(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Friday’s sports events:
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Miami 115 Orlando 105
Denver 133 Atlanta 115
Golden State 111 Boston 107
OT New Orleans 116 Milwaukee 112
San Antonio 128 Utah 126
Portland 125 Charlotte 116
Memphis 124 Sacramento 105
Minnesota 110 L.A. Lakers 92
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
OT Pittsburgh 3 Buffalo 2
SO Vegas 3 N-Y Rangers 2
Washington 5 Winnipeg 2
St. Louis 4 Dallas 1
OT Nashville 3 Chicago 2
OT Arizona 6 Anaheim 5
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Creighton 79 (9)Villanova 59
(ORLANDO, Fla.) — Just months after sustaining serious injuries in a car accident, Tiger Woods made his return to competitive golf on Friday.
Woods, who suffered comminuted open fractures to his right tibia and fibia in February, hit the links with his 12-year-old son, Charlie.
The father-son duo are participating in the PNC Championship, a tournament in Orlando, Florida, that allows former major champions to compete alongside their family members.
“To be out here with my son like this, it’s the best,” he said in an interview with the Golf Channel. “We’re here to have fun.”
Woods played with his son in the tournament for the first time last year, finishing seventh out of 20 pairs.
Woods, 45, told Golf Digest last month that the idea of playing with Charlie has been a motivating factor in his recovery. Charlie is the golfer’s youngest child with his ex-wife, Elin Nordegren; the former couple also share a 14-year-old daughter, Sam.
For Woods, who has won the Masters five times and the PGA Championship four times, seeing his son follow in his footsteps has been a gratifying experience. He’s also been able to impart some of the wisdom he’s picked up from his years as a golfer.
“I went to golf tournaments to watch him play, and I’m looking at some of these scores he’s shooting and I said, ‘How the hell are you shooting such high scores? I gotta go check this out,'” he said. “So I’d watch him play and he’s going along great. He has one bad hole, he loses his temper, his temper carries him over to another shot and another shot and it compounds itself.”
Woods continued: “‘Son, I don’t care how mad you get. Your head could blow off for all I care just as long as you’re 100% committed to the next shot. That’s all that matters. That next shot should be the most important shot in your life. It should be more important than breathing. Once you understand that concept, then I think you’ll get better.’ And as the rounds went on throughout the summer, he’s gotten so much better.”
(MADISON, Wis.) — When a tornado ravaged his hometown in Kentucky, University of Wisconsin basketball player Chris Vogt was preparing for one of his team’s biggest games of the season.
But instead of focusing on setting screens and rebounding, the 7-foot tall center said his mind was on Mayfield, the town of roughly 10,000 people suffering greatly in the aftermath of a swarm of twisters that destroyed homes of friends and killed 89 people across Kentucky and four other states.
“It was a huge game for us. I knew it was one I couldn’t miss, I didn’t want to miss. But it was definitely weighing on me as I’m kind of getting ready for the game, trying to clear my mind,” the 22-year-old told ABC News of the Saturday night game between his Badgers and Ohio State University in Columbus.
“My teammates and coaches did a great job of trying to talk to me before the game, trying to help clear my mind. As the game went on, I was able to do that a little bit more, just kind of focus on playing basketball,” he said. “But as soon as the game was over, where my heart and soul went was back to Mayfield, just thinking about what I could do to help.”
On the flight back to Madison, Wisconsin, Vogt, with the help of instructions he found by Googling, set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for Mayfield residents who lost homes in the storm.
“While I was so far away I was thinking, ‘I can’t be there tomorrow, I can’t be there for a few days, what can I do to help?'” he said. “By the time our plane got to Madison, I had it ready to go and launched it, and it’s taken off ever since.”
As of Thursday evening, Vogt’s GoFundMe page had raised more than $150,000, with donations pouring in from more than 2,200 people from across the country.
Vogt traveled to Mayfield on Thursday to see the devastation for himself. Walking around his decimated city, he said it was heartbreaking to see buildings he had walked by countless times as a child, including his favorite restaurant, all reduced to rubble.
“I was born and raised here, lived here for 18 years. Some of my fondest memories are here. I still keep in contact with a lot of my friends who are from here … my parents still live here. So, I have a lot of ties back here,” Vogt said. “Just looking around, looking at my hometown, especially the courthouse, kind of one of the more iconic buildings in Mayfield, it just looks like something out of a movie scene. It feels like kind of just a bad dream.”
Vogt said he plans to distribute the money he is raising to the Red Cross as well as to emergency resource offices in Graves County and Mayfield High School, which are helping people who are displaced by putting them in hotel rooms and providing everyday necessities. He also plans to donate part of the donations to a tornado relief fund that is being established.
“I’ve been able to see a lot of people I haven’t seen in a long time, and it kind of makes the whole situation a lot more real,” Vogt said. “To be able to be here and just shake someone’s hand and check in on them and ask them how they’re doing, how’s things going, you can kind of feel the impact being here a lot more than just being in Wisconsin.”
He said he’s been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from friends as well as strangers.
