That is all. Hop it for the video.
You want the bad news or the worse news first?
Let’s go with the worse news:
Sixers undrafted summer leaguer Xavier Silas suffered a serious head injury in the final game down in Orlando today.
Silas is at a local hospital with a concussion and possible frontal bone skull fracture after a collision with Solo Jones, who was going to block a shot. The team said Silas will undergo tests. We’ll update this post as more details become available.
Now, the bad news:
The Sixers have reportedly signed Kwame Brown to a two-year, $6 million deal (some reports say one-year with option for second) today. The 30-year-old center, who, in the last five years, has played for such powerhouses as the Grizzlies, Pistons, Bobcats and Warriors, averages 6.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. That’s as a 6’11, 270 lb big man.
Last season, Brown played in nine games for the Warriors, averaging 6.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per.
In 2006, Brown was investigated for rape. Charges were later dropped. In 2007, Brown threw a cake at a man, and was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and interfering with a police investigation after his cousin was pulled over for driving the opposite way on a one-way street.
No fucking clue why the Sixers would pay Kwame Brown $6, let alone $6 million, but that’s what they’re going to do. Inexplicably, thus far, they have turned Elton Brand’s amnesty into Brown and Nick Young. I’m not sure those are the investments you were looking for. But your Twitter reactions are hilarious:
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As if the first period wasn’t bad enough for the Flyers (down 4-0 to the Bruins), Sean Couturier got hit in the head with a slap shot off the stick of Kimmo Timonen.
UPDATE: After the game, Paul Holmgren told reporters that the puck did, in fact, hit Couturier in the helmet, but he was taken to the hospital anyway.
Holmgren said Couturier passed initial tests, but will be checked for any damage to the skull and other consequences. He will not travel with the team to Denver today.
Randy Miller of the Courier Post posted video of Holmgren's media availability. Watch it here. The full transcript is after the jump.
Uh oh. Just what was not needed.
For the second year in a row, the Braves came into Citizens Bank Park in contention in September, and, for the second year in a row, they got swept. Of course, that fact is tempered a bit by the news on Chase Utley, who was hit in the back of the head by Eric O'Flaherty in the sixth inning.
Utley very clearly asked umpire Jerry Meals "what happened." I've never been hit in the back of the head with a 91 mph fastball, but I'd imagine if you don't know what happened, that's not good.
Charlie Manuel told reporters Utley had “headaches” and “was alright in the dugout after until he went on the field and was standing up.”
Also not good.
Ruben Amaro said Utley would be out at least two games and, without calling it a concussion, said the medical staff think it’s minor.
Utley didn’t make the trip to Milwaukee with the team and will be evaluated tomorrow.
Not good. Not good at all.
Big thanks to Mandy Housenick (@inthephilshouse) and Philly Sports Daily's Jim McCormick (@JMacPhillies) for their Tweeting excellence tonight. Must follows for Phillies fans.
Photo source: AP
You think Juan Castillo is fired up to have an all-world defense?
Today at practice, he head-butted Keenan Clayton… without a helmet: [Philly.com]
Now keep in mind, Clayton had a helmet on. The kind of helmet that is meant to protect players from concussions and head injuries. But also the kind of helmet that has been known to cause concussions and head injuries.
Castillo? No helmet for him.
Later, Casey Matthews laughed about the incident and said Castillo caught the rest of the linebackers off-guard. During his post-practice press conference, Castillo even had a little cut on his forehead. According to Matthews, the head-butt is what caused it.
Here’s a screen grab from the presser. I guess it takes Juan to know Juan. I… I’m sorry.
Other news: Ed Snider makes US hockey’s Hall of Fame. We’re not going to wax poetic about what he’s done for hockey and this city (you already know that)… but it’d be nice if the recent dismantling of the team resulted in a Stanley Cup. I’m not convinced it will.
Versus will become NBC Sports Network on January 2nd, the day of the yet unannounced Winter Classic.
H/T to (@PhillyPartTwo)
It's OK, he's a hockey player. [FOX Philly]
Burgoyne is so close to the Phanatic that he was in the emergency room last night for several hours and woke up with the same injury as the Phanatic: a big golf-ball sized bump on his head.
Like the Phanatic, Burgoyne said he has what doctor’s called a mild concussion, and he confirmed the Phanatic will suit up tonight and appear at the Phillies’ single-A farm team game in Lakewood, N.J.
Phew.
Video here.
I suppose this is the baseball equivalent of teabagging. Love the reaction of the Marlins' announcer: "Ooooo".
Video after the jump, bonus highlight of Wheels making fun of T-Mac.
Both an X-Ray and CT scan were negative. Something tells me Oswalt will be just fine.
