Whiteman, who put on 166 for the fifth wicket to ensure the Warriors stayed in the match.Wells was given an unusual reprieve on

PLAYA VISTA, Calif. -- On Saturday, the NBPA held a screening in the weight room of the Los Angeles Clippers practice facility, administering EKGs and blood pressure tests, echocardiograms, a consultation with multiple physicians and cardiologists, and orthopedic evaluations to more than 40 former players.The extensive testing, which can take several weeks to schedule and get results under normal circumstances, lasted roughly an hour-and-a-half to two hours, with results on the spot.The players association had screened more than 100 players heading into Saturday, with previous stops in Houston (the inaugural screening), Detroit, Atlanta, Orlando and Las Vegas. Trips to Dallas and New York are scheduled in the coming weeks.Although the sample size isnt substantive enough to draw serious conclusions -- the NBPA believes it will take at least another year of testing to form takeaways -- the impact of the players association being proactive, not reactive, in assessing disease and illness in retired players has been significant.Every screening weve come to, Ive had several retired players talk to me on the side or email us at the union and say, Thank you for putting this together. We really appreciate it, said Joe Rogowski, the players union director of sports medicine and research. They know that the players union cares for them. Even though theyre not part of the union anymore, the fact that were still looking out for them means a lot to them.Several retirees told ESPN.com that its difficult to deal with the feelings of disconnection and isolation that affect players after their careers are over. Through the outreach to former players and free screenings, some retired players are beginning to feel included again.Sometimes when you retire, you feel like you get kicked to the curb and you dont matter anymore, said Michael Cage, a 15-year NBA veteran who retired in 2000. It can be cruel and a cold feeling. Its like being disconnected from The Matrix. All of this energy is running through your body. Youre feeling vibrant and alive and healthy, and then all of the sudden, the cord gets pulled, and youre on your own.Youve gotta go. Youre not part of The Matrix anymore.Cage, who is currently a broadcast analyst for the Oklahoma City Thunder, flew from Oklahoma City to be screened in Los Angeles. Others traveled from as far as Seattle, Phoenix and San Jose, as well as from all over southern California.After the deaths of Darryl Dawkins and Moses Malone last fall, there has been a heightened awareness around the league and among retired players regarding their post-career health risks, particularly high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, heart attacks and strokes.Showing up here today will save some guys lives, Cage said.For Cage, the death of Sean Rooks, who died July 7 because of a heart attack and was nearly a decade younger than Cage, hit home and shook him enough to be seen.That has certainly been on my mind, Cage said. Ive also looked at the long-term aspects of preventative health care. I like living well. When I played ball, I was known as the Iron man along with A.C. Green. I played in 736 consecutive games.I play basketball two or three times per week at 54. Ive been blessed that I havent had any surgeries or broken bones, but when you look internally into your body, thats a different story. Thats what this is all about. Its to help guys like myself, who want to be told where our health stands and what we can do to improve the quality of our life.According to several physicians on site, there is no concrete evidence that players are at risk after a certain age or at a certain height. Still, its clear that there is some correlation between heart disease and high blood pressure among NBA players, especially African-American players.The African-American population is a little bit higher instance of undetected or higher blood pressure, said Michael Emery, assistant professor of clinical medicine at Indiana University. With a higher prevalence of African-Americans playing basketball and in this cohort, thats something of definite consideration and concern for these athletes.The fact that many of the former players who have died from heart-related diseases were close to 7 feet tall isnt lost on the players, which makes testing and collecting data on as many players as possible so vital.Whats happened as weve seen a large number of our players have died at a young age, its been from heart problems, said Keith Erickson, a 12-year NBA veteran who retired in 1977. But we havent put that together. We havent really figured out that its a problem for taller people. Theyre starting to study that now, and thats part of the reason why theyre doing all this testing.Theyre going to be looking and seeing if they can help us be more aware of that, so that the really tall people make sure they get in here and get tested.Cage, who claims his family is his primary motivation to live longer, has become something of an activist on the issue lately, urging his fellow retirees to be seen by a physician as soon as possible, even if theyre reluctant.I want to encourage guys to go this, Cage said. You dont have to sit at home and suffer. You dont have to feel like no one cares. You dont have to worry about health care. This is a pre-screening where you have real cardiologists, real doctors, real orthopedic surgeons. You can do blood work. Do it. Its free. You dont hear that often when you retire. Its free. Thats one of my favorite words.Information from ESPN Senior Writers J.A. 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Ashley Youngs cross was inadvertently headed by Chester into his own net in the 66th minute, allowing United to claim a third straight league win. "We had to dig deep with our fighting spirit and weve done that," United striker Wayne Rooney said.Western Australia 262 and 5 for 275 (Wells 107*, Whiteman 104) lead Tasmania 402 (Doolan 202*, Behrendorff 5-80) by 135 runsScorecard Centuries to Jonathan Wells and Sam Whiteman gave Western Australia hope on the third day against Tasmania, where they turned a 140-run first-innings deficit into a 135-run lead by the close of play. Wells finished the day unbeaten on 107 and was batting with debutant DArcy Short, who was on 29, and their total had moved along to 5 for 275.The morning had started with Tasmania on 7 for 388, but that was effectively 8 for 388 as Alex Doolan, who had gone to stumps on 202, retired hurt overnight after being diagnosed with delayed effects of concussion from a blow to the helmet during his innings. The Tigers added only 14 to their total before being bowled out for 402, with Jason Behrendorff finishing with 5 for 80.Western Australia opener Cameron Bancroft then missed out on the chance to remind Australias selectors of his potential as a Test batsman when he was bowled by Simon Milenko for 11. Bancroft had managed only 2 in the first innings and has not posted a half-century in any of his six Sheffield Shield innings this summer.Milenko added the wicket of veteran Michael Klinger, who was caught behind for a duck, and Hamish Kingston chipped in with a couple of wickets to leave Western Australia iin serious danger at 4 for 44.dddddddddddd But then came a rescue mission from Wells and Whiteman, who put on 166 for the fifth wicket to ensure the Warriors stayed in the match.Wells was given an unusual reprieve on 13 when he was given out by umpire John Ward, who determined that the batsman had edged James Faulkner onto his pad and to slip. However, before Wells had left the field, Ward had second thoughts about his decision and reversed his call, deciding that in fact Wells had not edged the ball.Wells made great use of that chance and went on to score a long-awaited maiden first-class century, in his 39th match, and having debuted for Tasmania back in December 2008. An opening batsman who has often frustrated by not capitalising on his talent, Wells has finally broken through to score a Sheffield Shield hundred at the age of 28.At the other end, Whiteman brought up his third first-class century and perhaps gave Australias selectors something else to think about as they ponder wicketkeeping options and whether to persist with Peter Nevill. Whiteman, who played first-class games for Australia A this winter, was eventually lbw to Jackson Bird for 104, having already made 54 in the first innings. ' ' '