LeBron James aging impacts career

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LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers scores against Paul George of the Indiana Pacers during the second half of Game 3 in the National Basketball Assocation playoff series. The Pacers fell 119-114 to Cleveland on Thursday April 20. (Darron Cummings/AP Photo)

We have all witnessed the highs and lows of LeBron James’ career after he entered the National Basketball Association in 2003, when he was drafted No. 1 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers.  

If we’ve ever seen a low point in James’ career—on the court—it was in his first year with the Miami Heat in 2010, or in the Eastern Conference finals, when James and the Heat faced off against the Boston Celtics in game five. 

The inhuman prodigy in his athletic prime, who averaged over 25 points per game that season, made only three shots in game five, as the Celtics would go on to cruise to a 120-88 victory in 2010. The Heat would continue on to defeat the Celtics and eventually lose to the Dallas Mavericks in six games in the NBA finals.

Speculation after these playoffs occurred due to the supernatural expectations of James, especially now that he was on this ‘super team.’  Was there an injury that we did not know about or some off the court distraction that James had endured? What if there was an easier explanation? What if James was just tired? 

The man who basically made the Cavalier organization relevant again, taking them to their first NBA finals in team history in 2006-07, may have just been tired. 

The fact was that after James chose to leave Cleveland, his own city, most of all of the sports world hated him. That would take a lot out of most people, but he dealt with it, going on to win two NBA championships with the Heat and once with the Cavs.  

And as the King gets older, currently at age 32, we have to ask the question again: does he have enough left in the tank? 

The Cavs bragged earlier this season about having a cutting-edge system that put players into various categories of fatigue, which we should believe was mainly for James.  It was supposed to be a way to manage his minutes and to keep him healthy so that come playoff time, he would be ready.

But as the Cavs dwindled in the East, James did everything but rest. Losing 15 of their last 26 regular season games, the team was on edge. By the end of the season, James led the NBA in minutes per game, the opposite of Cleveland’s stated goals. Not only does he play a high number of minutes, but also when he’s out there, it’s arguable that no team relies more on a player than the Cavs depend on James. The Cavs win with James and they lose with James.

Sure, they have Kyrie Irving, who is inevitably one of the best—if not the best—point guard in the NBA. They have knock-down shooters on the wing with Kyle Korver and J.R. Smith. And then they have Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson working low on the boards, both being able to step out of the perimeter and to knock down jumpers. 

When push comes to shove, if James doesn’t show up, the Cavs might be able to win a few games, but it is very unlikely that they will be able to win another NBA championship.

Stanley Cup makes for unique playoff season

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Edmonton Oilers’ forward Connor McDavid fights off San Jose Sharks defender Justin Braun during the second period of game two of a NHL hockey first-round playoff game in the Stanley Cup on Friday April 14.  Hockey fans from all over the country look forward to the Stanley Cup, as it provides some of the best competition of the year. (Sergio Garcia/AP Photo)

The beginning of spring is perhaps the most exciting time of year in the sports world. The Masters is played, National Basketball Association playoffs begin, Major League Baseball exits spring training and begins regular season play and, of course, the National Hockey League Stanley Cup Playoffs commence. 

The playoffs in the NHL are unlike any other professional sport, which the fans and players recognize. Ask any fan and they will tell you that watching a playoff game in the NHL is completely different from the regular season. The hits are harder, the pace is faster and every inch of ice and loose puck is contested. These differences are facilitated by how the NHL has set up their system. 

It is no secret that of the major sports in the United States, hockey is not the most popular nationwide. Until expansions in the 90s and early 2000s, the game has been centered upon the northeast in the U.S. and Canada. It simply does not have a range like football and baseball. When the playoffs start, however, it is clear that the NHL has done something right. 

First, it is hard to make the playoffs in the NHL, which makes every season an exciting one. To make the Cup Playoffs, it takes a full talented roster and a winning record. This is contrary to the NBA where, some years, teams below or at .500 make the postseason, causing some boring first round matchups. 

In the NHL, every series seems to be exciting. The top seeded Washington Capitals are down two games to one to the No. 8 seed Toronto Maple Leafs with every game so far going into at least one overtime, as of Wednesday April 19.

Another aspect of the Stanley Cup playoffs that sets it apart is the length. Hockey fans get to look forward to almost two months of playoff hockey with games just about every night. The four best of seven series allows the playoffs to run longer and ensures that the best team usually comes out victorious. This is contrary to the NFL, where it is win or go home and games are only played once a week. 

