🏈 Axios Sports: Damar Hamlin update

Plus: Giannis drops 55 | Wednesday, January 04, 2023

Open in app View in browser   Presented By SiriusXM   Axios Sports By Kendall Baker · Jan 04, 2023 👋 Good morning! Happy Wednesday. Today's word count: 1,852 words (7 minutes). Let's sports...     1 big thing: 🏈 The latest on Damar Hamlin Bills players huddle and pray at Paycor Stadium on Monday night. Photo: Dylan Buell/Getty Images   NFL teams will return to practice today, two days after one of the scariest moments in sports history. Players and coaches are in uncharted waters as they prepare, somehow, for football. What we know: Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest on Monday night in Cincinnati after taking a hit to the chest during a routine tackle, causing him to collapse. Medical personnel gave Hamlin oxygen and administered CPR and an automated external defibrillator (AED) to restore his heartbeat before an on-site ambulance whisked him away. According to Hamlin's uncle, Dorrian Glenn, he needed to be resuscitated twice — once on the field and once at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. As of Tuesday night, Glenn said his nephew was still on a ventilator but that he'd improved to 50% oxygen after needing 100%. He remains sedated and in critical condition. The Bills-Bengals game will not be resumed this week, and the NFL "has made no decision regarding the possible resumption at a later date." The Week 18 schedule remains unchanged — for now. What they're saying: Cardiologists are hesitant to speculate on what happened to Hamlin, but many experts say he likely experienced commotio cordis, a rare event caused by a blow to the chest wall. If the impact happens during a "brief, vulnerable moment in the heart cycle, it can cause the heart to go out of rhythm and basically stop," Scott Jerome, a cardiologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center, tells Axios. Fewer than 30 cases are reported every year, per the National Library of Medicine. Jerome says most sports-related occurrences involve objects like baseballs and pucks. "It's usually little league catchers getting hit with a pitch ... hockey players getting hit with a shot." Between the lines: An NFL stadium is one of the safest places Hamlin could have suffered a cardiac arrest. Time is absolutely critical, and trained emergency personnel were just steps away. The NFL has an emergency action plan for every stadium, and the ~30-person team at Paycor Stadium was fully prepared. Jerome hopes their response in those surreal moments inspires others to learn CPR. "Everybody should know CPR, and there should be an AED everywhere," says Jerome. "The CPR circulates the blood while the heart's not beating, and the AED — the shock — is what saves you." The big picture: Hamlin's fundraiser for a Pittsburgh-area toy drive has become a vessel for humans to show another human love and support. Since Monday night, 200,000 people have donated nearly $6 million. "A lot of people don't get to see how loved they are while they're alive, so for him to have a situation where he could have been taken away and he has a chance to come back and see all that love that he got, it's truly an amazing thing. I can't wait for him to see all the love and support people have for him — not just around the area, but around the world." — Dorrian Glenn, Hamlin's uncle (via NFL Network) 🙏 Watch: Dan Orlovsky says prayer for Hamlin live on ESPN (Twitter)     2. 🏀 Giannis drops career-high 55 Photo: Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images   Another night, another huge NBA stat line. Driving the news: Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a career-high 55 points in the Bucks' 123-113 win over the Wizards, adding 10 rebounds and seven assists to continue the best stretch of his career. Wild stat: The tw0-time MVP has had at least 40 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in three straight games. The only other players to do that: Elgin Baylor (1961, 1963), Wilt Chamberlain (1963) and Russell Westbrook (2016). Jan. 3: 55 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists Dec. 30: 43 points, 20 rebounds, 5 assists Dec. 28: 45 points, 22 rebounds, 7 assists The big picture: The MVP race is heating up, with Antetokounmpo, Luka Dončić and Nikola Jokić filling up the stat sheet on a nightly basis. Jayson Tatum, Kevin Durant and Joel Embiid aren't going away, either.     