It is reported by ESPN that Paul Pierce will miss the next two weeks due to a knee infection. I have long been mystified by these "infections" that pro athletes incur. In my entire lifetime, I have had exactly one non-respiratory system infection - on a cut finger - that required me taking an antibiotic and having it "drained", and it is likely that if I had lanced and drained it myself, I wouldn't have needed that antibiotic. I have worked with my hands all of my life and probably cut myself maybe once every couple of weeks and absolutely never treat those cuts: no bandaid, no ointment.

But I keep reading of athletes having infected knees, feet, etc. that are unrelated to any cuts. How do these infecting organisms get in there, and why can't their immune systems do for them what mine does for me? It leaves me with the lingering suspicion that the athletes are taking something to enhance their performance that also weakens their immune systems.