.’ I like that concept. It also sounds like a Nigerian Santa. On, Yemalu, On Kwubew, On Dancer and Vixen…
Happy Holidays. Keep your mind clear. That’s a Christmas message for sure, Kerbey!
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Diddy descends upon the Gridiron Gods with his Blurb Maker a-blazin’! 🙂