CAREFUL WITH THE PEPPER, SAMMY:

Sosa's back injury nothing to sneeze at Cub's mishap a link in long, weird chain (GARTH WOOLSEY, May 18, 2004, Toronto Star)

History tell us that the custom of saying "God bless you!" after someone sneezes dates back to the belief that a person's soul is momentarily endangered by the quick, violent release.

The Chicago Cubs faithful are collectively sympathetic to that notion today after their bread-and-butter basher, the soul of their long-suffering franchise, Sammy Sosa, had to scratch himself from the lineup Sunday against the Padres in San Diego. Slammin' Sammy, see, put his back out while ... sneezing. [...]

Still, and all, for some strange reason baseball is rife with injuries that have nothing really to do with the sport itself.

Mark Smith, when he was with the Orioles, injured his had after sticking it in an air conditioner to, as he said, "find out why it wasn't working."

Wade Boggs, late of the Red Sox, hurt himself pulling on his cowboy boots.

Hall of famer George Brett broke a toe while rushing from the kitchen to watch Bill Buckner hit on TV.

Glenallen Hill, the former Blue Jay, infamously cut himself on a glass table when awakened by a bad dream, about spiders.

Outfield Oddibe McDowell sliced his own hand up while trying to butter a bun at the Texas Rangers welcome home luncheon.

Bret Barberie had to miss a game with the Marlins because he rubbed his eye with a finger soaked in chilli juice.

Catcher Brent Mayne went on the Royals disabled list after he wrenched his back when he turned his head to check for traffic before crossing the street.

Yeah, look both ways. Carefully. And, by all means sneeze if you must. But carefully.

Scientist say that the force of air expelled during a sneeze is 100 m.p.h. or more, or roughly the same speed as a Randy Johnson heater. A sneeze involves a highly complex response, triggered by a specialized area of the brain and involving abdominal, shoulder, neck and chest muscles, the diaphragm and eyelids — most people close their eyes when they sneeze.

"Some of the things that you never expect to happen, happens," Sosa tells reporters, eyes wide open. "We're only human."

Chris Brown once went on the DL due to an eyelash injury.

Posted by Orrin Judd at May 18, 2004 8:05 AM