NHL playoff games are accessible, which is more than what can be said about some professional sport playoffs. The Super Bowl seems to have morphed into more of a celebrity red carpet event than a sporting event and the game is not played at either teams’ home field. 

At the Stanley Cup Playoffs, however, home ice advantage is a tangible thing that teams work toward; it allows local fans the opportunity to attend the game. This seemingly small detail has a huge effect on the atmosphere of the games. 

The postseason in the NHL is the most exciting two months in the hockey world, whether your team is in it or not. Even the name of the postseason, “the Stanley Cup Playoffs,” separates itself from the pack. It reminds fans and players alike what they are playing for. What they are working toward and what, if the stars align, they will be hoisting at the end of May.

2017 Masters Tournament swings into spring

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Spain’s Sergio Garcia Fernandez celebrates his victory by holding up his Masters trophy at the green jacket ceremony after the tournament on Sunday April 9 in Augusta Georgia. Golf fans anticipate the spring season as it allows for the most skilled golfers to show why they are the best. (Sergio Garcia/AP Photo)

The long winter has come and passed. The grass is green and the azaleas are blooming. Spring is here and with it comes the first major golf tournament of the year and golf’s greatest tradition: the Masters Tournament. 

This tournament culminates every year after months of anticipation and suffering through chilly weather. For that reason, it is much more than a golf tournament—it is an opportunity to celebrate the game’s rich past and bright future. 

The weekend was off to a rickety start, given that for the first time in its 50-year history, the par 3 tournament at Augusta National was cancelled due to weather. This was, however, a small inconvenience compared to the glaring absence at this year’s Masters. 

This was the first time since 1954 that the tournament was played without the presence of Arnold Palmer given his death in 2016. Play is usually kicked off with a ceremonial tee shot from Palmer, as well as past champions Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus. 

There was one less shot this year echoing off the Georgia pines on the first tee. Augusta National Chairman Billy Payne gave a heartfelt speech, as followed by a moment of silence for the “King.” 

The weather was the story of the first and second round on Thursday April 6 and Friday April 7, with high winds and cold temperatures causing some high scores. Charley Hoffman found a way to battle the elements and come away with a four-shot lead after Thursday April 6—the largest lead after the first round since 1955. 

Saturday April 8 and Sunday April 9 were different stories. The weather reports for the final two rounds were summed up by one word—perfect. The sun was shining, the flags laid still and it was the slice of heaven typical of the Augusta National that we all know and love. It was time for the players to golf, and by the final round on Sunday April 9, the leader board was star studded.

The final round ended with a tie between Spaniard Sergio García Fernández—who many consider the best active player never to win a major—and 2013 U.S. Open champion Englishman Justin Rose. 

This tie led to a sudden death one-hole playoff between the two. García striped his drive down the middle of the fairway and Rose hit his tee shot into the woods, forcing him to punch out to García’s feet. With a one-shot advantage on the hole, García hit yet another clutch approach shot to the green and knocked down his birdie putt to win the green jacket and his first Masters Tournament. 

The Masters is a tradition unlike any other. It is more than golf. To many players and fans alike, it is the favored tournament of the year. From the champions’ dinner to the pimento cheese sandwiches to the esteemed green jackets, it transcends golf. 

It is not simply a welcome to the golf season. It is a welcome to spring and a celebration of a beautiful game.

WrestleMania serves as top entertainment

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The Undertaker looks at the crowd after entering the ring for his last WrestleMania match on Sunday April 2. The performance that World Wrestling Entertainment athletes put on kept their fans on edge, as they not only provided wrestling matches, but also John Cena’s proposal to Nikki Bella. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP Photo)

Every year, World Wrestling Entertainment puts on their biggest show—WrestleMania. This year, the company’s event was held at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. The event offers big surprises as superstars battle it out for main event belts. 

This event always attracts excited fans. The remarkable thing about WrestleMania is that it is, first and foremost, put on for entertainment. There are characters, high flying stunts, and WWE seems to always know exactly what the fans want. Wrestling, however, is changing and with it the characters that fit. 

Perhaps the most notable part of the entire event was the retirement of WWE superstar, The Undertaker. In the final match on the card, The Deadman faced Roman Reigns in a 23-minute bout. Reigns was eventually able to pin The Undertaker to become victorious. The Undertaker, then, removed his gloves, hat and jacket and placed them in the center of the ring to a standing ovation, signifying his retirement. 

