Missing Sidney

October is coming to a close and the sports world keeps asking the same question: Will he or won’t he play this season—or ever again?

That question is often posed in connection with Peyton Manning, the quarterback for the 0-7 Indianapolis Colts who has missed the entire season with a neck injury. However, it should be asked about Sidney Crosby, all-star center for the Pittsburgh Penguins who hasn’t played since January after suffering a concussion.

Both losses are devastating, but for different reasons. True, the Colts have struggled all season, and circumstances were made even worse by Sunday night’s 62-7 drubbing by the New Orleans Saints. But while Peyton’s loss is felt in Indy and throughout the league, Sidney’s loss delivers a more crushing blow.

Without Peyton, the economically lush and wildly popular NFL still has plenty of superstars on which to lean: Brady, Rogers, Vick, and that’s just at the QB position. Throw in great runners such as AP and Arian, and dominant defenders like Ray Ray, Clay and Suh, and you have a group of players that would make any GM salivate.

Sure, there are lots of exceptional players in the NHL. Maple Leafs winger Phil Kessel, who leads the league in points right now, immediately comes to mind. So do Canucks winger Daniel Sedin, Tampa winger Martin St. Louis and Penguins center—and Crosby teammate—Evgeni Malkin who has seen limited action recently because of a knee injury. But when it comes to superstars, names that leap off the pages of sports sections, Webzines and blogs, the list is a lot shorter, and many would argue that it starts and ends with Sidney Crosby and the Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin. And when one of those players is absent, that leaves the NHL in a real bind, both emotionally and economically.

There is no timetable for Crosby’s return, although recent reports are promising: He has been cleared for contact but not for games. Hockey enthusiasts will say that this league is bigger than its stars—no overhyped, showboating prima donnas here, they say. It’s about hard-working, often blue-collar players who can walk into most sports bar in America and go unrecognized, and that’s OK with them. Coincidentally, that’s also what they say about Major League Baseball players, too. But while many baseball players are rooted in the humble beginnings of minor league ball or proud Latin American communities, baseball can also boast a list of star players--Pujols, Howard, Sabathia, Prince—that propels it to another level, not to mention an exciting World Series between St. Louis and Texas that went seven games.

And that’s why Sidney’s loss is so important, much more important than Peyton’s. The NHL, where the wallets are thinner and the popularity is waning, would benefit from having Crosby back on the ice. And I’m sure the Penguins and hockey fans everywhere would be equally elated.

Donovan, We Barely Knew Ye

If there is any truth to the rumors, Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb will take his talents out of Washington at the end of the season. Thank goodness. As a Redskins fan as well as a fan of Donovan the quarterback and the person, this season has been particularly hard to watch.

Donovan’s lucky. He’s only had to spend one year here. For Redskins fans, it’s been year after miserable year of watching this debacle.

Sure, Donovan has spent one year playing within a questionable offensive system and behind a struggling offensive line. Much has been debated about whether Donovan is not right for the system or if the system itself is flawed. Redskins fans have spent 10-plus years watching quarterback after quarterback play through various underperforming systems, including the most recent example of Jason Campbell, who played uneven through two coaches and two offensive systems in four years with the Redskins. He’s now a Raider.

While Donovan has encountered one year of Redskins dysfunction, Redskins fans have had front-seat access to various examples of head-scratching transactions. Instead of building from the bottom up, owner Dan Snyder has tried to cut to the head of the line with a myriad of questionable moves.

He has brought in overpaid, underperforming “stars” such as Deion Sanders, Jason Taylor, Joey Galloway, and Albert Haynesworth. Snyder also fired Marty Schottenheimer after one 8-8 season to make room for another “rock star” in Florida Gators coach Steve Spurrier. This was later followed by the Jim Zorn experiment where a doormat of a coach was installed to corral an out-of-control, undisciplined team. Under Zorn, players practiced when they wanted and played when they wanted. Zorn, of course, has the last laugh as a member of the playoff-bound Ravens coaching staff, just down the highway.

Questionable moves also were made in the front office. The Redskins likely suffered from not having a “stated” GM for years (boy, Skins fans, don’t you miss the days of Bobby Beathard and Charley Casserly?). Instead, they hired de facto general manager Vinny Cerrato who, even after his departure, many in Washington are unsure exactly what role he truly played for the Redskins.

In Philly, Donovan had consistency in Eagles coach Andy Reid. At least he knew where he stood under Coach Reid. Even after being benched by Reid after a brutal loss to the Ravens a couple of years ago, Donovan remained clear about his role with the Eagles.

Fast forward two years and welcome to Washington and the coaching tandem of Poppa and Kyle Shanahan. After benching Donovan for Rex Grossman in Week 8 against the Detroit Lions, Poppa Shanahan later created a PR nightmare for the Redskins when he tried to explain his decision to the media. Depending on which reason you believe, Donovan either did not understand the mechanics of the offense or was too out of shape to run the offense.

