Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/242011
Sports 1B Wednesday January 15, 2014 Judge slows $765M NFL concussion settlement PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A federal judge is slowing down the proposed $765 million settlement of NFL concussion claims, questioning if there's enough money to cover 20,000 retired players. U.S. District Judge Anita B. Brody denied preliminary approval of the plan on Tuesday because she's worried the money could run out sooner than expected. She also raised concerns that anyone who gets concussion damages from the NFL would be barred from suing the NCAA or other amateur football leagues. ''I am primarily concerned that not all retired NFL football players who ultimately receive a qualifying diagnosis or their (families) ... will be paid,'' the judge wrote. The proposed settlement, negotiated over several months, is designed to last at least 65 years. The awards would vary based on an ex-player's age and diagnosis. A younger retiree with Lou Gehrig's disease would get $5 million, those with serious dementia cases would get $3 million and an 80-year-old with early dementia would get $25,000. Retirees without symptoms would get baseline screening and follow-up care if needed. ''Even if only 10 percent of retired NFL football players eventually receive a qualifying diagnosis,'' the judge wrote, ''it is difficult to see how the Monetary Award Fund would have the funds available over its lifespan to pay all claimants at these significant award levels.'' She asked for more raw financial data before scheduling a fairness hearing this year, when objectors can question the plan. The objectors could later decide to opt out of it. Law professor Gabe Feldman, who directs the sports law program at the Tulane University Law School, called the ruling a setback but said ''there's no reason to panic.'' ''The question remains whether this gives pause to some of the retired players and makes them question whether this is a settlement they want to be a part of,'' he said. Some critics said the NFL, with more than $9 billion in annual revenue, was getting away lightly. But the players' lawyers said they would face huge challenges just to get the case to trial. They would have to prove the injuries were linked to the players' NFL service and should not be handled through league arbitration. They could end up with nothing. Sol Weiss, a lead lawyer for the ex-players, remained confident the class action settlement will ultimately be approved. He said he was confident ''that there will be enough money to cover these claims for 65 years.'' NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said league officials were ''confident that the settlement is fair and adequate and look forward to demonstrating that to the court.'' More than 4,500 former players have filed suit, some accusing the league of fraud for its handling of concussions. They include former Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Dorsett and Super Bowl-winning Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon, who suffers from dementia. The judge's hand-picked mediator, former federal judge Layn R. Phillips, led several months of negotiations last year and has called the deal fair to both sides. The settlement would include $675 million for compensatory claims for players with neurological symptoms, $75 million for baseline testing for asymptomatic men and $10 million for medical research and education. The NFL also would pay an additional $112 million to the players' lawyers for their fees and expenses, for a total payout of nearly $900 million. The NCAA clause is apparently designed to prevent plaintiffs from double dipping. Feldman said he was unsure why the NFL would insist on that. Given the judge's ruling, the two sides could offer more evidence the fund would be stable, change the payout formula or perhaps have the NFL add more money to the pot. Otherwise, they may be left to start over. ''I think it's a pretty efficient way of doing things, rather than bring it up for the first time at the fairness hearing,'' Matt Mitten, who directs the National Sports Law Institute at the Marquette University Law School, said of the judge's opinion. ''Some of these guys need the money right now.'' Tehama Tracker Today's schedule BOYS SOCCER Red Bluff at Shasta, 4:30 p.m. GIRLS SOCCER Shasta at Red Bluff, 6 p.m. WRESTLING Red Bluff at Enterprise, 6 p.m. Corning at Central Valley, 6 p.m. NBA Sacramento at Minnesota, 5 p.m. Denver at Golden State, 7:30 p.m. Sports on TV MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL 4 p.m. ESPN2 — Notre Dame at Maryland NBA BASKETBALL 5 p.m. ESPN — Utah at San Antonio 7:30 p.m. ESPN — Denver at Golden State NHL HOCKEY 5 p.m. NBCSN — Washington at Pittsburgh TENNIS 6 p.m. ESPN2 — Australian Open, second round, at Melbourne, Australia Midnight ESPN2 — Australian Open, second round, at Melbourne, Australia AP photo San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh reacts to a a call at the end of the first half against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of a divisional playoff NFL football game Sunday in Charlotte, N.C. Fiery coach enjoys string of success SANTA CLARA (AP) — Jim Harbaugh pirouetted in frustration following a personal foul on Dan Skuta. He got hit with his own unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for arguing following a catch by Vernon Davis that went to review before being ruled a touchdown. And that was just last Sunday. Harbaugh has been at his emotional best — or, to some, worst — with his cartoon-like faces and quirky sideline antics in leading San Francisco back to the NFC championship game for the third time in as many years since taking over as 49ers head coach in January 2011. On Davis' TD during Sunday's 23-10 win at Carolina, Harbaugh ran well onto the field during the play. ''I think Harbaugh gets away with murder myself,'' former Seahawks coach and ex-49ers assistant Mike Holmgren said. ''If I ever did that it would be a penalty.'' Harbaugh should be as charged up as ever come Sunday, when he faces off once more against the rival Seattle Seahawks in an NFC championship game featuring that familiar coaching sideshow with Pete Carroll. This time, there's a Super Bowl berth on the line. But if you ask Harbaugh, ''What's your deal?'' is so five years ago. Enough already, he insists, keep it about the