Sports – Page 432 – North Platte Post Archive

Estimate: 3 in 10 NFL Retirees Face Cognitive Woes

Posted on September 12, 2014

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A report in the NFL concussion litigation estimates that nearly three in 10 former players will develop at least moderate cognitive problems.

The report released Friday was prepared for the ex-players’ attorneys. It estimates that 28 percent of all retired players will be diagnosed with either Alzheimer’s disease or moderate dementia. That would represent nearly 6,000 of the 19,000 living former players.

The players’ actuary expects another 31 retirees to be diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease and 24 with Parkinson’s disease during their lives.

The NFL also predicted that 28 percent of retired players will qualify for an award.

Both sides have agreed that $675 million should be enough to fund the settlement for 65 years, although the NFL says it will add more money if needed.

The fund wouldn’t cover current players.

Union Reps to Discuss NFL Drug Policy Again

Posted on September 12, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — Player representatives to the union will discuss the NFL’s latest drug policy proposal during a second conference call.

The call is scheduled for late afternoon and a vote on the changes is possible. The 32 player reps did not vote earlier this week after holding a similar call.

On the table are changes that could provide for HGH testing, which the league and union initially agreed to when the collective bargaining agreement was reached in 2011. But the players have balked at the science in the testing, and also at the appeals process for positive tests.

The union has insisted that a satisfactory proposal to them must deal with a multitude of drug policy issues. Spokesman George Atallah said last week a “piecemeal” agreement did not interest players.

Basketball Player’s Clothes to be Sold in Omaha

Posted on September 12, 2014

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The former roommate of Chicago Bulls forward Doug McDermott is preparing to sell clothes that the basketball player left behind in Nebraska.

Mike Vandevoort is selling about 200 items of clothing and shoes this weekend to benefit the Northstar youth basketball program. The former Creighton University player’s gear will be sold in Omaha on Saturday morning.

McDermott left the items in late April after he moved to Chicago to begin preparation for the NBA draft.

Vandevoort says McDermott approved of the idea, which started out as a joke. He says the sale is a chance for McDermott to give back to the community that supported him over the past four years.

The items include shorts, T-shirts, sweatshirts and workout shirts.

Unclear Future for Guarantee Games in Playoff Era

Posted on September 12, 2014

These first few weeks of the college football season feature dozens of smaller programs collecting big paychecks by hitting the road for games against major-conference teams.

There’s no guarantee these games — at least the ones involving Football Championship Subdivision programs — will be as common in the playoff era.

With an eye toward television audiences, the Big Ten is discouraging its teams from scheduling FCS foes. The Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference are requiring members to play at least one nonconference game against a team from the Power Five leagues.

FCS athletic directors are taking a wait-and-see approach about what could happen down the road. Chattanooga athletic director David Blackburn says he’s “preparing for the worst and hoping for the best.”

Vintage Baseball Proves a Hit with Modern Players

Posted on September 12, 2014

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — No batting helmets, no fielding gloves and no pitching overhand.

This isn’t your grandfather’s baseball. It’s your great-great-grandfather’s game.

Vintage baseball teams throughout the U.S. play America’s favorite pastime the old-fashioned way. That means wearing historically accurate 19th century uniforms and using rules from 1864.

And the sport is growing. Players say it brings them back to a simpler time and preserves a slice of the past.

Modern-day fans watching these games might notice home plate is round, and the bases are canvas bags filled with sand. Team members even drink beverages from metal cups or canteens.

The vocabulary is different, too. Batters are called “strikers.” And if you make an out, you’re “dead.”

In that case, you can let loose with a vintage curse word: “Tarnation!”

Red Sox Capitalize on Miscues, Beat Royals 6-3

Posted on September 11, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The last-place Boston Red Sox took advantage of three critical errors by the first-place Kansas City Royals, pulling away late in a 6-3 victory Thursday night that ended a four-game losing streak.

Clay Buchholz (8-8) allowed three runs, two earned, over 6 1-3 innings for the Red Sox. He turned a one-run lead over to the Boston bullpen, and it preserved his sixth straight win against the Royals. Edward Mujica handled a perfect ninth for his fifth save.

Kansas City’s advantage in the AL Central dropped to a half-game over idle Detroit.

Liam Hendriks (1-2) failed to last three innings while making a spot start for left-hander Danny Duffy, who is shelved with shoulder soreness. The Royals’ defense didn’t do Hendriks any favors, making all three errors in the first four frames.

The Lady Dawgs Improve to 5-0 with Win over GI Northwest

Posted on September 11, 2014September 11, 2014

The North Platte Lady Bulldogs earned a 3-1 win over Grand Island Northwest Thursday night in Grand Island.

The No. 6 Lady Dawgs wasted no time jumping out on top of the Lady Vikings by taking set one with a 25-20 win. Three big hitters stepped up to lead North Platte in the set. Senior Jessy Hunt and juniors Olivia Nicholson and Allison Kuenle each had three kills. Hunt finished the match with eight kills and a number of big blocks to help lead North Platte in the win. She said she enjoyed the hostile crowd at GI Northwest.

“I was feeding off the crowd,” Hunt said. “It was just loud and when it’s loud I just get all pumped up.”

Coach Laura Miller liked what she saw out of one of the team’s senior leaders.

“She had some blocks that were more like spikes than blocks so we were like ‘whoa’ that was great for momentum for us,” Miller said. “She’s driven and wants to set that block record this year.”

In set number two GI Northwest, the fourth-ranked team in Class B, jumped out to a quick 5-1 lead before the Lady Dawgs came storming back and went on an 11-1 run to go up 12-6. But the Lady Vikings went on a run of their own and took a 24-23 lead before North Platte regained the lead and took the set 27-25. Nicholson and Kuenle once again led the way with four kills each.

