NEWS » oaches.Short term what this means for Simmons is that hi

As Maureen Pollock was rushed into heart surgery in May 2015, she thought of her children. And of California Chrome.Do the best job you can, she told the surgeons. I want to see California Chrome race again.At the time, no one knew whether the 2014 Kentucky Derby winner and American Horse of the Year would return to the racetrack. An ambitious plan for a triumph on the turf at the 2015 Royal Ascot in England would prove too much -- he withdrew with a bruised foot and returned to the United States.But Pollock is a Chromie, one of tens of thousands of fans who kept the faith. And this year, Chrome came back stronger than ever. On Aug. 20, Pollock watched from the grandstand at the Del Mar, California, racetrack for the TVG Pacific Classic. When the gates burst open, Chrome abandoned his usual stalking spot and leaped ahead of some of the nations best horses. He sailed along on his own, with no further urging by jockey Victor Espinoza, and won the race.Praise the Lord, Pollock texted to a friend.The Chromies, a large majority of whom are women, are a fan group unprecedented in modern-day horse racing. Many top racehorses, including Zenyatta (the first mare to win the Breeders Cup Classic), Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and undefeated filly Songbird, have official Facebook pages, but Chromes following surpasses that.Chrome not only has an official page, but fans run many other pages -- Everything California Chrome, California Chrome - Up Close, Paddock Chronicles, Mucho Chrome, Bring Chrome Home and others -- all filled with joy for Chromes amazing year of six-straight wins:Its amazing how this horse can bring us so much happiness, new friendships, and everything there is to be a Chromie.We love you Chrome. You lift our spirits in this crazy world today.He has worked so hard ... came from nothing ... and now on the absolute top of his game ... HE IS THE AMERICAN DREAM ...Chrome, who has won $13.4 million, the highest ever for an American racehorse, is the favorite to win the Nov. 5 Breeders Cup Classic.The rare combination of a super horse, loving people, unprecedented access, a longer-than-usual racing career and social media has nurtured the nation of Chromies. Theyve even fallen in love with those around him, including trainer Art Sherman, 79, groom Raul Rodriguez and exercise rider Dihigi Gladney, who are always by his side. The Chromies also cheered jockey Espinoza when he won the Triple Crown atop American Pharoah last year.Can anyone say enough about you Raul Rodriquez? I do not think so!! The hard work, dedication, tireless days and nights grooming to keep the most famous horse on our planet today feeling Healthy, Happy, Safe, and Loved [sic]. Thank you so much for sharing all the videos and photos, I love watching him, he is perfection at its best!! What an awesome team he has behind him and thanks for taking such great care of him!!After Chrome returned from England last year, his former owner Steve Coburn?sold his minority share to Taylor Made Farm in Nicholasville, Kentucky. Founded by the late Joe Taylor and four of his sons, the farm is now the largest thoroughbred sales agent in the nation.Though the Taylors had never been involved much in racing horses, they checked Chrome over, rested him and decided to have fun. And the owners of top-class mares, who will be bred to Chrome, joined the syndicate.Id like to inspire people through Chrome, Taylor Made president Duncan Taylor said after a Chrome fan day last September.During Chromes time off last fall at the farm, about 500 fans were allowed to pet, hug and kiss their hero. (Another 500 visited him in April.) They met a kind and intelligent stallion that lives up to their idolization. Tours of the farm reassured Chromies that he will have a wonderful home for his stallion career.Arent they just the answer to all our prayers...more than I could have ever expected. I cant thank you enough for your postings -- they really make a person feel like they were there and for those of us left on the outside looking in -- well, it makes you feel more a part of things!On Oct. 1, Duncan Taylor was at Santa Anita Park awaiting Chromes race that afternoon, handing out Vote Chrome for President buttons. There theres now even a California Chrome for President Facebook page.Chrome is the only one who brings people together.What does Chrome think of his Chromies? He loves the attention, said his spokesman Alan Sherman. When he starts hearing cameras click, hell prick his ears and pose. Hes the man. Dean Wade Jersey . 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The Cavaliers may have recently broken the city of Clevelands championship curse, but Philadelphias run of bad luck with their rookies has unfortunately continued. 2016 first overall pick Ben Simmons suffered a fracture of the fifth metatarsal bone of his right foot on Friday. Simmons rolled his right ankle during the teams final training camp scrimmage at Stockton University.The team has given no indication when the Aussie phenom might be able to return to basketball activities.Its yet another setback for a team that has been inundated with major injuries to their most recent draft picks. Nerlens Noel sat out his first full season while recovering from a torn ACL, and Joel Embiid will finally make his NBA debut this season after sitting out the first two seasons of his professional career with foot ailments of his own. In addition, last years No. 3 overall pick Jahlil Okafor began his rookie campaign healthy, but succumbed to a knee injury after 53-games.Its Simmons injury, however, that threatens to derail a promising Philadelphia core.The 610 point forward has been anticipated as a franchise player since his lone season with Louisiana State, and heralded as the savior for a fanbase that hasnt had much to cheer about in recent years.Simmons was drafted to be the new face of Philadelphia, and their on-floor leader. In six Summer League games in July, Simmons averaged 10.8 points, 7.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game, impressing with his all-round versatility, and ability to play all five positions -- something that 76ers coach Brett Brown definitely took advantage of.Fridays injury means fans wont be seeing Simmons wizardry for a while.Although its still too early to assess the ramifications for Simmons, its worth noting that it has not been confirmed whether he suffered an avulsion fracture of his foot, or the dreaded Jones fracture.Avulsion fractures account for 90 percent of all fractures of the base of the fifth metatarsal, and rehab time is typically 6-8 weeks, but history suggests that players with larger frames who suffer through foot and ankle problems early in their career, never return as the player they once were.One positive for Simmons is that the Brooklyn Nets Brook Lopez, who suffered a stress fracture of the fifth metatarsaal, returned in under two months and played at an All-Star level.dddddddddddd Obviously, the size and weight of a player makes a huge difference in the recovery process.In recent months Simmons had added almost 33 pounds as he prepared his body for the rigors of the NBA season.I am a lot stronger now than I was in college and it will help me take hits and bumps, Simmons said on Monday at the teams new practice facility during the teams media day. When I started at LSU, I was about 217 (pounds) and now Im about 250, so I gained a lot of weight.Renowned trainer Tim Grover speculated that Simmons added weight might have contributed to the injury, but the pathology of an avulsion fracture suggests the injury occurs after forcible inversion of the foot, which, given the injury to Simmons occurred during a scrimmage, gives optimism that the injury is not as severe as a Jones fracture.Where does this leave the 76ers as the season approaches?Although its unfair to have expected Simmons to carry this still developing Philadelphia team to a playoff berth, his absence will leave a cavernous hole in coach Brett Browns system. Brown had talked about starting Simmons at power forward (his most natural position in the modern NBA), but also playing him as the teams primary ball-handler for large portions of games as well.A logjam at the frontcourt positions means the 76ers can plug any one of Noel, Okafor, Embiid, and unproven rookie Dario Saric in at the power forward position, but Simmons absence puts an end to any vision Brown had of utilizing the Australians versatility and causing match-up nightmares for opposition coaches.Short term what this means for Simmons is that his career has been put on hold for the moment. Its an obstacle that hell have to overcome, and he can lean on teammates who have been in this same position before him. Long term, questions will linger as to if and how this injury will affect him.I think its still surreal for me, Simmons mused on Monday. I think itll finally hit me once I step on the court matched up against OKC the first game.Now fans are left to wonder when that first game will actually be. ' ' '