Huh? NFL Fined Seahawks $300K For Being Rough!

Apparently, the National Football League (NFL), a playground where hard hits are relatively common occurrences, has fined head coach Pete Carroll and team for a combined total of $300,000 for violating no-contact rules. Yup, Seahawks were penalized for being too rough in practice. According to league spokesman Greg Aiello, “…the violation was for permitting the club’s players to engage in excessive levels of on-field physical contact during the team’s 2014 mandatory mini-camp for veteran players.” In 2012, the Seahawks had been fined an undisclosed amount by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for similar violations. In recent years, unsettling reports about concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI) among current and former players have been a serious issue in football; especially in the NFL. In all fairness it is about accountability and the NFL has an obligation to warrant the safety and health of their players. 

Former NFL Heavy Hitter Falls Into Homelessness

The former UCLA Bruin, Terry Tautolo who has played 9 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), but spent majority of his retirement in homelessness. For some former players life after the stadium tunnels is glamorous fill with luxury vacations, guest appearances, and pensions; however, life for Tautolo has been a downward spiral. From living in abandon houses, animal shelters to tunnels under Los Angeles freeways. The once fearsome Linebacker who is now 58 live a life battling drug abuse, alcoholism, and depression as a result of multiple concussions he sustained over his 9-year NFL career.

After a long battle with depression and addiction to methamphetamine and alcoholism, Tautolo is turning his life around with the help from the Pain Alternatives, Solutions and Treatment or P.A.S.T. medical group and the Sierra Tucson Treatment Center. P.A.S.T. is providing hope to a number of former retired NFL, NBA, NHL players and others who suffer from the symptoms known to be related to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and head trauma.

To understand Tautolo’s journey to homelessness, we need to make a journey to understand the determinants of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and its long-term effects. “We’ve known for a long time traumatic brain injury is associated with drug abuse, alcoholism, depression, suicide, panic attacks, not sleeping, homelessness, trouble with your marriage and trouble with your job,” said Dr. Daniel Amen.

Currently, a class-action lawsuit has been filed against the NFL involving upwards of 3,500 former players who allege the NFL for the long-term effects of traumatic brain injury.

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Uruguay’s Striker Luis ‘The Cannibal’ Suarez Has Struck Again!

A controversial incident erupted during a World Cup match on Tuesday when Uruguay’s striker Luis Suarez appears to bite Italy’s defender Giorgio Chiellini in their Group D match-up. In the 79th minute of the second half, the alleged bite incident occurred when Suarez was seen thrusting his head towards Chiellini’s shoulder before tumbling towards the ground apparently feigning an injury. Though there were visible marks when Chiellini pulled down his shirt while protesting to the referee, but the referee resumed play and no penalty was given. Moments later, Uruguay defender Diego Godin scored in the final minutes to secure their 1-0 victory over Italy eliminating them out the World Cup.

So far, Suarez has been accused of biting a player for the third time in his career after this incident with Chiellini. Suarez was previously suspended for 10 games for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic during a premier match in April 2013.

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association or FIFA, soccer’s governing body, has officially charged Suarez with biting Italy defender Chiellini in the teams’ World Cup qualifying game. The 27-year-old Suarez will now wait until FIFA finalize their disciplinary proceedings against him. If Suarez is found guilty he will be suspended for at least two matches.

Nonetheless, the alleged biting incident by Suarez during Uruguay’s win over Italy will cast a dark cloud over the team. Suarez has let down himself, his family, and his fans.

World Cup Storylines for Dummies

Preferred Walk-ons

BY: BRANDON TURNER

A couple of weeks ago I put together a primer on the history of the World Cup, with rules and some basic knowledge for managing the world of soccer that was about to take over our summer. I promised a part 2 and 3 to go over story lines and teams to watch. Well, life happened, I got busy and just plain sucked. So instead I’m gonna change the plan up. This is the second part of the three part series. I’ll talk about some story lines from before the tournament and some that have developed as we’re about halfway through the group stage.

Pre-World Cup Storylines

Everyone knows of Brazil as a dominant soccer team and a culture that revolves around the sport. But Brazil is also an incredibly diverse country. While the country as a whole is considered in the middle class income range…

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First LeBron, Now Dwyane Wade? Wade Fined for Flopping!

Seriously, flopping has become a wide-spread epidemic among NBA players. From its creator LeBron James to even the mere irreproachable player like Dwyane Wade, flopping remains a commonplace in the league. Since the establishment of the anti-flopping rule the league has collected about $4 million in fines against players. Now, speaking on faking fouls or flopping, here we have Dwyane Wade who was standing still with the ball in the second quarter of Game 2 when Manu Ginobili tried to steal. Though Ginobili have swatted at the ball, but he DEFINITELY didn’t hit Wade, who jerked his head back and held his face while feigning pain. Nonetheless, the flop caused Wade a $5,000 fine from the NBA and helped the Miami Heat win Game 2 against the San Antonio Spurs.