Concussion

Coming off a three-week break, Matt Kuchar opened with three straight birdies and finished with back-to-back birdies at Riviera CC in Los Angeles, holing a 25-foot putt on the 18th hole for a 7-under 64 Thursday to grab the lead in the first round of the Northern Trust Open. Conditions were perfect at Riviera, and it was a great day for scoring as Kuchar had plenty of company. Spain's Sergio Garcia , making his PGA Tour debut after two tournaments in the Middle East, had two birdies over the last three holes to finish 1 stroke back at 65. Brandt Jobe , returning from a serious neck injury last summer, ran off four straight birdies late only to close with a bogey on the 18th to finish at 66. Three players were tied for fourth at 67. Teen star Lydia Ko shot a 10-under 63 to take the first-round lead in the LPGA Tour's season-opening Women's Australian Open in Canberra.

Charlotte Bobcats rookie Michael Kidd-Gilchrist suffered a concussion in Saturday's fourth-quarter collision with teammate Jeff Taylor in Houston. The Camden native, the second overall pick in last year's draft, went up to defend Toney Douglas' layup attempt early in the fourth quarter on Saturday night. Taylor swooped in and his right hip connected with the back of Kidd-Gilchrist's head. Kidd-Gilchrist lay motionless for several minutes. The athletic training staffs from both teams came out to check on him, and the entire Charlotte bench eventually surrounded him. Medical personnel fit Kidd-Gilchrist with a neck brace.

A blast could come from anywhere. The entire Eagles defensive line would jam in together, a full subway car at rush hour, each man trying to block a field goal or extra point by getting a hand up from the same spot. The spot where Gerry Feehery stood. When Buddy Ryan coached the Eagles, they used to practice this maneuver, Feehery said. The Eagles were good at it - all the linemen, led by Reggie White, trying to lunge at the center the instant he snapped the ball. "I hated that," Feehery mentioned.

Flyers winger Wayne Simmonds missed Saturday's game against Carolina because of a concussion suffered when he was elbowed by John Erskine during Friday's 3-2 loss in Washington, general manager Paul Holmgren confirmed. Simmonds, who missed the last two-plus periods against the Capitals, will be reevaluated Sunday, Holmgren said, adding that Simmonds has head and neck injuries. "It's disappointing," coach Peter Laviolette said before the game. "We certainly can use him in the lineup right now with his ability to score, and his physical presence.

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton developed a blood clot in her head but did not suffer a stroke or neurological damage, her doctors said Monday. They say they are confident that she will make a full recovery. In a statement that revealed the location of the clot, Clinton's doctors said it is in the vein in the space between the brain and the skull behind the right ear. She is being treated with blood thinners to help dissolve the clot, the doctors said, and she will be released once the medication dose has been established.

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was admitted to a New York hospital Sunday after the discovery of a blood clot stemming from the concussion she suffered earlier this month. Clinton's doctors discovered the clot Sunday while performing a follow-up exam, her spokesman, Philippe Reines, said. He would not elaborate on the location of the clot, but said that Clinton is being treated with anticoagulants and would remain at New York-Presbyterian Hospital for at least the next 48 hours so doctors can monitor the medication.

Third in a series on concussions in sports Those Pennsylvania entrepreneurs looking back on 2012 for encouraging trends might want to consider Michael Vick's head. Protected and monitored by the products of two ambitious Pennsylvania companies, the Eagles quarterback's skull was symbolic of a mini-economic boom spawned here by the concussion epidemic in sports. When a head injury sidelined Vick this fall, the Eagles contacted Unequal Technologies in Avondale, which has developed protective gear for the Army, Sidney Crosby, Troy Polamalu, Tony Romo, and Tom Cruise.

Evan Mathis did not make the NFC Pro Bowl roster, instead being voted a third alternate. The offensive guard has had a strong season for the Eagles, but he did not sound miffed about not making the game. "I'm going to keep trying to be the best player in the league whether or not anybody is watching," Mathis said. "If it comes by accolades, it's fine, but I'm not going to pout if it doesn't. " Mathis understands outsiders have a hard time assessing offensive line play. Much of it is based on reputation.

Having your quarterback sacked 11 times in a single game usually means changes are in store, especially if your team is preparing for a meaningless game. The Jets on Thursday said rookie Greg McElroy has a concussion and will be replaced Sunday by former starter Mark Sanchez in New York's season finale at Buffalo. The Bills, by the way, are also playing out the string. Jets coach Rex Ryan walked into his news conference before Thursday's practice and opened with: "You're not going to believe this.