She was a pain specialist to top athletes. Her opioid prescribing alarmed the DEA
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Joan Rubinger overcame a catastrophic biking accident that left her paralyzed to become an influential pain-relief specialist helping top-tier athletes get back on the field after acute and chronic injuries. Her website touts a client list that includes 169 NFL Pro Bowl selections, 29 NBA and WNBA champions and 15 Olympic medalists. Among some of her most notable patients: NBA All Stars Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration alleged in court filings, Rubinger doled out thousands of illegal prescriptions for highly addictive painkillers, a “covert and slinking” scheme the nurse practitioner likened to selling hamburgers at a fast-food restaurant.
Panthers LB Thomas Davis suffered opioid addiction that opened the door to sprawling drug case
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — An opioid addiction sullied the once-stellar reputation of one of the NFL’s good guys, Thomas Davis. The linebacker for the Carolina Panthers, once named a Walter Payton Man of the Year, said he became addicted to the painkillers toward the end of his 16-year career in the league. It was his addiction that led to the downfall of Joan Rubinger, a self-styled healer who listed Davis among her dozens of high-profile pro-athlete clients who swore by her pain-relief miracles. Davis, still a fixture in Charlotte, says he’s gotten the help he needed to overcome his addiction but concedes his reliance on pills made it hard for him to be the kind of father he wanted to be.
Key takeaways about pain specialist to star athletes accused of issuing illegal opioid prescriptions
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Joan Rubinger, a nurse practitioner, built a sports medicine practice treating top athletes. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration alleges she wrote illegal prescriptions for painkillers to clients in over 20 states. The DEA last month revoked her authority to prescribe controlled substances, citing egregious conduct. Rubinger agreed to pay $1.4 million to settle a Justice Department civil complaint without admitting wrongdoing. Court records reveal she created rules to avoid detection and collected payments through a digital app. The investigation began in 2022 after Kelly Davis, wife of former NFL player Thomas Davis, reported Rubinger. Rubinger has not been criminally charged.
Texas judge puts SEC’s new eligibility rule on hold
Two days after the Southeastern Conference passed a rule barring players from returning to the league from the pros, a Texas judge put that rule on hold in a case involving more than 40 players. It was the latest piece of news in what has turned into a breakneck week of legal wrangling over the NCAA’s new five-year eligibility rule. The rule does not apply to college players who exhausted their fourth year of eligibility last spring; many are suing across the country for that fifth year.
Good Good to no longer be title sponsor of PGA Tour event and loses Callaway sponsorship
ATLANTA (AP) — The fallout from the Good Good Golf video depicting a man shoving a woman to the ground continues. The PGA Tour confirms the YouTube Golf content creators will no longer be title sponsor of a FedEx Cup Fall event. Callaway Golf has ended its three-year sponsorship. Good Good has said the video that was taken down on the same day it showed up on social media channels was meant as a spinoff from a movie. Criticism was immediate and sharp and led to the growing company losing its name on a PGA Tour event for Austin, Texas, in November.
Min Woo Lee makes Tour Championship debut by matching his career best with 62
ATLANTA (AP) — Min Woo Lee has made a memorable debut at the Tour Championship. He shot a bogey-free 62 at East Lake. That matches his career low on the PGA Tour and gives him a two-shot lead over Viktor Hovland, Collin Morikawa and Chris Gotterup. Lee’s recent form hasn’t been great, but he managed to excel in the opening round of the FedEx Cup season’s final event. Scottie Scheffler was among four players at 65. Defending champion Tommy Fleetwood opened with a 66. Rain softened the greens, leading to low scores across the board. J.J. Spaun withdrew due to a shoulder injury.
No starters, no problem: Ty Simpson’s 2nd-quarter TD sparks the Rams’ preseason sweep
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Ty Simpson threw a go-ahead touchdown in the second quarter and the Los Angeles Rams beat the Los Angeles Chargers 20-18 in the teams’ preseason finale. The Rams didn’t play any starters, following coach Sean McVay’s approach to games that don’t count in the standings. The Rams went 3-0 in the preseason and head to Australia in two weeks to open the season. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert played just two series. His fumble led to a Rams field goal early in the first before a 65-yard TD pass to Quentin Johnston. The Rams are early favorites to win the Super Bowl, which will be played at SoFi Stadium on Feb. 14.
Bills close preseason with 28-27 win over Steelers on Buechele’s late 2-point conversion
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Ian Wheeler scored on a 2-yard run with 1:06 left, Steve Buechele completed an off-balance pass to Dante Pettis for a 2-point conversion and the Buffalo Bills beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 28-27 in the preseason finale for each team Thursday night. The Steelers’ last chance to pull ahead ended with Drew Allar’s pass sailing behind tight end Lake McRee on fourth-and-7 with 44 seconds remaining. It was a disappointing finish for Allar in an outing the rookie was attempting to separate himself from Will Howard in the competition for the Steelers’ third-string job. In squandering a 10-point lead over the final seven minutes, the Steelers closed the preseason 1-2. Buffalo was 3-0.
Packers running back Josh Jacobs facing misdemeanor charges of battery, criminal damage to property
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs is facing misdemeanor charges of battery and criminal damage to property stemming from what police described as a physical confrontation with his girlfriend three months ago. Jacobs was arrested May 26 and released from jail the next day as prosecutors decided whether to file charges. Jacobs was back on the field for organized team activities less than a week later and has been with the Packers for training camp. Jacobs’ attorneys issued a statement acknowledging the charges Thursday and saying the allegations will be addressed in court, not in the media.
Braves’ Sale demands ball in 9th to cap 1st complete game since 2019 in 1-0 shutout of Dodgers
ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss says veteran left-hander Chris Sale was “on a mission” against the Los Angeles Dodgers after learning before the game about the death of a friend. Sale allowed five hits and struck out 11 in a dominant 1-0 win. It was the first complete game and shutout since 2019 for the 37-year-old Sale and it gave the Braves a three-game sweep of the Dodgers in their matchup of National League division leaders. Weiss says the performance was “a perfect example” of how Hall of Famers “are just different.”