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Sports Stories From Outside Of The Bracket Bubble

Bryan Altman, CBS Local Sports

Have you officially ripped up each and every bracket that you spent a painstaking number of hours filling out? If you hear the word "bracket" just one more time are you going to snap? Well if that's the case, here's an article you might enjoy - a reminder that life not only exists outside of March Madness, but the rest of the sports world is actually still functioning as well. So if you feel like you missed out on the everything else in sports because you've been stuck in bracketology class, here's a quick round-up of some of the biggest sports stories this week.

Chris Borland Retires From The NFL At Age 24

One of the most dramatic moments of the week came when 24-year-old San Francisco 49ers linebacker Chris Borland decided to call it a career after just on NFL season due to concerns about his long-term health. Borland had a breakout rookie year and was projected to anchor the 49ers defense but deemed the health risks too great. 

A debate has long ranged about whether it's worth it for NFL players to put their health on the line for a glitz and glam career playing pro football and Borland's decision steered that debate into new territory. Borland is by far the youngest and most impressive player to choose to retire from the league not due to any particular injury or history of head injuries. It will be interesting to see if more players follow in Borland's wake or if he's just a small ripple in the giant pond that is the NFL.

Kevin Durant Out Indefinitely 

Today the news came down that the reigning league MVP and batman to Russell Westbrook's Robin will be sidelined indefinitely with a lingering foot injury. The news could be a huge blow to the Thunder's playoff chances as the Thunder are currently holding a tenuous grasp on the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference by one game over the New Orleans Pelicans. Russell Westbrook has been holding down the fort to say the least, but how much longer he can continue to do so without Durant remains to be seen.

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LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 01: Injured player Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on from the bench during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on March 1, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. The Thunder won 108-101. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Bernard Pierce Cut For DUI - Signed By Jaguars Two Days Later 

The moral compass of the NFL and its teams in the 21st century might one day be considered the eighth wonder of the world. After running back Bernard Pierce was cut by the Baltimore Ravens on March 18 because of a DUI arrest he was claimed by the Jaguars a little less than 48 hours later. Pierce faces a two-game suspension if convicted of the charge but seems to be little worse for wear after his run in with the law. We certainly can't say the same about the last Ravens running back to get cut, who is anxiously waiting for a phone call that might never come. 

Greg Hardy Signs With The Cowboys 

The moral compass of the NFL and its teams in the 21st century might... wait, that sounds really familiar. If you read the account of what Greg Hardy did in 2014 to his partner Nicole Holder it reads like a script straight out of a horror movie. It's that bad. But Holder didn't testify against Hardy and it's widely believed that she struck a deal with him and the case was dropped as a result. So Hardy has been signed to a $11,3 million contract with the Dallas Cowboys this year. Oh, and he got paid the entirety of his $13.1 million in 2014 after being placed on the exempt list. What a world.

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Greg Hardy #76 of the Carolina Panthers watches from the bench during the fourth quarter of a loss to the Buffalo Bills at Bank of America Stadium on August 8, 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Buffalo won 20-18. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

MLB Announces Each Teams' 162nd Game Will Be Played at 3 p.m ET 

In some lighter news the MLB has made the decision to play every game on the last day of the regular season at 3 p.m. in order to maximize the drama and prevent teams that might be eliminated or clinch a spot earlier in the day from knowing their fate ahead of time. That is of course, unless they clinch weeks before the last day of the season.

Either way, it's an interesting move for the MLB that can either work brilliantly or blow up in their face depending on how close the pennant races are. It might just drive fans and players crazy that they have to scoreboard watch during the most important game of their season as well.

Curtis Lazar Reaps The Benefits Of His Goalie's Nickname 

One of the best stories in the NHL this season has been the emergence of "The Hamburgler," also known as Andrew Hammond, the goalie for the Ottawa Senators. Hammond and his nickname rose from obscurity and he has been one of the best goalies in the NHL lately. He hasn't lost a game in regulation this season, has 12 wins and a goals against average of 1.55.

But who cares about all of that hockey stuff. The bottom line is, fans in Ottawa have begun to throw hamburgers onto the ice in homage to "The Hamburgler," which clearly delighted teammate Curtis Lazar to no end as he scooped a burger right off the ice and ate it. 

Curtis Lazar eats hamburger thrown on ice by NHL on YouTube

We've all made questionable choices when it comes to our eating habits, but picking up a mysterious burger thrown by a mysterious person who snuck the burger into the arena in a mysterious way seems like a really really bad idea. 

Now that we've all had a quick reprieve from the NCAA Tournament, it's time to get back to your regularly scheduled programming - March Madness. Who knows, maybe your bracket improved while you were reading this - though I seriously doubt it.

More from Bryan? You can email him or find him on Twitter @bcaltman.

 

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