Category: Sports

Three Fishermen Die During Ice Fishing Tournament

An annual ice fishing tournament on Vermont’s Lake Champlain was called off at the last minute over the weekend after three men died when they fell through the ice during “abnormally warm” weather, officials said.

Organizers of the 43rd annual Islands Ice Fishing Derby announced in a Facebook post Saturday morning that the weekend event was being canceled due to “the condition of the ice.”

The event was shut down after the Grand Isle County Sheriff’s Department issued a request for it to be canceled “effective immediately,” they said, as they asked anglers already out on the ice to clear the area.

“Tickets will be refunded,” they said.

The cancellation came after three people died after falling through the ice, including two brothers who fell through hours before the event was called off, according to the Vermont State Police.

Wayne Alexander, 62, of Grand Isle, died Thursday after falling through the ice on Lake Champlain while ice fishing, according to a news release from the state police. His body was found in the water hours after he had been expected to return home, police said. He was pronounced dead at the University of Vermont Medical Center, police said.

Then, early Saturday, two brothers died after their utility vehicle broke through the ice, state police said.

Emergency crews had received a report at around 7:10 a.m. that a vehicle had fallen through the ice with two people inside, the state police said.

John Fleury, 71, of Williamstown, was pulled from the water, but died later in a hospital. His older brother, Wayne Fleury, 88, of East Montpelier, was later found inside the vehicle by a diver from Colchester Technical Rescue. He was pronounced dead on the scene, according to police.

State police said autopsies would be conducted at the chief medical examiner’s office in nearby Burlington to determine the exact cause and manner of all three deaths. The agency said all three incidents appeared to be accidents and were not considered suspicious at the time.

It was not immediately clear whether the three men had been participating in the ice fishing derby. Organizers of the event did not immediately respond to an overnight request for comment.

The National Weather Service in Burlington had warned in a Facebook post Saturday that ice thickness on area lakes and ponds would be highly variable due to “well above normal temperatures” in the area over the past two months.

 “Ice is never 100% safe. If you don’t know, don’t go! Stay safe,” it said.

Organizers of the ice fishing derby had also warned Friday that they did not “recommend anyone drive any type of motor vehicle on the ice this year.”

“We have seen an abnormally warm first half of February,” the weather service said in a separate post early Monday. It said the trend was expected to continue through the week.

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NFL Doctor Says Damar Hamlin “Will Play Professional Football Again”

Just over a month after Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest after making a tackle in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Buffalo Bills safety has received an optimistic prognosis on his playing future from the NFL players union doctor.

“I guarantee you that Damar Hamlin will play professional football again,” Dr. Thom Mayer, medical director of the NFL Players Association, said on SiriusXM Doctor Radio’s “Heart to Heart” program on Wednesday.

Hamlin collapsed after making a tackle in the first quarter of the game against the Bengals on January 2.

Doctors and trainers administered CPR and used a defibrillator on the field to resuscitate Hamlin before he was taken out of the stadium in an ambulance, leaving players, coaches, fans and the TV audience in shock.

Medical officials said he went into cardiac arrest, meaning his heart abruptly stopped beating. The game was postponed and ultimately canceled.

Hamlin was admitted to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center before being transferred to a Buffalo medical center on January 9 and released on January 11. The cause of his collapse still has not been determined.

Subsequently Hamlin has made remarkable progress, and he was discharged from a Buffalo medical center on January 11.

Hamlin was present at the Bills’ divisional round match-up against the Cincinnati Bengals on January 22, in which the Bills lost 27-10.

Earlier this month, Hamlin launched a campaign, in partnership with the American Heart Association, to increase CPR awareness and education.

CNN Sports anchor and former Bills player Coy Wire said the league’s ability to act quickly to administer life-saving CPR to Hamlin is the biggest positive to take away from this NFL season.

“Outside of the highlight reel players, outside of the comebacks we saw, the parity and the competition that brings excitement – 50% of the playoff teams this year were new to the playoffs – aside from that, perhaps the league’s greatest achievement this year was bringing to light the importance of CPR preparedness,” Wire said.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said he was proud of the league and team preparations ahead of the “Monday Night Football” game in Buffalo when Hamlin went into cardiac arrest.

“Our players are getting the best care anywhere,” said Goodell at his annual Super Bowl media conference on Wednesday.

“The work that they [health personnel] have invested in by bringing in these great professionals, by bringing in the best of the best did contribute to saving a young man’s life. And I’m incredibly proud of that.”

Hamlin stands near the sidelines during introductions prior to the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium on January 2, 2023.Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images/FILE

‘Profound dedication’

Hamlin was honored on Wednesday as he won the 2023 NFL Players Association Alan Page Community Award.

