PR Log - Aug 23, 2011 - RESISTANCE Pro has become the first professional wrestling promotion in the world to join the Chicago Concussion Coalition and Sports Legacy Institute. Founded by former WWE wrestler Christopher Nowinski and Dr. Robert Cantu, the Sports Legacy Institute (SLI) was founded in 2007 in reaction to the epidemic of brain trauma suffered by athletes due to both concussive and non-concussive head injuries. The SLI is working in conjunction with the Chicago Concussion Coalition to provide Advanced Concussion Trainings (ACT) to benefit thousands of Chicago student athletes, coaches, athletic directors/trainers, medical professionals, parents and concerned citizens.
In a press conference held in conjunction with the Illinois Eye Institute (IEI), RESISTANCE Pro Creative Director (and Smashing Pumpkins founder) Billy Corgan explained "(I know I received at least one concussion) it might have been 20, it might have been 15, it might have been 40" playing youth sports such as basketball and baseball. Corgan recalled a story about being knocked out by an accidental elbow to the face during a basketball game and being told that he had just gotten his bell rung and to get back in to the game. “There was no culture there to say, ‘Are you OK?’” Corgan elaborated, “Getting your head hurt was like, that’s something you could overcome.”
With being Creative Director for Chicago based professional wrestling promotion RESISTANCE Pro, Corgan said that he and partners Jacques and Gabriel Baron are taking every precaution to make sure that their athletes are protected from concussions."We're banning chairshots to the head and making sure that all of our talent is trained and aware of the serious nature of the SLI's findings" Corgan said. “You can’t take all the risk out, but you can minimize the risk,” he continued. "There's a pressure on them to perform even when they're hurt, and we even had a situation here in Chicago where our quarterback Jay Cutler's manhood has been consistently questioned since the end of last season because he took himself out of the game because he was hurt."
Partner Jacques Baron continued "The sport of professional wrestling has lost too many talented athletes in the last 20 years to continue the way it is going. The physical and mental health of our talent is at the forefront of concern for RESISTANCE Pro. We want these men and women to have long and healthy careers so that when they retire, they can enjoy their lives with their families." Baron continued by saying that the biggest goal of RESISTANCE Pro is to be the first wrestling promotion to offer health insurance to their talent. "It (health insurance) should be a given that all wrestling promotions offer to their talent. The fact that it isn't is the best kept secret in the business."
"As Billy has stated before," said Co-Owner Gabriel Baron "we want our talent to know that by working in a safe environment that RESISTANCE Pro is offering, if they don't abide by it and ignore our safety standards, they won't be working for us again." Gabriel continued "We're not threatening our talent with these standards, we're trying to protect them and insure they have a long, healthy future - both in and out of the ring." Baron went on to cite the example of SLI founder Christopher Nowinski as a prime example of the results of concussions on the professional wrestling industry "The three of us felt that for all the talent that Chris had in the ring, he never reached his peak due to having to retire because of the concussions he received before the age of 30. Even though he was forced to retire in the prime of his wrestling career, what he's done through the SLI is far more important and resonant to this business. His (and the SLI's) work will undoubtedly change all sports - at every level - for the better."
Jacques Baron concluded "To start a new wrestling promotion is an uphill battle - we have naysayers and critics attacking us before our first show has even happened. But by showing the wrestling community that we care as much for these talented men and women as they do by working with the SLI and Chicago Concussion Coalition should answer a lot of questions everyone has. We're not here as a vanity project or to make a quick buck at the expense of our talent. We're here to hopefully help the industry by being at the forefront of necessary change that affects all athletes."
"If that's the mark that we leave on professional wrestling, then we're already a success."
- - -
RESISTANCE Pro is an independently owned and operated professional wrestling promotion based out of Chicago, IL. It was founded in 2011 by Creative Director Billy Corgan and co-owners Jacques and Gabriel Baron. Their first show will be taking place on Friday November 25th, 2011 at the legendary Excalibur night club in Chicago (632 North Dearborn Street). For further information on RESISTANCE Pro or to sponsor the event, please visit their website at http://www.RESISTANCEpro.com and via Twitter at @RESISTANCE_Pro.