“They’re the real heroes in this whole situation. Anyone that tries to thank me, I just redirect it to the donors. They’re the ones who deserve it. They’re the heroes who made this whole thing possible,” Vogt said. “It’s humbling to see that many people reach out and support. I never would have thought it would have gotten this much support, and seeing it take off to this level is kind of inspiring to say the least.”
He added, “Something this devastating to hit such a small area has been tough, but we have felt the support of the whole country and feel like we can build it back just how it was or even better.”
(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Thursday’s sports events:
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Indiana 122, Detroit 113
Brooklyn 114, Philadelphia 105
New York 116, Houston 103
Phoenix 118, Washington 98
Chicago at Toronto (Postponed)
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Tampa Bay 2, Ottawa 1
Carolina 5, Detroit 3
Los Angeles 4, Florida 1
Montreal 3, Philadelphia 2 (SO)
Vegas 5, New Jersey 3
NY Islanders 3, Boston 1
Nashville 5, Colorado 2
Buffalo 3, Minnesota 2 (SO)
Edmonton 5, Columbus 2
Vancouver 5, San Jose 2
Toronto at Calgary 9 (Postponed)
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Kansas City 34, LA Chargers 28 (OT)
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Duke 92, Appalachian St. 67
(NEW YORK) — Former NFL star Vincent Jackson died in February and now as his widow reflects on his health and life, doctors have confirmed Jackson had Stage 2 CTE, a degenerative brain disease associated with many former football players.
Lindsey Jackson sat down exclusively with ABC News’ Juju Chang in her first interview since her husband’s death and revealed the stunning diagnosis.
“Vincent was an amazing dad — he would do anything for his kids,” she said.
From the outside, Vincent Jackson appeared to be acing life after a storied NFL career. However, Lindsey Jackson said for years her husband suffered from memory loss, erratic behavior and kept turning to alcohol.
“He shared with me once that … alcohol made him feel calm and made him feel like himself. And that his brain was really fuzzy. And that this made it not fuzzy,” she said.
The couple decided they needed a break and he lived at a hotel. She said the family grew increasingly concerned about his mental health. Then, Vincent Jackson was found dead on Feb. 15.
“That was a hard day. We– had the sheriff come to our house and– let us know,” she said. “I had been telling the kids and letting them know that dad was really sick. And he’s gonna get better and he’s gonna … be back. And here they are in our living room and telling us that’s not the case.”
The family decided to donate his brain to researchers at Boston University’s Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Center.
The results showed Vincent Jackson had Stage 2 CTE, which was a shock to his family since he was never diagnosed with a concussion during his 12 seasons as a wide receiver in the NFL.
“I felt just really bad for him. He didn’t know he had it. And I think had he known, he wouldn’t have felt so ashamed or alone,” Lindsey Jackson said tearfully. “No one should have to die in a room by himself.”
Dr. Ann McKee, the leading expert and researcher of CTE and neuropathologist at Boston University who diagnosed Vincent Jackson, further explained the findings.
“His was stage two because he had multiple areas of the brain that were affected on both sides of the brain … most of them in the frontal lobe,” she said. “They might have violent behaviors either physically or verbally. They’re often depressed and moody; they may or may not have mood swings.”
McKee said there is too much focus on concussions and not enough on the cumulative effects of head trauma over the years.
“I think the NFL needs to overhaul their awareness campaign to concentrate on repetitive head hits that don’t rise to the level of concussion,” McKee said.
In a statement provided to ABC News, the NFL said: “The NFL continues to mourn with the families of Vincent Jackson as well as Phillip Adams and all those who lost their lives in Rock Hill, South Carolina in April. These are incredibly tragic situations, and our hearts go out to all who have been affected. Phillip Adams and Vincent Jackson’s diagnoses underscore the need for independent scientific research related to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI), concussion and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). There is more to learn about head injury and related illness, and while the NFL is funding that important work, we also continue to make tangible progress in protecting players and making our game safer.”
The statement continued, “Additionally, in collaboration with the NFL Players Association, the NFL provides comprehensive mental wellness resources to current and former NFL players and the NFL family. These include mental health education programs, access to skilled clinicians and substance abuse experts and a platform that connects current and former players with trained counselors who are on-call 24 hours per day, year-round. We encourage current and former NFL players – and anyone who may be suffering – to seek help, prioritize their mental wellness and take advantage of mental health resources. It’s important to address.”
Lindsey Jackson said she is sharing her family’s story now in hopes that it could raise awareness and help other families connect the dots.
“In his mind, it would have explained why he couldn’t fix anything,” she said.
His family told ABC News the final autopsy will be out Thursday. Presently, CTE can only be diagnosed post-mortem.
(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Wednesday’s sports events:
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Atlanta 111, Orlando 99
Cleveland 124, Houston 89
Miami 101, Philadelphia 96
Milwaukee 114, Indiana 99
LA Lakers 107, Dallas 104 (OT)
New Orleans 113, Oklahoma City 110
Charlotte 131, San Antonio 115
Minnesota 124, Denver 107
Utah 124, L.A. Clippers 103
Sacramento 119, Washington 105
Memphis 113, Portland 103
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Chicago 5, Washington 4 (OT)
NY Rangers 3, Arizona 2
Anaheim 4, Seattle 1
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Arizona 101, N. Colorado 76
Southern Cal 66, UC Irvine 61
Xavier 86, Morehead St. 63
Alabama St. at UCLA (Postponed)
(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Tuesday’s sports events:
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Golden State 105, New York 96
Brooklyn 131, Toronto 129 (OT)
Phoenix 111, Portland 107 (OT)
Detroit at Chicago (Postponed)
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Pittsburgh 5, Montreal 2
Vegas 4, Boston 1
Tampa Bay 3 Los Angeles 2 (OT)
Philadelphia 6, New Jersey 1
Ottawa 8, Florida 2
Detroit 2, NY Islanders 1
Buffalo 4, Winnipeg 2
St. Louis 4, Dallas 1
Toronto 5, Edmonton 1
Colorado 4, NY Rangers 2
Vancouver 4, Columbus 3
Seattle 3, San Jose 1
Calgary at Nashville (Postponed)
Carolina at Minnesota (Postponed)
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Duke 103, SC State 62
Memphis 92, Alabama 78
Auburn 70, North Alabama 44
Houston 71, Louisiana-Lafayette 56
Texas 63, Ark.-Pine Bluff 31
Tennessee 96, SC-Upstate 52
LSU 89, Northwestern St. 49
Texas Tech 75, Arkansas St. 62
(BOSTON) — A former NFL player who police said gunned down six people in April had CTE — a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated head trauma — at the time of the mass shooting, the Concussion Legacy Foundation said Tuesday, citing neuropathologists at the Boston University CTE Center.
Phillip Adams died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after he allegedly carried out the mass shooting at a house in his hometown of Rock Hill, South Carolina. The victims included a doctor, his wife, and two grandchildren, ages 9 and 5.
Adams spent 21 years playing tackle football, starting when he was 7 years old, the Concussion Legacy Foundation said. Adams was drafted by San Francisco in the seventh round out of South Carolina State in 2010 and played as a defensive back for five NFL teams in six years.
Adams had stage 2 CTE at the time of his death at the age of 32, the Concussion Legacy Foundation said.
“Most football players diagnosed with CTE in their 30s have stage 2 CTE. Stage 4 is the most severe stage and is usually associated with dementia,” the Concussion Legacy Foundation said in a statement. “CTE has been associated with behavioral symptoms like aggression, impulsivity, explosivity, depression, anxiety, paranoia, and suicidal ideation, along with progressive cognitive symptoms.”
Adams “had an extraordinary amount of CTE pathology in the frontal lobe,” which “is associated with violent, impulsive or explosive behavior, a ‘short fuse,’ and lack of self-control,” said Dr. Ann McKee, director of the BU CTE Center and chief of neuropathology for the VA Boston Healthcare System.
“His CTE pathology might have contributed to his abnormal behaviors, in addition to other physical, psychiatric and psychosocial factors,” she said in a statement.
Adams’ frontal lobe CTE pathology was similar in severity to Aaron Hernandez’s, McKee said. Hernandez, a former star tight end for New England Patriots, died by suicide in 2017 after he was convicted of murder.
The York County Coroner’s Office said in April that Adams would be tested for CTE.
Adams’ family said in a statement released by the Concussion Legacy Foundation, “We are pleased to have a better understanding of the mental turmoil that Phillip was dealing with during the last moments of his life. We cannot say that we are surprised by these results, however, it is shocking to hear how severe his condition was.”
The family said Adams desperately sought help but had trouble remembering things and was unable to “handle seemingly simple tasks such as traveling hours away to see doctors and going through extensive evaluations. We now know that these deficits were most likely caused by the disease.”
“We hope to bring awareness to this condition so that players young and old can understand the risks,” the family said. “We will continue to advocate for any research that can prevent any other families from having to endure this type of tragedy.”
ABC News’ Katie Conway contributed to this report.
(NEW YORK) — The NFL will require that all its vaccinated Tier 1 and 2 employees receive their COVID-19 booster shots by Dec. 27, according to a memo they sent all 32 teams on Monday.
This group of employees includes coaches and other employees who work closely with players and help in essential league operations.
“On November 29, the CDC issued a study showing that the effectiveness of the approved COVID-19 vaccines may decrease over time and has recommended that all eligible vaccinated individuals over the age of 18 should receive a booster shot,” the memo reads. “Given the increased prevalence of the virus in our communities, our experts have recommended that we implement the CDC’s recommendation.”
The memo came as 36 players were added to the league’s COVID-19 reserve list. Players are currently not required to receive boosters, but in Monday’s memo, the NFL said clubs should consider making boosters available for players and their families.
“Any individual who is not currently subject to the requirement for boosters will be required to obtain the booster within 14 days of becoming eligible,” the memo reads.
(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Monday’s sports events:
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Toronto 124, Sacramento 101
Cleveland 105, Miami 94
Golden State 102, Indiana 100
Boston 117, Milwaukee 103
Houston 132, Atlanta 126
Memphis 126, Philadelphia 91
Dallas 120, Charlotte 96
Denver 113, Washington 107
LA Clippers 111, Phoenix 95
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Calgary at Chicago (Postponed)
