Baseball players' union head hopeful of major leaguers participating in 2028 Olympics
'There's a lot of work that need to be done,' he told the Baseball Writers' Association of America on Tuesday. 'We're hopeful that we can figure our way through it.'
The World Baseball Softball Confederation said Monday the baseball tournament will be played from July 15-20 at Dodger Stadium. MLB is considering whether it can interrupt its 2028 season to allow major leaguers to participate, which could necessitate changes to the sport's national television contracts.
Clark said among the issues are insurance and 'what does it mean for those players that aren't participating?'
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The Independent
16 minutes ago
- The Independent
Sprains, strains and ACL tears: What to know about some of NFL players' most common injuries
Some of the most important players on NFL teams are those that might not necessarily start the season on the field. Depth is crucial during a rigorous 17-game regular-season schedule that's preceded by a month of training camp practices in hot conditions as players try to make team's 53-man active rosters. Injuries can play as big a role in an NFL team's successes or failures as the best game plans. So being able to navigate injuries and ailments to key players could make all the difference between a team seeing its season sink or making the playoffs. Here's a look at some of the most common injuries suffered by NFL players throughout the season: Achilles tendon tears The Achilles is the longest and strongest tendon in the body and stretches from the heel to the calf. It's a springy band located behind the ankle and just above the heel that helps players push off their feet, jump and accelerate. Due to overuse or excessive force placed on the tendon, it can tear or rupture. Surgery is typically necessary to reconnect the ends, sidelining a player for several months because of the extensive rehabilitation needed. ACL /PCL/MCL/LCL tears The anterior cruciate, posterior cruciate, medial collateral and lateral collateral ligaments are all located in the knee and serve different purposes. The ACL connects the thigh bone to the shin bone in the front of the knee. While a sprain could sideline a player for a few weeks, a tear can end a season. The PCL is located behind the ACL, crisscrossing it to form an "X" in the center of the knee. The MCL connects the thigh bone to the shin bone on the inner side of the knee, while the LCL connects the thigh bone to the top of the lower leg, or fibula, and is located on the outer side of the knee. Concussions A concussion is a brain injury caused by a hit to the head or a sudden movement that causes the head and brain to shake violently. Symptoms may include headaches, neck pain, nausea, dizziness and feeling sluggish. The NFL has been regularly testing and upgrading helmets for players to help reduce the risk of concussions. Eight position-specific helmets for quarterbacks and linemen were approved by the NFL and the NFL Players Association last year. Several players also have worn Guardian Caps, soft, protective helmet covers that the NFL authorized players to use during games last season in an effort to reduce head injuries. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, is a degenerative brain disease that has been linked to concussions and can only be diagnosed posthumously. It can cause memory loss, depression and violent mood swings. Hamstring injuries The hamstring is a group of four muscles that run along the back of the thigh, stretching from the hip to the knee, and they help a person bend their leg at the knee. These injuries vary in severity, and in turn, their timetable in sidelining a player. A mild pull of one of the muscles, commonly referred to as a Grade I injury, can sideline a player for a few days to a couple of weeks and can be a lingering condition if not sufficiently rested and healed. A Grade II hamstring injury involves a partial tear, while a Grade III injury is a complete tear of the hamstring that could require surgery and is likely season-ending. High ankle sprains When a player suffers a high ankle sprain, the ligaments above the ankle — which connect the tibia to the fibula — are affected rather than the ligaments outside the ankle in a low ankle sprain. High ankle sprains take much longer to recover from — six to eight weeks, and sometimes longer — than a classic ankle sprain, which might sideline a player for several days to a couple of weeks. Hip pointers The injury could sideline a player for a week or a couple of months, depending on the severity. A hip pointer is bruising in the pelvis and abdomen area, usually caused by blunt force, such as a hard tackle. The bleeding can affect several other muscles in the area, making it difficult to run or even walk. Lisfranc injuries A serious foot injury that can be career-threatening because of its complexity. A Lisfranc sprain or fracture is an injury in the middle of the foot in which at least one (or sometimes, all) of the small bones (or metatarsals) is broken or the ligaments that support the foot in that area are torn. Even a minor sprain not requiring surgical repair could take six to eight weeks to heal. Meniscus tears The meniscus is a crescent-shaped rubbery disk of cartilage that serves as a shock absorber on the inside and outer edges of the knee. Both help a person balance weight across the knee. When a meniscus is torn, the knee can lock up and swell. A minor tear can be treated with rest, but a severe tear could require surgery that may sideline a player for several weeks or months. Oblique strains An oblique strain involves the muscles on the side of the body between the ribs and pelvis. This type of injury can occur when a player takes a hard hit to the waist area or from overuse or sudden use of the muscles — for instance, a quarterback throwing a pass or a defensive back turning to defend a receiver. Oblique strains are usually treated with rest and could take a few weeks to heal, or could become a lingering issue otherwise. Patellar tendon injuries The patellar tendon allows a person to straighten a leg by acting with the quadriceps. Technically, it's a ligament because it connects the kneecap to the shin bone. Complete tears or ruptures often need to be surgically sewn back together and recovery is typically at least four to six months. Plantar fasciitis An injury that affects the bottom of the foot and can lead to intense heel pain. Plantar fasciitis occurs when the ligament supporting the arch of the foot — the plantar fascia — is strained and worsens when small tears develop in the ligament. The injury can sap players of speed while they deal with it. Rest, icing of the arch and finding new footwear are among typical treatments. It can linger for months. Turf toe An extremely painful injury that can sideline players for months. It occurs when the ligaments under the joint of the big toe are sprained or ruptured as a result of the toe being hyperextended. The injury makes it extremely difficult to push off and cut while running. ___