Read Full Story - Billy Corgan and RESISTANCE Pro join Chicago Concussion Coalition | More news from this source
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In a press conference held in conjunction with the Illinois Eye Institute (IEI), RESISTANCE Pro Creative Director (and Smashing Pumpkins founder) Billy Corgan explained "(I know I received at least one concussion) it might have been 20, it might have been 15, it might have been 40" playing youth sports such as basketball and baseball. Corgan recalled a story about being knocked out by an accidental elbow to the face during a basketball game and being told that he had just gotten his bell rung and to get back in to the game. “There was no culture there to say, ‘Are you OK?’” Corgan elaborated, “Getting your head hurt was like, that’s something you could overcome.”
With being Creative Director for Chicago based professional wrestling promotion RESISTANCE Pro, Corgan said that he and partners Jacques and Gabriel Baron are taking every precaution to make sure that their athletes are protected from concussions."We're banning chairshots to the head and making sure that all of our talent is trained and aware of the serious nature of the SLI's findings" Corgan said. “You can’t take all the risk out, but you can minimize the risk,” he continued. "There's a pressure on them to perform even when they're hurt, and we even had a situation here in Chicago where our quarterback Jay Cutler's manhood has been consistently questioned since the end of last season because he took himself out of the game because he was hurt."
Partner Jacques Baron continued "The sport of professional wrestling has lost too many talented athletes in the last 20 years to continue the way it is going. The physical and mental health of our talent is at the forefront of concern for RESISTANCE Pro. We want these men and women to have long and healthy careers so that when they retire, they can enjoy their lives with their families." Baron continued by saying that the biggest goal of RESISTANCE Pro is to be the first wrestling promotion to offer health insurance to their talent. "It (health insurance) should be a given that all wrestling promotions offer to their talent. The fact that it isn't is the best kept secret in the business."
"As Billy has stated before," said Co-Owner Gabriel Baron "we want our talent to know that by working in a safe environment that RESISTANCE Pro is offering, if they don't abide by it and ignore our safety standards, they won't be working for us again." Gabriel continued "We're not threatening our talent with these standards, we're trying to protect them and insure they have a long, healthy future - both in and out of the ring." Baron went on to cite the example of SLI founder Christopher Nowinski as a prime example of the results of concussions on the professional wrestling industry "The three of us felt that for all the talent that Chris had in the ring, he never reached his peak due to having to retire because of the concussions he received before the age of 30. Even though he was forced to retire in the prime of his wrestling career, what he's done through the SLI is far more important and resonant to this business. His (and the SLI's) work will undoubtedly change all sports - at every level - for the better."
Jacques Baron concluded "To start a new wrestling promotion is an uphill battle - we have naysayers and critics attacking us before our first show has even happened. But by showing the wrestling community that we care as much for these talented men and women as they do by working with the SLI and Chicago Concussion Coalition should answer a lot of questions everyone has. We're not here as a vanity project or to make a quick buck at the expense of our talent. We're here to hopefully help the industry by being at the forefront of necessary change that affects all athletes."
"If that's the mark that we leave on professional wrestling, then we're already a success."
- - -
RESISTANCE Pro is an independently owned and operated professional wrestling promotion based out of Chicago, IL. It was founded in 2011 by Creative Director Billy Corgan and co-owners Jacques and Gabriel Baron. Their first show will be taking place on Friday November 25th, 2011 at the legendary Excalibur night club in Chicago (632 North Dearborn Street). For further information on RESISTANCE Pro or to sponsor the event, please visit their website at http://www.RESISTANCEpro.com and via Twitter at @RESISTANCE_Pro.
Read Full Story - Billy Corgan and RESISTANCE Pro join Chicago Concussion Coalition | More news from this source
Press release distribution by PRLog
