Injuries nothing to sneeze about

Pain is nothing to laugh at, but sometimes - as long as it isn't your own - it's almost impossible not to.

Case in point: The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that recently, San Diego Padres starting pitcher Mat Latos was walking down some steps at Coors Field in Denver, when he stifled a sneeze, causing him to experience pain in his side.

The twinge was apparently nothing to sneeze at, because it put Latos on the 15-day disabled list.

There have been quite a few "strange" injuries involving professional athletes over the years, and since none were critical, enjoy the few chortles and guffaws they provide.

In a 2001 NFL game, kicker Bill Gramatica kicked a first-quarter field goal to put the Arizona Cardinals in front 3-0. It wasn't from a record-distance, nor did it win the game as time was running out.

But three points was three points, and after Gramatica leapt in the air to celebrate his kick, he came down awkwardly and tore his ACL.

Former big-league baseball player Glenallen Hill was a big man - with a big phobia.

The hulking outfielder was once having a nightmare about spiders, when he hopped out of bed while still mid-slumber, and fell into a glass table.

The ensuing cuts on his toes and elbows sent him to the 15-day DL.

For those of you like me who scream at your favorite teams while they're on television, "mum" should possibly be the word.

In 1975, Manchester United goalie Alex Stepney, in attempting to position his defenders, yelled at them so hard that he dislocated his jaw.

Find me a golfer who hasn't physically or verbally shown his disgust at a shanked drive or mis-read putt, and I'll show you somebody who isn't playing the game properly.

And that leads us to Bobby Cruickshank (no pun intended...perhaps he was doomed from birth.)

Perhaps it was the pressure of holding a two-stroke lead in the final round of the 1934 U.S. Open, but Cruickshank came down with a doozie of a headache.

Or perhaps it was his club.

Cruickshank's approach shot took a fortuitous bounce off a rock and was catapulted up onto the green on the 11th hole. He celebrated his good fortune by tossing his club in the air, from where it fell straight back down and hit him in the head.

He ended up parring the hole, but it may have been the lingering effects that led to a string of bogeys and Cruickshank losing by two shots.

At least now, when I put up with the aches and pains of getting out of bed in the morning, I know that things could be much worse, after all - I could be a professional athlete.

Contact Craig Purcell at 824-1036 or cpurcell@tcnpress.com.