As was stated before, the wrestling of years and decades past is different than the wrestling of today. The Undertaker played an undead mortician whose tolerance for pain won him countless matches. The fans of years ago loved this supernatural aspect of the sport. In today’s wrestling world, he simply does not fit. 

This is not to say that WrestleMania is an event that sees all new-aged superstars. One of the biggest crowd reactions came from the surprise appearance of the legendary tag team duo the Hardy Boyz. The two siblings were able to take the tag team title and take home the belt. 

Another huge highlight of the night was the engagement of star John Cena to fellow wrestler Nikki Bella. After their win against the Miz and Maryse, he got on one knee and asked Nikki to marry him, to that her answer was, of course, yes. 

Yes, wrestling is fake. Yes, it is staged and yes, producers seem to know who will win. For many, they can’t get past that aspect of it. For others, however, they have no problem seeing the beauty of it. 

These people are pure entertainers and no doubt athletic. They jump from 20 feet in the air, do flips and break tables. That is by no means a small feat. It is fun to watch. 

So, while it is fake, the entertainment is real. These wrestlers take on these personas for the fans. They risk their bodies for the fans, which isn’t something that can be said for other athletes. 

WrestleMania is the epitome of this kind of entertainment. In a world of sports that can often be frustrating and disappointing, the WWE always seems to deliver. There are no rules. There are super characters. They seem to always listen to their fans. They give the people what they want, and that is far more than can be said for other sports organizations. 

So, who cares that it’s not real? WrestleMania is entertainment first and foremost.

Sports medicine deserves more recognition

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Carolina Hurricanes goalie Eddie Lack is treated on the ice for an injury during a game against the Detroit Red Wings in Raleigh, North Carolina on Monday March 27. A trainer or sports doctor must be readily available at all times for their athletes, especially during a competitive game. (Gerry Broome/AP Photo)

When someone answers the question, “What do you want to do with your biology major?” with “I want to go into sports medicine,” people tend to make assumptions about the field and write it off. 

It will most likely not be a sports doctor that cures cancer. It will not be a team doctor that discovers how to regenerate a heart from a spinach leaf, or how to transplant a human head. In many ways, however, the job of sports doctors is far more difficult. The world of sports changes every day and doctors need to be able to change with it. 

The world of sports, especially professional sports, is drastically different than what it looked like 10, 15 or 20 years ago. Players are bigger, faster and stronger. Equipment has changed and, with it, the whole game. 

Let us look at the game of hockey, as the changes in the past decade have been significantly notable. In the 1970s-80s, shoulder pads worn by hockey players were small, thin garments with little plastic to help protect the player wearing them. Throwing a body check in that era meant physical punishment for both sides, so players tended to shy away from big body checks thrown at full speed. 

Today, shoulder pads are large, tight fitting and sturdy. Players hardly feel these big impacts on their shoulders, thanks to the design. These shoulder pads turn the player that is wearing them—moving at 30 miles per hour—into a weapon. 

Sports doctors today are seeing impacts that resemble that of the force of a brutal car accident. Slow motion technology shows that targeted impacts in contact sports like football and hockey resemble crash test dummies in Subaru commercials. Sports medicine no longer means taping up knees and setting broken fingers. It now must encompass things like the treatment of serious head injuries and ligament repair and transportation. 

Advancements in the sports medicine field have not been restrained to just contact sports. In baseball, pitchers are throwing harder and stats like bat speed and exit velocity give us a clear idea as to the damage a baseball can do. While fans desire a faster, stronger, more entertaining game, this opens the door to more danger and sports doctors need to be able to keep up. 

Perhaps the most interesting thing about sports medicine is the research and development that has been done in the past decades. Doctors have done extensive research and have developed new technologies in terms of equipment to keep the game moving at this speed. New helmet technology has appeared for contact sports like hockey and football. Tommy John surgery for baseball pitchers has been perfected to allow maximum longevity for some of the league’s best players.

So while sports medicine needs to adapt to a changing game, it also fosters it. It allows the games and athletes to become bigger, faster and stronger in pursuit of a more entertaining and elite game in all respects. It is the jobs of the individuals in sports medicine to not only protect the players in these games, but to also protect the games themselves. 

NHL adds new team to league

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By creating a National Hockey League team in Las Vegas, the league is branching out to areas that may not necessarily be known for hockey. This expansion has the potential to create issues with sports gambling. (Courtesy of Creative Commons)

For the first time since the 2000 National Hockey League expansion, a new league franchise prepares to tighten their skates and hit the ice. The Las Vegas Golden Knights are set to join the NHL in the 2017-18 season as the 31st team in the league. 

