Sports Injuries

Possibly Coming to a Texas High-School Football Field Near You: Only One Full-Contact Practice Per Week

Last Thursday, State Representative Eddie Lucio III, a Democrat from Brownsville, filed House Bill 887. If enacted, the law would limit middle-school and high-school football programs to one full-contact practice per week. "Like most people, I'm influenced by the stories I read and the news I see. ... More >>

Owls Soar Over Falcons and Triumph in Armed Forces Bowl

It was strange watching the Rice Owls players celebrate on the field following their 33-14 Armed Forces Bowl win over Air Force on Saturday at TCU's Amon G. Carter Stadium. Strange because the Owls were only 7-6 on the season and they were acting like they'd just won the mythical national championsh ... More >>

Football! This Weekend's Best Bets, The Mea Culpa Edition

First, with Christmas now in the books, I'd like to issue an apology. If you were paralyzed financially this holiday season, unable to buy gifts, and woefully relegated to giving your loved ones esoteric, abstract gifts like "more personal time" or crappy pieces of handmade artwork, it probably mean ... More >>

Next Five Games Will Test Young Rockets Starting Tonight Against the Lakers

With a serious tragedy behind them and injured players starting to return to the line up, the Rockets dive into a string of games against contenders and Texas rivals this week that will add yet another test to the young team's season. First up is the LA Lakers, in town tonight at Toyota Center. Des ... More >>

Youth Concussion Crisis: Big Changes Coming to Kids' Football

On Wednesday, Pop Warner, the nation's largest youth football organization, announced some rule changes that could significantly alter how the overall game is played. During Pop Warner practices, players are no longer permitted to line up more than three yards apart during blocking and tackling dri ... More >>

Exotic Prop Bet Mania: Profiting Off The Madden Curse

When the average sports fan hears the word "wagering," for the most part they equate it with football and basketball, betting on spreads and total points scored. But if you read my work in this space, you know that the occasional prop bet is a fun diversion and oftentimes a chance to have more long ... More >>

Summer Ott: Memorial Hermann Hires The Michael Jordan Of Preventing & Treating Youth Concussions

Memorial Hermann now boasts the Michael Jordan of concussion expertise: Neuropsychologist Summer Ott, Psy.D, has been brought on board to head up the Sports Concussion Program at the Ironman Sports Medicine Institute at Memorial Hermann. Along with her deep knowledge of head trauma caused during a ... More >>

One Man's NBA All-Star Reserve Selections

Go ahead and chalk up the NBA All-Star Game taking place in a few weeks (Sunday, February 26, to be exact) in Orlando's Amway Center as the next "feels weird" moment of the NBA season. It feels like the season just tipped off a few weeks ago and yet here we are, about 20 games in, deciding who the b ... More >>

Five Jobs Even Riskier Than Texans' QB, Such As Spinal Tap Drummer

If you didn't read our Texans' game wrap -- and you should, it offers positive thoughts for the team's future this season -- you might not know that Matt Leinart, the backup quarterback playing his first game as a Texan because starter Matt Schaub had a season-ending injury, suffered his own season ... More >>

It's Official: Matt Schaub Out For The Year; Your New Backup QB Is...

The Houston Texans have made it official, placing quarterback Matt Schaub on the injured reserve list, meaning he's out for the rest of the season. The Matt Leinart Era begins Sunday. And if Leinart gets hurt, or plays utterly Leinart-ly, and T.J Yates blows it? Your new backup QB is Kellen Clemens ... More >>

The Peyton Manning Saga -- A Very Special 4 Winners, 4 Losers

Everyone wants The Beard​"Peyton Manning's not going to let (the Colts) draft Andrew Luck." -- Phil Simms "I don't talk to Phil. Phil doesn't talk to me. He did text me after that, saying 'Hey, sorry to drag your name into this.' I wrote back, 'Phil I don't know what you're talking about.' He ... More >>

Knocked Out: Bell Ringing

Further studies at UCLA sounded the alarm about concussions and their treatment

Knocked Out

Medical effects of concussion far worse for kids.

Concussions: Avoidance, Protection and Better Helmets

Daniel Kramer​Justin Landers, head athletic trainer at Katy High School, leads me to a secret stash of football equipment. The attic-like room, which is only accessible by one skinny wood ladder, is floor to ceiling and wall to wall with hundreds of helmets and shoulder pads. Landers combs th ... More >>

Cover Story: Concussions in Youth Sports: Is The Risk Worth It?

​Kayla Meyer was a normal kid growing up on the family farm in New Prague, Minnesota, where she used to ride horses around the property. But now, the 14-year-old can no longer ride or even attend school on a regular basis after receiving two concussions in ice hockey. Ali Champness, too, is ... More >>

More NFL Drama: 75 Former Pros Suing League Over Concussions

Former Texas Longhorn Raymond Clayborn (24) and 74 fellow NFL retirees are suing the league.​The National Football League has been, for the past few years, one of the biggest proponents of concussion awareness. Now, all of that cheerleading may bite them in the backside. The Associated Press ... More >>

The Final Play

After traumatic knee injury, Case Keenum has one more season to prove his talents.

Owls Baseball Falling Prey To Injuries

John RoyalMichael Ratterree makes the throw to first for an early out on Saturday​The Rice Owls are not in a good place. One could sense that on Saturday afternoon when the Owls took the field only to find that day's scheduled DH, Shane Hoelscher, taking throws at third base instead of Anthon ... More >>

Houston Texans -- Owen Daniels Gets Paid

Owen Daniels gets his contract​It's been quite an odyssey for Houston Texans tight end Owen Daniels these last few years. The highlight of his Texans career thus far has probably been his trip to the Pro Bowl at the end of the 2008 season. Since then, to say O.D.'s journey has been star-cros ... More >>

The So-So Year In Cougar Sports: 25 Things From 2010

The year in UH sports​Since I'm taking a look at the sports year that is about to come to an end, I thought I would focus on the Houston Cougars, one of the teams that I cover for the Press. So... 1. The men's basketball team shocked the students, alums, administration, fans, C-USA, and the ... More >>

County Judge Emmett Separates Shoulder, Will Miss Eagles Game

Ed Emmett sidelined​Blatantly ripping off the Barack Obama basketball injury, Harris County Judge Ed Emmett's office has announced that he, too, is on the injured-reserve list. Emmett separated his shoulder in an early-morning tennis game today and will likely require surgery, spokesman Joe S ... More >>

Greg Oden -- My Plea On Behalf Of Medicine

Greg Oden has what it takes​Greg Oden likes to party. Greg Oden has been a blogger, and a pretty funny one at that. Greg Oden likes to dance...Soulja Boy...gettin' freaky...whatever. Greg Oden, back before he turned 70, was a pretty good basketball player, too. And did I mention Greg Oden ... More >>

NFL & College Football -- Weekend's Best Bets

Does not look like fun​Before I get into the Best Bets for this weekend, a public service announcement for those of you traveling to Singapore any time soon. They still cane people there. Just ask former Florida State tight end Kamari Charlton. He is over in Singapore as you read this helping ... More >>

Case Keenum Faces The Future

Photo by Red Rooster Facing down a defense is the easy thing now​The Houston Cougars knew they were going to have to eventually make the transition. They just weren't counting on that transition coming during the middle of this season's third game. But it was during the second quarter of the Co ... More >>

The Catastrophe That Is Your Houston Astros

Optimism -- not in the cards​The Houston Astros made some much-needed moves last week, dealing Roy Oswalt for a bottom of the rotation starter and some prospects and sending Lance Berkman to the Yankees for some middling prospects.There are problems with the deals -- with all of the money Drayton ... More >>

Geoff Blum Joins Baseball's Stupid-Injury List: Here Are 11 Others

If only someone warned this rookie about dress shirts​Astros utility player Geoff Blum popped his elbow putting on his shirt last week.Yes, that's right, putting on his shirt. Not his jersey. Not during the game. But his shirt. After the game. He's currently on the disabled list, and he might end ... More >>

Game Time: Shawn Michaels' Most Memorable Moments (With Video)

​Professional wrestling is one of those things that, if you're a sports fan as a kid, you probably dabble in at some point. I think at one time or another all of my childhood friends went to the matches at the Hartford Civic Center; somewhere along the way, usually as a teenager or young adult ... More >>

"Free Brusty," Aeros Fans Cry

Illustration courtesy Heather Galindo/The Third Intermission​It's safe to say that this season has probably not gone as Houston Aeros goalie Barry Brust intended for it to go back in September. Brust, who split the number-one goalkeeper duties with Nolan Schaefer for the Aeros the past two seasons ... More >>

The Astros: Where Pitching Careers Go To Die

Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher​I don't know what Cecil Cooper has against pitchers, but it's really beginning to harm the team. The Astros put Wesley Wright on the disabled list yesterday. Chris Sampson, who recently came off of the DL, is pitching as if he's still injured, and he and Cooper had a clo ... More >>

The Gloom Starts To Gather For The Astros

With the MLB non-waiver trade deadline fast approaching, the Houston Astros are a listing ship quickly going under. The Astros just lost three of four games to the Chicago Cubs and have gone from surging toward first place to trying to hold off the Milwaukee Brewers for third place.The latest disast ... More >>

Astros Are Red-Hot...For Now

 Is it actually possible? Is it actually possible that the Houston Astros could climb into first place of the NL Central this weekend? Can it really be that we'll wake up on Monday morning and discover that the Astros will be in a position to actually start pulling away with the division le ... More >>

The Astros, Hanging On Despite Themselves

The Houston Astros beat the Los Angeles Dodgers and Thursday and Friday to get their record to 46-44. For a short time, the Astros were in a three-way tie for second place in the NL Central. And with the first-place St. Louis Cardinals coming in for three games starting tonight, there was a chan ... More >>

Astros' Solution To A Lousy Rotation: Add More Lousy Pitchers

Photo by Aaron M. SprecherOver the past two Astros games, Jim Deshaies has been talking about the Astros going to a six-man pitching rotation. And Deshaies has given a lot of reasons for doing this, but as much as I like JD, I'm a little disappointed in that, with all of his discussion about g ... More >>

The Astros, Making Sure That Their Rare Young Talent Stays Hidden

Photo by mighty_maxicanOne would think that infielder Edwin Maysonet might be a little pissed about the Astros sending him back down to the minor leagues on Saturday night. He would be justified, seeing as how all he did was play excellent defense at second and third base, while showing off some ... More >>

Backe's Back In The Rotation: Just How Bad Can The Astros' Farm System Be?

Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher The oft-injured Hampton, injured againHere's some shocking Astros news. According to the Chron, Mike Hampton is going on the 15-day disabled list. Yeah, I know, who would ever think that Hampton would get injured. It's not like he missed two of the last three season ... More >>

That Other Sports Team In Town -- Who's Running It?

Photo by Aaron M. SprecherI know I've asked this question before, but I feel that it needs asking again. So, seriously, who's running the Houston Astros?I ask because it came out yesterday that Cecil Cooper has been pitching injured pitchers, even though he knows they're injured, because they say th ... More >>

Who's Running The Astros These Days Anyway?

Photo by William Holtkamp The Houston Astros put closer Jose Valverde on the disabled list yesterday. And that's not too shocking seeing as how Valverde had a ball drummed off his leg last week and has been hobbling and blowing saves on just one leg.What's surprising to me is what Jesus Ortiz at the ... More >>

UPDATED: Astros Doctor Can't Follow Tender, Delicate Team PLUS Spring Training Updates

Photo by OakleyOriginalsThis may hurt a little. The Houston Astros signed Mike Hampton earlier this off-season. Mike Hampton has not pitched a complete season of baseball since 2004. And last season they signed Kaz Matsui who gets injured while standing still. Brandon Backe and Chris Sampson hav ... More >>

UPDATED: Astros Doctor Can't Follow Tender, Delicate Team PLUS Spring Training Updates

Photo by OakleyOriginalsThis may hurt a little. The Houston Astros signed Mike Hampton earlier this off-season. Mike Hampton has not pitched a complete season of baseball since 2004. And last season they signed Kaz Matsui who gets injured while standing still. Brandon Backe and Chris Sampson hav ... More >>

This Just In: Yao Ming Out for Rest of Season Due to Stress Fracture in Foot

A Grief Observed: Yao Ming's Injury and the Rest of the Season

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