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Stem Cell Salvation?
Outside the Lines (Sunday, 10 a.m., ESPN2)
https://youtu.be/oNC1viJHJ-k
Count Peyton Manning and Terrell Owens among athletes who have gone overseas in search of a way to speed up their recovery from injuries. Their method of choice? Stem cell therapy. Illegal in the U.S., it’s a treatment that involves the culturing and replanting of one’s own stem cells to help enhance the body’s healing. Critics say it’s unproven science that could actually do more harm than good, while proponents call stem cell therapy the next big advancement in sports medicine. Reporter Shaun Assael examines the controversy through the story of a baseball player, looking at his last shot of making it to “The Show.” Bob Ley hosts. NOTE: Some footage in this piece is graphic in nature.
“I guess the worst part is the marrow draw, but I guess I’m about to have that today.” — Mark McCormick, former MLB pitcher, in waiting room, about to have bone marrow – loaded with stem cells — extracted from his back
“An athlete who thinks and wants stem cell manipulation to help him is entitled to be heard and should be respected for the desperation behind the request. But that doesn’t mean premature science should be used for him.” – Dr. Ted Friedmann, head of the World Anti-Doping Agency panel that is charged with monitoring the use of stem cells in sport
“The first big revelation in sports medicine was the arthroscope, and the second is going to be enhancement of biological healing and that’s going to be stem cell therapy. That’s going to be the next big wave in the future.” — James Andrews, noted orthopedist
Thomas Robinson – Man of the House
College GameDay (Saturday, 10 a.m. ESPNU; 11 a.m. ESPN)
https://youtu.be/1KPUhyyH3aM
Kansas junior Thomas Robinson’s emergence as one of the nation’s top forwards is almost as impressive as the way he coped with family tragedies last season. Saturday marks the one year anniversary of the death of his mother, Lisa, who died of a brain aneurysm. She was one of three close family members Robinson lost in the span of 25 days, which included his grandmother and grandfather. Tom Friend reports on what Robinson endured during that dark period.
“It was probably as hard a night as I’ve had as a coach — he was just crying uncontrollably. And he looked at me and said, ‘Coach, you don’t understand. I don’t have anybody. All I have is my sister.'” – Bill Self, Kansas coach, recalling the night Robinson found out his mother died
Cam Cameron & The Kid
NFL Countdown (Sunday, Noon., ESPN)
https://youtu.be/djFoyNWQDt0
The AFC Championship game will be a rematch of Baltimore’s 2009 divisional playoff win over New England. On the first play from scrimmage, Ravens’ offensive coordinator Cam Cameron called a run, a suggestion by Matthew Costello, a 14-year-old fan with a brain tumor. The play turned into a Ray Rice 83-yard touchdown run. Since then, the coach and the kid – both cancer survivors – have texted or talked before almost every game. Chris Connelly reports on how this friendship developed and the bond that grew from it.
“You’re trying to win the game, but when you can impact somebody’s life in a positive way within what you’re really trying to accomplish, why not?” — Cam Cameron, Ravens offensive coordinator, on why he allowed Matthew Costello to select a play
Everyone Wins Canada-Africa LL Game
ESPN.com
Little Leaguers from Langley, British Columbia, travelled to Africa to play the Ugandan Little League team that didn’t get to the United States for the Little League World Series last August because of problems with players’ visas. Right To Play, a humanitarian organization with the motto “When Children Play, The World Wins,” coordinated the game and events. Donors, major leaguers and ESPN The Magazine senior writer Steve Wulf followed along.
Day 1: Canadians finally arrive
Day 2: Phillies’ Rollins sees potential
Day 3: A win for both teams
