Wrigley Field is a bad ballpark that draws a bad crowd, and I even hate the Cubs announcers (even Bob Brenly, just because.)No matter what I do, I just can’t seem to like the Cubs.All in funFrom time to time, I struggle to explain away my friend’s reasoning; am I no better than anyone else with prejudices? But then I realize: it’s baseball. More than that, it’s sports.Spurs fans will always hate the Lakers. Bulls fans still carry a hatred of the Pistons after the “Bad Boy” era of the 1980s Cubs fans can’t like the Cards, and vice versa. Let’s not even mention college teams (I hate everyone in the Big Ten except Illinois and Northwestern, by the way.) There will always be rivalries in sports, especially baseball, and that’s what makes the game what it is.While not everyone feels the way I do, I know plenty of Cubs fans who feel a good amount of vitriol towards the White Sox, if for nothing else than the fact that we take a lot of pleasure in finding different ways to remind them of our recent World Series triumph. That’s a good thing: fan rivalries make sports exciting.When the time comes this summer, the colors of both teams will be flying in earnest as the White Sox and Cubs lock it up once again. It’s a beautiful thing as Chicago turns it’s attention to the city’s oldest sports rivalry; as Sox radio broadcaster Ed Farmer said, “Cubs and Sox; it doesn’t get any better than this.”Look for me outside Wrigley on Waveland Avenue for the Saturday afternoon game, with my lawn chair and radio.
It’s one of the only things I enjoy about “that other side of town.”Until next time, keep waving the Pennant.. GAINESVILLE, Fla.–(Business Wire)–Banyan Biomarkers, Inc. today announced initiation of a multi-center, clinicalfeasibility study designed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Company`sproprietary protein biomarkers, in detecting mild or moderate traumatic braininjury (MTBI). Banyan Biomarkers` study will test a panel of biomarkers in bloodfrom several hundred MTBI patients The U.S.
Department of Defense is providingfunding to the Company to support the study. The results of the MTBI study willbe submitted to the FDA in preparation for an Investigational Device Exemptionpivotal trial. Ultimately, Banyan Biomarkers` goal is to receive FDA approvalfor the Company`s biomarkers to be used as in vitro diagnostic blood tests fordetecting mild to moderate brain injury. The decision to fund the MTBI clinical study is based on positive data from anongoing interim analysis currently being conducted by Banyan Biomarkers toassess the sensitivity and specificity of biomarkers in detecting and managingsevere brain injury The U.S. Department of Defense also funded BanyanBiomarkers` severe brain injury study. Of the 1.5 million traumatic brain injuries sustained annually in the UnitedStates, at least 75% are MTBI, also known as concussion. Physicians havedifficulty diagnosing concussions since magnetic resolution images (MRI) andcomputed technology (CT) scans typically do not reveal concussions.
Gary Ascani, President and Chief Executive Officer, Banyan Biomarkers, Inc.,commented, “Since there is currently no FDA cleared blood test to detecttraumatic brain injury, Banyan is very gratified that the U.S. Department ofDefense continues to fund our important work in this area. The military`s needfor a rapid diagnostic test for use in accurately evaluating our injuredsoldiers will also provide an important tool needed by doctors treatingcivilians in the emergency room.” Banyan Biomarkers is the leader in developing in vitro diagnostic products toaddress unmet clinical needs for the detection of traumatic brain injury. TheCompany is focused on developing a simple point-of-care blood test that will beused by physicians to detect the presence and severity of brain trauma andimprove the medical management of head injured patients. Banyan Biomarkers has alicensing agreement with the University of Florida for exclusive global use oftechnology related to this product. To learn more about Banyan Biomarkers, Inc.,visit http:// Banyan Biomarkers, Inc.Gary Ascani, President andChief Executive Officer, Copyright Business Wire 2009.