The Golden Knights join the Pacific Division, slotting themselves as the 15th team in Western Conference of the NHL. They plan to host their games at the T-Mobile Arena, which has a capacity of 17,368. While hockey fans rejoice for the sport reaching new areas and drawing in new fans, the expansion does not come sans a unique set of problems. 

The Golden Knights become the first major league team in the history of professional sports to base out of Las Vegas, a city famous for its gambling. While the clear majority of states regulate or illegalize gambling involving professional sports, Nevada remains one of the few that allow it. 

This notion caused some concern within the sports community; this inclusion of Las Vegas, however, can also reflect the trend of acceptance toward sports gambling in the past decade. Fantasy sport leagues and sites are on the rise; what was once a taboo and frowned upon practice has slowly embedded itself as a thrilling pastime. 

Expect to see a huge change in the near future when it comes to the relationship between professional sports and gambling, as the Las Vegas Golden Knights may become the face of professional sports gambling given their location.

Additionally, in a more ‘game-state’ sense, the induction of a new team creates a competitive field of 31 teams, as opposed to an even and established field of 30. While there will be some changes to teams’ schedules—especially in the west—the league has made no change or realignments for playoffs. 

Sporting an even number field, teams in the Eastern Conference play 28 divisional games. This consists of four against their division opponents, 24 non-divisional games, three games against the eight teams from the other eastern division and twice against every Western Conference opponent.

The Western Conference, on the other hand, becomes more of a hassle with an odd number of teams at 15. Each western team still plays twice against all 16 eastern opponents and three games in Pacific vs. Central matchups, but leaves the seven teams in the Central division to divide their remaining 26 games among themselves and the eight teams in the Pacific division to divide their remaining 29 games among themselves, now that the Golden Knights are included. 

While creating some inconsistency in the amount of games western teams play in their division, it is expected to have a minimal effect upon playoff seeding due to all the teams playing an 82-game season. 

One last major issue presented for the new team stems from where their roster will come. While looking to benefit from free agents, the Golden Knights will rely primarily on the ruling of an expansion draft that takes place on June 21. This draft allows the Golden Knights to select a single, unprotected player from each established NHL team to take and add to their roster. 

While red lights immediately flash at the notion that the Golden Knights may become the greatest, most “stacked” team in the league, the draft follows a strict set of rules to protect the interests of the already established franchises. All teams are allowed to protect a certain amount of players—a choice of eight skaters and a goaltender, or seven forwards, three defensemen and a goaltender—from being drafted. Additionally, teams can have last year’s and this year’s rookies exempt from the selection and can have all “no movement” contracts upheld.

Though expansions hold their unique difficulties, fans are excited to see more of the sport they love and cannot wait to see a higher level of competitiveness with the addition of another team.

NBA stars play for rings

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LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers dunks the ball during the first half of a game against the Millkwaukee Bucks on Monday Feb. 27. Many players seem to be making questionable financial decisions when signing contracts with teams. (Tony Dejak/AP Photo)

The National Basketball Association is a unique league that continues to differentiate itself from other professional sports. More than any other pro league in America, there is a huge talent gap from team to team. In recent years, this gap only seems to be getting bigger.

NBA players make a lot of money. They make more money collectively than any other league in the country. The average salary was around $4.9 million in the current 2016-17 season, compared to $4.38 million in the MLB for 2016. If an NBA athlete spends, say, five years as a star player on a team, they could conceivably not work for the rest of their lives. This is where the talent gap comes in.

Star players that make this much money for an extended period seem to value it less. The difference in salary seems to be insignificant when these players’ bank accounts are already so huge. So, star players are beginning to accept less money to join the best teams.

When LeBron James left the Cleveland Cavaliers to join the Miami Heat in 2010, it seems as though his motivation was championship rings, not salary. James accepted less money and joined Dwayne Wade, creating an NBA super team that was virtually unstoppable until his contract expired.

Recently, the same has happened with Kevin Durant and the Golden State Warriors. When Durant’s contract expired after last season, he had several options to make more money by signing with other teams, including his former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder. He instead, however, opted to join superstars Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and others on the Warriors. 

The Warriors were coming off a historic season, tying Michael Jordan’s Bulls best record ever recorded. Steph Curry won the unanimous MVP. Some viewed them as an absolute lock for the championship and they were one of the best teams in the league during the regular season.

So why should they get another superstar?

