Sports Then and Now

Fall will be here soon, and that means football season has come crashing onto the country’s TVs, yards, and stadiums. That’s right, it’s time for the weekly rough and tumble rumble of good ol’ fashioned gridiron. Helmets colliding, pigskins soaring, and bodies bashing. It’s all here.

Football casts a powerful spell on players and fans alike. The game’s appeal is so strong, so compelling that enthusiasts of all stripes—be it on the field, sidelines, bleachers, or the couch—regularly forget the risks into which football puts it players. Safety is crucial to football. Players, coaches, family, and even fans all need to keep the safety question alive if football is going to survive as one America’s great games. College football is a field in which safety needs to be top priority.

College Ball, Helmets, and Head Injuries

Let’s kick this off with the big one: head injuries. If football doesn’t deal with this room’s elephant, the game will soon be endangered species. Helmets, brain trauma, and the football industry’s role in these issues have been featured in the New York Times several times a month for a long time now, and there’s been no indication the buzz is dying down.

As it stands, head injuries are a normal part of football. They don’t need to be. For college players and coaches, this issue needs serious attention. According to personal injury attorneys, head injuries are a common result of negligence. College players suffer head injuries regularly, and the research into university football and TBIs is not in nearly as advanced a state as is similar research into the NFL. What is to be done about student heads, and who should be doing it? Read the rest of this entry →

The questions for the 2016 Dallas Cowboys were supposed to be on defense. With defensive ends DeMarcus Lawrence and Randy

DeMarcus Lawrence leaves a void on the defensive line for Dallas.

Gregory along with linebacker Rolando McClain all facing at least four-game suspensions due to violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, the unit projected to have some weak links. Lawrence and Gregory are each suspended the first four games while McClain is suspended the first 10 games. This is the second straight year that McClain has been suspended as he missed the first four games of the 2015 regular season, also due to substance abuse violations.

While the defense will have to weather the storm with some new faces acquired from the draft and free agency, the offense has a glaring absence. Tony Romo. Again.

Romo suffered a compression fracture of his L1 vertebra in a preseason loss at Seattle on Aug. 25. It is the fourth time in his career that he has sustained a back injury and it is the second straight year that the veteran pro bowl quarterback will miss multiple games with an extended absence. Romo will be out anywhere from 6 to 10 weeks from the time of the injury. Romo missed 12 games in 2015 due to two fractures of his left (non-throwing shoulder) clavicle, an injury he has sustained three times in his career dating back to 2010.

The Cowboys now turn to Dak Prescott, a rookie fourth-round draft pick out of Mississippi State. Prescott was impressive in the preseason during which he went 39-for-50 for 454 yards, 5 touchdowns, and no interceptions. His quarterback rating was 137.8. He also showed his versatility by carrying the ball seven times for 53 yards and scoring two touchdowns. Read the rest of this entry →

For many, as the summer season comes to a close, the air cools off and fall approaches, it means football season is officially kicking off. Whether you’re a student with an awesome college team or you’re an avid NFL fan (or both), now is when the fun begins for you and your friends and family. When you’re a football fan, there are few better ways to enjoy a Sunday than by spending time with those you love, eating good food, maybe drinking a few beers, and watching hours of football. When you’re all actually able to go to a game together, make the most of the day by tailgating before the game! Check out these 7 tips for tailgating safely this football season.

1. Take Safety Precautions When Using Your Grill

If you’re cooking with a gas grill, make sure you check that your hose is tightly connected. A loose hose could be bad news for you and anyone close by. If you’re cooking with coal, it’s important to cook early on in the day so the coals have time to cool off. You can also check for bins that are designated for coals.

2. Consider the Proper Temperatures for Food

Keep in mind that to prevent bacteria from growing on food, it needs to be kept at its proper temperature. Make sure hot foods are well insulated and cold foods are kept in a cooler with ice.

3. Designate a Driver

Before the festivities even get started, be sure to designate as many sober drivers as needed for everyone to get home safely. According to car accident lawyers, a common example of negligent driving is doing so while impaired by drugs or alcohol.

Keep in mind that even when you have a sober driver, it’s crucial that he or she remains attentive behind the wheel – there are other drivers on the road and they may not have designated a sober driver. Read the rest of this entry →

Image via Flickr by Steven Pisano

So you love sports and everything about them and have decided that you want to invest in buying a sports team — but chances are you’re not sure how to go about it. The first step is to start exploring your options so that you can see what’s out there. It might not be possible to get your hands on a major league team just yet, but you might be able to gain access to the finer things that come with owning a share. Alternatively, you might want to cut your teeth on the lower levels and learn from the ground up. However you go about it, here are three tips to help you on your way.

Buying a Share of a Team

Buying shares of a sports team is the same as buying shares of a corporation: The more you buy, the more perks you get. If you’re only buying a small amount, you’re just a stockholder and have no real perks apart from silent ownership and a return on investment. Some teams offer a noncontrolling share option that allows you to fork over a lot of money and get access to skyboxes, season tickets, catering, and more, but each team is different in how it handles shareholders. If you want to have a say in how the team gets run, you might find that buying a share isn’t the way to go and that it’s time to look at smaller leagues. Read the rest of this entry →

The latest twist on the Johnny Manziel rollercoaster is probably the least-expected one to date. The Heisman Trophy winner and first-round pick quickly flamed out of the NFL due to substance abuse problems, but he’s now in the news for a more positive reason. Instead of generating another worrying headline about his personal demons, Johnny Football is reportedly re-enrolled at Texas A&M as a student.

Regardless of how you feel as Manziel as a player or a person, this is good news for the 23-year-old, who won the Heisman Trophy as Texas A&M’s quarterback in 2012. There were serious fears about Manziel’s health — so bad that his own father told ESPN that, “Hopefully he doesn’t die before he comes to his senses.” Going back to the school could be the best thing for him.

The Downward Spiral

Manziel left Texas A&M before finishing his degree, as he was seen as a promising draft pick who would likely go in the first round. That came true with his selection by the Cleveland Browns. The 2014 draft was the peak of Manziel’s career, and it was all downhill for the next two seasons. Read the rest of this entry →

If you’re a keen golfer, there’s no doubt you’ll want to make use of the many mobile apps out there that will help you to get the most out of your hobby. From tips and news to apps that help you improve technique, there’s something for every golfer, and here are some of the best Android apps to choose from.

Golf News and Tips Apps

If you want to keep up with the latest news and information about golf, you’ll need a good app for that. Fortunately, there are a number of great apps you can use.

One of the best is Golf Channel Mobile. This is the official app of the Golf Channel, and you’ll find it packed full of the latest news as well as videos, player profiles, tips, and more. It’s also free, making it even more of a must-have app.

Golf Master is another great app. It provides you with a huge library of instructional videos that you can use no matter what your ability level. Again, this is a free app, making it a great one to have on your smartphone.

And if you want to keep up to date with all the latest important tournament, the Masters Golf Tournament app is well worth having. Follow all the news and events from the Masters Tournament wherever you are, and keep up to date with rankings, info, and more.

Read the rest of this entry →