Today on CNN.com’s main page there are two disturbing sports stories from New Zealand& Australia.

Australia:
A freak basketball accident severs a 10 year olds’ hands and one foot. The boy apparently attempted a Slam Dunk and brought down the backboard and various other structural material which in turn chopped off his hands and one foot. Luckily doctors were able to reconnect all three limbs. The boy is supposed to recover within a year and the only effects he will have to deal with is the shortening of both limbs do to the surgery.

New Zealand:
A 16-year-old apprentice jockey was dragged to his death by a runaway horse at a holiday race this past weekend. The boy fell from the horse but got his foot caught in the stirrup. The other riders tried in vain to stop the horse but were unsuccessful until the final turn.

These are two terrible stories to start with on a Monday morning and two more reasons why I will never:
a) ride a horse competitively
b) attempt to dunk a basketball.