Durant leaving Oklahoma for the Warriors makes the league unbalanced. Why should a team that good get even better? It creates a culture that doesn’t reward loyalty to a team and that fosters a talent gap that rivals any other professional sport. The NBA has a long playoff schedule, allowing 16 teams. This system is often criticized considering that some years there are teams that make the playoffs with a losing record. This further shows the size of the talent gap.

Toward the end of the season, it always seems that there are around four teams that are almost a lock for the conference finals. Many players—especially super star players—seem to no longer be motivated by money. 

Now, they seem to be more motivated by their legacy, and a huge part of their legacy is rings. James was solidified as one of the greatest ever after his stretch with the Heat, in my opinion, despite leaving Cleveland.

As the market and salaries continue to grow, it is likely that so will this trend. It seems that money is not the motivator anymore: its surrounding yourself with players that you think will give you the best chance to take home a ring.

Analyzing the all-star games

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Small forward of the Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo in the Eastern Conference misses a slam dunk during the second half of the all-star National Basketball Association game on Sunday Feb. 17in New Orleans. The all-star games attract a wide variety of viewers and bring more attention to their respective sports.  (Max Becherer/AP Photo)

The winter sports world has met its yearly midpoint. That midpoint means one thing—the all-star break, which necessitates a discussion on what it means, how they differ from sport to sport and how they are changing. 

The all-star games of the past were different than the large productions they are today. There was no fan voting, no flash and sometimes even no uniforms. They were simply the games’ best players in the sports’ favorite city. Today, all-star games serve a different purpose. 

The event that still serves that older and somewhat higher purpose is the Major League Baseball all-star game. The winning league is awarded home field advantage in the World Series. The stat “five-time all-star” is quite a big deal. Pitchers throw their hardest. Fielders make diving plays. Nowadays, “all-star games” should be more aptly named “all-star events.” 

In the National Basketball Association, all-star weekend is about entertaining, expanding the game and selling merchandise. There are all-star jerseys available for purchase, there is a dunk contest and a skills competition. No doubt, it helps to grow the NBA, but it is more of a show than a game.  

The 1979-80 National Hockey League all-star game was held in Detroit. It was Wayne Gretzky’s first and Detroit legend Gordie Howe had announced that it would be his last. He had come home to the motor city to say his final farewell. Before the puck dropped, when the rosters were being announced, “No. 9, Gordie Howe” came over the speaker and Joe Louis Arena stood. They stood and did not sit for over four minutes. 

This is just one magical moment that was made possible by the all-star games of the past. It isn’t just a great moment in hockey history, but a great moment in all-star game history as well. 

This simply doesn’t happen anymore. The latest NHL all-star game was held in Los Angeles. Not only do they sell jerseys, but also hats and T-shirts to commemorate the weekend. The highlights seem to be what props Alexander Ovechkin used in the shootout challenge as opposed to what happened in the actual game. 

A perfect example of these changing all-star games is the National Football League’s Pro Bowl. Arguably the best players do not participate because the schedule does not break for it. It is held in the middle of the day instead of prime time and the colors used for the uniforms are essentially fashion statements. It is for the fans, not the players. 

This transition to a new all-star game, however, is not necessarily all bad. While, yes, they are now less significant to the schedules of the teams, they are also a great way to expand the game and the brand of their respective sports.

Major League Baseball considers new rule

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Players for the Seattle Mariners run drills during a baseball practice in their spring training. The implementation of the new rules will ultimately speed up the game of baseball, recapturing the attention of fans. (Charlie Reidel/AP Photo)

Major League Baseball has been actively searching for ways to speed up the game, as popularity has declined with the rise of high-paced sports, such as football and basketball. 

Many of the changes are first tested at the minor league level before being implemented in the big leagues in order to decide if it is an effective tactic. One recent example of this would be the addition of a pitch clock to prevent pitchers from extending the game in between pitches. 

Starting this season in the Arizona League and the Gulf Coast League, when a game goes into extra innings, a runner will automatically be placed on second base. This, hopefully, will eliminate long extra-inning games that can take hours to play, leaving fans disinterested and players tired for their next game. 

Baseball fanatics live for the thrill of extra innings and the “do or die” mentality, but average fans often don’t see a five-six-hour baseball game as worth watching. This rule will also be enacted in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

The longest game in MLB history took place in 1920 between the Boston Braves and the Brooklyn Robins and lasted for 26 innings, nearly triple the amount of a standard nine-inning game.

One of the biggest advocates for this rule change is executive vice president of baseball operations Joe Torre. 

“It’s not fun to watch when you go through your whole pitching staff and wind up bringing a utility infielder in to pitch,” Torre said. “As much as it’s nice to talk about being at an 18-inning game, it takes time.” 

