Munster Football

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Training Room

The Munster High School Training Room

The Munster High School training room serves all the male and female athletes in the Munster athletic program. The training room is under the direction of head athletic trainer John Doherty, MS, PT, ATC. He is assisted by Becky Oliver, ATC. Mr. Doherty is certified as an athletic trainer by the National Athletic Trainers' Association and licensed by the State of Indiana as an athletic trainer and physical therapist.

During the winter, the training room hours are as follows: M, W & F 2:45 - 4:00 p.m.; Tu. & Th. 2:20 - 4:00 p.m.; and Saturday by appt.

The training room phone number is (219) 836-3200 ext. 332. Mr. Doherty is also available by pager at (219) 738-0539.

December 27, 2004
http://nwitimes.com/articles/2004/12/27/sports/sports_columnists/5b85482124696a4586256f7600814682.txt
Crystal ball all too clear

Sports Medicine

This story ran on nwitimes.com on Monday, December 27, 2004 1:33 AM CST

John Doherty / Times Correspondent

I made my share of predictions this year, as most columnists do. Typically, attempts such as these are purely for entertainment.

However, looking back on my previous 51 efforts, my prognostication skills in 2004 were -- if I say so myself -- remarkable.

As the year started, I foresaw that the federal grand jury investigation into BALCO, and its distribution of steroids to high-profile athletes, would be the national sports medicine story of the year.

By mid-year, the national media were acknowledging it was that and more. The story never lost its legs, lasting the entire year with BALCO founder Victor Conte coming "clean" on national TV earlier this month.

Closer to home, when the Cubs first mentioned Mark Prior was suffering from Achilles tendinitis, I warned fans that the aces problem was far more serious than either the Cubs believed or were willing to let on.

In the 20/20 of hindsight, I am now inclined to believe the former. Whoever was calling the shots in the Cubs training room (athletic trainer, team doctor, Dusty Baker, and/or G.M. Jim Hendry) clearly didnt know what he/they were doing.

That was evident all season long, as diagnosis and/or treatment for one injury after another was bungled. In the end, first-year athletic trainer Dave Groeschner paid with his job.

Then last week, former assistant athletic trainer Sandy Krum -- also fired -- filed suit against the team, claiming he lost his job only because he complained to management that Groeschner was unlicensed in Illinois.

In retrospect, I must admit my educated guesses regarding BALCO and Prior were just that. With BALCO 12 months ago, flames may not have been visible, but only because the smoke was blinding. As far as Prior was concerned, a general familiarity with the current research on tendon overuse would have been enough for anyone to come to the same conclusions I did.

On one story, though, my vision of the future was far more accurate than I could have ever imagined.

On March 15, in the wake of the Todd Bertuzzi incident, I wrote, "South of the Canadian border, hockey is becoming irrelevant, not much higher in stature than professional wrestling. The only difference is that the violence and injuries in the NHL are real."

Last week Bertuzzi, of the Vancouver Canucks, pleaded guilty to assault in a Vancouver court for his attack on Steve Moore of the Colorado Avalanche. Bertuzzis sentence? A year of probation and 80 hours of community service, pretty light considering Moore suffered three fractured vertebrae in his neck and a concussion from which he has yet to fully recover.

In addition, during his term of probation, Bertuzzi may not participate in a game against Moore. Given the ongoing NHL lockout, that portion of Bertuzzis sentence is the least of his or the NHLs worries.

Where the league had failed with the violence, it has now succeeded with the lockout in making itself completely irrelevant. With more sports and entertainment choices than ever, when it comes to the NHL not playing, the general public doesnt care.

John Doherty is a certified athletic trainer and licensed physical therapist.

This column reflects solely his opinion. He can be reached at ptatcsport@sbcglobal.net