The Milwaukee Post

Jordy Nelson was phenome- nal in the Packers' win over the Jets. That's the good news. The bad news is that it can't continue if the Packers' offense is to remain as one of the best in the NFL. Jordy Nelson is catching too many passes for the Packers. Nelson has been the target of Aaron Rodgers for 30 passes in the first two games of the sea- son. Rodgers is throwing to Nelson like a young Brett Favre threw to Sterling Sharpe. It's unlike anything Rodgers has ever done as starting quarter- back for the Packers since 2008. *** Rodgers has always been a quarterback who targeted multi- ple players. He has stated that he will throw to whichever player is open. He plays no favorites. He targets everyone and throws to everyone. Not anymore. So what has changed? I assume that none of the other receivers are getting open. He's throwing to Nelson when he's open but also when he's not open. Rodgers wisely feels that Nelson is still the best choice when closely guarded because every other receiver or back is also covered. It's the first time that the NFL's most accu- rate passer has ever had to force the ball to one receiver. As far as the other wide receivers, I'm expecting that Randall Cobb will be targeted more often. It is possible that he's not the same player after last year's injury. I doubt it's the case, but I'll be suggesting it if the numbers haven't changed in the next few games. The tight ends aren't getting open because they aren't nearly as good as Jermichael Finley. It should get better when Brandon Bostick starts playing more. Rodgers isn't throwing to his third wide receiver because Jarrett Boykin is a major down- grade from James Jones. It will change but not until Davante Adams replaces Boykin. During the Jets game, the nor mal Packers' offense with Rodgers throwing to multiple receivers occurred only when Adams caught some passes late in first half. Rodgers will start throwing to other players. He must. The Packers will have a disappoint- ing season if Nelson continues to be targeted so often. And when it happens don't think for a second that Nelson is struggling. *** I watched the Jets game for a second time because Julius Peppers seemed like he wasn't on the field for most of the game. He forced a fumble that was called an incomplete pass and nearly made an interception in coverage, but he was invisible the rest of the game. I'm expect- ing more from the highly touted free agent. Upon further review, he was outstanding against the pass showing the athleticism and effort that has made him one of the best pass rushers in the NFL for the past decade. On the other hand, he was nothing but a statue against the run. The same offensive lineman and tight end who couldn't keep him away from the quarterback had no trouble blocking Peppers in run plays. Maybe it's all that Peppers is supposed to do, but on most running play he looked more like he was trying to shake the lineman's hand than aggressive- ly go after the runner. *** Ray Rice is not playing because of the video that showed him hitting his fiancé. Adrian Peterson is not playing because of the pictures that showed the injuries he inflicted on his 4- year old son. It's all about the video and the pictures. Players might not have been punished in the same manner in the past. It's a new era because of social media and the increased likeli- hood that events will be seen. It's one thing to read about it but viewing changes everything. It's a good thing. September 19, 2014 • Milwaukee County Post • 11 "HOMER" on SPORTS (Steve "The Homer" True, host of "Homer and Gabe Show," heard from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. week- days on 540 ESPN, can be reached at homer@espnmilwaukee.com) Rodgers should go back to targeting other receivers STEVE "The HOMER" TRUE Milwaukee fighter coming back to action after brain surgery By JOHN HOLMAN Special to The Post MILWAUKEE — "My goal? I want to win this first fight back and keep on going," said Omar Choudhury, a 31-year-old profes- sional mixed martial arts fighter, after the final bell rang from his last class at Roufusport, a mixed martial arts gym in Milwaukee. "I want to get into another show, a bigger show." That's a quote you might get from any fighter mounting a come- back. Some may call it a cliché, but it seems to hold more meaning coming from Choudhury — he has- n't fought since he had brain sur- gery almost four years ago. Choudhury found his way to combat sports when he joined Shorewood High School's wrestling team over 15 years ago. He picked up Brazilian jiu jitsu, a grappling discipline similar to wrestling, in 2002 while studying early childhood education at the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee. What began as a one-credit recreational class was the begin- ning of a life committed to master- ing the martial arts. It became part of him, and he part of it. Choudhury practiced daily in college, eventually becoming an assistant BJJ and MMA coach at Roufusport. He graduated from UWM in 2007 and began working in special education for the Shorewood school district in 2008, continuing to fight and coach, as well. Fast forward to November 2010. During routine sparring with a teammate, Choudhury felt his part- ner's fist connect with his head. His face went pale; he fell to the floor and went into the fetal posi- tion. "Three of my teammates — they picked me up like a baby, put me in the truck and took me to the hospital," Choudhury said. His friends took him to the emergency room where he got his head scanned, revealing a blood clot in his brain. The hospital staff admitted Choudhury for observa- tion. He spent three days hooked to an IV, blood pressure cuff and heart rate monitor before the swelling went down enough for him to return home. Choudhury experienced increasingly painful headaches over the next few days until, unable to stand up without becoming nau- seous, he finally went to St. Luke's Medical Center on Milwaukee's south side to get looked at again the afternoon before Thanksgiving. The medical staff administered a CT scan. The blood clot grew and was once again compressing his brain tissue. His life was in jeop- ardy, and he needed surgery. Early that evening, Dr. William McCullough explained to Choudhury the procedure: how he would cut out a square-inch section of his skull, extract the clot, drain some fluid and reattach the piece he removed. The doctor seemed to Choudhury as if he were speaking of something simple, when in real- ity, it was brain surgery. Then fear set in; he couldn't focus as the anesthesiologist explained his role. The medical team came in to his room to take him to the operating room. He and his family exchanged goodbyes. The staff rolled him to the oper- ating room. Omar remembered it was very bright — and uncomfort- ably clean. The anesthesiologist placed the face mask on Omar's face, administering the sleep agent. Fade to black. Choudhury jolted to a seated position on the gurney as the sur- gical team wheeled him back to his room. He grabbed the back of his head, feeling for a missing section of skull — all there. The one-hour surgery was a success. Elated, Omar celebrated with some of the hospital's Thanksgiving turkey. His two-week post-surgery hos- pital stay was filled with daily rehabilitation. The regimen start- ed with Choudhury stepping out of bed and successively increased in difficulty. Standing, walking, climbing stairs, climbing into and out of a bathtub, and finally, an obstacle course where he had to walk forward and backward, then shuffle left and right. Dr. McCullough told him he shouldn't lift weights or train MMA for a year. Choudhury stopped working in special education but remained active in the gym as the assistant Brazilian jiu jitsu and MMA coach at Roufusport's Milwaukee and Hartland locations. "I had to get my black belt no matter what," Choudhury said. "That was one thing that kept me motivated." By September he was back to normal. "I actually entered a jiu jitsu tournament right before the year mark, just to do it, and I ended up winning. That was pretty cool." With the one-year checkup approaching, he wondered if he could fight again. Choudhury made a deal with himself: He would try three times to get cleared to fight. If he would be denied a third time, that would be it. And he was denied — in 2011 and again in 2012, the year he earned his black belt under head BJJ coach Daniel Wanderley. But March 1, 2013, he was approved. He deliberated his return among his family and coaches. They supported him in whatever decision he would make, but they left it to him. At the beginning of 2014 Choudhury realized he has a limit- ed time to fight, and he decided to fight again. He now has a date — Friday night at The Rave. Choudhury will go in with a record of 13-7. As he's faced this challenge, Choudhury has rearranged actor Will Smith's lines from the movie, "The Pursuit of Happiness," for inspiration: "Don't ever let anyone tell you what you can't do. If you have a dream, you have to protect it." Omar Choudhury

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