This rule will also provide immediate drama, which is often missing from baseball games due to the lack of a game clock. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said he feels that this could help keep younger fans excited about the game.

If this proves to be successful, it could be implemented in the MLB in the future, although the process would most likely take a few years. 

Despite the support from many of the MLB officials, there have been negative reactions from fans and even some players. Noah Syndergaard, starting pitcher for the New York Mets, tweeted “NOPE” with an attached link explaining the new rule. 

Many fans are upset by this proposed rule change because they believe it takes out an essential element of the game. This rule, whose purpose is to shorten games, will take out the strategy of managing the team with limited resources. 

While extra inning games do exhaust a team’s bullpen, there exists the challenge of deciding how to use available pitchers that comes with it. The managers are often locked in a battle of wits, where putting in a certain pitcher makes all the difference.

National League managers have the extra task of switching up the lineup when it is the most beneficial to use a pinch hitter. It can be amusing for both the fans and the teams when a utility player must come and pitch an inning. Sometimes position players pitched in college, so their skill is shocking.

When looking at statistics, Forbes has calculated that with this rule in effect, MLB teams will likely have a 6 percent increase in games ending after 10 innings. The rule also makes it expected that 75 percent of games will end in 11 innings or less; the current rate is 69 percent. 

Even though baseball is considered “America’s pastime,” change is inevitable. The style of the game has undergone a transformation, as has the rest of the world. 

Whether or not this rule takes effect in the MLB, baseball will still retain its essence of tradition.

National Hockey League promotes #BellLetsTalk to spread mental health awareness

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Foward Jared Boll for the Anaheim Ducks fights right winger Chris Thorburn of the Winnipeg Jets during the first period of a National Hockey Game in Winnipeg on Jan. 23. Fights like these are a common issue during NHL games and contribute to head trauma. (Trevor Hagan/AP Photo)

Let’s Talk Day is a day that is designated to promoting mental health awareness in Canada. For every text, call, tweet, retweet and Snapchat geofilter used on Thursday Jan. 26 with the hashtag “#BellLetsTalk,” Bell Media—one of Canada’s top multimedia companies—donated 5 cents to mental health awareness. 

The social media aspect, however, is what made this day special, as it took on a mind of its own. Simply tweeting or retweeting “#BellLetsTalk” takes one second. Athletes and celebrities alike, for this reason, raised over $6 million in one day for mental health treatment and awareness. 

The fact that this day happened across Canada and mainly through social media reveals an aspect that is often overlooked when discussing mental health: hockey.

Let’s Talk Day brings hockey to the forefront. What many people don’t realize is that playing hockey at the professional level for such a long time causes concussion problems—analogous to the concussions commonly found among football players. These brain issues really became an issue in the early 2000s, as even helmets couldn’t prevent brain injuries.     

Sustained head injuries can often cause brain damage leading to memory loss, erratic behavior and suicidal thoughts. It appears that several of the former National Hockey League players that died due to suicide seemed to be the game’s enforcers, or fighters. 

These players are often called upon to take a big hit or to get into a fight in order to stand up for a skill player or to get the crowd into the game. Recently, enforcer Todd Ewen committed suicide. He was known to have said that he had battled depression since he left the league. 

Until recently, concussion protocol was left up to the team trainers. It gave players the opportunity to lie about the way that they were feeling in order to keep playing in the game or to simply avoid the annoying tests. Many players admitted to doing this. 

This part of the game is often overlooked. Big hits get cheers, but they are also dangerous—and this is why Let’s Talk Day is so helpful. It brings these situations to the forefront. 

Now, the game is changing. It is becoming more about skill and less about physicality. Concussion protocol is now normalized and no longer left to the team’s discretion. Additionally, helmet technology is advancing. 

Thanks to #BellLetsTalk, the NHL and its players, awareness is spreading and the league is developing. Yes, physicality sells tickets, but people that were not up close to the sport don’t always know the cost. 

Thanks to Bell and Let’s Talk Day, mental health issues stemmed from concussions will hopefully transcend to other sports players—like football players in the National Football League—who experience high numbers of concussions just like hockey players.

U.S. women’s soccer team fights for equal pay

The United States women’s national soccer team has been quite successful in recent years. In total, they have taken home four Olympic gold medals and won three Women’s World Cup titles. The numbers they’ve put up in recent years have been impressive, including their compensation. In 2015, a year in which they won the World Cup, the team generated $2 million. So why did five women on the team file a lawsuit with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission earlier this year? Perhaps it has to do with the fact that the men raked in $9 million in 2014—a year in which they failed to make it past the second stage of the World Cup.

