Gästeforum » Marino is included among these players.

FIVE QUICK NBA THOUGHTS: 1. LOU WILLIAMS (Raptors): When you think of the outstanding pick-ups of the off-season, this one was a steal for the Raptors, sending John Salmonss expiring contract to the Hawks for Sweet Lou and Lucas Bebe Nogueira. A subtle, under the radar transaction that has paid huge dividends when you consider the increased scoring punch of the Raptors second unit and the overall veteran offensive polish that Williams brings to the table in late clock situations. Hes been everything and more that the Raps could have hoped for. His defensive focus and intensity has been a neat development, as well. 2. ISAIAH THOMAS (Suns): He comes off the bench as a hired gun like Lou Williams and has been marvelous for Phoenix averaging 15.4 PPG and 4.2 APG. Watching him play in Sacramento, I never thought that he was a guy who could start and run your team, yet hes ideal in the role hes being cast in right now. With and abundance of guards already on this Suns team, his signing was one a bit of a head-scratcher of a moves that you wondered about, but its worked out beautifully. Nobody knows a teams needs better than the people around your team each day in your Coaches and front office staff. He fits. 3. LeBRON JAMES (Cavs): He called his team fragile after his team got blown out by the Raptors in the final three quarters on Saturday night and thats a pretty accurate description. It seemed to me that when the Raptors fought back with equal or better force, many Cavs wilted under the pressure and weight of expectations that currently occupy that environment. I said this on Saturday night and Ill say it again - LeBron James and Chris Bosh walked into a stable, disciplined and winning environment in Miami with great leadership, outstanding ownership, front office, coaching and a winner like Dwyane Wade and helped get them to the elite level. Cleveland has been the furthest thing from what Miami looked like and I still think that theyll be good, yet the approach might have to change a bit for LeBron. It might take a bit longer and he might need to be a bit more patient and work on creating better relationships with younger and new teammates before publicly calling them out, even a little bit. Considering that he looked passive at times himself and had only one rebound and a team-high five turnovers to go along with 15 points and 10 assists, James might have to just carry this team on his back and lead by example with elite productivity nightly until they finally see the light of what it takes and follow his lead. These are tense and uptight times in Cleveland. 4. CHRIS KAMAN (Blazers): Kamans played really well in Portland and bolstered the weak spot of their team - their second unit. Averaging 11.1 PPG and 6.7 RPG while shooting .545, he brings the some of the same grit, energy and toughness that Robin Lopez provides with the starting unit. Once again, here early on in the season, the Blazers are starting to roll and their chemistry is impressive. Kaman has been a sound addition to their team. 5. JOSE CALDERON (Knicks): Its good to see the former Raptor back on the court for New York. Hell give them a nice boost by running their offence with precision and his shot-making ability and selfless play will allow his teammates better spacing and looks. Its tough learning a new system and approach of a new coach and even tougher without your starting point guard, whos an ideal fit for the triangle offence. In time, hell give his team good direction. Speaking of former Raptors, what a mess with Andrea Bargnani. First a hamstring injury and now his calf. The guy cant catch a break. That trade with the Raptors hasnt worked out well for the Knicks at all and the folks in the Big Apple are counting the days until his contract comes off their books. Wayne Gretzky Jersey .Pete Morelli said the back judge threw a flag on Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens on a pass to Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew in Dallas 24-20 wild-card win Sunday. But the head linesman said there wasnt enough contact and that Hitchens was face-guarding, which isnt a penalty in the NFL. Edmonton Oilers Jerseys . CBS Sports Jon Heyman is reporting that Santana will sign a one-year deal, likely in the next two days with one of a trio of suitors, with the Toronto Blue Jays believed to be heavily involved. http://www.officialoilersfanstore.com/authentic-bill-ranford-oilers-jersey/ . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. Benoit Pouliot Jersey . Phoenix got injured centre Emeka Okafor and a top-12-protected first-round draft pick in 2014 -- giving the rebuilding Suns potentially four choices in the opening round. The Suns also sent guards Kendall Marshall, Shannon Brown and Malcolm Lee to Washington so the deal will work financially. Mark Messier Jersey .3 million qualifying offer to outfielder Michael Cuddyer on Monday.Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino has filed his own NFL concussion lawsuit. Marino, along with 14 other players, filed the lawsuit on May 28 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Marino joins a little under 5,000 retired NFL players and their families that have sued the league across approximately 225 concussion lawsuits. There have been many notable players that have filed lawsuits, including Tony Dorsett, Eric Dickerson, Mark Rypien, Tony Mandarich, Art Monk, Jim McMahon and Jamal Lewis, as well as the estate of the late Junior Seau. None, however, are as well known as Marino. The key allegation raised by Marino is the NFL concealed information. He is arguing that the NFL knew of the long-term neurological impact of headshots but failed to share those findings with the players. This issue of fraudulent concealment was also alleged in the other concussion lawsuits so its not new. Its tough to know if Marino will succeed as everything turns on the evidence presented at trial. To win, he will need to show that the NFL had key and important information about the long-term and devastating impact of headshots and concealed it. The NFL, however, has certain defences available to it. First, it can argue that players were aware of the risk associated with playing football and they agreed to those risks each time they stepped onto the field. The NFL would also maintain that they didnt conceal anything. As well, the NFL could point out that no one can say for sure what caused a players dementia, and even if it was caused by repeated headshots while playing football, how much of that damage was sustained outside the NFL in places like college or high school ball. So what caused the dementia and when it was caused become key issues. The NFL can also argue that Marinos lawsuit doesnt belong in court in the first place, but rather should go to arbitration. The collective bargaining aagreement provides that issues of player health and safety go to arbitration and not court.dddddddddddd. On the flip side, Marino would argue that since this case involves fraud in the form of concealment, it properly falls outside of arbitration and within the jurisdiction of the courts. Bottom line is this: both sides face challenges in this case and thats where we generally see settlement. All this is probably moot, as the league is working on finalizing a global settlement of these cases. You may recall that back in July 2013, the league announced it had settled the concussion lawsuits with the players. The negotiated settlement was for $765 million and would bind every retired NFL player, of which there are about 19,000. You should note, though, Marino is included among these players. So that means that Marino didnt need to file the lawsuit at this time. As well, while settlement was indeed announced, it was not finalized. Before the NFL can consider the case closed, the Court has to approve the terms of settlement. The problem is that on two separate occasions the Court has rejected the settlement on the basis that there is insufficient money to pay all players. As well, even if the Court were to approve the settlement, any of the 19,000 players would have the option to opt-out of the settlement agreement. If a player believes that he can do a lot better filing his own individual lawsuit, he would tell the court and the NFL thanks but no thanks, Im headed to court. The Marino lawsuit may suggest that he is tired of waiting around for a payout from the proposed settlement and wants to take matters into his own hands. Whatever Marinos motivation, these concussion lawsuits are likely to continue for years. In the event a global settlement is approved by the Court, it seems likely that a number of players will opt out and file their own lawsuits. Indeed, there is still a lot of track to cover. ' ' '