Monday’s news surrounding health and safety in sports:

* Boston Globe columnist Christopher L. Gasper has challenged the NHL to ban fighting to further the league’s push for health and safety. The columnist said it seems counterproductive in the push to limit concussions.

In this age of acute concussion awareness, it’s time for the NHL to KO fighting. Pucks pacifism won’t be popular with the paying customers or players like Thornton, but that’s a small price to pay to protect the brains of NHL players.
I’m not anti-fighting. I’m just anti-brain damage.
With all researchers have discovered about the link between repeated blows to the head of athletes and their deleterious long-term effects on the brain, it would seem self-evident that writing off taking punches as an occupational hazard is sporting negligence.
Claiming it’s tradition, necessary in the name of hockey canon or for entertainment value is justifying, not justification.

* The Chronicle of Philanthropy profiled former Jacksonville Jaguars owner Delores Barr Weaver, who has made a point to help controversial causes like preventing teenage pregnancy, ending what she calls an epidemic of rape and sexual assault in the military, and helping girls who are caught up in sex trafficking and the juvenile-justice system.

* Steelers.com talked to a number of players who allow their sons to play football.

* Sports On Earth’s Patrick Hruby criticized the NFL’s timeline commercial during the Super Bowl because he said it covers up some of the issues the league is facing.

* Montgomery County (Md) is considering spending $500,000 to add athletic trainers at its schools, Patch.com reported.

– Bill Bradley, contributing editor