November 23, 2009

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle:

A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 7 comments

The NY Times covers the latest NFL response to the head injuries problem:

In a shift in the National Football League's approach to handling concussions, the league will soon require teams to receive advice from independent neurologists while treating players with brain injuries, several people with knowledge of the plan confirmed Sunday. For generations, decisions on when players who sustain concussions should return to play have been made by doctors and trainers employed by the team, raising questions of possible conflicts of interest when coaches and owners want players to return more quickly than proper care would suggest. [....] The hot line was in response to the story of Ted Johnson, a former New England Patriots linebacker who said he was coerced by Patriots Coach Belichick into playing too soon after a concussion, and sustained a more serious injury that led to a debilitating case of postconcussion syndrome. (Belichick denied the accusation.) Requiring an independent doctor at games or for follow-up consultation would protect against similar incidents that players say are less overt but nonetheless prevalent in a league without guaranteed contracts.

An independent doctor cannot address what many experts consider the primary area needing reform: the tendency of players who sustain concussions to hide them from medical personnel and endanger themselves. Even Sean Morey, a special-teams player for the Arizona Cardinals who is a co-chairman of the union's committee on brain injuries, admitted this season that he played a game despite a concussion.

posted by rumple at 12:01 PM on November 23, 2009

One freaking half-point. That cost us another Trifecta. Fortunately, Indy came through on our Lock again to save another mediocre week.

And we must have ticked off the Cleveland offense. In that same spirit, hey, Washington offense -- you suck!

Yeah, we know -- nothing will help that.

Lock of the Week: Indianapolis
Trifecta: San Diego, Green Bay, Indianapolis

2009 Week 11 Hoser Picks (pending Monday night):
Straight Up: 13-2
Against The Spread: 7-8
Lock of the Week: 1-0
Trifecta: 0-1
Money: $220

2009 Season Hoser Picks
Straight Up: 113-45
Against The Spread: 86-72-1
Lock of the Week: 6-5
Trifecta: 3-8
Money: $1,930

2009 Week 10 Money Spent: $20
2009 Week 10 Money Made: $0
2009 Season Money Spent: $205
2009 Season Money Made: $200
2009 Total: $-5

posted by wfrazerjr at 02:39 PM on November 23, 2009

Study claims hoop refs try to even score in foul calls

These professors need to expand their study to include NBA and the star player effect.

posted by graymatters at 03:27 PM on November 23, 2009

The buzz from some insiders is Derek Jeter will be SI's Sportsman of the Year.

posted by JButton at 03:31 PM on November 23, 2009

Wigan players have offered to refund their travelling fans after the 9-1 loss to Spurs on the weekend.

posted by owlhouse at 03:47 PM on November 23, 2009

In news that nobody probably cares about except alums like me, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, has announced that it will drop football as a varsity sport. The program had been in place since 1933. In my opinion, had the program moved 30 or 40 years ago to upgrade facilities, perhaps they would not have made this move. To attempt an upgrade now would be prohibitive in cost, and maintaining the program as is also is not the best use of resources. My gut reaction is, "Where are the students now going to drink on Saturday afternoons in the fall?"

posted by Howard_T at 05:15 PM on November 23, 2009

This guy did something ESPN deemed noteworthy...

posted by MeatSaber at 05:43 PM on November 23, 2009

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