When examining this situation, it is important to look at the overall argument before applying it to the athletic world. We live in a society where many argue that oppression remains prevalent, and many cite pay inequality as evidence of this.

People claim that wage gaps are common in the workplace, while studies point to an earnings gap between women and their male counterparts. These two terms, although used interchangeably, are very different. A wage gap suggests that one party is simply being paid less for the same amount of experience, hours worked, work ethic and experience as their counterpart. An earnings gap, on the other hand, takes into account more information, such as employment history and differences in occupation.

The athletic world is no exception to this. There have been many cases involving payment discrepancies amongst professional athletes in the past. The women’s national team is one of the most recent cases that’s receiving a lot of national attention.

One of the reasons this story is so widely publicized is because of the people that have filed the lawsuit. Forward Alex Morgan, midfielder Carli Lloyd, midfielder Megan Rapinoe, defender Becky Sauerbrunn and goalkeeper Hope Solo—who is no longer with the team—are the prominent players that took the initiative.

Inequality of payment in athletics differs slightly from traditional office job’s payment inequality claims. Frequently, salaries depend soley on the revenue that the teams and their leagues bring in, with no prejudice against a certain gender.

The U.S. Soccer Federation issued a statement earlier this year acknowledging that the national women’s soccer team was indeed composed of some of the most talented and successful players in the sport.

Of course, there are many factors, though, that could play into these potential wage gaps amongst the two genders. Men’s soccer brings in twice as much revenue in the form of ticket sales than the women, according to the federation. If this is indeed the case, then the U.S. Soccer Federation would be losing revenue by paying the women more.

This trend can be seen in a number of different sports. The Women’s National Basketball Association receives not nearly as much attention as the National Basketball Association does, and there are no well-known or publicized women’s football teams.

In addition to pointing out the differences in revenue, the Federation also noted that 25 of the 40 highest earning U.S. soccer players between 2012-15 were indeed women. It is important to note, however, that payment methods for these teams are different. The women tend to get higher base salaries and decent bonuses when they win a game. The men, on the other hand, get large bonuses for every game they play and massive bonuses when they win, though this may be due to the significantly higher income that the team brings in.

While there remains plenty of gray area in this argument, one can logically see that there is not necessarily a gender issue here. The women may have a more popular and successful team among professional U.S. soccer, but the women’s overall league is significantly less popular internationally than that that of the men’s.

Since this is how the paychecks are determined, there should not be as much of an issue amongst the teams.

NBA commences thrilling season

The National Basketball Association’s season isn’t even a month in and there has already been an incredible amount of entertainment, both on and off the court. Topics like small forward Kevin Durant’s decision to join the Golden State Warriors, the comparisons of Cleveland Cavaliers small forward LeBron James to Michael Jordan and shooting guard Dwyane Wade’s departure from Miami to play for the Chicago Bulls have flooded discussions in the media and amongst fans—but now they are fading into new drama and storylines of the 2016-17 season.

To many fans before the start of the season, there was little doubt about what teams would meet in the finals. The regular season was more of a formality than anything in order to make any team not named the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Golden State Warriors feel that they might get lucky.

It’s understandable as to why fans felt this way. After all, the Warriors added superstar and 2014 MVP Durant to start in one of the most talented starting lineups ever seen in the NBA. As for the Cavs, they are firing on all cylinders, with James still dominating the game in every way imaginable.

With all of this attention on the Warriors and Cavaliers, however, a casual fan might be surprised that neither of these two teams currently have the best record. That title goes to the Los Angeles Clippers, who have shocked the NBA by starting off their season with a 10-1 record, showcasing the cohesiveness of the entire team.

Star point guard Chris Paul has been showing fans why many people consider him to be the best floor general in basketball. He has been setting up his teammates to score easy baskets—averaging 8.5 assists per game—and is creating chaos and fast breaks by averaging 2.9 steals per game.

Paul’s teammate and fellow superstar, power forward Blake Griffin, has been an offensive dynamo that can punish opponents in the post, step out and hit a shot when left open. This isn’t even to mention the vicious dunks that Griffin is capable of making. At times, it is nearly impossible for defenses to plan for him.

The Clippers have made it to the playoffs for the past five years in a row, but have never made it out of the second round, despite consistently having one of the best season records in the NBA. This year, it looks like the Clippers could compete with Golden State in the Conference Finals and finally face the best the Eastern Conference has to offer.

