Juwan Howard unsure about his future
After Miami Heat won the championship Juwan Howard was back in training. He said on Friday that he was still undecided on whether to return for the 19th NBA season of his career or call it quits. But his wanting can be judged by him being the first player of the Miami Heat squad back in the gym which obviously means he still feels he has some energy in him to keep on playing.
Juwan Howard is really passionate about the game although he is still undecided. The main reason he is hitting the gym is for him to be ready for whatever he decides. If he decides to go on with his career then he has to be fully fit for it.
Howard will be turning 40 come February 7th. He has been a Heat player for two seasons now making an appearance of 85 in the regular season and 20 in the playoffs but all as a bit part player. Being currently a free agent after is contract had expired he would take an option of staying with the Heat if at all they had interests of signing him once again.
This was the fist pro title for him. He has 16,138 points in his career, which puts him 16th among all the active NBA players and overall 91st in the league history; in reference to STATS LLC.
Howard is taken to be a prized asset among the Heat players. Dwyane Wade once told his teammates later in the game during the NBA finals game which they were playing against Oklahoma City that they needed to keep a good lead so as to ensure Howard got a few minutes to play. They also consider him as a mentor.
Howard said that this was a special moment for the team and he still smiles day in day out. As he walks around people keep on congratulating him and the team for the just ended season accomplishments but this would be the time that they look back at the just ended season and be proud of all the efforts they put in it. No matter what Juwan Howard decides we hope to see him one more season doing his thing.
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Pittsburgh Steelers Star Admits He ‘Hid Concussions’
Troy Polamalu, Five time All-Pro of the Pittsburgh Steelers, says he never told a “major lie,” but that he did conceal concussions to remain in games. Polamalu told Dan Patrick Show listeners on Wednesday that concussions have been present in his career and that officially he has suffered “eight or nine” over that span. He also eluded he and host Dan Patrick would “have another conversation” when Polamalu’s playing career was over.
Polamalu went on to explain that he didn’t consider getting his “bell rung” to be a true concussion, but according to NFL guidelines it counts as one. Polamalu went on to say that players would have “50 to 100 concussions” in a single season, if you used that standard.
Polamalu, who was the Steelers 2003 first round draft pick and is known for his aggressive no-holds-barred style of play, made the remarks while the NFL is being sued by more than 2,400 former players. The retired players contend that the NFL knew and concealed data on the seriousness and extent of concussions. In 2009 NFL wide receiver Chris Henry had symptoms of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a degenerate brain disease whose symptoms mimic Alzheimer. Henry was only 26.
Other former NFL players diagnosed with CTE have committed suicide, including Ray Easterling, who was the lead plaintiff in a concussion lawsuit against the NFL. Other notable players are Mike Webster (ironically, himself a former Steeler), Andre Waters, and most recently the suicide of linebacker Junior Seau has raised suspicion. Seau’s family has even donated his brain for CTE research.
Polamalu is isn’t the only player to admit hiding a concussion, in February of this year Brian Urlacher of the Chicago Bears admitted to doing the same. In 2009 Washington Redskins fullback Mike Sellers put it more bluntly “You get a concussion, they… take you out. If you can hide it and conceal it as much as possible, you pay for it the next day, but you’ll be able to… stay in the game.”
It may well be that these types of player admissions are the NFL’s best defense as it moves forward with its legal defense strategy. For the Pittsburgh Steelers training staff it looks like they have one more player to over scrutinize the next time he gets up slow.
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NBA’s Dennis Rodman Met Father after 42 Years
Former NBA star and Hall of Famer, Dennis Rodman, finally decided to meet his father after 42 years. The father and son met this Wednesday in Philippines. The father was surprised when he heard that the son was also present at the same arena and wanted to meet him. Philander Rodman Jr., admits of fathering as many as 29 children by 16 wives.
The father once also tried to contact him in 2006 in Manila, but the son refused saying he was not interested in meeting him. Talking to the media about the new amazing advancement, the father said that he had been trying to contact him for years, and had finally got his son. It was the first time since 1969 when he got a chance to hold hands of his son.
Although the father spent just three minutes with his son, yet he looked quite happy and contented after the meeting. They could not share many words with each other, because the son had been surrounded by his fans who wanted him to sign their shirts and faces. Rodman Jr., has given his personal contact number to his son, and the son has assured him that he would call him.