3. ⚽️ Ronaldo's Saudi Arabia era begins Ronaldo at Tuesday's introductory press conference. Photo: Khalid Alhaj/MB Media/Getty Images   Cristiano Ronaldo was introduced on Tuesday by Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, which signed him to a contract through 2024-25 reportedly worth as much as $90 million annually, Axios' Jeff Tracy writes. "In Europe my work is done. This is a new challenge. ... I am really, really happy to be here." — Ronaldo By the numbers: The deal's sponsorship aspects could bring its value to over $200 million per year, making Ronaldo, 37, the highest-paid athlete in the history of sports — by a lot. The big picture: The shocking transfer is already fueling the debate about Saudi Arabia using "sportswashing" to distract from its poor human rights record and boost its image internationally, per AP. The Portuguese star, who has more Instagram followers (528 million) and soccer goals than any other human, immediately raises the profile of both Al-Nassr and the Saudi Pro League. The Riyadh-based club — currently in first place — has seen its Instagram account balloon from 864,000 followers to 8.8 million in the past week while Ronaldo's jersey is flying off the shelves. Ronaldo is reportedly expected to become an ambassador of Saudi Arabia's joint bid with Egypt and Greece to host the 2030 World Cup. Lionel Messi is currently a tourism ambassador for the country. The backdrop: Though Ronaldo, 37, is inarguably an all-time great, this move comes at the lowest point in his career after an ugly exit from Manchester United and a disappointing World Cup. What's next: Al-Nassr's next game is tomorrow, but Ronaldo is more likely to make his debut on Jan. 14 in a Riyadh Derby clash against second-place Al-Shabab. Go deeper: The best players in the Saudi Pro League (90 Min)     A message from SiriusXM Stream SiriusXM now and get 3 months for free     Stream more than 425 channels on your devices for free on the SXM App, including expertly curated ad-free music, live sports, personalized stations and more. Next steps: Sign up now to get 3 months free. Cancel anytime. Learn more about the offer and start streaming. See offer details.     4. ⚡️ Lightning round Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios   🎓 NCAA report: After nearly a year's worth of meetings, the NCAA transformation committee produced a 40-page final report on Tuesday. One recommended change: expanding March Madness. 🏀 N0body's perfect: No. 21 New Mexico lost on the road to Fresno State on Tuesday night. And just like that, there are zero unbeaten teams in men's D-I basketball. 🏀 Zion injury: Zion Williamson has a right hamstring strain and will be reevaluated in three weeks. The young Pelicans star is coming off one of the best months of his career (29.8 ppg in December). 💔 RIP, Ken: Ken Block, a sports marketing executive who took the wheel for himself and became a pro rally car driver and action sports legend, died in a snowmobile accident on Monday. He was 55.     5. 🏒 NHL snapshot: Boston, Vegas on top Table: Axios Visuals Here are the Stanley Cup favorites as 2023 gets underway, according to FiveThirtyEight: Bruins (20% chance to win) Hurricanes (11%) Lightning (10%) Avalanche (9%) Maple Leafs (8%) Stars (6%) Golden Knights (5%) Wild (5%) Rangers (5%) Jets (4%)     6. ⚾️ Ump exodus: 10 MLB umpires retire The umpire crew during the 2022 World Series. Photo: Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images   10 MLB umpires, including seven crew chiefs, retired at the end of December — the largest turnover at the position since 1999, ESPN reports. Why it matters: The 10 umps have worked over 200 combined MLB seasons and 16 World Series — experience that won't be easily replaced. MLB will promote their replacements from the minors this month. The retiring crew chiefs: Tom Hallion (29 years of MLB service time): He's been on the field in some capacity for seven no-hitters, which was the most among active umpires. Ted Barrett (25 years): Worked five World Series, most among the group retiring. He was behind the plate for David Cone's perfect game in 1999 and Greg Maddux's 300th win in 2004. Jerry Meals (24 years): He was behind the plate for Kerry Wood's 20-strikeout game in 1998. Greg Gibson (23 years): He was behind the plate for Randy Johnson's perfect game in 2004; owns a Kentucky-based insurance company. Jim Reynolds (22.5 years): There are costs to being an ump: In the last six years alone, he's had seven concussions because of foul tips. Bill Welke (22.5 years): He and his brother Tim were paired on the same crew in 2005 and again from 2008 to 2010. Sam Holbrook (21.5 years): He was the home plate umpire for Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, the day the Cubs broke their 108-year curse. The backdrop: The coming seasons will be a challenge for umpires, as MLB continues to experiment with rule changes and robo-umps inch closer to calling big league games. MLB will use a pitch timer in 2023 and it will be on home plate umpires to enforce it. Meanwhile, base umpires will have to make sure the new shift rules are being followed.     