[mizenkay]

KC JOHNSON

ORLANDO -- Caution and concern have replaced the early optimism that characterized the Bulls' reaction to Eddy Curry's irregular heartbeat.

The Bulls released a statement Thursday saying results from tests performed over the last week had been inconclusive and Curry would undergo further evaluation by specialists in Boston and Minnesota.

His playing availability is uncertain, but team officials are preparing to go without Curry for the final eight regular-season games and possibly the playoffs.

....

General manager John Paxson said as recently as Tuesday that having Curry play limited minutes Friday night against the New York Knicks was possible. Through a team spokesman, Paxson declined to answer questions Thursday, but he did comment in the statement.

"I've said from the beginning that we were going to be extremely thorough in this matter, and that has not changed," Paxson said. "Eddy has been evaluated by the best doctors in the field and continues to do so.

"Our first priority is Eddy's health, and we are going to be absolutely certain we have all the answers we need before he returns to the court."

The court is where an interesting dynamic remains.

On the one hand, the Bulls are 10-1 in their last 11 games and sit in fourth place, good enough for home-court advantage in the Eastern Conference playoffs. On the other, each game seems to bring a new injury or problem to a team that continues to show mental fortitude.

...

Perhaps the hardest part is the Bulls are playing meaningful games in April and into May, and Curry, who has known only losing as a pro, is missing them. He committed himself to getting into good physical condition over the summer and played big in big games several times this season.

The payoff, however, might not be there. Curry, the Bulls' leading scorer, will miss his sixth straight game Friday night.

The original plan called for Curry to work out Tuesday and Wednesday at the Berto Center while wearing a monitor to track his heart's rhythm and electrical activity. Those plans were shelved as the team awaited results from a CT angiogram performed Monday to monitor blood flow.

Team officials weren't talking Thursday, but it is possible medical personnel didn't like the results from that test.

It's easy to understand why the Bulls are being cautious with a player in whom they expect to make a multimillion-dollar investment this summer.


"There's no question we miss Eddy," Skiles said. "I'm not trying to minimize that. But this doesn't change a whole lot how we do things. We're so late in the game now, we can't just all of a sudden leave the page and start trying to do things and make up for somebody's loss. We just have to play the other guys in his spot."
...

"The mental toughness of our guys really has been extraordinary this year, no doubt about it," Skiles said.

 

[UMfan83]

*vomits all over*

I had a feeling from the moment we first heard about this heart problem that this was the case, but this is the first time I've seen a suggestion in writing. It would be a shame to not be able to see this team finish what they started, but I hope Eddy's OK.

I swear though, these injuries feel like the Cubs last year

 

[BG7]

Like I said, Eddy was cleared to play basketball by the doctors at RUSH/RUSCH however you spell it. I know that Paxson wants them to do as much testing as possible to make sure nothing happens to Eddy, but I think that the Bulls are just sending on a quest of doctors where the doctors will be searching for something that isn't there anymore. Like said in the past week, Eddy's heart problem has dissipiatated, its gone. I know Eddy will be a big contract for the Bulls next year and they want to be careful, but the guy has been cleared to play baksetball by his doctor, and they said the problem was no more. They just need to get Eddy back on the court, in limited play until he is doing normal and can play full time.

 

[El Chapu]

Obviously something is wrong with Eddy. This "inconclusive" shi* shows that. And that they are taking him to Minny and Boston confirms it.
This is going to be such an anticlimatic ending....

:curse:

 

[Greg Ostertag!]

While irregular heartbeat problems, I always thought they were pretty easy fixed. One of our football players here in Australia collapsed on-field due to his problem, had surgery during the week, and was good to play the following week.

 

[BG7]

While irregular heartbeat problems, I always thought they were pretty easy fixed. One of our football players here in Australia collapsed on-field due to his problem, had surgery during the week, and was good to play the following week.

The problem I have with this whole thing is that Eddy was already cleared to play basketball by the doctors at RUSCH. Paxson even said that Eddy would be able to play light minutes tommorow against the Knicks but then chose to keep him out. The doctors said the problem dissapeared. So why extra tests and 2nd opinions?

 

[GB]

They just said on channel 5 that he's going to Boston and Minnesota for more testing.

