Morning Links: It's not for breakfast anymore

Here's a few links for you to peruse as you drink your morning coffee: 

Sam Hurd

We are guessing that Chicago Bears wide receiver Sam Hurd won't be participating in this Sunday's game  at home against the Seattle Seahawks. 

The reason.

According to Federal Agents, Hurd tried to buy 5-10 kilos (not ounces) of cocaine and a half-ton of marijuana a week for distribution in the Chicago area at roughly $2.8 million a month. He'll be arraigned Friday afternoon and is currently being held in the Metropolitan Correction Center in the Chicago area.

Read the whole story from the Chicago Sun-Times RIGHT HERE

Needless to say, Hurd's teammates were aghast. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The investigation into the death of Indy car driver Dan Wheldon October 16th at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway has come to a conclusion.

The report says Wheldon suffered a "Non-Survivable Injury" when his head hit a vertical post on the tracks catch fence.

The report goes on to discuss in detail the conditions of the track and the driving that helped create the problem. It pays particular attention to the large grooves on the LV Motor Speedway track.

WISH-TV in Indianapolis gives us a TV Story on it:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In case you missed it: The atttention grabbing Milan Lucic got into another "Slobberknocker". This time he tangles with Matt Carkner of the Ottawa Senators. 

And it wasn't bad as far as fights go.

Take a look: (Thanks hockeyfights.com)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Also...In case you missed it:

Patrick Kane, wunderkind and star of the Chicago Blackhawks gives us a lesson in how to score in a shootout. No, it wasn't an all-out rush/blitz on the goal tender with a ripping wrist shot.

Rather it was a slow-motion, deke-fest as he casually skates up, slides the puck back and forth before depositing it over Minnesota Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom's shoulder. 

Game over.

Your Video:

Wheldon Remembered At Florida Funeral

((HT: WFTS-TV Tampa/ABCActionNews.com))

Around 1,200 people attended the Florida funeral of IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon Saturday to celebrate his life and place in racing. His brothers were pall bearers and his father carried Dan's driving helmet in ceremony.

Wheldon's wife, Susie, released a statement on behalf of the family, inviting members of community to attend the service:

"Although the last few days have been unbearable for our family, the overwhelming love and support we have received are rays of sunshine during these dark days. The outpouring of sympathy and condolences has been so comforting, and I want to thank everyone for their kind notes, letters, gifts and flowers.

"Dan touched the lives of many people, and I would like to invite those citizens in our community who knew and loved my husband to attend his funeral service at the First Presbyterian Church of St. Petersburg on Saturday, October 22, at 10 a.m.

"Though we won't be able to fit everyone inside, I know that Dan would have wanted the community to share in the celebration of his life and to grieve his passing. Thank you again. I am forever grateful for your kindness."

The Dan Wheldon Family Trust Fund has been established for the financial security of Wheldon's family. The public can make contributions to the Dan Wheldon Family Trust Fund at the following address:

Fifth Third Private Bank
Attn: Dan Wheldon Family Trust
251 North Illinois St.
Suite 1000
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Here's the coverage from Tampa...

CONTINUING: Wheldon Passes At 33 ((UPDATED: With Cause Of Death))

Here's the aftereffects of Dan Wheldon's crash at the IndyCar World Championships in Las Vegas...

First, coverage with Derek Daly, team coverage, and WISH-TV in Indianapolis...
((HT: WISH-TV))


Strong words from Daly...
The race finished with a five-lap salute to Wheldon with the 19 drivers whose cars could drive taking laps on the Vegas track...
((HT: IndyCar/ABC/youtube))


MONDAY UPDATE: Surprising no one, really, Clark County ((NV)) Coroner Michael Murphy ruled the death an accident as a result of blunt trauma to the head due to motor vehicle collision.

"We'll be working with family and IndyCar officials and the attending physicians to fully review the case in an effort to improve safety for drivers,"
Murphy said in a statement...

The memorial for Wheldon grows at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
((HT: WISH-TV))

IMS hangs banner to honor Wheldon: wishtv.com

DEVELOPING: The Big One At Vegas Indy Takes Out 15 ((UPDATED: Wheldon Dies From Injuries))

Here's the early version of the wreck in the Vegas IndyCar race...
((HT: IndyCar/youtube/ESPN))


Dan Wheldon is listed as seriously injured on lap 11 of 200...

The field is an uncharacteristically large 34 cars for the last race of their 2011 season. And, as you heard on the play-by-play, speed plus dirty air equals what went down for 15 cars...

Paul Tracy, who was involved in the wreck, said a team of doctors were working on Wheldon. A helicopter lifted off from the speedway, but there was no indication if Wheldon was onboard.

Wheldon was in line to win $5 million had he won the race.

More when we know more...

1715 UPDATE: Wheldon was taken by a Mercy Air helicopter from the race and airlifted to UNLV Medical Center. IndyCar Director of Competition Brian Barnhart has called a drivers meeting for an immediate time table in the Media Center.

Danica Patrick, on her way to the meeting, started to cry and could not answer questions.

Some drivers have expressed a concern about continuing the race because of conditions with speeds in excess of 224 MPH.

1745 UPDATE: A press conference audience has been assembled on the second floor of the speedway media center- no timetable has been set for any kind of announcement on any and all topics in the air at the moment...

The meeting between drivers and owners has concluded and no drivers will be addressing the media...

1800 UPDATE: At a press conference held by IndyCar officials, Barnhart announced that Wheldon has died as a result of the injuries from "unsurvivable injury."

The Vegas race will end with a 5-lap salute in his honor... according to a statement from CEO Randy Barnard, the 2011 Indy 500 race winner...