The third set North Platte’s communication dropped and GI Northwest took advantage of it as they came up with some big blocks and won 25-18 to force a fourth set. Nicholson led the way in the third set with five kills.

The Dawgs jumped on top in the fourth set and dominated from then on out with a decisive 25-17 win. Nicholson once again stepped up big with six kills in the fourth set. Senior Kaitlynn Harvey followed with four kills to help ensure the victory. Miller said the team this year has the desire to get the job done.

“They are so driven,” she said. “My job is pretty easy right now, I’m kind of enjoying this. They tend to take care of business.”

Hunt said the team has focused on finishing matches and sets this season.

“We made it a goal to finish,” she said. “We’re also a lot closer this year. We were close last year but we are even more this year. We play for each other and really emphasize playing as a team.”

North Platte, which moved up to No. 6 in the rankings this week, has now beaten four ranked opponents in a row in its 5-0 start. The streak started with Class C1 No. 3 Ogallala, followed by then No. 8 Lincoln North Star, followed by then No. 4 Lincoln Southwest, before Thursday night’s win over Class B No. 4 Grand Island Northwest.

Hunt said that the team’s hustle has been a key to the fast start.

“We just work hard and always want to get better,” Hunt said. “Every practice we try to push ourselves.”

The Lady Bulldogs will next play at home Saturday as they host the Bulldog Triangular. The Bulldogs from both Gering and Alliance will make the trip from the Panhandle to compete. North Platte plays Gering at 12 noon to begin the Tri then the Dawgs will finish the day with a 2:00 pm match against Alliance.

Miller said she needs to make sure her team doesn’t over look Gering and Alliance after playing so many ranked teams leading up to the Bulldog Triangular.

“That emotional let down is the big deal,” Miller said. “We’re going to go after it and try to do our game plan and play our game to avoid that.”

Team	1	2	3	4	Final
North Platte	25	27	18	25	3
GI Northwest	20	25	25	17	1

Huskers Tie Wildcats, 1-1

Posted on September 11, 2014

Lincoln, Neb. – The Nebraska soccer team (4-2-1) opened Big Ten play with a 1-1 draw against Northwestern on a rainy Thursday afternoon at the Nebraska Soccer Field.

The Huskers’ offense applied pressure throughout the first half, taking 11 shots compared to the Wildcats’ four. However, Northwestern went into locker room with a 1-0 lead after Sami Schrakamp’s first goal of the season in the 12th minute. She scored from 20 yards out on the right side on a breakaway from midfield.

The Huskers continued their attack in the second half, taking eight shots to Northwestern’s three, but it wasn’t until the 88th minute that Nebraska scored. Caroline Flynn’s cross to the middle was deflected by Jaycie Johnson into the possession of Katie Kraeutner, who knocked it in from 20 yards out to the bottom left corner of the net to tie the score.

The goal marked Kraeutner’s second of the season. It also marked the sixth time in seven games that Nebraska has scored in the 75th minute or later.

Neither team managed a shot in the first overtime period, but Northwestern took two in the second overtime. One of those shots was saved by goalkeeper Kelly Schatz, who compiled three for the game in 110 minutes of work.

The Huskers complete their two-game home stand on Sunday at 1 p.m., against Illinois. The game will be streamed on the Big Ten Digital Network.

Huskers Wrapping up Preparations for Fresno

Posted on September 11, 2014

Lincoln, Neb.- The Nebraska football team continued its preparations for their first road trip of the season Saturday at the Fresno State Bulldogs, as the Huskers conducted a 50-minute walk-thru Thursday afternoon inside of the Hawks Championship Center.

Head Coach Bo Pelini addressed the media following practice, noting that the Huskers will head out to Fresno after an early afternoon practice in Lincoln.

“We have had a good week of preparation, I feel good about it,” Pelini said. “We don’t get out there until later. We are going to practice here in the early afternoon and then head out there.”

Pelini added that this week has been a pretty normal week for the Huskers.

“I thought we had a good week of prep, not as good on Tuesday, better on Wednesday which is normally how the week goes. We tied some things up today and I expect pretty good attention to detail tomorrow.”

Pelini did mention that he did not think the Huskers had a poor week of practice last week leading up to the McNeese State game, but rather just failed to play with good technique and fundamentals during the game Saturday.

“I don’t think we had a horrible week of prep last week, it was just like we didn’t have our stinger when we took the field,” he said. “I think our guys played hard, we just did not play smart and with good technique.”

According to Pelini, wide receivers Sam Burtch and Brandon Reilly will not make the trip due to injuries. This will mark the third consecutive game both Burtch and Reilly will not suit up for the Huskers.

The Nebraska football team will have one more practice Friday afternoon before getting on the plane to travel to California. The Huskers’ first road game of the season Saturday at Fresno State will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network with a kickoff at 9:30 p.m. (Central).

Holland, Duffy Close to Returning for Royals

Posted on September 11, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — All-Star closer Greg Holland could be available for the Kansas City Royals this weekend after dealing with some tightness in his right arm, while left-hander Danny Duffy was awaiting word from doctors before beginning to throw again.

The Royals lead the AL Central by one game over Detroit.

Royals manager Ned Yost said before Thursday night’s game against Boston that Holland felt good after throwing Monday. Holland planned to play catch and would be available if all went well.

Holland has not pitched since saving a 4-1 win over Texas on Sept. 3. Wade Davis picked up three saves in his place during the Royals’ recent six-game road trip.

Right-hander Liam Hendriks made a spot start Thursday night for Duffy, who left his previous outing after one pitch with soreness in his left shoulder. Duffy had hoped to only miss one start.