players. ''That might have been something four or five years ago,'' Harbaugh said. ''But, I haven't seen it as of late. And, it would be as irrelevant now as it would have been then when people made a bigger deal out of it. So, irrelevant, irrelevant.'' Sorry, not this week. There's no avoiding such chatter. Harbaugh has to expect that infamous phrase to come up often. It dates back to their college days coaching in the Pac-10 Conference. In 2009, Harbaugh and No. 25 Stanford ran up the score on 11th-ranked USC in a surprising 55-21 rout, even attempting a 2-point conversion with the game way out of reach — prompting Carroll's infamous ''What's your deal?'' when they met afterward at midfield. Whatever their past or perceived differences, Harbaugh knows what to expect every time a Carroll-coached team takes the field. The Seahawks ended San Francisco's two-year reign as NFC West champion. ''It's hard to get to this position,'' Harbaugh said. ''Talking about a year of preparation and planning and offseason and training camp and games. And they did it better than anybody did it this entire season. So, a great task, great challenge ahead of us.'' The 49ers have already accomplished plenty this postseason by winning in the bitter cold of Green Bay and at Carolina. Harbaugh is the first coach in the Super Bowl era to reach the NFC championship in each of his first three years. Place kicker Phil Dawson wanted to be part of the winning vibe after 14 mostly disappointing years with Cleveland. Nose tackle Glenn Dorsey left Kansas City to join a team with Harbaugh at the helm. Even if Dorsey's first impressions of the coach left him shaking his head. ''I noticed what everybody else noticed: a coach going crazy on the sideline having fun,'' Dorsey recalled. ''Always pumped up and always getting his team hyped. He works hard, even now being on the inside seeing him every day and how he goes about doing his job, the enthusiasm that he has and the motivational stuff that he has, the knowledge that he has. He's a great coach.'' Dawson appreciates how Harbaugh takes chances in the kicking game based on his trust in the veteran — and it certainly didn't hurt that Dawson converted a franchise-record 27 straight field goals until the streak ended in the regular-season finale at Arizona. Curry's popularity could make him All-Star starter OAKLAND (AP) — About the only support Stephen Curry used to receive on the road when he first entered the NBA in 2009 came away from the court before or after games. Back then, Curry did small speaking engagements — which he still does on occasion — for fellow alumni of Davidson College. He'd sign a couple autographs, take a few photos and thank those who showed up. Those days of relative anonymity are long gone. After leading the Golden State Warriors (25-14) to the second round of the playoffs last year and a strong start this season, Curry has quickly become one of the NBA's most popular players. He's likely headed for his first All-Star appearance — probably even as a starter — and growing into one the sport's most marketable names. Fans wear his jersey, the sixth-most sold in the league this season, in every arena he visits. Crowds often form in the lower level just to watch his pregame workout. He's cheered during introductions, and he generates ''oohs'' and ''aahs'' for his shot-making skills against opponents. Afterward, fans line the tunnel to the visiting locker room to snag an autograph or photo — and, if they're lucky, get close enough to high-five their favorite player. ''A lot of people rally around him,'' Warriors power forward David Lee said. ''It's not like he has Dwight Howard's body. He's a guy that people can relate to.'' Curry's rise from NCAA tournament darling to NBA stardom reached a major milestone last week. Curry, perhaps the biggest All-Star snub a year ago, surpassed Clippers point guard Chris Paul by 26,000 votes to move into the second starting guard spot on the Western Conference team, according to fan balloting released by the league. Injured Lakers star Kobe Bryant still tops the list. Fan voting ends Jan. 20, and the starters for the game in New Orleans will be announced Jan. 23. The Warriors haven't had an All-Star starter since Latrell Sprewell in 1995. ''It's humbling,'' said Curry, the highest-scoring player not selected to last year's game. ''Obviously we'll see how it plays out, but you've got to thank the fans and everybody that takes the time out to go vote. I'm not the one sitting behind a computer typing my name over and over again. They are the ones supporting me and it's a very surreal situation.'' What makes Curry so compelling might be the simplest of basketball skills: shooting. In a game long dominated by big men and played by AP photo Stephen Curry shoots his way to All-Star game. some of the world's greatest athletes, the 6-foot-3, 185pound Curry controls games without ever physically overpowering defenders. His shooting stroke can seem unstoppable at times, and when he gets going, nobody has found a way to slow him down. ''One of the best shooters this NBA will see,'' four-time NBA MVP LeBron James said after the Warriors beat the Heat in Miami on Jan. 2. ''If you can find a better shooter than him right now, especially with the way he handles the ball — and the light that he has, it's more than green, it's fluorescent — you just hope that he misses.'' Last season, Curry made 272 3-pointers — three more than Ray Allen's record of 269 set with Seattle in 2005-06. He worked to improve his all-around game this offseason — his first in two years not spent rehabbing his right ankle from surgery — and the results have showed on the court. Curry is averaging career highs of 23 points, 9.3 assists and 4.6 rebounds entering Wednesday night's home game against the Denver Nuggets, whom the Warriors beat in the first round of the playoffs last season. ''There was never a question in my mind whether he could play at this level. I think the question in a lot of people's minds was his health,'' Warriors coach Mark Jackson said. While his 39 percent shooting from 3-point range is below his 44 percent average to begin the season, nobody seems concerned about Curry's stroke. Curry led the Warriors to 10 straight wins — the franchise's best since 1975-76 — before losing at Brooklyn last week to finish a 6-1 road trip that announced Golden State as serious contenders in the West.