“I just want to say, ‘thank you’ and just thank God for being here and thank the other guys who was nominated for the award as well who did the work in their community,” Hamlin said.

“Giving back to my community has always been a big part of who I am. Thankful to my father who is right here behind me. Growing up just watching him do community days in our community and I just always waiting on my time when it came.

“I plan to never take this position for granted and always have an urgent approach in making a difference in the community where I come from and also community across the world,” Hamlin added.

The award “recognizes one player who demonstrates a profound dedication to positively impacting his team’s city and communities across the country,” according to the NFLPA.

Hamlin’s Chasing M’s Foundation community toy drive has raised over $9 million as of Saturday.

Evolving

During his media conference, Goodell said total injuries suffered this past season were down by 6% but the league saw an 18% increase in concussions during the 2022 regular season.

NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills noted that there were 149 concussions – up from 126 last season – according to the injury data released by the NFL.

Goodell attributed the increase to the league’s “definition of concussions,” which changed during the season.

“We had more evaluations – that’s going lead to more recorded concussions,” said Goodell. “We don’t want concussions to occur, we want to prevent them and we want to treat them, but we are not afraid of having them be diagnosed.”

Goodell added: “We encourage players and coaches and everyone else to come forward when they have symptoms so we can deal with those medically and make sure that they are handled professionally.”

The NFL has been under renewed scrutiny over the issue of concussions this season, beginning on September 25 when Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was injured during play but was allowed to return to the field.

One of the biggest concerns about repeated blows to the head and concussions is their association with a deadly brain disease known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

The NFL’s current concussion protocol is triggered if a player receives a blow to the head and exhibits or reports symptoms or signs suggestive of a concussion or stinger – a nerve pinch injury – or key health or athletic personnel initiates the protocol.

The player is removed to the sideline or stabilized on the field and required to undergo testing.

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NASCAR Star Kyle Busch Sentenced to 3 Years in Mexican Prison 

Famed NASCAR driver Kyle Busch has been sentenced to three-and-half-years in prison for gun possession without a license in Mexico, authorities there said late last week.

It is not clear how, or if, that sentence will be assessed.

According to a press release by Mexico’s Attorney General of the Republic office, a man visiting Quintana Roo, Cancún, was arrested by the National Guard when leaving the country on Jan. 27, after security personnel at the private FBO terminal in Cancún International Airport signaled that something was amiss with Busch’s baggage.

Mexican authorities identified the defendant as “Kyle Thomas B” from Nevada and said he was “credited with full responsibility in the commission of the crime of carrying a firearm without a license and possession of cartridges for the exclusive use of the armed forces.”

Busch addressed the issue in a statement on Twitter.

“In late January, Samantha and I enjoyed a several day vacation in Mexico,” he said. “When departing the country, my handgun was flagged during routine screening at the airport. I have a valid concealed carry permit from my local authority and adhere to all handgun laws, but I made a mistake by forgetting it was in my bag.”

According to Mexican authorities, Busch placed his luggage on the platform and x-rays took note of “a pistol-type firearm caliber. 380 with charger supplied with six hollow point cartridges” inside.

“When it was discovered, I fully cooperated with the authorities, accepted the penalties, and returned to North Carolina,” Busch’s statement continued. “Discovery of the handgun led to my detainment while the situation was resolved. I was not aware of Mexican law and had no intention of bringing a handgun into Mexico.”

On Jan. 29, the charges were presented by Mexico’s Agent of the Federal Public Ministry to what is termed a “Control judge” under an “expedited procedure,” deemed legal, and Busch was sentenced to three years and six months in prison as well as a fine of 20,748 pesos, or, roughly, $1,080, the Mexican press release said.

A Mexican legal website run by an online law firm explains that “[t]he expedited procedure is a mechanism that speeds up criminal prosecution proceedings [and] is applied in custodial sentences not exceeding 9 years or in others of a different nature.” A Mexican law review article written by a member of the judiciary says the procedure “is considered as a form of early termination, in which the defendant has agreed to be tried based on the data.”

Tied for the most NASCAR cup wins among active drivers with Kevin Harvick, Busch also has two titles to his name. He additionally has the most cumulative wins across NASCAR’s top three series at 223, according to Yahoo! Sports. The younger brother of NASCAR and Daytona 500 driver Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch is currently entering his first season racing under the new banner of Richard Childress Racing after spending the majority of his career with Joe Gibbs Racing.

“I apologize for my mistake and appreciate the respect shown by all parties as we resolved the matter,” Busch said in his statement. “My family and I consider this issue closed.”

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WWE and WCW Legend Dies at 68

Lanny Poffo, known to wrestling fans as The Genius, has reportedly passed away at the age of 68.

