NEWS » ortles has been a so

Pat Davison meets Petr Cech to discuss the harrowing time 10 years ago when his life hung in the balance following a head injury in a match at Reading - and the fortunate circumstances that mean hes here to tell the tale... A decade ago this week, Petr Cech returned home. Back to his wife and dog, away from the focus of the whole world.Only 10 days earlier, because of an injury suffered on a Premier League pitch, his life hung in the balance. Im not sure I knew that.I remember the incident, of course. Saturday, October 14, 2006, Chelsea away at Reading. Just seconds in and Cech slides in bravely to collect the ball at the feet of Stephen Hunt, who makes a challenge he has always said was unintentional but which saw his knee make contact with the goalkeepers head.I remember the controversy that surrounded that challenge. I recall some of the post-match comments and the headlines from what became a huge global story. But until I sat down with Cech this week and heard him talk of the harrowing minutes, hours and days that followed the challenge, moments he hasnt discussed too often, Im not sure I really realised how touch-and-go it was. Cech was injured early in the clash with Reading in October, 2006 Things could have been different, says the man who has since gone on to take his place among the leagues greatest ever goalkeepers.The doctors tried not to scare me too much and I never asked too much.But if you ask my wife, even now, she does not look too well. For her, the experience was a thousand times worse than it was for me.It was a very close call. Cech believes Arsenal are in a great position to end their wait for a first league title since 2004 Cech managed to crawl from the pitch himself but it was almost immediately clear he couldnt continue. He was stretchered down the tunnel, where he deteriorated further.I lost consciousness, then I came round again. Some people, they did not like me too much because I was confused and sometimes when youre confused you try to fight!He says this last bit with a smile, he cant remember what happened in the tunnel. In fact, after the coin toss and handshakes at the start of the game, he cant remember anything for the next three days. He says it helps. These arent his own painful recollections, other people have helped him fill in the gaps. Cech was stretchered off, but cant remember what happened in the tunnel It was the then-Chelsea doctor, Bryan English, who realised the seriousness of Cechs condition.It was at a specialist unit in nearby Oxford - thanks to emergency surgery at 1am - that the goalkeepers life was saved. Cech believes that if the incident had happened at another ground, further from that hospital, he probably wouldnt have made it.The decisions of Bryan and the medical staff and the proximity of Oxford - thats the combination that gave me a chance. Cech has paid tribute to the Chelsea medical staff who helped save him I had a depressed skull fracture. A few pieces of bone went in quite deep, that was the biggest danger.The more they go in, the left side of the brain (where Cech was injured) is quite an important centre of movement. Anything could happen.Two metal plates were fitted. The days he cant remember followed but gradually he did begin to recover. In terms of his career, Cech was told, at the very least, to forget the rest of the season. But just three months after his life-threatening injuries, he returned.I have to say a lot of people did not want me to return a quickly as I did. It was my decision and my will to come back to what I was used to doing and what I love, he says.Once the surgeon said the skull is strong enough with the helmet on, I decided to return to training with the team. Two days later, we travelled to Liverpool - which I did not tell my wife at the start, I told her Im just travelling with the team. The decisions of Bryan and the medical staff and the proximity of Oxford - thats the combination that gave me a chance. Petr Cech But the manager said to me, You want to go to watch or you want to play? You tell me.I said, OK, were already here. Lets try.There were times when people questioned whether hed be the same goalkeeper again. They took the headgear as evidence of fear. But, as he puts it: How can I be afraid when I cant remember anything?Cech has won two Premier Leagues, four FA Cups and a Champions League since the injury. To this day, he remains among the very best. Petr Cech gets the better of Jamie Vardy As for the Premier League, it changed for the better in the aftermath of what happened to Cech. Initially his treatment at the stadium was shrouded in controversy, with differing claims over when an ambulance was called and how long it took to arrive.But it led to the league having another look at how ready it was for a worst-case scenario.A tightening of regulations means every club is now obliged to have a doctor in the dugout, there must be two paramedics on the sidelines and an ambulance on standby at each stadium. The changes may have already saved a life.As human beings, we always need something to happen to improve, says Cech. Sland vs Arsenal October 29, 2016, 11:30am Live on Get Sky Sports Get a Sky Sports pass Now the ambulance is always ready, the paramedics are always ready, people in the crowd can get help without risk.If you look at the Fabrice Muamba case, this is what helped save his life - the paramedics are there.If they have to come from the hospital, even one thats close, he would not be here.On and off the pitch, Petr Cech has made a huge contribution to this league. Were lucky to have him.See more from Patrick Davisons exclusive interview with Petr Cech on Premier League Live: Sunderland v Arsenal, 11.30pm, Saturday, Sky Sports 1 Also See: Sunderland v Arsenal Wenger on safe standing Cyber Monday Custom Nike Baseball Jerseys . Despite the cost, effort and an improved steroid test, its possible that very few -- if any -- positives will be detected, Dr. Richard Budgett told The Associated Press in an interview. "We just dont know what the results from Torino will be," Budgett said. Custom Nike Baseball Jerseys Black Friday . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. https://www.customjerseysnikebaseball.com/ . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself. Custom Nike Baseball Jerseys Authentic . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. Custom Nike Baseball Jerseys 2020 . The native of Mont-Tremblant, Que., captured a World Cup downhill event Saturday, his second this year and fifth career victory on the circuit. Some notable injuries are forcing many fantasy football players into extra maneuvering to construct the right lineup this week.We help you cope with the additional challenge beyond the bye week for Carolina and Dallas.---QUARTERBACK REPLACEMENTSCam Newton has a bye, but Ben Roethlisberger is also out and could miss anywhere from two to six weeks with some knee issues. In the short term, there are certainly viable replacements. Andy Dalton is coming off a pair of 20-point fantasy games and faces the Browns, who have allowed an AFC-high 16 TD passes. Marcus Mariota has thrown three TD passes in each of the last two games and is up against the Colts 29h-ranked pass defense. If you have to search deeper, though, dont hesitate to use Colin Kaepernick, even for a longer stretch while Roethlisberger is out. His rushing ability, especially in the Chip Kelly offense, boosts his fantasy floor in any given week. He rushed for 66 yards on eight carries last week, and while he threw for just 187 yards and one TD, his rushing totals gave him a total of 19 fantasy points last week. Its inviting to envision the kind of numbers he can post if he has a decent passing outing on top of the rushing stats, and he is always a threat to run for a score, too.SF TIMESHARESan Franciscos Carlos Hyde will miss this weeks game against Tampa Bay because of a shoulder injury. You may see a time share between Mike Davis and Shaun Draughn with Hyde out. Davis is the more physical type who is a better bet for a score and more suitable for standard league usage. Draughn is a good pass-catcher who had some good outings last year when pressed into service. He is worth consideration as a point-per-reception flex option if youre desperate for help in that format.WAITING FOR MARTINFantasy owners who were hoping that Doug Martin would be back this week will have to wait longer for his return, as he was ruled out after suffering a setback in his return from a hamstring injury. Super scatback Jacquizz Rodgers rushed for 101 yards on 30 carries in his start before the bye and could be in line for a significant workload again. But at 5-6 and 205 pounds, the Buccaneers have to be careful not to wear him down too quickly, and fantasy owners should keep their expectations in check. Dont use Rodgers as anything more than a flex option.EARLY LONDON GAME AGAINA reminder that the Giants and Rams play an early game in London at 9:30 a.m. Eastern on Sunday morning. New York is allowing 266.8 passing yards per game and Case Keenum has been playing respectably lately, with two or more TD passes in three of his past four outings. He has found a favorite target in a resurgent Kenny Britt, who has totaled 75 or more receiving yards in four of his past five games and is coming off a 136-yard, two-TD performance. Keenum can be used as a QB starter if you are in a real pinch, and Britt has earned true WR3 consideration and is a perfect substitute for Kelvin Benjamin or Cole Beasley, who are on byes.ALEX SMITH INVITING, BUT MEDIOCREYou may be tempted to start Alex Smith against the Saints, who have the worst pass defense in the NFC.dddddddddddd But last week, Smith was up against the NFLs worst pass defense, the Raiders, the only team that has allowed more yards per game than New Orleans. The Kansas City QB did not throw a TD pass. He also had just one TD pass against the Jets 28th-ranked pass defense two games prior. Smith is a mediocre fantasy quarterback who cannot be used just because the matchup is friendly. But you should lock in Spencer Ware as an RB1 and use Jamaal Charles as a flex. New Orleans surrenders 117.8 rushing yards per game with a league-high 11 ground TDs allowed.REVENGE GAME?Some fantasy analysts will cite a revenge game as an additional reason for speculating a player who will have a good week. This time, Sam Bradford travels to Philadelphia to take on the team that traded him away. Football is often an emotionally-driven game and its natural for a player to want to perform very well in such a scenario to prove an organization wrong for sending him away. But the Eagles have the fourth-best pass defense in the league, Bradford is playing solidly and does not have an interception yet, but he does not have a 300-yard game or more than two TD passes in any week. He lacks upside as a fantasy passer, and you could do better with Kaepernick or Keenum. He may not be able to impose his passing will in a lower-scoring game.JAGS DISAPPOINTMENTSAllen Robinson has been a fantasy disappointment and Blake Bortles has been a source of frustration. But it started to turn around for the Jaguars late in last weeks win for Chicago, as the no-huddle offense propelled Bortles to a thrilling win over the Bears. Jacksonville wiped out a 13-point deficit with 17 fourth quarter points, and now is rewarded with a matchup with Oakland this week. This may be a good time to buy low on Robinson and do not hesitate to start Bortles this week.STEELERS WITH BEN OUTThe loss of Roethlisberger puts an apparent hit on the fantasy appeal of superstar WR Antonio Brown. He has never caught a TD pass in his career in a game without Roethlisberger, and averaged six catches and 68 yards per game without him last season. If you have Brown, it may be hard to bench or deal him. You simply have to start him in many cases and lower your expectations with Landry Jones at QB. You can keep him in your lineup, but look for WR3 type production at minimum. The Steelers face New England this week, but the Patriots dont have one weapon to take away on defense this week. Focusing on LeVeon Bell may actually be a higher priority, so dont expect Brown to get shut down completely even if much upside is not apparent. He may not give you standout numbers you usually get from him, but he wont hurt you this week, either.---This column was provided to The Associated Press by the Fantasy Sports Network, http://FNTSY.com ' ' '