Donovan, if you are truly leaving, thanks for the memories. And for your sake, I hope you can quickly erase this year from your memory.

NFL's Headache

If the NFL thought it had a concussion/brain damage crisis before, the revelations surrounding the death of Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry could send a panic throughout the league.

Henry died in December 2009 when he fell from (or jumped from, this part is still unclear) a moving truck during a domestic altercation with his fiancée. It has been determined that Henry suffered from trauma-induced brain damage, otherwise known as C.T.E., a progressive form of brain damage. The original concern was that NFL players who had suffered numerous concussions throughout their career could one day develop brain damage, which most likely would appear later in their lives—certainly after their playing days were over and the limelight had faded.

Well, Henry was in this 20s—26 to be exact—and he was not a known repeat concussion sufferer, at least not based on NFL medical records. He died with the disease while still playing the game—the first known player to do so.
Henry’s death raises several valid and scary questions, not the least of which are:

• If Henry, who was 26 years old, had suffered from what many thought was an “older player’s” ailment, what does that say about the safety of not only NFL players, but also college, high school, and even youth league athletes?

• What kind of impression does this leave on current players? After all, the only way to diagnose this type of brain damage is after a player’s death, at which time the brain is thoroughly carved up and tested. Currently, there is no test to determine the affects of trauma while the player is alive. Current players must wonder, Just how many more hits can I take?

This appears to be a problem that affects all stages of football. And, who knows, it might also affect other contact sports as well. As of now, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, league and independent doctors, and researchers alike have a tough task ahead of them.

NHL vs. NBA

On Sunday night, the NHL and the NBA will go head to head for viewers. What was the thinking behind this, I wonder? Granted, technically, some may argue that these two leagues are not going after the same audience. But who are we kidding? Even casual fans tune in to watch the playoffs and the likes of Kobe, the Celtics trio plus Rondo, Pronger and Leighton, and the Blackhawks defense. To suggest that these fans wouldn't cross over is selling both sets of fans short.

Pucks, Ponies and Putts, Oh My

And they call football a game of inches.

After watching the Canadiens eliminate the Capitals by inches, and watching Tiger miss the cut for only his sixth time as a professional, I suspect a closer-than-close finish in the muddy Great Pony Race on Saturday.

First, let’s start with the Caps and their elimination on Wednesday. If Caps winger Mike Knuble had been an inch farther outside of the crease (his placement in front of Canadiens netminder Jaroslav Halak negated a goal), or if Halak’s pads had been a half-inch narrower (come on, those pads look maaaasssiiivve), we might be looking at a different outcome. But such is life. Meanwhile, the playoffs continue and the Bruins and Flyers played a heck of an overtime thriller in the opening game of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. After all, the only thing more thrilling than overtime playoff hockey is a Game 7 of overtime playoff hockey.

The Great Pony Race has a filly and a female trainer. But don’t bring this to their attention because all parties involved—trainers, jockeys, and owners alike—don’t think it’s a big deal. What might be a big deal is that with so many double-digit-to-1 shots in this sloppy and muddy Derby, it’s setting up to be an unpredictable finish, of inches.

Finally, in a true game of inches, Tiger Woods missed the cut for only the sixth time in 241 pro starts, shooting a 79 on Friday at the Quail Hollow Championship in Charlotte. This warrants the question: Have off-link distractions caught up with Tiger or did Tiger simply have a bad day? I suspect we will have to wait to see how he fares in his third tournament back to draw any type of conclusion.

New-Look Redskins?

The 2010 NFL Draft is complete, starting in essence with the trade for quarterback Donovan McNabb and ending with linemen Erik Cook and Selvish Capers in the later rounds. Another item on the Redskins’ off-season checklist has been completed, adding to an already promising inventory:


Fire Coach Zorn. Check.
Fire “whatever-role-he-played” Vinny Cerrato. Check.
Hire a GM, Bruce Allen. Check.
Hire a Coach, Mike Shanahan. Check.
Air feel-good TV promos about the top-to-bottom change in attitude. Check.


Now, we’re ready to see if the off-season attitude changes will make any difference on the field.

No Freedom of Speech in Washington

The signs have returned to FedEx Field.

In case you missed it, Redskins owner Dan Snyder banned signs from the stadium. Today, just 2.5 hours before game time--also known as "not enough time to create a sign for today's game"--he lifted the ban, saying that fans had a right to carry them as long as they weren't inappropriate and they didn't block the view of other fans.

Here's a thought: If Dan would work on improving the organization, he wouldn't have to worry about censoring his critics, er, fans.