DieBruderschaft.com

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- There was a time when drivers raced injured, when nothing could get them to climb out of their seat.The rules didnt allow racers to be hurt, sitting out a week would be catastrophic in the point standings, and, ultimately, the payout. Not being able to drive with broken bones, blisters, burns, illness, any ailment at all, could derail a season. Even worse, it could cost a driver his job.So its a testament to NASCAR that Dale Earnhardt Jr. felt strong enough last week to take himself out of his car because he couldnt shake symptoms that could be concussion-related. NASCARs most popular driver benched himself for Sundays race at New Hampshire and he will await further tests to see if hes able to drive this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.Earnhardt said hes battling balance issues and nausea and is uncertain when he will be back in a race car.My mind feels real sharp, he said in a podcast recorded Sunday night. Ive struggled with my balance over the last four, five days and I definitely wouldnt be able to drive a race car (last weekend). Making the right decision was out of the question, I made the decision I had to make. Its just going to take a lot of patience.Tales of drivers racing hurt date back to the beginning of nearly every series. On the same day Earnhardt was watching someone else drive his car in New Hampshire, IndyCar ace Josef Newgarden was powering through on the street course at Toronto with a broken hand. When he wrecked late in the race, his in-car camera caught Newgarden in serious pain and favoring his broken hand.Dont forget when Ricky Rudd raced with his swollen eyes taped open in the Daytona 500 or Richard Petty driving for weeks with a severe neck injury or the late Dale Earnhardt winning the pole at Watkins Glen with a broken collarbone. More recently, Denny Hamlin twice raced immediately after tearing the ACL in one of his knees and Brad Keselowski won at Pocono a week after breaking his foot.About 15 years ago, Earnhardt Jr. revealed in an interview that he thought hed driven with concussion symptoms several times in 2001. His admission led to a tightened medical review policy in which Earnhardt had to be seen by a doctor before he could race after he was briefly knocked unconscious in a 2002 crash at Dover.As the years went on, Earnhardt became smarter about his health. He missed two races during the 2012 Chase because of a pair of concussions suffered in a six-race stretch, and sitting out those events immediately ended any title shot.Dashed championship hopes would still be the case for any driver injured during NASCARs 10-race playoffs, but the sanctioning body has made it easier for drivers to admit they are hurt. By allowing teams to apply for a waiver so the driver will still be eligible to make the playoffs, NASCAR made it possible for Earnhardt to take himself out of the car.Granted, playoff hopes shouldnt trump health issues -- especially concussions, something that could cause long-term damage -- but this very small step has given flexibility in a system that previously had none.Team owner Rick Hendrick made it clear he doesnt want a driver to sacrifice his health to stay in the race car.Our guys know that the most important thing is their health, and if theyre in an accident and they feel like theyve had a concussion, theres a protocol and they need to go through it, Hendrick said before Sundays race. Its hard to get out of the car, but we want (Earnhardt) for the long haul. He wants to race for a long time, so we are going to let the doctors make those decisions.Its really hard at first, and then the more you think about it, its the right thing to do for him and its the right thing to do for the team. We will just take it day-by-day.Its not clear when Earnhardt was injured -- he was in crashes at Michigan on June 12 and Daytona on July 2 -- and his symptoms originally led Earnhardt to believe his problem was allergy or sinus related. So he raced at Kentucky two weeks ago not feeling well, and when it didnt improve, he saw a neurological specialist who diagnosed concussion-like symptoms.It could be argued that based on Earnhardts concussion history, NASCAR should have had him tested after one or both of his accidents. But, NASCAR has made it easier than ever for a driver to lessen the stakes of seeking treatment and the participant should take some responsibility for their own health.That doesnt make any easier for drivers, particularly those who grew up watching a generation that drove hurt.Its probably one of the toughest things to do -- if I was in that position, it would be very tough for me, I would think, said Ryan Newman.Carl Edwards noted that Earnhardts issue must be serious if he didnt race and said he respected Earnhardts decision.I cant imagine how tough that decision would be, he said. Right now with the format, you do have the opportunity to take care of yourself, do what you think is right and still have a shot at the championship.In the end, Earnhardt did the very best thing he could to help himself. He may also end up being the example for all drivers to put their health above everything else in racing.Earnhardt, who noted in his podcast that his most recent ImPACT test matched his preseason baseline test, will now follow a treatment laid out by his doctors that includes exercises to retrain his brain.I put my health and quality of life as a top priority, he said. I always do that, so I am going to take this slow and follow the advice of my doctors. Carl Granderson Jersey . Only three players drafted by NHL clubs were included on the Czech selection camp roster on Wednesday. Those players were Dallas Stars 2012 first-rounder Radek Faksa, Winnipeg Jets 2013 fourth-rounder Jan Kostalek and Phoenix Coyotes 2012 seventh-rounder Marek Langhamer. Will Clapp Jersey . I cant pinpoint a date, but I do remember a player from my youth. Brian Downing was with the Chicago White Sox at a time when I listened to every game I possibly could on the radio. That particular season the late great Harry Caray was calling the White Sox games. http://www.customsaintsjersey.com/custom-willie-roaf-jersey-large-1752e.html . Batiste, who briefly signed with the Eskimos in 2006, has spent time with several NFL teams including the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins. Deuce McAllister Jersey . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. Stan Brock Jersey . The Canadian squad, skipped by Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg, got on the board first with two in the second end, and followed that with two more apiece in the fourth and sixth ends. LAS VEGAS -- These are ESPN Chalks weekly NFL betting recaps for every Week 13 game -- with an emphasis on the word betting.Sometimes its clear from the opening kickoff that a team is going to win and/or cover the spread. Other times it looks as if one team is going to coast to victory, but the other rallies, causing bettors to wonder how they could have possibly lost and leading to them cry Bad beat! Of course, there are also the back-and-forth, 50-50 games that are virtual coin flips.This new column, which will also include my takeaways from each game, will separate the different kinds of point-spread results from each week and is intended to be a quick overview for those who have to work on NFL Sundays or otherwise arent able to watch all the games.So lets run down Sundays Week 13 action (plus Thursdays game). Well also incorporate Rufus Peabodys numbers to give an analytical look at which teams should have covered.Note: Well point outt crazy over/under results, but this is primarily a recap of the against-the-spread results.ddddddddddddBad beats (clearly wrong sides)Washington (+2.5) in 31-23 loss at ArizonaThis could very well go in the 50-50 category. To some degree I could argue that the Cardinals looked like the right side at several points of the game, as they were leading by more than the spread at 7-0, 10-6 at halftime, 17-13 and 24-20. However, the Redskins got back inside the number at 24-23 on Dustin Hopkins 53-yard field goal with 6:01 to play. Washington looked like it might get the ball back -- not once, but twice -- on Arizonas next drive but the Cardinals converted a fourth-and-1 from their own 34-yard line and then had the drive extended on a defensive holding penalty against Josh Norman after not converting on third-and-5. ' ' '