The sad news was broken by WWE Hall of Famer ‘Hacksaw’ Jim Duggan, who shared the news of Poffo’s passing on Facebook and Twitter.

Entering the wrestling business in 1974, Poffo would join the World Wrestling Federation in 1985 under the name ‘Leaping’ Lanny Poffo.

Turning heel in 1989, Poffo would become ‘The Genius,’ and taunt fans and face wrestlers with poetry (each one penned by Poffo himself.)

After his WWF run, Poffo would join WCW in the mid-90s but would return to WWE to posthumously induct his brother ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage into the Hall of Fame in 2015.

RIP

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Philadelphia Eagles Lineman Josh Sills Indicted on Sexual Assault & Kidnapping Charges

Eagles offensive lineman Josh Sills has been indicted on rape and kidnapping charges … just 11 days before Philadelphia is slated to play the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII.

According to prosecutors in Ohio, the charges stem from an incident that happened in Guernsey County back on Dec. 5, 2019.

Officials allege that Sills, a rookie reserve lineman for the Eagles who made the team this year as an undrafted free agent, “engaged in sexual activity that was not consensual and held a victim against her will.”

Prosecutors say the Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office conducted an investigation into the case — and a grand jury eventually indicted Sills on one felony count of rape and one felony count of kidnapping this week.

The 25-year-old is slated to appear in court on the matter on Feb. 16, just four days after the Super Bowl.

Sills — who played high school football in Ohio — attended both West Virginia and Oklahoma State during his college career. He played just a handful of snaps for the Eagles this season, appearing in just one game against the Cardinals on Oct. 9.

The Eagles have yet to publicly comment on the charges. They’re scheduled to play against Kansas City in Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12 in Arizona.

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Olympian Duncan Pugh Dead at 48 After Sudden Brain Aneurysm

Olympic bobsledder Duncan Pugh died at the age of 48 after a sudden brain aneurysm last week, The West Australian confirmed.

The Olympian experienced a brain aneurysm on Jan. 24, and died a day later after “a catastrophic brain bleed” that “sadly left him in an unrecoverable position,” according to a GoFundMe page set up to help with medical costs.

Pugh, who represented Australia in bobsledding at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, is survived by his wife McKenzie, and two young sons, Charlie and George.

“We are heartbroken and simply lost for words,” McKenzie wrote in his obituary. “Taken far too soon. You were the rock of our family and wore your heart on your sleeve. You were so very proud of our two boys, the best dad anyone could have hoped for. Your passion and determination will forever live on in our boys.”

The late athlete’s wife added that he made her feel like “the centre of” his world during their time together.

Pugh was remembered as “an ex-Olympian with a continued passion for sport,” on the family’s GoFundMe page. “Anyone that had a one-on-one conversation with Dunc will know exactly how easy it was to feel comfortable in his presence and grateful for his friendship.”

Bobsleigh and Skeleton Australia also issued a statement honoring Pugh.

“Our small bobsleigh family has taken a big hit this week with the passing of Pughie — Duncan Pugh Vancouver 2010 Olympian, was and will always be remembered as a legend,” a statement from the group read. “A fantastic father to his boys, a beloved husband, son, brother and uncle to his family.”

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University of Georgia Quarterback is Arrested

Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett, who led the Bulldogs to their second straight national championship, was arrested early Sunday after police said he was intoxicated and banging on doors.

Bennett, 25, was charged with public intoxication and taken to the city detention center, Dallas police said.

Police said that at about 6:10 a.m., officers responded to reports of a man banging on doors. The location given by police was a community of townhomes near downtown Dallas.

Last week, Bennett told reporters that he would be training for his pro career in Fort Worth, Texas, which is about 30 miles (48 kilometers) west of Dallas.

Video from WFAA-TV showed Bennett leaving the detention center on Sunday just before 11:00 a.m. He did not say anything as he got into a vehicle.

Earlier this month, Bennett threw two touchdown passes and ran for two scores in the first half as No. 1 Georgia demolished No. 3 TCU 65-7 to win the College Football Playoff national championship.

Bennett walked on at Georgia nearly six years ago at the beginning of its growth into college football’s most dominant program.

The University of Georgia athletic department did not immediately offer comment on Sunday. An email sent to Bennett’s agent was not immediately returned.

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World Shocked by  Conor McGregor Allegations: ‘He Was Going to Kill Me’

Spanish newspapers report that the woman filed the claim when she returned home to Ireland after McGregor’s luxury birthday celebrations last summer.

A court in Ibiza, Spain has opened up an investigation into claims that UFC fighter Conor McGregor attacked a woman during lavish celebrations for his 34th birthday on his three-deck yacht last July.

The martial arts fighter is said to have invited the woman, who has not been named, to his private yacht after partying with her at the Ocean Beach Club, according to the Majorica Daily Bulletin. His wife and other friends were also on his luxury yacht, estimated to be worth nearly $4 million.

