We need to talk about concussions, right now

Gabriel Landeskog

A few days after NHL commissioner Gary Bettman came under renewed criticism over the hockey cartel’s position that there is “insufficient evidence” to link head injuries and degenerative brain disease, Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog penned an open letter, saying it’s time to “stand up and speak up” about concussions. Landeskog, 23, recalls his own experience. The NHL is currently facing a class-action concussion lawsuit.

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The darkness

By ADAM ESTOCLET, RETIRED HOCKEY PLAYER

2 March 2016 (playerstribune.com) – It was my first Christmas at home in 10 years. My family always has a big party with all our relatives — aunts, uncles, friends, turkey, beer, stories, laughter.

I can hear people start coming in the door upstairs, asking, “Where’s Adam?” The sound of their footsteps is like thunder. It’s breaking my brain. I’m supposed to be the big-shot pro hockey player, telling crazy stories about my adventures playing in Europe.

Instead, I’m hiding in the basement. 

Rick Nash forced to retire from hockey due to concussion issues

In this Feb. 25, 2018, file photo, Boston Bruins forward Rick Nash skates prior to a game against the Buffalo Sabres, in Buffalo, N.Y. | JEFFREY T. BARNES/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rick Nash has announced his retirement from hockey after suffering a concussion last March.

Top Shelf Hockey, which represents the 34-year-old winger from Brampton, Ont., put out a statement to announce his decision on Friday.

The ups and downs of Cuban sports in 2018

The “muscles” of 2018 with promising young athletes emerging | Yosel E. Martínez Castellanos 

Although the Cuban delegation lost its first place on the medal chart in Barranquilla, the Games saw a stellar performance from our women’s field hockey team, among other great moments | Ricardo López Hevia

Privatisation in store for Iran’s two biggest football clubs

Tehran’s two top clubs have a decades-old rivalry (Esteghlal defender Saeed Baghvardani comes to the rescue of goalkeeper Nasser Hejazi when he heads out a humdinger by Persepolis striker Safar Iranpak (fourth left). Aryamehr [Azadi] Stadium, Tehran, May 1975. Esteghlal was then named Taj).

By bne IntelliNews December 18, 2018

Cuban Baseball Federation and MLB reach historic agreement

“Today is a happy day for Cuban baseball, for the world, the people of Cuba and the United States,” stated Higinio Vélez Carrión, president of the Cuban Baseball Federation (FCB), referring to the agreement to allow Cuban players to sign with the Major Leagues | Sigfredo Barros Segrera and Oscar Sánchez Serra

Tampa Bay Rays playing in Havana’s Latinoamericano Stadium, March 2016 | Ricardo López Hevia

Moncton’s bid to host the Francophone Games is a disaster

By TIM BOUSQUET*

Large sporting events — the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Pan American Games, what have you — as a rule are economic disasters and black hole budget items for governments. That’s because backers always oversell their ability to control costs and overestimate the economic impact of such games.