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DAVIE, Fla. -- Brandon Marshall made a juggling, one-handed catch during a drill, drawing a loud ovation from Miami Dolphins fans in nearby sun-baked stands. A few minutes later, another spectacular grab earned him a fist-bump from coach Tony Sparano and left Marshall clapping his hands. He seemed incredibly happy. Off the field, that isnt always the case. The Dolphins wide receiver says he was diagnosed earlier this year with borderline personality disorder, which has been known to stem from things such as unstable personal relationships, a negative self-image and a fear of failure. He made the decision to go public with the issue to raise awareness, and says he plans to eventually lobby Congress for funding to assist research efforts. "For so long, Ive been just trying to get help. Ive been seeking help," Marshall said after practice Sunday during an interview session where he spoke for more than 30 minutes, the first 20 or so without taking a single question. "Ive been talking with doctors since Ive been in the NFL. No one has ever helped me. So I was praying there was a treatment out there for what I suffered from and there was." Marshall told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel for a story published Sunday that he has spent US$60,000 on treatment for the disorder, which according to the National Institute on Mental Health is "a serious mental illness characterized by pervasive instability in moods, interpersonal relationships, self-image, and behaviour." The NIMH says the disorder affects about 1 in 50 adults, making it more common than schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. "There comes a time in a guy like myselfs life, with everything that Ive been through, that you become bulletproof to the critics and to what the world thinks of you," Marshall said. "Right now, today, I am vulnerable. I am making myself vulnerable. And I want it to be clear that this is the opposite of damage control. The only reason why Im standing here today is to use my story to help others who may suffer from what I suffer from." His interview was a slightly surreal scene. First Marshall talked about the status of his marriage and how he insists his wife was unfairly labelled for whatever role she had in an incident at their home on April 22. Then he addressed the disorder, even pleading for more time although Sparano was ready for his daily question-and-answer session. Marshall was stabbed in the abdomen during a domestic dispute, and a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon was filed the next day against his wife, Michi Nogami-Marshall. Prosecutors announced Friday, a few hours after the Dolphins first practice of this summers training camp, that the charge was being dropped. Nogami-Marshall would only say that she acted in self-defence. Marshall, who was briefly hospitalized, told police that he slipped and fell onto broken glass from a vase, and said again Sunday that his wife did not "stab me with a knife." However, when sheriffs deputies said they found no blood on the broken glass, Marshalls wife was charged with the stabbing. "I wouldnt be a man if I didnt stop the villainization of my wife and tell the truth," Marshall said. "I want to thank her, just the way the she has handled not only this situation this summer but the entirety of our relationship, of our marriage. Shes handled it with grace, dignity and shes been very honourable doing it." The April incident wasnt their first public issue, either: In March 2009, Marshall was arrested in Atlanta on misdemeanour battery charges after a fight with Nogami-Marshall, who was his fiancee at the time. The charges were dropped when both refused to testify. "I am in a position where I can live an effective, healthy life," said Marshall, who said he will continue receiving weekly treatment but did not discuss in any depth the state of his marriage. His candour seemed to be supported by Sparano, though it is unusual for a pro athlete to reveal any sort of mental-health issue. Marshall said he believes the diagnosis -- after years of privately wondering why he was often depressed and unhappy -- may translate into him becoming a better football player. "Out of respect for Brandon, Im really not going to talk about that a whole lot," Sparano said. "I would just tell you that Im going to support him. Thats my job as a coach, OK, to give this young man support. And thats exactly what Im going to do." Marshall led the Dolphins with 86 catches and 1,014 receiving yards last season, his first with the Dolphins. In four seasons as a starter in the NFL, hes averaged 98 catches per season, including three straight 100-grab campaigns with Denver. The stabbing incident was just one part of Marshalls eventful off-season. He said his agent and assistant staged an intervention with him over his mental state, that he summoned a friend to begin taping his life for a documentary even though he was deeply depressed at the time, and that he prayed for help. "Youre not blessed until you bless others," Marshall said. "Theres a lot of people who suffer from what I suffer from that never had the opportunity to get the right help. Thats my purpose in life. Football, I have a better appreciation for it because honestly, it saved my life." Notes: Dolphins LT Jake Long has been