I now fear for his career, not just this season. Chicago has the best medical communities in the midwest.

 

[mizenkay]

Like I said, Eddy was cleared to play basketball by the doctors at RUSH/RUSCH however you spell it. I know that Paxson wants them to do as much testing as possible to make sure nothing happens to Eddy, but I think that the Bulls are just sending on a quest of doctors where the doctors will be searching for something that isn't there anymore. Like said in the past week, Eddy's heart problem has dissipiatated, its gone. I know Eddy will be a big contract for the Bulls next year and they want to be careful, but the guy has been cleared to play baksetball by his doctor, and they said the problem was no more. They just need to get Eddy back on the court, in limited play until he is doing normal and can play full time.

did they call you personally to tell you this? in all seriousness sloth, this article is proof that he has obviously NOT been cleared to play basketball. of course they are being extra cautious and not just because of all the cash they'll have to lay out this summer but because they care about eddy as a human being. if he is going for a second opinion at the mayo clinic this is not just a small issue.

i feel really sorry for eddy. all the hard work to get in shape. playing great right before this happens. skiles really resonating with him. bulls in the playoffs and he misses it. first winning season for him and he is sidelined right at the end. it sucks for him.

express your feelings, that's fine, but no one thinks the information you are posting is in any way accurate.

 

[BG7]

General manager John Paxson said as recently as Tuesday that having Curry play limited minutes Friday night against the New York Knicks was possible.

How can you not infer anything from this. Read into the articles a bit more, dig into statements like these. Why would Eddy be able to play tommorow if he wasn't cleared to play? The team isn't going to talk about Eddy seriously playing without being cleared by a doctor. I think the Bulls are only going to do one of the Minnesota and Boston thing. They said Eddy's heart problem dissapeared in an article a little back. I think this is no more then a 2nd opinion thing, some quick tests tommorow or saturday in Minnesota then they will try to get him back for the Pistons game on Monday. At the latest I think that Eddy is back for the Orlando game. I think that Paxson is just protecting his asset, I doubt that Eddy is out for the season.

 

[El Chapu]

Something must be wrong, its not about this commitment thing everyone is talking. If Eddy was cleared to play, he would be practicing right now.
They have the entire offseason to monitor Eddy's situation health wise, so Paxson and co. fear something ugly *might* happen to EC if he were to play. Better not take chances with serious health issues, especially when they are heart related. Better play it safe.

 

[spongyfungy]

How can you not infer anything from this. Read into the articles a bit more, dig into statements like these. Why would Eddy be able to play tommorow if he wasn't cleared to play? The team isn't going to talk about Eddy seriously playing without being cleared by a doctor. I think the Bulls are only going to do one of the Minnesota and Boston thing. They said Eddy's heart problem dissapeared in an article a little back. I think this is no more then a 2nd opinion thing, some quick tests tommorow or saturday in Minnesota then they will try to get him back for the Pistons game on Monday. At the latest I think that Eddy is back for the Orlando game. I think that Paxson is just protecting his asset, I doubt that Eddy is out for the season.

The quote Paxson made was before the two day tests finished. Which came back inconclusive. Nothing definitive.

However he can be fine for all we know.

 

[BG7]

``I'm feeling fine and really miss my teammates, but I agree with the medical staff with regard to going through this process in a thorough, conservative, cautious manner,'' Curry said in a statement.

He wants to get back obviously, and feels fine like I said. It is just the team worrying about his health if they are going to make a huge financial commitment. The other thing is that the Bulls are probaly planning on bringing Eddy back for the playoffs or earlier. The extended tests in Minnesota and Boston over the weekend are just to help Paxson determine how much Eddy can handle when he does come back to play.

 

[El Chapu]

The extended tests in Minnesota and Boston over the weekend are just to help Paxson determine how much Eddy can handle when he does come back to play.

Well, so is he healthy or not? One thing or the other. If he cant handle it to help the Bulls as he used to do, its because theres still a problem.

