Paul Kariya has played in the NHL for 15 seasons, since he was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in 1993. At the age of 36, in an era where we've seen a player like Mark Recchi win the Stanley Cup at the age of 43, Paul Kariya is hanging up his skates.
Kariya missed the 2010-11 season due to post-concussion symptoms. This has become something of an issue for the NHL lately - it also saw Bruins' center Marc Savard miss most of the 2010-11 year, as well as Penguins' star Sidney Crosby. The MLB has seen its share of concussion-related problems, as well - most notable the Twins' Justin Morneau missing the second half of the 2010 season due to concussion.
I'll always remember Paul Kariya teamed up with Teemu Selanne. Those two were lightning quick and as deft as anyone on the ice. Kariya, especially, as a Duck and in his one year with the Avalanche, was as fast as anyone I can remember - Sergei Federov in the '90s or a current speedster like the Red Wings' Darren Helm. Combined with good stickwork, Kariya was a joy to watch play the game. It is good to hear, as he retires, that he is in otherwise good health - his post-concussion symptoms are resolving, but his most recent concussion from 2010, combined with past concussions from 1996 and 1998, have made it impossible to resume his playing career; the danger would simply be too great.
There's been a lot of noise about concussions over the past year or two. Advanced brain studies are starting to show the catastrophic damage done to people who sustain repeat concussions. Sports leagues are starting to beef up their rules on illegal contact - we've seen this most notably with the NFL's more stringent penalties last year and with the NHL's introduction of new rules and language to help prevent players from sustaining blows to the head. Concussions are a problem; a real problem. The more science comes out, the more we learn that even one concussion is too many. It wasn't too long ago that a player would get their "bell rung" and go right back in, almost like a rite of passage. Those days are over. Leagues have imposed post-concussion testing that must be passed before players can return: a concussion is almost always at least a week-long injury now.
The NFL makes the loudest noise about protecting its players, but when I look around the MLB and NHL and their concussion responses, I can't help but wonder. Sidney Crosby endured two concussions this past season and missed half the season. Justin Morneau, last year, took a single concussion and missed half the season. Aaron Rodgers, of the championship Green Bay Packers, sustained two concussions in the 2010 NFL season and missed only one game (although he was knocked out of another). As I watch the MLB and NHL response to concussions, I can't help but marvel at the medical miracles that NFL players seem to be, with their ability to return to action so quickly. This is part of why when the NFL talks about its commitment to player safety, I can't help but scoff. Maybe another part of it is due to the shorter (16 games) season of the NFL, versus the 82- or 162-game campaigns of the NHL and MLB, respectively. Maybe players in the NFL feel like their careers are shorter (they are) than an NHL or MLB player's, so they go for the gold when they have a chance, regardless of the risks. It's hard to say.
It's a sad day to see any player retire from a sport, from a career, when they're still able and wanting to do it, but simply... can't, for reasons such as above. Paul Kariya was a great hockey player. But perhaps this, and a tale like Marc Savard's, will help continue to push the envelope on concussions and true player safety. Sports like the NFL and NHL revolve around collision and impact - there's no avoiding that - but finding that happy medium where the majority of collision is safe and not likely to cause brain damage, well, that's the goal, right?
Around the MLB -
Cincinnati 4, Tampa Bay 3 - James Shields' complete game streak ends at 3 with Ryan Hanigan's 3-run HR in the 4th.
Minnesota 1, LA Dodgers 0 - The Twins take the series win on a strong shutout start by Scott Baker.
San Diego 4, Kansas City 1 - Padres sweep Royals in PETCO Park, where the Royals have never won a game.
Atlanta 5, Seattle 3 - Braves capitalize on two-out hitting to secure their sweep of the Mariners.
Cleveland 6, Arizona 2 - The Cabrera's notch seven combined hits of the Tribe's 15 to help them take the series win.
Philadelphia 2, Boston 1 - Vance Worley pitches another gem to give the Phillies the win.
NY Yankees 5, Milwaukee 2 - Video review leads to a HR and helps the Yankees get the victory.
NY Mets 16, Detroit 9 - Mets demolish Tigers starter Phil Coke and subsequent relievers despite Miguel Cabrera's two HRs.
St. Louis 5, Baltimore 1 - Chris Carpenter throws his second complete game this year, allowing only 1 run.
LA Angels 1, Washington 0 - Dan Haren secures a sweep for the Angels with a brilliant 2-hit shutout through 7.
Toronto 2, Pittsburgh 1 - Brandon Morrow tosses 10 strikeouts and allows only 1 run in seven innings to help the Jays take the series.
Chi. Cubs 2, San Franciso 1 - Aramis Ramirez's walk-off RBI single salvages the Cubs after they dropped both games of yesterday's doubleheader.
Texas 3, Houston 2 - Ian Kinsler's 2 HRs help the Rangers win the Lone Star Series for the fifth straight year.
Chi. White Sox 3, Colorado 2 - Buehrle and Jimenez duel it out through seven, with the winning run scoring on a ninth-inning sac-fly.
Florida 3, Oakland 0 - Ricky Nolasco throws a complete game, 5-hit shutout; only the second of his career.
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