placed on the physically unable-to-perform list as he continues recovering from off-season surgery. Sparano said he is not yet concerned about Longs availability for the season-opener against New England. ... The Dolphins agreed to terms with Ronald Fields, a defensive tackle who spent the last two seasons with Denver. ... First-round pick Mike Pouncey practiced for the first time Sunday with the Dolphins, getting reps as the first-team centre for much of the steamy workout. Chris Scott Jerseys . -- The Erie Otters won their eighth straight game with a four-goal outburst in the third en route to an 8-4 win over the Sarnia Sting in Ontario Hockey League play Saturday. Cam Newton Jersey Carolina Panthers . A few changes have been made this year, as RDS will no longer be producing it. Instead, the Canadiens have hired their own team of creative masterminds to produce the reality series. http://www.nflpanthersus.com/authentic-chase-blackburn-pink-jersey/ . As the lowest-ranked of nine unseeded European qualifiers, France was expected to go in the Africa-dominated draw pot — meaning it could not be placed in the same group as a top-seeded European team. Dwan Edwards Jersey Carolina Panthers . KINGS TAKE FREEWAY SERIES The Los Angeles Kings stormed the Anaheim Ducks early in Game Seven, building a 3-0 first-period lead on their way to a 6-2 decision, earning the Kings a rematch with the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference Final. Greg Olsen Jerseys . The Montreal Canadiens goaltenders dogs Motty ("short for Mozart") and Duke got loose overnight.MINNEAPOLIS -- Sitting in his office about 10 feet away from the Kansas City Royals locker room, manager Ned Yosts voice was nearly drown out by the thunderous hip hop music blaring and the full-throated cackling from his players in the next room. The young Royals have good reason to celebrate these days. Alcides Escobar tied a career high with four RBIs on two doubles and Salvador Perez homered to lift the Royals to a 6-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Monday night. "Thats what we need," Perez said. "Have some fun and play the game hard." Danny Duffy (5-7) gave up one run and four hits while striking out three in 5 2-3 innings and Mike Moustakas had two hits for the Royals. Kansas City (43-39) has won three of four and is off to its best start since 2003. "Were very confident in what we have in the tank," Duffy said. "Weve got a great offence, great lineup. The defence is always flashing the leather. When we go out there and make pitches, its going to be a good night." Yohan Pino (0-2) gave up four runs and seven hits while also striking out three in 5 2-3 innings for the Twins. Eduardo Nunez had two hits and an RBI in his return from the disabled list for Minnesota, which has lost six of its last seven games to drop into last place in the AL Central. "Weve been facing some pretty decent pitching, and I dont know if its pressing," said manager Ron Gardenhire, whose Twins went 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position. "I just know were just not getting enough big hits right now. Were not putting any runs on the board. A lot of pressure on our pitchers to be really good." The Royals entered the night 3 1/2 games behind Detroit in the division and 1 1/2 games out of the AL wild card. For a team that has been endlessly rebuilding and hasnt made the playoffs since 1985, those are encouraging numbers as the sseason reaches its midpoint.dddddddddddd They grabbed everyones attention with a 10-game winning streak that vaulted them into first place in June, but had lost seven of 10 games as the bats cooled off. The Royals signed 42-year-old Raul Ibanez on Monday, hoping he can help boost the teams scuffling offence and give a little extra support to a solid starting rotation. Ibanez broke into the big leagues with the Royals a decade ago, but hit just .157 in 57 games for the Angels this season. They had plenty of offence with him on the bench on Monday night. Pino was shaky early, getting tagged for a two-run double by Escobar in the second inning and an RBI-single from Alex Gordon in the fourth to fall behind 3-0. Perezs solo homer in the sixth ended Pinos day and the Royals took advantage of two throwing errors by second baseman Brian Dozier in the eighth, padding their lead with Escobars second two-run double of the game. "When youre not going good, youre not capitalizing on mistakes," Yost said. "When youre playing well, you do capitalize on mistakes. Thats exactly what we did tonight, which was big. Those were two big runs right there. Thats a lot of breathing room." NOTES: Twins GM Terry Ryan said prized prospect Byron Buxton is getting close to returning from a wrist injury that has kept him out for most of the season. Ryan said there still is no timetable for a return, but hed be surprised if Buxton wasnt back on the field sometime in July. ... Twins RF Chris Parmelee extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a double in the fifth inning. ... Moustakas made two stellar plays at 3B, a lunging catch on a liner by Kendrys Morales in the second and a scoop and force out at 3B to end a threat in the seventh. ... Twins RHP Ricky Nolasco (4-6, 5.74) will start the second game of the series against RHP James Shields (8-3, 3.79). ' ' '
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