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Concussions drove Ben Utecht out of pro football five years ago.He fears that the effects from the hits he took as a tight end for four NFL seasons, and for four years before that at the University of Minnesota, will have a significant impact on his future health.Now a singer-songwriter and in-demand speaker, Utecht wanted to ensure that his family will always remember him as a bright, clever and insightful person. What better way than through a song?It was the hardest song I have ever had to co-write, the 33-year-old Utecht says. It came down to doing something I had not done yet in my life after my football career ended: writing that love letter to my wife and daughters. It was in concern that if the day comes when my mind begins to fail — when your faces and names begin to disappear — no matter what physically takes my memory, nothing will take away what you mean to me.Utecht, who earned a Super Bowl ring after the 2006 season with the Colts, left the NFL in 2009 after an injury settlement with the Bengals. The players union won a grievance so that he could get his entire salary.Since then, hes worked on his music and has been one of the leading advocates on behalf of current and former players recognition, treatment and medical coverage of concussions and head trauma. Hes currently a spokesman for the American Academy of Neurology and testified before Congress in August about concussion issues.Utecht also is one of the former players involved in the NFLs settlement of lawsuits over head trauma and concussions — a settlement still, well, unsettled as a judge determines its validity. The judge who preliminarily approved the settlement this summer heard objections last month and will make a decision in 2015.Hes passionate about his work for several national neurological organizations. Just as passionate as he is about his music, which includes an upcoming album entitled Man Up. Utecht tackles the topic in his songs, joking he is not a candy writer, but a meat-and-potatoes writer with Midwest values.Music is a universal language, he says. I can go to places and talk about neurology and people scratch their heads, and you see it has not clicked. But I can tell a story through melody and instrumentation and lyrics.One commonality we have is we are all human and emotional, and we all experience the spectrum of love and hate. Music doesnt know any of those boundaries.Utecht inherited his musical talents from his father, who was a music major and planned to be a choir teacher before he became a pastor. Indeed, Utecht grew up with training in more music-related activities than in sports.Clearly, though, he was skilled on the gridiron, enough to earn a full ride to Minnesota. While there, he sang the national anthem at a variety of sporting events, including local pro teams — except the Vikings, which would have been a violation of NCAA rules.He joined the Colts in 2005 and had 37 receptions as a backup tight end in 2006 when Indy won it all.But he was first known as the Singing Colt, because Utecht performed the anthem before the teams preseason game against Buffalo even before he played a down.That led to some musical connections in Indianapolis, and Utecht toured with gospel star Sandi Patty, who mentored him and recommended he pursue music as a profession.When football disappeared as an option — Utecht was knocked out for 90 seconds after a hit in training camp, causing a head injury that took eight months to recover from — he dived into his music full time.Eclectic in his musical tastes, Utechts Man Up is in the pop/country vein because, he says, all of the songs have meaning.These songs are designed to fill you and give you what can potentially help you, he says, specifically mentioning Standing Strong and Oblivion from the album. 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Cheap Blue Jackets Jerseys Authentic .com) - The Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics both entered Wednesday nights game riding lengthy losing streaks. Cheap Columbus Blue Jackets Jerseys . -- Jerry Rice Jr. CHICAGO -- Anthony Rizzo went deep in the third inning and Starlin Castro connected in the fourth. Mike Olt broke it open with another big swing in the eighth. It was a powerful end to a difficult city series for the Chicago Cubs. Rizzo, Castro and Olt homered, and the Cubs stopped a four-game slide with a 12-5 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday night. "We had some good at-bats, some big at-bats in some key situations," rookie manager Rick Renteria said, "and then we got some thump, got some balls hit well." Rizzo had three hits and scored three times as the Cubs salvaged the finale of the four-game set against their crosstown rivals. Olt, Ryan Kalish, Nate Schierholtz and Junior Lake had two hits apiece in a game that took 4 hours, 7 minutes. The Cubs put it away with five runs in the eighth, highlighted by Olts first career grand slam. Maikel Cleto also hit Welington Castillo with a bases-loaded pitch, ending the White Sox bullpens shutout streak at 23 1-3 innings. Olt also batted with the bases loaded in the third and popped out to shortstop. "I was upset with myself because with less than two outs Ive got to at least get someone in, move someone over," he said. "Ive got to do my job. To get another chance late in the game and come through like that definitely helped." The Cubs finished with 15 hits after managing just five runs and 12 hits in the first three games against the White Sox. "We did more damage than them today," Rizzo said. Alexei Ramirez had four singles for the White Sox, who had won four in a row. Conor Gillaspie went 2 for 4 with a walk in his first action since he was activated from the disabled list Wednesday after being sidelined with a bruised left hand. The White Sox got Adam Dunn back after he missed a game due to a bruised right calf, but rookie slugger Jose Abreu was hampered by a left ankle injury. Abreu, who is off to a terrific start with 12 homers and 35 RBIs, hobbled down the line each time he put the ball in play. "He just seemed like he was limping a little bit tonight, thats why in the end there I (took) him out," said manager Robin Ventura, who had Marcus Semien hit for Abreu in the ninth.dddddddddddd"But he says hes fine." Abreu did not speak with the media after the game. The Cubs jumped on Scott Carroll (1-2) for four runs in the third, sending 10 batters to the plate. Luis Valbuena singled in Kalish before Rizzo hit a drive to centre for his seventh homer. Lake added a bases-loaded walk to make it 4-2. Rizzo also walked and scored when Castro connected in the fourth. Castro went 1 for 15 with two walks during the Cubs losing streak. Carroll departed after Olt and Lake started the fifth with consecutive singles. The 29-year-old rookie was charged with 11 hits and six runs after he pitched well in each of his first two major league starts. "It was just a situation where I didnt have my best stuff tonight," Carroll said. "I left a few pitches up when I obviously didnt have the ability to do so. Kind of just fighting it the whole time." The White Sox got two runs back in the fourth on RBI singles by Gillaspie and Tyler Flowers. But five Cubs relievers combined for five innings of one-run ball after Jake Arrietas shaky outing. Brian Schlitter (2-0) got five outs for the win. Arrieta allowed four runs, three earned, and nine hits in four innings. He pitched 5 1-3 scoreless innings in a no-decision against St. Louis on Saturday in his first start of the season. NOTES: White Sox ace Chris Sale (left arm) felt fine after throwing a bullpen session Wednesday, and Ventura said the left-hander probably will throw again on Saturday. "Hes progressing. He doesnt feel anything," Ventura said. "In talking to him, he says everything feels good." Ventura said he thinks the team will have a better idea this weekend about a rehab schedule for Sale. ... Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said Jeff Samardzijas 126 pitches on Monday night "is just a story that should probably die." He said the front office, Renteria and Samardzija are all on the same page. ... The Cubs send RHP Jason Hammel (4-1, 2.43 ERA) to the mound when they open a weekend series at Atlanta on Friday night. RHP Julio Teheran (2-2, 1.80 ERA) is slated to pitch for the Braves. ' ' '