Despite the Warriors dominant performances over the Clippers in the past, the Clippers might  have an opportunity to exploit a new weakness of the Warriors this year: their utter lack of an interior defense. Due to the Durant signing, the Warriors were forced to trade away Andrew Bogut, their tough, defensive-minded center. This has left the Warriors vulnerable against offensively talented big-men.

The Clippers, however, have just that in both Griffin—who can back down defenders or speed around them—and center DeAndre Jordan, who is quite possibly the best in the NBA at finishing alley-oop lobs and embarrassing opposing defenses.

Defensively, Paul has been one of the more effective matchups at stopping—or at least slowing down—Warriors point guard Steph Curry by playing him  physically and not giving him an inch to get off that lethal three-point shot. Power forward Luc Mbah a Moute has also flourished as a perimeter defender at the small forward position for the Clippers, giving them a little more security around the perimeter.

Jordan, the anchor of the defense, patrols the paint quickly and fearsomely, blocking shots and making players driving to the basket think twice before putting up a shot. Jordan’s ability to protect the paint is already established and has earned him a spot in the NBA’s All-Defensive First Team for the past two seasons.

While it’s hard not to get swept up into the sensation that is the Warriors, it is important to keep in mind that there are still 29 other teams that are willing to sacrifice anything it takes to defeat such a fearsome opponent—and none more so than the Clippers. Their ability to score in a variety of ways—along with their bevy of superb defenders—certainly makes Clippers-Warriors matchups a must-watch this season.

English Premier League keeps fans on edge

The English Premier League is generally considered to be the best football league in the world. It has it all: pace, technicality, skill and some of the best teams and players the globe has to offer. While most EPL seasons are phenomenal, this season could prove to be the most exciting—or excruciating—season yet, depending on the team you support.

The season is only nine matches in, but the title race couldn’t be any closer. Manchester City is currently atop the table in first place, followed by Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur. To make matters even tighter, all five are separated by, at most, a single point—a feat that has never occurred before at this point in any EPL season.

Behind world-class manager Pep Guardiola, Manchester City started off the EPL campaign strong, winning six games straight. In their last three games, however, Manchester has looked flat. During these three league games they’ve suffered a 2-0 loss to Spurs and have had consecutive 1-1 draws to Everton and Southampton.

City is still favored by most to win the league, and if Guardiola can get the production back from prolific goal-scorer and striker Sergio Agüero, league-leading assister and attacking midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and midfielder Raheem Sterling, the Citizens could easily win their second title in three years.

Arsenal had aimed to go on top of the table, but failed to do so with a draw to newly- promoted Middlesbrough on Saturday Oct. 22. Arséne Wenger is entering his 20th season as the Gunners manager and is aiming for his fourth EPL title.

The Gunners started off slow, suffering a 4-3 defeat to Liverpool on opening weekend, followed up with a draw to last year’s EPL champions, Leicester City. Since then, however, the Gunners have been on a tear, winning six and drawing one. If the Gunners want to win their first EPL title in over a decade, they will need to play flawlessly behind the likes of attacking midfielder Mesut Özil, forward Alexis Sánchez and their new signing, midfielder Granit Xhaka.

Then we have Liverpool. The once English giant has never won an EPL title; the last time they even won a league title was in 1990. Since German Jürgen Klopp took over last season as manager, though, the Reds have been phenomenal.

The Reds have scored more goals than any other EPL side at this time. Their star-studded offense—which includes attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho, midfielder Roberto Firmino, striker Daniel Sturridge and winger Sadio Mané—is a treat to watch. The question is whether or not they can keep this up all season and finally lift the title that has evaded their grasp for so long.

After a disappointing season last year—where they finished in 10th place—Chelsea looks to win their fifth EPL title. Manager Antonio Conte’s team started off the season strong with three wins, but have since suffered defeats to Arsenal and Liverpool.

Since then, they have revitalized, however, winning three straight matches, including the 4-0 dismantling of Manchester United on Sunday Oct. 23. With the change to a 3-4-3 formation and attacking midfielder Eden Hazard playing like his usual self, Chelsea could claim number five come May.

Although they find themselves in fifth place, the Spurs are still the EPL’s only undefeated team. Centre-back Mauricio Pochettino’s side has played well so far, defeating City and drawing against Liverpool. While they have drawn their last two games, the Spurs will soon get back their defending scoring champion, forward Harry Kane and defensive rock Toby Alderweireld.