Former 49er Dwight Clark Says He Has Lou Gherig's Disease (NFC, win)

[DRob4JC]

Former 49ers great Dwight Clark diagnosed with ALS

Dwight Clark, the former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver known for hauling in "The Catch" from Joe Montana to secure a win over the Dallas Cowboys in the 1981 NFC Championship Game, revealed Sunday he has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease.

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"In addition to losing strength in my left hand — which makes opening a pack of sugar or buttoning my shirt impossible — I have now experienced weakness in my right hand, abs, lower back and right leg," Clark wrote. "I can’t run, play golf or walk any distances. Picking up anything over 30 pounds is a chore. The one piece of good news is that the disease seems to be progressing more slowly than in some patients."

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"I’ve been asked if playing football caused this," Clark wrote. "I don’t know for sure. But I certainly suspect it did."

That sucks to hear... Clark is 60 years old.

[DOUBLE H]

Very sad news.

I'm very familiar with this horrible disease. One of my neighbors has recently passed away because of ALS. It slowly and methodically takes away your strength first, then your dignity.

[susancruzs]

Sad indeed, awful disease. Read about this and Sayers this a.m., reminding one, life is short, no guarantees. Sayers wife said another NFL wife told her, don't ever let him out of your sight. She said, he looks fine but the dementia is taking over.

[Labonte18]

I always thought that started with younger folks, but the average age of onset is around 60..

I suppose we just hear more about the early onset cases, like with.. Whats-his-name from the Saints and Lou Gehrig and Steven Hawking, etc.

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by susancruzs

Sad indeed, awful disease. Read about this and Sayers this a.m., reminding one, life is short, no guarantees. Sayers wife said another NFL wife told her, don't ever let him out of your sight. She said, he looks fine but the dementia is taking over.

I read up on Sayers' plight also. My question is that Sayers is 73 years old. An argument could easily be made that the intensification of his dementia may be more due to old age rather than football injuries. I think we can all name someone who suffered through dementia upon turning 60 or older and had not played one day of football.

Regardless my heart goes out to Clark, Sayers, and their families.

[David A Stone]

ALS.....my wife was 66 years old when diagnosed with ALS.
I was her caregiver.


2 years,8 months after being diagnosed she died totally paralyzed.


I have a soft spot in my heart for anyone diagnosed with the disease and for the person's family.


No cure.......no treatment !

[Jonathan Ashbeck]

Very sad! ALS is a terrible disease. Fact, in the beginning of August 2014, many people have competed in the ice bucket challenge to fight ALS.

[49ersfan27]

Very sad news indeed. That disease takes all the strength from your body.

[David A Stone]

What the disease does is the signals from the brain to your muscles quit working.

[Calvert Hall '62]

Not only insensitive, but also inappropriate, confusing ALS with a disease of the mind.


Former Browns QB Bernie Kosar makes insensitive remark about Dwight Clark's ALS | WKYC.com


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He continued, “We had a bad weekend with Gale Sayers being diagnosed, Dwight Clark with ALS,” Kosar said. “I can make a joke about his struggles in picking players when he was here. It almost makes me wonder if maybe it started earlier.”


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