September 14, 2004
A Comeback, Of Sorts
Former New York Jets wide receiver Al Toon finished his first Ironman triathlon, completing the 2.4 mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and 26.2 mile marathon in just under 14 hours.
An amazing achievement yes, but not exactly out of the ordinary, at least at first glance. After all, Toon, who competed at the 1984 U.S. Olympic trials in triple jump and hurdles is a world class athlete.
That is, if you don't recall the circumstances around Toon's retirement in 1992:
Toon, former wide receiver for the New York Jets, retired in 1992 after suffering what he believes was his 13th concussion in his eight years in the NFL. He still suffers from post-concussion syndrome. On many days he is irritable, and he cannot even watch his three children ride a merry-go-round without getting dizzy himself. He is also easily fatigued and sensitive to light. Concussions have apparently altered his life forever.
Well, apparently not forever after all, which is wonderful news. Congratulations, Al.
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08:21 PM