Now at 56 Pear says I wish I had never played

WorldAn Islamist insurgency has been battling government and Ethiopian troops for the past two years, ever since Addis Ababa sent forces to oust the Islamic Courts Union from Mogadishu.More than 16,000 civilians have been killed in the insurgency, a million people have been forced from their homes and more than a third of the population depend on aid.But an estimated 3,000 Ethiopians are now withdrawing and some Islamist factions appear to be turning on al Shabaab fighters, a hardline insurgent group that wants to impose a strict version of Islamic law traditionally shunned by Somalis.Analysts say while the Ethiopian withdrawal could usher in a new chapter of violence, it may also be a window of opportunity to bring some Islamist groups into the political process and form a broad, inclusive government.Witnesses said more than 20 people, mostly fighters, were killed in Sunday's battles between Hareka al Shabaab al Mujahideen, or the Mujahideen Youth Movement, and another Islamist group in Gurael, a trading town in central Somalia.Sheikh Abdullahi Abu Yusuf, spokesman for the Islamist group Ahlu Sunna Waljamaca, said its fighters had killed 30 al Shabaab militants and seized most of their weapons.Resident Ahmed Ali told Reuters by telephone he had seen two dead, including an al Shabaab leader, and said Ahlu Sunna Waljamaca was in control of the town after repulsing an attack.A doctor at Istarlin hospital in Gurael said it had received 20 wounded on Sunday and more were on their way.The fighting followed clashes a day earlier between al Shabaab rebels and moderate Islamists in Balad, 30 km (19 miles) north of Mogadishu, on Saturday.Al Shabaab, which spearheaded attacks last year to become the face of the insurgency, is also battling Ethiopian and government soldiers elsewhere outside the capital.While the fighting may be a struggle between Islamist groups jostling for position as the Ethiopians go, local militias angry with al Shabaab's acts are reported to be helping.Washington accuses the group of having close ties to al Qaeda. Al Shabaab has been imposing strict sharia law on the towns it controls in southern Somalia banning drinking or films and beheading suspected government collaborators.Ahlu Sunna Waljamaca accuses al Shabaab of hunting down and killing its religious leaders and desecrating graves.Somalia's interim President Sheikh Aden Madobe said on Saturday that al Shabaab was the biggest threat to stability in the Horn of Africa nation and appealed for international help to build up Somali security forces.(Reporting from Mogadishu; Writing by David Clarke; Editing by Elizabeth Piper) World. The Detroit Pistons are eight games into the season, and already some are questioning the progress of point guard Rodney Stuckey.Stuckey came into the league relatively under-the-radar from Eastern Washington. He made a splash at the end of his first season with the Pistons in the playoffs when Chauncey Billups when down with a pulled groin.That performance led Pistons President Joe Dumars to trade Billups for Allen Iverson and his expiring contract.Since then, Pistons fans have had high expectations for the young guard, and rightly so. Stuckey seems to posses every physical tool to be a perennial All-Star, but has not yet reached that pinnacle.Coach John Kuester recently made his feelings known about Stuckey, saying "(Stuckey) has a chance to be one of the best defensive guards I’ve ever been around because he’s so strong, he’s got size and he’s athletic."The rest of this article can be read by clicking these words.. CHONBURI, Thailand (Reuters) - A resolute Asia beat twice champions Europe 10-6 to win the Royal Trophy for the first time on Sunday after dominating all three days of the matchplay contest.

SportsImbued with confidence after carrying a five-point advantage into the final day, the Asians fought hard to prevent any chance of a European revival, surrendering only one point in the singles to secure their maiden title.Japan's Toru Taniguchi holed the winning putt for Asia, who needed only two points to prevail over a wayward and weary European side who never found their feet in the competition."I'm very happy because we lost the first two times," Taniguchi told reporters. "I'm happy for all the players, the feel of this team has been great."Asia captain Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki said the victory was a "dream come true" after his team's 12 1/2 to 3 1/2 thrashing by Europe in the previous edition."I really wanted this win and my team realized how I felt," said an elated Ozaki "They knew how I wanted them to play I knew they would do well. This win means so much."RUSTY TEAMEurope drew first blood on Sunday when Paul Lawrie, the top performer on what captain Jose Maria Olazabal said had been a "rusty" European team, beat Liang Wenchong 3&2 to grab a point.In-form Thai Prayad Marksaeng then romped to a 5&4 victory over struggling Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal, who had an ugly round with four bogeys and three double bogeys, to allow Taniguchi to claim the trophy with his 7&6 win over Niclas Fasth.Thongchai Jaidee added more gloom to a wretched week for Paul McGinley with a 5&4 win over the error-prone Irishman, who lost his unbeaten record in team golf as a result of the Asian triumph."We knew what was going on in the other matches and we were so motivated," said Thongchai, one of five Asian players who led at the halfway stage of the singles.Johan Edfors made amends for a grim first two days, making four birdies in the first six holes on his way to a 5&4 win over S.K. "We will have to return next year angrier, with more determination to beat this team it's as simple as that."(Editing by Sonia Oxley) Sports. The former Washington Husky was twice voted his college's "Rising Lineman of the Year" and once voted "Player of the Year."Dave Pear was, less than 30 years ago, a Pro Bowl-caliber lineman with a Super Bowl ring. He bears the unique distinction of being the first Tampa Bay Buccaneer ever to be elected to the Pro Bowl (1978) and started three games for the 1981 Super Bowl Champion, Oakland Raiders.Dave Pear practiced daily against all-time greats like Gene Upshaw and Art Shell.Now, at 56, Pear says, "I wish I had never played."Dave Pear can barely walk. 16 of that year avertebrae popped out of Pear's neck.Pear played the next two years hurt at the request of owner Al Davis.

Pear has since quoted Davis as later saying, "I will not take responsibility for your neck injury."Eleven surgeries later, the once powerful pass rusher is all but crippled and faces early onset dementia.Wayne Hawkins joined the Oakland Raiders in 1960 after the first AFC Allocation draft. Hawkins went on to five Pro Bowls and numerous All Pro teams. Wayne was hit in a game against Kansas City in 1963 and was in a coma for more than 12 hours.After seeing a team neurologist, Wayne played the next week.In 2004, Wayne had lost six jobs in the past six years. After numerous PET scans it became clear that Hawkins was suffering fromdementia.

At the age of 66 (just a few years older than Giants head coach Tom Coughlin), Hawkins was forced to live under the care of his wife, Sharon.Sharon Hawkins pays over $400 a month for help to care for her husband. The only remuneration the Hawkins' family receives is Wayne's pension of $201.36.In addition, according to NFL rules, Sharon cannot receive compensation to be her husband'sfull time caregiver and has actually contemplated divorce as a viable option to care for a man who can no longer work the remote control.According to the Denver Post, as of 2007, the National Football League spends, on average, about $7,100 per disabled retiree. Comparatively, Major League Baseball spends over $14,000 per disabled athlete.This week, by proxy, Chad Ochocino and others are giving a hefty donation to the NFL disability fund. However, also by law, the NFL can write off their subsequent donation for a tax break.The media speaks of the absurdity of NFL fines, calling America's foremost professional football enterprise the "No Fun League."How about the No Fairness LeagueChad Ochocinco is not suffering.