This Was Bad, But That Looks Worse

So I was delving into this Richard Zednik incident and came upon one of the nastiest, scariest things that I have ever seen: video of one Clint Malarchuk getting his jugular vain slit by a skate. I know some of you will be inclined to look for the YouTube video of the incident, so I will provide you with the link, but this is my fair warning that it's quite graphic. Malarchuk needed 300 stitches to close up his wound.

Fast forward to the present, Malarchuk was so disturbed by Zednik's injury that he says he couldn't go to work on Monday. He said that when his throat was slit (during a game also involving the Buffalo Sabres), he knew for sure that he was going to die and he was just trying to get off the ice so his mother wouldn't have to watch him bleed to death. Wow. As if that was not enough, from ESPN.com:

At the time, there were reports that 11 fans fainted and two more had heart attacks when Malarchuk's macabre accident took place. Three players vomited on the ice.

Wow.

Sad stuff that people go through, but the good news is that Zednik is out of the ICU (wink, wink) and resting comfortably. Get well soon!

Scary Moment On Ice

I don't really have much time to do a run down this evening but I didn't want to let a day go by without talking about this scary and sad story.

If you haven't heard, the Florida Panthers' Slovakian forward Richard Zednik had his carotid artery nearly severed by the skate of his teammate, Olin Jokinen, in a freak accident after Jokinen fell to the ice head first during a game in Buffalo against the Buffalo Sabres.

Zednik has the wherewithal to clutch his neck and leave the ice immediately, which was about the best he could do in a situation in which he could have died in a very short amount of time, especially if the artery had been completely severed.

Zednik's currently in stable condition.

Fans and players were a little upset that the game continued despite the injury. This is a tough one to call. I am sure the players were shaken because they weren't sure if he was near death or what his condition was. Especially for his teammate whose skate did the cutting. I would assume hockey players know the seriousness of getting cut in any major artery, much less the one that connects to your brain, so it must have been quite difficult to keep playing for all of them. They did announce an update at the game, which provoked a standing ovation from the Sabres' fans.

It's funny (not "haha" funny, but coincidence funny) because whenever I think of hockey, I think of freak accidents like that happening, like getting one's fingers cut off or getting cut in the face. I am surprised things like this don't happen more often. I heard there were a few other recent accidents like this in the NHL involving people getting cut with skates. I would hope that they will use this as an opportunity to protect them with at least one layer between their skin and the ice, particularly when it comes to the potential to sever major arteries.

I just pray that he makes it out of this OK and doesn't have any lasting residual damage, for him and for his family.

Super Bowl XLII: Inside the Trenches

As promised, L. Rosen's pics from the Super Bowl. Enjoy!


Pats' owner Bob Kraft on the mic.


Former QB great John Elway doing the radio thing, too.



Adam Sandler (in the jacket) was the intended target, but this guy in front of him was ready, too.

More QB time with Kurt Warner, who won the Lombardi trophy and MVP of Super Bowl XXXIV with the St. Louis Rams.

Former Dallas Cowboys' WR Michael Irvin, who has won a trifecta of Super Bowls himself. Always a character.


To comment would just be too easy, so I will let this one speak for itself.

Larry David, exactly as I would expect him to look if you caught him at the Super Bowl. Curb your enthusiasm, Larry.


The first TD of the game, courtesy of the Pats.


The halftime show. I appreciated how more than a few friends across the country didn't know who was performing until Free Fallin' started playing.


You know what this is. It's a celebration. . . readers.


A big thank you to L. Rosen for sharing with us. And congrats again to the Giants for making history!

MYSM: Watch Your Head!

Philadelphia 76ers' Andre Iguodala somehow didn't win the slam dunk contest with this dunk. He hit his head and everything!

Check out the dance at :38, too.

Happy Monday!

Super Bowl Pics Preview

On Monday, I will post some awesome pictures that I received of one man's (that man is L. Rosen) trip to the Super Bowl. In case you can't wait that long, here's a teaser:

The Vince Lombardi Trophy


Brady in the pocket

The winner's circle


And for those who care, Victoria's Secret model Adriana Lima


Stay tuned for the rest . . .

Here We Go Again . . .

The undefeated University of Memphis basketball team is the #1 ranked team in the country, but they're having some personnel issues.

The Tigers' junior starter Robert Dozier was benched in Wednesday night's game following his visit to a night club at 2:30 a.m. early Sunday morning, in violation of team rules.

Memphis' coach John Calipari had issued a public warning to Dozier that he was on his last leg and would not hesitate to kick him off the team if he gets out of line again, saying that "[i]f he screws up again, he's gone. He's got one more chance."

And this is what we might call in the law a "material" player to the Tigers team, who plays an average of 27.1 minutes and has an average of 10.5 points and 7.3 boards per game.

Well things may have gotten worse. Dozier's ex-girlfriend alleges in a complaint (no formal charges have been filed yet) that he hit her with an open hand twice in the face and causing bruising , allegedly on the same night in which he went to the club. But already, they are trying damage her credibility.

I hate to see this. Anyone who reads often knows that I have a problem with the lack of discipline that some athletes have. I just hope this isn't one of those pass the buck situations in which he was passed along until the point that only now is he being held responsible for his actions.

I think publicly stating that one more time and you're out may be setting him up for failure, but I do hope he can resolve these issues and remains on the team. If he fails at Memphis (he's already a junior right now) his life will take on a totally different direction, guaranteed.

Offensive Lineman

Every day, I hear some unbelievable story that really makes me think the end of the world must be quickly approaching. And then I can't help but wonder if this kid isn't just mentally ill because what you're about to read is just downright bizarre.

Yesterday was "National Signing Day" in college football - the day when high school seniors can seniors officially sign with their school of choice. So on this particular Wednesday, high school football linebacker Kevin Hart announced during his school assembly in a small town in Nevada that he would be attending the University of California.

Apparently someone didn't believe him, and they did a little snooping. Well, it turns out that not only would he not be attending the school, but he was never recruited. Today, he admitted that he made the whole thing up.

But not before he told the police that he was duped by a man into believing that he had a scholarship.

Well, there is not much to say about this because the more I think about it, the more I realize that this is clearly a sick child calling out for attention. Either that or he thought his town was small enough that no one would find out. I hope he does find a school eventually . . . and some help.