Earlier, the son was angry on the father, as he said that the father did not return back to his mother after fathering him. The father is of the point of view that he did not want to abandon his family in USA, but just he could not spend much time with them for some reasons.
The father was invited to the game by former players of Pistons and Bulls. Just minutes before the game, Dennis grabbed a microphone and said that he knew his father was present in the arena. Upon hearing that Rodman stood up on his seat showing his baseball cap that read “Yes, Dennis Rodman is my son”.
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Cleveland Cavaliers lose “Rookie of the Year” to broken hand…
Kyrie Irving, the Australian-American professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Rookie of the Year in 2012 of the National Basketball Association (NBA) broke his right hand while the Cavaliers’ practice in Las Vegas, on Saturday.
He injured his hand hitting a wall. The spokesperson said they expect him to be out of play for the next two months and ready for training only in late September.
Irving also missed playing 14 games previous season with different injuries – shoulder injuries, concussion and illness. This continues Irving proximity to injuries who played in only 11 games as fresh-man with Duke due to a toe injury. The Australian-American is going back to Cleveland for further examination on Sunday. He said that his health was his reponsibility and that he was disappointed to some extent due to injury.
Just a few days ago, on July 11, the Cavaliers signed Harangody to a contract for next season. This is part of the excerise to improve their record of 2010-11 where they just finished last but one as far as the final standings are concerned and 2011-12 season where they improved a bit owing to curtailed season.
Cleveland play Charlotte on 15 July at Thomas & Mack in the NBA Summer League. Both of these teams are nearly at the bottom of 2011-12 regular season in Eastern conference standings are concerned with Washinton Wizards sitting between the two. Cleveland are at 21 wins to 45 losses while Charlotte are among the worst perfomers with 7 wins to 59 losses languising at the bottom of Southeast division which is headed by Miami and Atlanta.
The summer League is going to have sixty games in 10 Days featuring teams with 13 of the top 14 draft picks.
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Washington Redskins Orakpo excited about RGIII
“I’m very excited,” says Washington Redskins defensive standout Brian Orakpo, “we finally got that quarterback that we needed.” Orakpo was speaking of course about 2012 first round draft pick Robert Griffin III. Griffin, who won the 2011 Heisman trophy last year. Griffin was selected second overall after the Redskins swapped first round picks with the Saint Louis Rams in this April’s draft. The Redskins also sent two future first round, and one second round, draft picks to the Rams in the deal.
“Our defense is great,” Orakpo continued, “We need to fill that void in the quarterback (position).” What a void it’s been, since the Redskins won their last Super Bowl in 1991 under Mark Rypien the Redskins have started 21 different quarterbacks. To make matters worse, apart from Rypien himself (26 games) only Gus Frerotte (46 games), Brad Johnson (27 games), Mark Brunell (33 games), and Jason Campbell (45 games) have started more games since Rypien, who started a total of 72 games in his Redskins career. It’s a list that doesn’t impress and has the names of players who where either past their primes by the time they got to Washington, or never had one to begin with.
Orakpo and the rest of Redskins Park are counting on Griffin to be that quarterback the Redskins have sought for so long. “There’s no time for rebuilding in the NFL,” Orakpo asserted. “You gotta come in there prepared to win, and that’s what he’s capable of.” But those are the expectations for a player the team gave up so much to trade up for.
The Redskins have a long history of free agent, draft, and trade debacles under current owner Dan Snyder. From overpaying aging stars like Bruce Smith and Deion Sanders, to firing Charley Casserly to make room for Vinny Cerrato, or the myriad of draft picks they’ve sent out in trades for questionable acquisitions. Everyone is holding their breath to see if Bruce Allen and Mike Shanahan have finally gotten a major Snyder Era decision right, or if the Curse of Jack Kent Cooke is alive and well.
One thing is for sure, like Orakpo says, there won’t be any time to rebuild, and the Redskins will need Griffin to play strong out of the gate as they will go on the road to face the Saints and Rams to open their season. Orakpo says his only real advice for the rookie it to “have fun… act like your back at Baylor.”
If Orakpo and the rest of the Washington Redskins are to contend this year then Griffin will have to have a very fun year.
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