Daily Mail
17 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Bayern Munich legend Thomas Muller linked with shock move to one unlikely football club... and they are not based in the United States
Former Bayern Munich star Thomas Muller looked to be heading stateside, after the 35-year-old announced that he would be leaving Bayern Munich at the end of the 2024-25 season. The Germany international is the Bundesliga side's record appearance maker and currently sits third on their list of all-time scorers with a whopping 247 goals. Since he chose to leave the German outfit, questions have revolved over his next move. Retirement talk has circulated while a move to join a Major League Soccer franchise had also been gathering a lot of steam. In fact, Sky Sports Germany had claimed that Muller was set to imminently make a move to join the US side, Los Angeles FC, which is believed to be his favoured option. The west coast outfit are, in fact, a sister club of Bayern Munich. Muller had reportedly already made up his mind on the move. However, Vince Rugari of The Age, has thrown a shock new curveball into the equation, with the football reporter claiming that Sydney FC are also in talks to sign the legendary Munich forward. The free agent, who has only ever played for Bayern, is seeking a fresh start at a new club, and could head Down Under to join The Sky Blues. The report adds that Muller's representatives have been in conversations with the A-League outfit for several weeks. The club is hoping to convince him to move down to Sydney, with Muller set to make a call on his next move in the coming week. However, sources told Rugari that Muller 'had been impressed by the pitch made to him by Sydney FC'. A key factor in convincing Muller to join the club would be two of his former team-mates. Douglas Costa and Alexander Baumjohann are both already working for the club, with Baumjohann employed as the team's head of player management. Rugari claims Baumjohann is leading the chase to sign Muller. Last season, Muller made 49 appearances for the German club across all competitions, while also returning eight goals and eight assists. He still has plenty of gas left in the tank and could turn out for many top sides in Europe. Muller enjoyed a hugely successful career with Bayern, winning 13 Bundesliga titles with the club and two Champions league titles. Upon his departure from Bayern, Muller was coy over his next move, revealing that he tries not to think about his future too much. 'I'm very open-minded for everything that comes. I always try to focus on what is immediately next,' the World Cup winner explained. 'Now I'm a football player. I only think about preparing for training tomorrow. I try not to think too much about my future. When the day comes that I stop, I want to understand exactly what it is that I miss about football.' It comes as Sydney coach Ufuk Talay has committed to spending two more seasons at the club. While admitting that the club is 'transitioning' earlier this year, he opened up on the side's transfer strategy. 'The strategy has changed. We're blooding some youngsters, and the club's made some sales over the past two seasons – it's a business at the end of the day. 'You still want to be competitive, but at the same time blood some youth and make some sales of players. 'It's a bit of a balance and we're still going through that process while we're still trying to win trophies.'
The Guardian
17 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Miami Dolphins' Bayron Matos airlifted to hospital after injury in practice
Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Bayron Matos was airlifted to a local hospital on Wednesday after suffering an injury during the final minutes of the team's first training camp practice. The team confirmed Matos, 24, is in stable condition but declined to disclose the nature of the injury. Teammates and staff gathered around Matos for more than 10 minutes as medical personnel attended to him on the field. A helicopter was brought in to transport him for further evaluation. 'It's a really heartbreaking part of the game,' said veteran lineman Austin Jackson. 'Very tough.' Matos' injury cast a shadow over the Dolphins' opening session, though the team insisted it was not the reason practice ended early after 90 minutes. First-day sessions are typically shorter, a team official said. A towering 6ft 7in and 334lb, Matos has taken one of the more unusual paths to the NFL. Born in Los Mina, a neighborhood in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, he moved to the United States at 17 to pursue basketball and to learn English. He played two years of college basketball at New Mexico before transferring to South Florida, where he walked on to the football team in 2022 despite having never played organized football. Matos appeared in two games that season as a defensive lineman before switching to the offensive line, where he found his footing. After just one year of college football, he was signed by the Dolphins in 2024 through the NFL's International Player Pathway Program. Miami valued him highly, guaranteeing him $247,500 – an unusually generous sum for an undrafted rookie – to beat out interest from at least 10 other teams. Though he spent the 2024 season on the practice squad and has yet to appear in a regular-season game, Matos saw preseason action last year and signed a futures contract with Miami in January. He entered training camp as a developmental project with considerable upside, thanks to rare athletic traits including a reported 4.88sec 40-yard dash. 'I want to be one of the best tackles to play in the NFL,' Matos said last year. As of Wednesday evening, there was no timeline for his return. The team said it would provide updates 'as appropriate'.
