ON THE MARK.

A TALE OF TWO CONCUSSIONS.

Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler showed concussion-like symptoms during last night's game, and had to retire for the rest of the evening.   Earlier in the day, Calgary Stampeders quarterback Drew Tate has his "bell rung" in the first half against Saskatchewan, and then admitted on TSN that he didn't remember anything from the first two quarters.  Really?   So why was he allowed to go back into the game?  He was examined by the Stamps medical staff, as well as Calgary's offensive coordinator Dave Dickenson, who had his career shortened by concussions.  Both parties said Tate didn't show any symptoms of a concussion, and therefore he was allowed to re-enter the game.  Now the word is out that the CFL is looking into the incident in order to make certain that proper precautions were taken by the team's medical staff.    In Chicago, it was the Bears team doctor who determined that Cutler should sit out the rest of the game.   Now, if we really want to protect the player, there should be rules in place whereby an independent doctor, paid for by the league, is present at every game in order to provide an examination that is not based on the interests of the team.  If leagues really want to take every precaution to ensure that concussions are diagnosed properly, let it be done by someone who does NOT have a vested interest in the team, but rather is concerned about the human being only.


The Hockey Hall of Fame welcomes four new members tonight, but it's just not the same with the NHL players locked out.   Instead of celebrating the success of Pavel Bure, Adam Oates, Mats Sundin and Joe Sakic, a lot of folks are lamenting the lack of high calibre hockey.   How can you acknowledge the great players of the game when you don't even have a game to watch?  There is no "buzz" surrounding this years induction ceremonies, but there should be.   I wonder if Gary Bettman will show up in Toronto tonight.

And, since the local hockey team isn't playing, the focus of attention turns to the other local squads.   The Argos are off to Montreal for the East final, and possibly will host the 100th Grey Cup, but the Raptors are sinking fast.  They are 1-5 this year, and with Kyle Lowry and Landry Fields both out , the second unit of the Raptors looked like a bunch of pick-up players searching for a game of run and gun.  Their loss to Philly on Saturday night was embarrassing.    After taking a 10 point lead in the first quarter, the Raps were outscored 32-8 in the second quarter, and trailed by 19 at halftime.     John Lucas III has been simply awful and should be cut.   Rookie Terrence Ross is learning the hard way.  Ed Davis is sometimes ok, sometimes awful. Amir Johnson has his moments as well.    If the Raptors hope to win some games, they'll need their "big guns" Bargnani and DeRozan to pick up the slack.   So far, they haven't been able to, and this season is off to an ugly start, with many difficult games to come.  

Finally, the Los Angeles Lakers did NOT hire Phil Jackson to coach them, but rather decided on Mike D'Antoni, the former bench boss of the New York Knicks, and before that, the Steve Nash-led Phoenix Suns.   Good move.  This guy won't overcoach Kobe and company, and he knows how to run the pick and roll (when Nash comes back).  D'Antoni will also allow Kobe Bryant to "do his thing", rather than change the Lakers style, which is up-tempo.   Under Mike Brown, the Lakers tried to run a "Princeton" offense, which featured a lot of motion, a lot of back door cuts and an awful lot of passing.    It just didn't work.   D'Antoni will have his hands full with some of the personalities on that team, but if he just let's them play their game, the Lakers will be a lot more successful, and a lot more fun to watch.