7. 📺 Watchlist: Stars on display Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios   Tonight's ESPN doubleheader features four NBA stars primed to put up big numbers, if recent performances are any indication. Bucks at Raptors (7:30pm ET): Giannis Antetokounmpo is on a historic tear, as detailed above; Pascal Siakam has scored 25+ points in eight straight games. Heat at Lakers (10pm): LeBron James has scored 40+ points in two straight games since turning 38; Bam Adebayo has scored 30+ points in back-to-back games. More to watch: 🏒 NHL: Devils at Red Wings (7pm, TNT); Lightning at Wild (9:30pm, TNT) 🏀 NCAAM: No. 25 Iowa State at Oklahoma (7pm, ESPN2); No. 4 UConn at Providence (8:30pm, FS1); No. 20 Missouri at No. 13 Arkansas (8:30pm, SEC); No. 17 TCU at No. 19 Baylor (9pm, ESPN2) 🏀 NCAAW: West Virginia at No. 11 Iowa State (7:30pm, ESPN+); Texas Tech at No. 21 Kansas (8pm, ESPN+) 🏒 World Juniors: Czechia vs. Sweden (2:30pm, NHL); USA vs. Canada (6:30pm, NHL) ... Semifinals in Canada. 🎾 Tennis: Adelaide International (7:30pm, DAZN)     8. 🎯 The Ocho: Epic darts duel Michael Smith celebrates with his world championship trophy. Photo: Luke Walker/Getty Images   Darts fans were treated to one of the best matches — and moments — ever on Tuesday at the World Darts Championship. What happened: In the third leg of the second set in their first-to-seven title match, England's Michael Smith and the Netherlands' Michael Van Gerwen went back-and-forth in thrilling fashion. Van Gerwen hit his first eight shots before his ninth landed just outside of the intended target. That left the door open for Smith, who nailed all nine of his shots in what was probably the best leg of darts ever. Smith ultimately won the match, 7-4, to claim his first world title and move up to No. 1 in the world. By the numbers: Entering 2023, there had been just 13 nine-dart finishes in WDC history. There were nearly two more on Tuesday night alone — not just in the same match, but in the same game. Context: Just how epic was this? In baseball terms, it'd be like one pitcher throwing a no-hitter and the opposing pitcher taking a no-hitter into the ninth inning — in Game 3 of the World Series. An all-time duel. 🎥 Watch: Highlights (Twitter)     9. ⚾️ MLB trivia Photo: Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images   Rafael Devers, who signed a one-year, $17.5 million deal with the Red Sox on Tuesday to avoid arbitration, has 359 RBI since 2019. Question: Who are the only two players with more RBI during that time? Hint: Both first basemen. Answer at the bottom.     10. 🙏 1 NFL thing: Praying for Damar Screenshot: @kendallbaker (Twitter)   All 32 NFL teams have changed their Twitter avatars to the "Pray for Damar" image above. "The way I grew up teaches you to cherish everybody in your life because you never know who you'll lose. You could lose anybody. Everybody I talk to, I say 'I love you.'" — Damar Hamlin, via Go Long (2021 profile on him)     A message from SiriusXM Get free access to music, sports, news and more     Subscribe to SiriusXM Streaming and get access to 3 months of free: Expertly curated ad-free music. Pandora artist stations. Live sports. Celebrity hosts, comedians and newscasters. Howard Stern and more. More info: Listen on your phone, at home and more with the SXM App. See offer details.   Talk tomorrow, Kendall "So close" Baker Trivia answer: Pete Alonso (380 RBI) and José Abreu (375) 🙏 Have a great day! Follow us for more (@kendallbaker and @jeffreytracy). Friends can sign up here. Thanks to Bryan McBournie for copy edits. Are you a fan of this email format? Your essential communications — to staff, clients and other stakeholders — can have the same style. Axios HQ, a powerful platform, will help you do it.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. To stop receiving this newsletter, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: