Gäste Forum » it up to experience and persepective.

HAMILTON, Ont. -- Some have mistaken it for a tattoo. Others have actually asked to touch it. The scar stretching from the base of Delvin Breauxs skull down his neck to roughly his shoulder blades is a constant reminder of how fortunate the Hamilton Tiger-Cats rookie defensive back is to be alive. "I thank God and am so blessed," Breaux said this week at the CFL teams training camp at McMaster University. "I appreciate football much more because a lot of people wouldnt take a chance on me. "Im just so glad to have the opportunity to play again." The 23-year-old cheated on death Oct. 27, 2006, just two days after celebrating his 17th birthday. Having already committed to LSU, one of the top programs in U.S. college football, Breaux was covering a kickoff during a high school game in New Orleans when the force of making the tackle broke the C6 vertebrae in his neck and caused both the C4 and C5 to dramatically shift. His right vertebral artery, which carries blood from the heart to the brain and spine, was also severely damaged. "I remember it like it was yesterday," Breaux said. "Scouts from LSU, everybody, was in the stands and I wanted to make a play. "So I ran down and led with my head. That was the wrong thing to do but I wanted to make a play and I wasnt using my eyes and being smart about it. There I was, lying on the ground, I was out." Amazingly, Breaux walked off the field and upon reaching the sidelines told his coaches he wanted back in. But he began experiencing neck and back pain, blurred vision and difficulty swallowing because one of the discs in his neck slipped into his throat. "(Trainers) tried giving me two ibuprofens but I couldnt swallow and it was hard to breath," Breaux said. "My dad asked how I was doing and I said, Im good but call an ambulance." It was at the hospital that Breaux realized just how lucky he was. "The doctor told me afterwards I shouldve died on the football field, " Breaux said. "When I was first hurt, I didnt take it too seriously because my adrenalin was pumping but when I found out how bad it was, I broke down. "My parents, everybody, were crying." The six-foot-one, 196-pound Breaux required two operations, the first to fix the broken artery and provide stability in his spine. A metal plate was inserted into his neck during the second procedure. Breaux, who wore a Halo Brace to support the muscles in his neck and keep his head from moving around, lost roughly 30 pounds. Surprisingly, doctors told Breaux afterwards hed likely be able to resume playing football if his recovery went well. Trouble was, it took nearly six years and while Breaux attended LSU on an athletic scholarship, he never got medical clearance to play football there. After university, Breaux worked construction and as a bouncer to make ends meet. He played flag football before catching on with the semi-pro Louisiana Bayou Vipers. Breaux began the 2013 Arena Football League season with the New Orleans VooDoo before signing with Hamilton as a free agent. "Hes getting better every day and were really pleased with how he has performed," Tiger-Cats head coach and general manager Kent Austin said of Breaux. "He has an unbelievable attitude, hes a great story." And a sobering one. "These players risk a lot to play the game they love," Austin added. "We try to do the best we can to take care of them in practice but unfortunately things happen. "Good for him that he was able to overcome that situation and get back on the football field." Breaux said he didnt have to overcome fear when he resumed playing because his injury made him a smarter player. "Im still physical but I just take more precautions," he said. "I dont go running in there with my head down, I dont just go running in there (blindly) and make tackles if I dont have to. "I play with my eyes, thats what I started doing more ... and it has helped me be more prepared. Its about being cautious and safe." In full pads, Breauxs athletic ability shines through. He has the quickness to stay with a speedy receiver but can quickly pivot on a dime to get back in on a running play. Off the field, hes very engaging and quick to flash an infectious smile. But when the pads come off and he turns away, the focus turns immediately to the horrific scar that runs down his neck. "When many people see it they ask if its a tattoo or if they can touch it to see if its real," Breaux said. "To me, its a sign of adversity and fighting through adversity. "Many people wouldve quit, it wouldnt have been in their heart anymore to keep playing. But Im a different breed, I want to keep playing." Throughout his long recovery Breaux never doubted he would one day resume playing football. "I always had the thought of coming back even though many people told me my career was over ... I should go back to school and get my degree," he said. "But I never thought about quitting football, I always knew Id come back. "When I was leaving the hospital one of the doctors said, Make sure you send me Super Bowl tickets when you make it. That was my motivation. It was like, My doctor believes, let me go take this chance again." But Breauxs dream now is to get his hands on the Grey Cup. And to do that, hell have to adjust to a new game thats played with one less down on a longer, wider field. "Man, the field is wide and big, especially coming from arena football," Breaux said with a chuckle. "But its just understanding the game and watching the veterans work the field. "Football is football. Whatever position the coach puts you in you have to make a play. If you play on this field and have a helmet and shoulder pads on, you must be an athlete." For rookies like Breaux, one of the best places to impress the coaches is special teams, a challenge Breaux readily welcomes. "Im ready," he said. "I want to remember that I broke my neck on special teams so let me go down there and try this again. "I cant wait." Roberto Alomar Jersey . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. Luis Salazar Jersey . The CFLs leading rusher kept adding to his gaudy numbers this season and scored the winning touchdown with just over two minutes to play. The New Westminster, B.C., native plowed three yards into the end zone for the last score of a heated, see-saw battle between the two teams with the best records in the CFL. https://www.cheappadresjerseys.us/1173m-nate-colbert-jersey-padres.html . Oaklands loss to Seattle clinched the ALs best record for the Red Sox with one day to spare in the regular season. "I think everybody was kind of watching," catcher David Ross said. 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LOS ANGELES -- In the City of Angels of all places, the Baseball Gods seemed to have aligned the stars for Vin Scully and the Los Angeles Dodgers.Scully, the Hall of Fame broadcaster, works the final home game of his legendary career Sunday when Los Angeles can clinch the National League West title when it hosts the Colorado Rockies to cap a four-game series.A win by Los Angeles or a loss by San Francisco in San Diego on Sunday allows Los Angeles to claim its fourth consecutive National League West championship.No NL West club has accomplished that feat.Any team would want to clinch anywhere but its always sweeter to clinch at home, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. For that great man, that wonderful human to watch it in person here in his home, in his house, I think its only fitting.Rockies manager Walt Weiss doesnt share in Roberts enthusiasm, but believes playing for an opportunity to prevent such a title celebration can benefit his players.I think it goes without saying that its good for the young players to play down the stretch against some of these teams in (seeking) the playoffs, Weiss said. Its good for your players to see that, the young players especially. Chalk it up to experience and persepective.Brandon McCarthy (2-2 3.63 ERA) gets the start for the Dodgers instead of Rich Hill. Hill is being skipped for his scheduled start for precautionary reasons since he has had a recurrence of blisters on his index pitching fingeer.ddddddddddddHill probably will pitch in the Dodgers final regular-season series in San Francisco next weekend.McCarthy hasnt pitched since Aug. 13, when a sore right hip forced him out of a loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates and landed him on the disabled list. McCarthy lasted only 1 2/3 innings and allowed three runs on two hits with five walks against the Pirates. He hasnt earned a win since July 9 when he beat the Padres.McCarthy is 2/3 with a 4.74 ERA in seven starts against the Rockies. He pitched five scoreless innings on two hits in a victory over Colorado on July 2.Weve got McCarthy going (Sunday), Roberts said. The energy was great (Saturday) and obviously a carry-over from the (celebration) we had for Vin (Friday night) and the expectation and anticipation for clinching a fourth division title in a row.Rookie Tyler Anderson (5-5, 3.58) stands between the Dodgers and their bid for history. Anderson is 0-4 with a 5.10 ERA in six road starts and beat Los Angeles twice this season at Coors Field. Andersons last win was Aug. 31, when he blanked the Dodgers for 6 1/3 innings on six hits with five strikeouts and no walks in a 7-0 win.Anderson also defeated Los Angeles on Aug. 3, when he struck out six, walked two and allowed two runs in a 12-2 romp.Anderson pitches at Dodger Stadium for the first time. ' ' '