While on the yacht, the woman, who has known McGregor since they lived in the same neighborhood in Dublin, says he invited her to a private area where he allegedly became violent to such an extent the woman jumped into the sea. She was eventually rescued by the Red Cross.

The woman, who did not file a complaint at the time in Spain because of what she described as language barriers, did tell investigators in Dublin about the alleged incident upon her return. After that, Dublin officials contacted a court in Ibiza. According to court documents seen by local media in Dublin, the woman said the fighter had become aggressive and snapped when she called out to a friend for help, triggering an angry response.

“His behaviour changed at that moment,” she said in her statement, according to the Spanish media. She says he kicked her belly and punched her face and then threatened to drown her if she called for help. “It was as if he was possessed,” she told investigators. “I knew that I had to get off the boat because I thought that he was going to kill me.”

Karen Kessler, a spokesperson for Conor McGregor, said: “Mr. McGregor is steadfast in his denial of all the accusations made by a guest on his boat.”

Around the time the incident is alleged to have happened, reports of the fighter’s wild birthday celebrations were the focus of British tabloids, which reported that his chosen guests were all treated to his own Proper 12 branded whiskey. The festivities took place on his Lamborghini Tecnomar 63 yacht and his Prestige 750 triple-decker yacht where the Irish woman says she was attacked.

The allegations follow a 2018 incident in which McGregor was sued by a different Irish woman for rape.

The champion has a history of assault arrests—20 in all—including pleading no contest to throwing a metal dolly at a bus carrying competing UFC fighters in April 2018 for which he was sentenced to community service and anger management treatment. A year later, he was arrested in Miami Beach after allegedly breaking a man’s phone after he tried to take a photo of him. He also pleaded guilty to assaulting a man in a Dublin pub the same year.

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Tom Brady has Made a Big Decision According to Teammates

If Tom Brady is going to return for a 24th year in the NFL, some of his Buccaneers teammates reportedly seem to think it won’t be with Tampa Bay.

Multiple players got the sense, from their final interactions of the season with Brady, that he has no intention to play a fourth year with the Buccaneers, NFL Network reported on Saturday.

“I’d be surprised if he’s back,” one Buccaneer told the outlet.

“He sounded like a person saying goodbye for good,” another said.

After the Buccaneers were routed by the Cowboys in the NFC wild-card round on Monday, the 45-year-old Brady said he would approach a decision on his future by taking it “one day at a time.” He then ended his postgame press conference by thanking reporters for their coverage in what sounded like a goodbye.

“Hopefully, you know, I love this organization,” Brady said. “It’s a great place to be. I love everyone for welcoming me, all you regulars. And just very grateful for the respect, and I hope I gave the same thing back to you guys. So thank you very much.”

Brady is set to become a free agent this offseason for just the second time in his career. The Raiders, Titans and his hometown 49ers are expected to be among the potential suitors for the future Hall of Fame quarterback who would play next season at the age of 46.

If Brady leaves the Buccaneers, who fired offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich earlier this week, they will be stuck with a $35.1 million dead cap hit.

Should Brady choose to retire — and stay retired, unlike last offseason — he has a 10-year, $375 million offer awaiting him to do game commentary for Fox Sports, The Post’s Andrew Marchand has reported.

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NFL Player Arrested for Alleged Kidnapping in Mississippi

A former Ole Miss and NFL player was arrested last week for an alleged kidnapping.

Jerrell Powe, 35, was booked into Mississippi’s Madison County Detention Center on Thursday, jail records show.

Ridgeland Police Chief Brian Myers said Powe was arrested at a Chase Bank on Highland Colony Parkway, according to NBC affiliate WLBT. Ridgeland is just about 12 miles north of Jackson, Mississippi.

PEOPLE’s attempts to reach Myers on Monday were unsuccessful.

Myers told the news outlet the incident began in Laurel, Mississippi, which is almost 100 miles away from Ridgeland. Myers said that 35-year-old Gavin Bates was arrested and charged with kidnapping as well.

Myers told the news station that the victim was safe. The victim told officers he was kidnapped “against his will” and was “forced to withdraw money” at the bank, per WLBT.

The Ridgeland Police Department said that officers responded to the Chase Bank at around 1:40 p.m., according to Fox News.

Powe is being held at the Madison County Detention Center without bond and is pending a hearing on Tuesday.

Powe began playing for Ole Miss in 2008.

He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2011 as a sixth-round pick. He played for the Houston Texans before signing with the Washington Redskins, now known as the Commanders, in 2015. They released him a year later.

It is unclear if Powe and Bates have retained attorneys to comment on their behalf.

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