CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- There was a time when drivers raced injured, when nothing could get them to climb out of their seat.The rules didnt allow racers to be hurt, sitting out a week would be catastrophic in the point standings, and, ultimately, the payout. Not being able to drive with broken bones, blisters, burns, illness, any ailment at all, could derail a season. Even worse, it could cost a driver his job.So its a testament to NASCAR that Dale Earnhardt Jr. felt strong enough last week to take himself out of his car because he couldnt shake symptoms that could be concussion-related. NASCARs most popular driver benched himself for Sundays race at New Hampshire and he will await further tests to see if hes able to drive this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.Earnhardt said hes battling balance issues and nausea and is uncertain when he will be back in a race car.My mind feels real sharp, he said in a podcast recorded Sunday night. Ive struggled with my balance over the last four, five days and I definitely wouldnt be able to drive a race car (last weekend). Making the right decision was out of the question, I made the decision I had to make. Its just going to take a lot of patience.Tales of drivers racing hurt date back to the beginning of nearly every series. On the same day Earnhardt was watching someone else drive his car in New Hampshire, IndyCar ace Josef Newgarden was powering through on the street course at Toronto with a broken hand. When he wrecked late in the race, his in-car camera caught Newgarden in serious pain and favoring his broken hand.Dont forget when Ricky Rudd raced with his swollen eyes taped open in the Daytona 500 or Richard Petty driving for weeks with a severe neck injury or the late Dale Earnhardt winning the pole at Watkins Glen with a broken collarbone. More recently, Denny Hamlin twice raced immediately after tearing the ACL in one of his knees and Brad Keselowski won at Pocono a week after breaking his foot.About 15 years ago, Earnhardt Jr. revealed in an interview that he thought hed driven with concussion symptoms several times in 2001. His admission led to a tightened medical review policy in which Earnhardt had to be seen by a doctor before he could race after he was briefly knocked unconscious in a 2002 crash at Dover.As the years went on, Earnhardt became smarter about his health. He missed two races during the 2012 Chase because of a pair of concussions suffered in a six-race stretch, and sitting out those events immediately ended any title shot.Dashed championship hopes would still be the case for any driver injured during NASCARs 10-race playoffs, but the sanctioning body has made it easier for drivers to admit they are hurt. By allowing teams to apply for a waiver so the driver will still be eligible to make the playoffs, NASCAR made it possible for Earnhardt to take himself out of the car.Granted, playoff hopes shouldnt trump health issues -- especially concussions, something that could cause long-term damage -- but this very small step has given flexibility in a system that previously had none.Team owner Rick Hendrick made it clear he doesnt want a driver to sacrifice his health to stay in the race car.Our guys know that the most important thing is their health, and if theyre in an accident and they feel like theyve had a concussion, theres a protocol and they need to go through it, Hendrick said before Sundays race. Its hard to get out of the car, but we want (Earnhardt) for the long haul. He wants to race for a long time, so we are going to let the doctors make those decisions.Its really hard at first, and then the more you think about it, its the right thing to do for him and its the right thing to do for the team. We will just take it day-by-day.Its not clear when Earnhardt was injured -- he was in crashes at Michigan on June 12 and Daytona on July 2 -- and his symptoms originally led Earnhardt to believe his problem was allergy or sinus related. So he raced at Kentucky two weeks ago not feeling well, and when it didnt improve, he saw a neurological specialist who diagnosed concussion-like symptoms.It could be argued that based on Earnhardts concussion history, NASCAR should have had him tested after one or both of his accidents. But, NASCAR has made it easier than ever for a driver to lessen the stakes of seeking treatment and the participant should take some responsibility for their own health.That doesnt make any easier for drivers, particularly those who grew up watching a generation that drove hurt.Its probably one of the toughest things to do -- if I was in that position, it would be very tough for me, I would think, said Ryan Newman.Carl Edwards noted that Earnhardts issue must be serious if he didnt race and said he respected Earnhardts decision.I cant imagine how tough that decision would be, he said. Right now with the format, you do have the opportunity to take care of yourself, do what you think is right and still have a shot at the championship.In the end, Earnhardt did the very best thing he could to help himself. He may also end up being the example for all drivers to put their health above everything else in racing.Earnhardt, who noted in his podcast that his most recent ImPACT test matched his preseason baseline test, will now follow a treatment laid out by his doctors that includes exercises to retrain his brain.I put my health and quality of life as a top priority, he said. I always do that, so I am going to take this slow and follow the advice of my doctors. Air Max 97 Cheap Womens . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. Cheap Air Max 97 Brown China . The winner Saturday will remain in the elite 10-team field next year. "We talked about wanting to be disciplined and stick with our game plan and good things will come," Draisaitl said, who had two goals for the victors. http://www.cheapairmax97fromchina.com/cheap-air-max-97-purple-china/ . 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But he looked more burned out than brilliant in the final weeks of the season, and on Monday he decided to end one of the greatest careers for a point guard in league history. "My time in professional basketball has been an incredible journey, but one that must come to an end after 19 years," Kidd said in a statement released by the New York Knicks. "As I reflect on my time with the four teams I represented in the NBA, I look back fondly at every season and thank each and every one of my teammates and coaches that joined me on the court." Kidd won an NBA title and two Olympic gold medals, is second on the career list in assists and steals, and was a 10-time All-Star. But he missed 22 of his 25 shots in the post-season and was scoreless in his final 10 playoff games shortly after turning 40, and decided to walk away with two years and more than $6 million left on the deal he signed last summer. His retirement comes two days after fellow 40-year-old Grant Hill, with whom Kidd shared Rookie of the Year honours in 1995, announced his retirement. Kidd went on from there to have big impacts on every team he joined. He led the Nets to two NBA Finals in 2002-03, helped the Dallas Mavericks win the 2011 title, and was on the first Knicks team to reach the second round of the playoffs since 2000. He averaged 12.6 points, 8.7 assists, 6.3 rebounds and 1.93 steals in a career that also included a stop in Phoenix. Kidd had numerous ways to make his mark on games, ranking third on the career list with 107 triple-doubles while finishing third all-time in 3-pointers made, despite being considered a poor outside shooter when he came into the league. Dirk Nowitzki, who played with Kidd on the Mavs title team, wrote on Twitter that Kidd was "one of the best point guards ever and one of the fiercest competitors I have ever played with." "Amazing career," Nowitzki wrote. "He always put the team and winning first. All the best to him in retirement." The Knicks signed Kidd away from Dallas last summer with a three-year deal, and he helped them flourish with a lineup that often featured two point guards. They won 54 games and their first Atlantic Division title since 1994, which was just before Kidd was drafted by Dallas with the No. 2 overall pick. "Jasons value to the Knicks and the National Basketball Association cannot be quantified by statistics alone," Knicks general manager Glen Grunwald said. "Everyone here in New York saw firsthand what a tremendous competitor he is and why Jason iss considered to be one of the best point guards, and leaders, the game has ever seen.dddddddddddd" He got off to a rocky start with the Knicks, arrested on a drunken-driving charge shortly after signing last July -- Kidd was also arrested on a domestic violence charge while playing with Phoenix in 2001 , acknowledging he struck his former wife -- but he turned out to be the leader the team sought. He averaged 6.0 points, 3.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 76 games for the Knicks but lost his likely Hall of Fame-bound game in the post-season. He missed all 17 shots across the final 10 games, seeing limited minutes in the last two games of the Knicks loss to Indiana in the Eastern Conference semifinals. "Veteran leadership on and off the court was a huge factor for our team that recorded 54 victories and an Atlantic Division crown," coach Mike Woodson said. "Jason provided an incredible voice inside our locker room and I considered it an honour to say I coached him." Grunwald had said he expected Kidd to return, though Woodson said things could always change. Kidd becomes the second player on an aged Knicks roster to retire, following Rasheed Wallaces decision in April. Kurt Thomas, nearly six months older than Kidd, broke his foot late in the season, and his status is unclear. Kidd was a five-time selection to the All-NBA first team and was voted to the All-Defensive first or second team nine times. Phoenix traded him to New Jersey after his legal troubles, and he would go on to lead the Nets to their greatest NBA success. The 6-foot-4 guard is the teams career leader in most playoff categories. "Jason Kidd was the captain of the Nets during their most successful period in the NBA, and is considered the greatest player in the Nets NBA history. On behalf of the entire Brooklyn Nets organization, we congratulate him on his Hall of Fame career," general manager Billy King said. Along with his NBA greatness, Kidd had an undefeated career at the senior international level during an era when simply wearing a USA jersey no longer guaranteed victory. He helped the U.S. win gold in the 2000 and 08 Olympics, along with FIBA Americas titles in 1999, 2003 and 07. The Americans didnt win any of the three major international events without him during that time. Respected around the league, Kidd won the NBAs sportsmanship award this season, becoming the first player to win it in consecutive seasons. Commissioner David Stern said that was equally important as the way Kidd played, saying Kidd "embodied the ideals of team sports." "On behalf of the NBA family and basketball fans worldwide, I want to thank Jason for all he has done for the NBA and the sport of basketball, and hope he will continue to help us grow the game," Stern said. "We wish him and his family all the best." ' ' '