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NFL & Marijuana
Outside the Lines (Sunday 8 a.m. ET, ESPN2; 9 a.m., ESPNEWS)
The NFL’s new drug policy calls for stricter discipline for DUIs and PED use. But in a move that opponents believe sends mixed messages to players, the league is relaxing its stance on one drug: marijuana. Supporters, who estimate that 50 percent of players use marijuana, say the policy change is good because the drug is not just used recreationally around the league. Tom Farrey interviewed former NFL players to learn more.
“I had both hips scoped, labrums reattached, micro-fracture on both hips where cartilage was missing, intense lower back pain, pretty much every day waking up stiff. So, I figured let’s give it a shot, see what it could do for me.” — Jake Plummer, former NFL quarterback, on using marijuana for pain management
“There needs to be in my opinion a hard line on saying listen, there is no place in the NFL for this.” — Mark Brunell, former NFL quarterback and ESPN NFL analyst
The Unceremonious End of Landon Donovan’s Career
ESPN.com, ESPN FC (posts Friday)
ESPN The Magazine (“Interview Issue” on newsstands Friday, Dec. 12)
At 32-years old, Landon Donovan holds the U.S. men’s national team record for career goals (57) and career assists (57), and the MLS all-time record for most goals (143) and assists (136). But he was also left off the U.S.’s 23-man Brazil World Cup roster and is playing his final game for the Galaxy in Sunday’s MLS Cup final against New England (Sunday, 3 p.m., ESPN). Wayne Drehs reports.
Skateboarder has Lived Through Hell as a Child
ESPN.com
South Africa’s Thalente Biyela was beaten, orphaned and addicted to drugs while he was still a child, but skateboarding provided an escape from the inescapable. Devon O’Neil reports.
Tracy Akers was into art growing up, not sports. And, she is only 5-foot-3. But, her calm, tactical approach makes her a key for the favored Americans this week in the second Roller Derby World Cup. Andy Frye reports.
“Roller derby became a passion and brought out an athlete in me I didn’t know was there.” — Tracy Akers
Last Friday’s decision in the Ray Rice case was followed by ESPN’s release of Janay Rice’s As Told To story with His & Hers co-host Jemele Hill. Hill did several interviews this week to provide background and insight into the process and the interview itself. Here’s a compilation of some of those interviews: