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About The Bulletin. (Bend, OR) 1963-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 13, 2022)
INSIDE: COMICS, OPINIONS & CLASSIFIEDS B S PORTS THE BULLETIN • SaTUrday, aUgUST 13, 2022 bendbulletin.com/sports NFL More Black retirees win dementia cases PHILADELPHIA — Two years after a pair of former players sued the NFL over the treatment of Black retirees in the league’s $1 billion concussion settle- ment, hundreds of men whose medical tests were rescored to eliminate race bias now qualify for awards. The new payouts, announced in a report Friday, are a victory for NFL families in the de- cade-long legal saga over concussions. The 2020 lawsuit unearthed the fact the dementia tests were being “race-normed” — adjusted due to assump- tions that Black people have a lower cognitive baseline score. Changes to the settlement made last year are meant to make the tests race-blind. The new results will add millions to the NFL’s payouts for concus- sion-linked brain injuries. A league spokesman did not return a phone call Fri- day or respond to emails sent in recent weeks seeking comment on the rescoring. Of the 646 Black men whose tests were re- scored, nearly half now qualify for dementia awards. Sixty-one are clas- sified as having early to moderate dementia, with average awards topping $600,000; nearly 250 more have milder dementia and will get up to $35,000 in enhanced medical testing and treatment, according to the claims administra- tor’s report. This first group of play- ers had the best chance of success because they oth- erwise passed the test- ing protocols and would have qualified if they were white. Thousands of other Black former players can ask to be rescored or re- tested, but their cases might not be as strong based on earlier results on dementia, validity and impairment tests. About 70% of active players and 60% of living retirees are Black. — Associated Press NFL | PRESEASON Quarterback question marks Seattle Seahawks signal callers Drew Lock, Geno Smith hope for edge in preseason opener Jennifer Buchanan/The Seattle Times via AP Seattle Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock, center, drops back to pass as Geno Smith, left, and Jacob Eason, right, watch before a mock game Aug. 6 in Seattle. “We’d love to see the guys execute and they’ve done really well on the practice field. We’d love to see it carry over. But then, at the quarterback position, there’s opportunities and if there’s opportunities there, how do they seize them? We just have to wait and see.” BY TIM BOOTH Associated Press RENTON, Wash. — The biggest question surrounding the Seattle Seahawks — Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks coach enters a new phase this weekend, one That question won’t be answered solely by the results of the first preseason game. But it will be a significant step toward determining who will be the replacement for Wilson after he was traded to Denver in March. So far, the question has lingered during off- season workouts and minicamps in the spring, the first couple weeks of training camp and a scrimmage last weekend where Lock seemed to gain some momentum after a strong outing with the No. 2 offense against the majority of Seattle’s starting defense. But now the two QBs will face competition where the variables are out of their control. The race between Geno Smith and Drew Lock to replace Russell Wilson as Seattle’s starting quarterback will hit another gear beginning with Saturday’s preseason opener at Pittsburgh. that won’t be wearing Seahawks colors and a dif- ferent kind of evaluation. “We’d love to see the guys execute and they’ve done really well on the practice field. We’d love to see it carry over, just like I’m talking about,” Seat- tle coach Pete Carroll said Thursday. “But then, at the quarterback position, there’s opportunities and if there’s opportunities there, how do they seize them? Do they come through and make the play? Make the big throw in red zone? Maybe it’s in third down or whatever it is and they hit some- one open deep. We just have to wait and see.” See Seahawks / B2 BOXING Tyson Fury decides to ‘walk away’ LONDON — Tyson Fury has decided to “walk away” from boxing, only three days after saying he was returning to the sport. Fury turned 34 on Fri- day and posted a mes- sage on social media saying: “Massive thanks to everyone who had an in- put in my career over the years & after long hard conversations (I’ve finally) decided to walk away & on my 34th birthday I say Bon voyage.” That seemingly puts Fury back into retirement, after he announced on Tuesday that he was re- turning to boxing in order to set up a fight against Derek Chisora, a fellow Briton whom he beat twice early in his career. That announcement had sparked speculation that Fury, the reigning WBC heavyweight cham- pion, was targeting a possible unification bout against the winner be- tween Oleksandr Usyk, the reigning WBA, IBF and WBO title-holder, and Anthony Joshua, who are fighting on Aug. 20 in Saudi Arabia. Fury did not give a reason for his apparent change of heart. The un- defeated Fury said after his win over Dillian Whyte in April that he was retir- ing from the sport. — Associated Press MOTOR SPORTS | NASCAR CUP SERIES COLLEGE FOOTBALL | OREGON STATE BEAVERS Rejzohn Wright leads a talented, experienced defensive backfield BY NICK DASCHEL The Oregonian Paul Sancya/AP Bubba Wallace smiles during the Aug. 6 NASCAR Cup Series qualify- ing at the Michigan International Speedway. Bubba Wallace signs contract extension with 23XI Racing BY JENNA FRYER Associated Press Bubba Wallace locked down his future with 23XI Racing on Friday and is eyeing a spot in NASCAR’s playoffs for the first time in his career. Wallace and 23XI an- nounced a multiyear contract extension that keeps Wal- lace in the No. 23 Toyota that was the foundation of Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan’s race team. The organization was launched around the only Black driver competing at NASCAR’s top level and the many partners Wallace signed in 2020 when he became a central figure in the national reckoning on racial and social justice issues. “It feels great to get this re- newal done and to know I have a home at 23XI Racing,” Wallace said. “Thanks to M.J. and Denny for continuing to believe in me. We’ve come a long way together in less than two years and we’ve checked off some major goals along the way. We know we still have work to do, both on and off the race track, but I feel good about our team and the direc- tion we’re heading.” See Wallace / B5 To follow the emotions of Oregon State cornerback Rejzohn Wright last season was like riding a wave. There was little doubt Wright had his mind set on joining brother Nahshon in the NFL. But Wright needed evidence that he was ready. After spectacular games, Wright was convinced he would jump to the pros. After less-than-ideal performances, Wright began to think maybe he needed more seasoning. As late as the regular season finale, Wright said he was “50-50” to leave. “I was in my own head,” Wright said after Thursday’s preseason camp practice. After talking to his fam- ily, and second-year Dallas Cowboy brother Nahshon Wright, Rejzohn Wright de- cided to return for his senior year at Oregon State. There’s good reason to believe the Beavers are better off having the 6-foot-2 Bay Area native locking down the left side of the field. Wright is expected to be among the Pac-12’s best cor- nerbacks. This summer, Wright Sean Meagher/The Oregonian via TNS, file Oregon State defensive back Rejzohn Wright celebrates after a sack in the fourth quarter against the Washington Huskies at Reser Sta- dium in Corvallis last season. earned numerous presea- son honors, including sec- ond-team all-conference as a defensive back. OSU defensive backs coach Blue Adams thinks Wright is on the verge of fitting on an NFL team. “Skillset wise, he has it. He’s played the position. He knows it in and out,” Ad- ams said. “He did a good job during the offseason address- ing his body.” Coming off a 2021 sea- son where he started all 13 games and earned an honor- able mention to the Pac-12 all-conference team, Wright thought improving tackling was a top priority. He feels that’s been addressed. Now it’s consistency with perfor- mance and technique, some- thing that varied a bit too much from week to week during the 2021 season. See Wright / B2
