Sports Then and Now

LeBron James will become the 20th out of the top 83 scorers in NBA history to play for the Lakers.

If you are surprised by NBA superstar LeBron James signing with the Los Angeles Lakers then you obviously are not much of a follower of basketball history.

Once LeBron officially takes the court for the Lakers, he will become the sixth of the top eight scorers in NBA history to wear the purple and gold for the Lakers. Currently the seventh leading scorer in league history, James will join Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (first), Karl Malone (second), Kobe Bryant (third), Wilt Chamberlain (fifth) and Shaquille O’Neal (eighth). Only Michael Jordan (fourth) and Dirk Nowitzki (sixth) among the top eight never player in Los Angeles.

But looking at career scoring really only scratches the surface in terms of how normal it is for NBA greats to play for the Lakers.

Though not in the top 10 in all-time scoring, Jerry West (21st), Elgin Baylor (29th), Magic Johnson (77th) and James Worthy (102nd) all were all-time greats who spent their entire careers playing for the Lakers. Of course we also cannot forget the first great NBA player, George Mikan, who led the Minneapolis Lakers to five NBA titles in six years and won three scoring titles during his seven year career.

Others from among the top 100 scorers of all-time who spent at least a portion of their career with the Lakers include Adrian Dantley (28th), Gary Payton (32nd), Pau Gasol (39th), Mitch Richmond (41st), Antawn Jamison (44th), Gail Goodrich (52nd), Bob McAdoo (61st), Glen Rice (68th), Dwight Howard (70th), Lou Hudson (73rd) and Steve Nash (83rd). Read the rest of this entry →

Boxing may be a popular sport, but one must not forget that this still a very aggressive and high impact combative contest. Such intense activities will always come with injuries, hence why you have to base your training on ways to avoid any damaging mishaps. Here are the 10 most common boxing injuries to watch out for.

1. Boxer’s Fracture

The aptly named boxer’s fracture is when the small bones under your ring and pinkie finger break. Said injury is followed by a sharp pain, swelling, and an inability to move your fingers. If your bones are still aligned, then your chances of a full recovery are promising, but any misalignment may require surgery. Avoid this problem by practicing the correct punching technique and ensure your diet is rich in calcium.

2. Carpal Bossing

Common between the ages of 20 and 40, carpal bossing is when the bones in the back of your palm overgrow and cause uncomfortable lumps to surface. Annoyingly, there is not much you can do once this occurs but you can prevent it by using the correct gloves and making use of hand wraps. If the pain becomes unbearable, wear a wrist guard after hours, take anti-inflammatory medication, and speak to your doctor about steroid injections. Thankfully, most people heal quite quickly from carpal bossing, but it will temporarily hinder your training.

3. Arthritis

With is so much repetitive stress focused on one place, the cartridge and joints in a boxer’s hands may deteriorate and swell. This is a progressive condition otherwise known as arthritis and has even forced professional boxers into an early retirement, as was the case for world heavyweight champion James J. Braddock (1935 to 1937). As before, take care of your hands, while exercising additional caution if your routine includes a lot of bag work. Read the rest of this entry →