Page 16 - aruba-today-20230419

A16 SPORTS
Wednesday 19 april 2023
Damar Hamlin cleared to play, 4 months after cardiac arrest

By JOHN WAWROW about his health,” Beane
AP Sports Writer said.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) “But to truly, you know,
— Wearing a red cap however many months
and a Buffalo Bills pullover, later be talking about he’s
safety Damar Hamlin sat fully cleared is pretty re-
down at the podium and markable.
declared he’s ready to re- And I’m excited for him and
sume playing football. his family where for where
“This event was life-chang- they are on his journey.”
ing, but it’s not the end of Hamlin collapsed after
my story,” Hamlin said Tues- making what appeared
day, speaking at a news to be a routine tackle in
conference at the team’s the first quarter of a Jan.
facility for the first time 2 game against the Ben-
since he went into cardiac gals. His collapse led to an
arrest and had to be resus- outporing of support from
citated on the field during around the NFL and across
a game at Cincinnati some North America, with do-
four months ago. nations made to Hamlin’s
“I plan on making a come- charitable organization
back to the NFL,” Hamlin topping more than $9 mil-
added. Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin speaks to reporters at the NFL football team’s facility in Orchard lion.
“My heart is still in the game. Park, N.Y., Tuesday, April 18, 2023, saying he plans to resume his football career after being cleared The second-year player
I love the game. It’s some- to play more than four months after going into cardiac arrest and needing to be resuscitated on from Pittsburgh’s exurb of
the field during a game at Cincinnati.
thing I want to prove to my- Associated Press McKee’s Rock spent nearly
self, not nobody else. I just 10 days recovering in hos-
want to show people that here and he is of the mind- a guy who was fighting well and in the building and pitals in Cincinnati and Buf-
fear is a choice, that, you set. He’s in a great head- for his life to now,” Beane move around a little bit, it falo before being released.
know, you can keep going space to come back and said. “His story hasn’t been gives you a little energy.” He eventually began visit-
in something without hav- make his return,” Beane written. Now it’s about his Hamlin’s recovery is person- ing the Bills’ facility and at-
ing the answers,” he said. told reporters. comeback.” al to many who watched in tended the team’s season-
“You might feel anxious, Beane said the clearance Hamlin said the special- shock as Hamlin collapsed ending 27-10 loss to Cincin-
you might feel any type of came after Hamlin met ists agreed that his heart on the field on a nation- nati in the divisional round
way, but you just keep put- with a third and final spe- stopped as a result of com- ally televised “Monday of the playoffs.
ting that right foot in front of cialist on Friday, with all motio cordis, which is a Night Football” game, but Hamlin has since made
the left one and you keep three being in agreement direct blow at a specific moreso for Beane. While numerous appearances
going.” that Hamlin can resume point in a heartbeat that the Bills returned home af- around the country, includ-
Hamlin spoke a few hours playing without any fear of causes cardiac arrest. ter the game initially was ing meeting with President
after general manag- setbacks or complications. Hamlin’s teammates were suspended and eventu- Joe Biden last month.
er Brandon Beane an- While the Bills had their elated to see him back in ally canceled, Beane spent Biden posted a tweet on
nounced that Hamlin was head athletic trainer sit in the facility working out. the first four days at Ham- the visit that read: “Hamlin’s
cleared to play and was on Hamlin’s meetings with “D-Ham is a special person, lin’s side, including when courage, resilience, and
attending the team’s vol- specialists, Beane said the a beautiful soul,” fellow he was awakened from a spirit inspired the American
untary workout program, team is following the lead safety Micah Hyde said. “I medically induced coma people.
the latest and biggest steps of the specialists. look up to him, especially at the University Cincinnati And what’s more: he
in the 25-year-old’s remark- “He’s such a great kid and how he’s bounced back Medical Center. turned recovery into action
able recovery. has such a great family, after facing adversity. A “It was all about his health, and our country is better for
“He’s fully cleared. He’s and it’s exciting to go from little scary. But to see him and it’s always going to be it.”q

Russia excluded from men’s basketball

at 2024 Olympics

MIES, Switzerland (AP) — Russia has been excluded from qualification for the men’s
Olympic basketball tournament in Paris next year, basketball’s international governing
body FIBA said Tuesday.
The decision was widely expected since FIBA has suspended Russia’s teams from in-
ternational play since shortly after the invasion of Ukraine last year. The International
Olympic Committee favors allowing individual athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus to
compete as neutrals, but not as national teams, like in basketball.
Russia’s world ranking was high enough for it to play Olympic pre-qualifying tourna-
ments this year, but that place will be given to Bulgaria as the next-highest-ranked team
from Europe, FIBA said in a statement citing the IOC’s recommendations.
The Russian women’s team already missed out on qualification when it was suspended
The Olympic rings are displayed outside the basketball arena in from the World Cup and EuroBasket qualification last year. Belarus cannot qualify men’s
the Olympic Park before the start of the 2012 Summer Olympics or women’s teams.
in London, on July 15, 2012. There was no information Tuesday from FIBA about 3-on-3 basketball, which is also an
Associated Press Olympic event.q