It's our boy Peter Vescey. First of all, really great point he makes about Curry following the death of Jason Collier. I highlighted the Pacers section.
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October 16, 2005 -- Hoop du Jour HAD Jason Collier known he might be acutely susceptible to a heart attack, do you think the 28-year-old Hawks center who died suddenly at 5 a.m. yesterday — of what was initially suspected to be cardiac arrest — would've hurdled at the opportunity to take a non-invasive DNA test in hopes of tapering the truth? It's one thing to have no clue about your condition; unfortunately, more is learned from an autopsy than from even a comprehensive physical administered by the best doctors NBA teams can buy, hire or consult.
It's another ball game altogether, despite warning signs, to blithely choose not to take every available examination in an effort to reduce your risk.
Earth to Eddy (What, Me Worry?) Curry: Life is fragile, medicine is an art and there are no do-overs. Think of it as a Prevent Defense. Try to imagine how little money means compared to mortality before pain ravages your chest . . . not in the midst of it.
Hank Gathers had no way of knowing what was about to hit him when he died on the floor while playing for Loyola Marymount.
Reggie Lewis had keeled over once during a Celtics game and had been checked out thoroughly before dying while practicing on his own months later.
Former Knick Monty Williams, currently a Trail Blazers assistant, was able to play in the NBA for 10 years in spite of a heart affliction that had been detected at Notre Dame.
In complete contrast, Brooklyn Tech's Conrad McRae dropped dead July 10, 2000 while playing at UC Irvine in the L.A. Summer League for the Magic. The former Syracuse center-forward's heart ailment had been diagnosed by the Nuggets' medical staff a few years prior. Denver refused to take any chances and cut him loose. Orlando allowed him to suit up once he indemnified the team by signing a bunch of release forms.
Doc Rivers was coaching the Magic at the time. A friend of mine who attended McRae's funeral in New York says he'll never forget how traumatized Rivers looked that desolate day.
Think Rivers would allow Curry to break a sweat for his Celtics unless Boston and Eddy had willingly explored every single test known to man and modern medicine?
I wonder if the Knicks still see no reason to ask Curry to voluntarily go to that, "extreme?"
At least Curry has a heads up which he and his new employer are choosing to ignore. We'll never know how Collier would've handled his situation.
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Jerry West's physical health (he has lost nearly 25 pounds) and mental state of mind (the Grizzlies have him excited) influenced the Memphis president not to call it a career after this year. It also didn't hurt, I suspect, that owner Michael Heisley showed the League Logo a lotta love by aggressively recruiting him to extend for two years for the princely price of (educated speculation) $7M per. Terms were not disclosed, but it's believed that 70 percent is going directly to West's agent, Col. Tom Parker.
By the way, word has it Larry Brown's numbers are $11M per and that's not counting every conceivable perk, including use of a helicopter or jet on demand.
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In light of Amare Stoudemire's microsurgery and four months (minimum) on the shelf, and LeBron James' illness last week, doesn't the Cavaliers' franchise player owe it to himself to sign a max contract with Cleveland the moment he's eligible? Guaranteed Isiah Thomas and the Lakers are prepared to commit any atrocity to commandeer James before or after the Cavs' rights expire following the 2007-08 season.
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By all accounts, within and outside the Pacers' camp, Danny Granger is the steal of last June's draft. Selected No. 17, the New Mexico forward had been projected as a top six pick. An un-rehabilitated leg following surgery early last season scared off the masses. Indiana doctors maintained it wouldn't be a problem with the proper strengthening and it hasn't been. People tell me they've never seen anything like Granger and Ron Artest going at each other one-on-one.
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The Nets and Knicks played last night at Bridgeport, Conn. To make this usually mundane preseason game more interesting, Lawrence Frankincense and Next Town Brown made a wager: Whichever coach won, former Connecticut Governor John Rowland would repair his house.
************************************************** *****
October 16, 2005 -- Hoop du Jour HAD Jason Collier known he might be acutely susceptible to a heart attack, do you think the 28-year-old Hawks center who died suddenly at 5 a.m. yesterday — of what was initially suspected to be cardiac arrest — would've hurdled at the opportunity to take a non-invasive DNA test in hopes of tapering the truth? It's one thing to have no clue about your condition; unfortunately, more is learned from an autopsy than from even a comprehensive physical administered by the best doctors NBA teams can buy, hire or consult.
It's another ball game altogether, despite warning signs, to blithely choose not to take every available examination in an effort to reduce your risk.
Earth to Eddy (What, Me Worry?) Curry: Life is fragile, medicine is an art and there are no do-overs. Think of it as a Prevent Defense. Try to imagine how little money means compared to mortality before pain ravages your chest . . . not in the midst of it.
Hank Gathers had no way of knowing what was about to hit him when he died on the floor while playing for Loyola Marymount.
Reggie Lewis had keeled over once during a Celtics game and had been checked out thoroughly before dying while practicing on his own months later.
Former Knick Monty Williams, currently a Trail Blazers assistant, was able to play in the NBA for 10 years in spite of a heart affliction that had been detected at Notre Dame.
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In complete contrast, Brooklyn Tech's Conrad McRae dropped dead July 10, 2000 while playing at UC Irvine in the L.A. Summer League for the Magic. The former Syracuse center-forward's heart ailment had been diagnosed by the Nuggets' medical staff a few years prior. Denver refused to take any chances and cut him loose. Orlando allowed him to suit up once he indemnified the team by signing a bunch of release forms.
Doc Rivers was coaching the Magic at the time. A friend of mine who attended McRae's funeral in New York says he'll never forget how traumatized Rivers looked that desolate day.
Think Rivers would allow Curry to break a sweat for his Celtics unless Boston and Eddy had willingly explored every single test known to man and modern medicine?
I wonder if the Knicks still see no reason to ask Curry to voluntarily go to that, "extreme?"
At least Curry has a heads up which he and his new employer are choosing to ignore. We'll never know how Collier would've handled his situation.
*
Jerry West's physical health (he has lost nearly 25 pounds) and mental state of mind (the Grizzlies have him excited) influenced the Memphis president not to call it a career after this year. It also didn't hurt, I suspect, that owner Michael Heisley showed the League Logo a lotta love by aggressively recruiting him to extend for two years for the princely price of (educated speculation) $7M per. Terms were not disclosed, but it's believed that 70 percent is going directly to West's agent, Col. Tom Parker.
By the way, word has it Larry Brown's numbers are $11M per and that's not counting every conceivable perk, including use of a helicopter or jet on demand.
*
In light of Amare Stoudemire's microsurgery and four months (minimum) on the shelf, and LeBron James' illness last week, doesn't the Cavaliers' franchise player owe it to himself to sign a max contract with Cleveland the moment he's eligible? Guaranteed Isiah Thomas and the Lakers are prepared to commit any atrocity to commandeer James before or after the Cavs' rights expire following the 2007-08 season.
*
By all accounts, within and outside the Pacers' camp, Danny Granger is the steal of last June's draft. Selected No. 17, the New Mexico forward had been projected as a top six pick. An un-rehabilitated leg following surgery early last season scared off the masses. Indiana doctors maintained it wouldn't be a problem with the proper strengthening and it hasn't been. People tell me they've never seen anything like Granger and Ron Artest going at each other one-on-one.
*
The Nets and Knicks played last night at Bridgeport, Conn. To make this usually mundane preseason game more interesting, Lawrence Frankincense and Next Town Brown made a wager: Whichever coach won, former Connecticut Governor John Rowland would repair his house.
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