Archives for September 2009

Stafon Johnson USC Running Back Crushes Neck & Larynx

Stafon Johnson, USC’s top football rusher, was injured in a bench-pressing accident Monday when a bar slipped from his  grasp. Last night his condition was considered critical after emergency surgery, but today his doctor’s say he is expected to make a full recovery due to his physical conditioning and musculature around his neck.

Dr. Gudata Hinika, trauma director at California Hospital Medical Center, said at a news conference today that “Had that been any one of us, meaning me, I would not have survived,” Hinika said. “His neck was so solid and so muscular, that actually helped maintain his airway.”

Hinika said Johnson first had an emergency tracheotomy to help him breath. Surgeons then began reconstructive procedures.

“These are the type of injuries, usually it happens in the old days when people did not wear a seat belt,” Hinika said. “You get in an accident and you’re thrown through a windshield.” ... Read More

Wayne Gretzky Retires As Coach of Phoenix Coyotes

Wayne Gretzky announced Thursday he would be stepping down due to the financial turmoil surrounding the team.

As the bankruptcy court battle between Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie and the NHL over the sale of the financially troubled team continues, Gretzky announced on his web site that he was leaving.

“This was a difficult decision that I’ve thought long and hard about,” Gretzky said. “We all hoped there would be a resolution earlier this month to the Coyotes ownership situation, but the decision is taking longer than expected. ... Read More

Plaxico Burress Begins Two Year Sentence On Weapons Charge

Plaxico Burress,  former New York Giants wide receiver,  was taken to jail on Tuesday to begin serving a two-year sentence for gun possession, after accidentally shooting himself at a nightclub last year.

Burress’ football career started taking off after he caught the winning touchdown in the Giants’ Super Bowl win in February 2008.

However, the Giants and the NFL suspended him after he pleaded guilty to a gun possession charge.

Burress accidentally shot himself in the thigh with his own handgun last November while at a New York City nightclub. He did not have a license to carry a gun in New York. ... Read More

Is Tedy Bruschi Patriots Most Popular Player Ever?

There aren’t many things that make Bill Belichick cry. But when Tedy Bruschi recently announced his retirement, the robot-like coach was forced to choke back tears.

Ex New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi may be Patriots most popular player.

Said Belichick, “I’ve had the privilege of coaching a lot of great players and leaders in the National Football League, and I’ll just put Tedy up there with all of them and above all of them. There’s no player that I think epitomizes more of what I believe a player should be on the field, off the field, really, in every situation.” ... Read More

Which NFL Greats Will Be Inducted Into the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

The preliminary list of modern-era nominees for induction in 2010 in the Pro Football Hall was recently released and it’s loaded with big names. Headlining the list are Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith, two of the greatest players in NFL history.

NFL greats  Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith are top contenders for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Other nominees include Tim Brown, Herschel Walker, Andre Reed, Cris Carter, Sterling Sharp and former commissioner Paul Tagliabue. ... Read More

Golfer Makes Million Dollar Hole in One – Video

Jason Hargett Hits Million Dollar Golf Shot.

Look out Tiger Woods!

On Tuesday, September 15th, Jason Hargett participated in the Mark Eaton Celebrity Classic in Utah in one of those “hole-in-one for big bucks” contests. Despite a sore wrist Hargett borrowed his brother’s clubs, and proceeded to participate in the event. The rest is history.

Jason said on “The Early Show” Friday he didn’t feel the pressure of actually making the shot. He said it was the pressure of the crowd pressed close behind him that felt “weird.”

“You go up, and it’s not something you expect to make,” Jason said. ... Read More

How Will Broncos, Bills, Cardinals, Patriots, Cowboys Do In NFL 2009 Season?

With the NFL season upon us, there are numerous interesting story lines. The question is how will some of the NFL teams fare in the 2009-2010 season. NFL teams like the Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys are just a few of the most intriguing story lines. ... Read More

Yankees Blue Jays Fight Posada vs Carlson – Video

Jorge Posada bumps Toronto’s Jesse Carlson after crossing home plate, and the fight begins.

Watch video.

“It got pretty heavy and pretty thick pretty quickly,” Alex Rodriguez said. “I think we’re all fortunate and glad no one got hurt.”

“As he ran past Carlson, he gave him a little shove with his elbow. It was very unsportsmanlike,” Joyce told a pool reporter. “It was a cheap shot.”

“He was just right there on the line to the dugout. We got carried away and hopefully that’s the end of it,” Posada said. “I don’t want my kids to see that. … Fight in the middle of the field, benches clearing – that’s a bad example.”

Yankees lose 10-4

Brett Favre Wins Vikings Beat Cleveland 34-20 – Video

Brett Favre won his debut in Minnesota as the Vikings beat Cleveland 34-20 behind Adrian Peterson’s 180 rushing yards and three touchdowns. The opening game, Minnesota vs Cleveland, has been billed as the Brett Favre and Adrian Peterson Show.

“I haven’t played with an offense like this,” Favre said. “It starts with 28 [Peterson], but I’ll tell you what — that offensive line is pretty impressive.”

Erik Kramer & Brian Webber of FOXsports Online OT recap Brett Favre Viking’s debut, show highlights and more. Watch video.

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Tennis Legend Jack Kramer Dies at 88

Jack Kramer, tennis legend and promoter, died of cancer on September 12, 2009 at his home in Los Angeles. He was 88.

ESPN’s Cliff Drysdale reported the death during the Rafael Nadal-Juan Martin Del Potro semifinal at the U.S. Open.

Kramer,  Wimbledon and two-time United States singles champion, was the leading promoter of the professional tennis tours in Los Angeles for 60 years.  He was a world class tennis player particularly known for his consistent serve and volley attack,  powerful serve and forehand.

“He put more continuing pressure on an opponent than any other player I ever saw or played against,” Ted Schroeder, Kramer’s partner for two United States doubles championships, told The Associated Press in 2002. “That goes all the way back to Bill Tilden.”

Kramer was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame  in 1968. The Los Angeles Tennis Open was known as the Jack Kramer Open — the only World Tour event to be named for a player.