 

[mizenkay]

How can you not infer anything from this. Read into the articles a bit more, dig into statements like these. Why would Eddy be able to play tommorow if he wasn't cleared to play? The team isn't going to talk about Eddy seriously playing without being cleared by a doctor. I think the Bulls are only going to do one of the Minnesota and Boston thing. They said Eddy's heart problem dissapeared in an article a little back. I think this is no more then a 2nd opinion thing, some quick tests tommorow or saturday in Minnesota then they will try to get him back for the Pistons game on Monday. At the latest I think that Eddy is back for the Orlando game. I think that Paxson is just protecting his asset, I doubt that Eddy is out for the season.

like many medical situations this can be described as "fluid" meaning the situation changed for some reason since tuesday. pax made a hopeful statement, not an inaccurate one, imo.

We're still not in possession of all the test results," Paxson said. "But we're confident he's going to be fine. Some of the delays over the weekend were because they were trying to re-create the way he was feeling so they could do a procedure to fix it. But he never went back into [arrhythmia].

"We're going to introduce him to activity and exercise [Tuesday] while he's wearing this monitor. We hope that over the next 24 to 48 hours, as he's introduced to exercise and activity, that we'll have all the data. If all things go well, he'll be playing by the end of the week. That's our hope. But obviously that can change."

tribune tuesday


they were not in possession of all the test results when he said this. now that they are, they are right to take every precaution. what is it about this you seemingly are unwilling to accept?


i hope eddy isn't out for the season. this article is just preparing us for the possiblity of that.

 

[BG7]

Well, so is he healthy or not? One thing or the other. If he cant handle it to help the Bulls as he used to do, its because theres still a problem.

Eddy from everything that he has said sounds healthy. The original tests said his heart conidtion dissipiated. It sounds like that Eddy is just going along with Paxson wanting to get more tests to gather more information. Hopefully he gets back before the playoffs and is able to play some games to get in a groove before the playoffs. If not its a damn shame that his season got ended.

 

[DHarris34Phan]

He wants to get back obviously, and feels fine like I said. It is just the team worrying about his health if they are going to make a huge financial commitment. The other thing is that the Bulls are probaly planning on bringing Eddy back for the playoffs or earlier. The extended tests in Minnesota and Boston over the weekend are just to help Paxson determine how much Eddy can handle when he does come back to play.

Of course Eddy is going to say he feels fine...He's in a contract year, and his team is in the middle of a playoff race. Any competitor would say they are "fine"...also, he may feel fine because heart condition won't hurt 24/7...it can spring up at any time....The reason that they are doing multiple tests is to see whether or not this is going to be a lingering problem...If it is a problem that needs surgery or extended medical attention to get rid of, no way should Eddy be running, let alone playing playoff basketball...

 

[mr.ankle20]

I think the bulls are doing the right with curry, look what happen to reggie lewis and the celtics

 

[madcows_playing_point]

I'm sorry, but I work in a hospital, and I know that heart problems don't just disappear. I don't work in a huge hospital, but we still have a critical care unit dedicated just to heart problems, which shows you how serious that is, considering none of our other critical care units are just for one condition. And its a general hospital, not a specialty hospital. It is in Eddy's best interest to get this as pinned down as possible, because heart problems are damn serious.
(incidently, thanks to the abbreviations that are used for certain medical conditions on patient profiles, everytime I see "CHI" I think "closed head injury", and "GSW" I think "gun shot wound".)

 

[jnrjr79]

Eddy from everything that he has said sounds healthy. The original tests said his heart conidtion dissipiated. It sounds like that Eddy is just going along with Paxson wanting to get more tests to gather more information. Hopefully he gets back before the playoffs and is able to play some games to get in a groove before the playoffs. If not its a damn shame that his season got ended.

Sloth, bud, I understand your desire to believe that your boy is totally healthy and ready to go, but you need to avoid being naive. They said earlier that his heart was no longer beatin irregularly. That is, the arrhythmia was gone. That, however, does not mean that there couldn't be some other underlying condition that could be causing the trouble. This is his HEART, man. You don't mess around with this. I hope as much as you do that he gets back as soon as possible, but you can't root for that over being certain that the guy isn't going to die or suffer serious cardiac injury from being pushed out there too soon.

The other thing you must realize is that it is in Eddy's interest to say that he is 100% recovered. He is on the brink of earning a huge paycheck and it could cost him tens of millions of dollars to come down with a serious medical condition at this stage in his career. So, the team needs to be conservative and make sure he doesn't rush himself back out there too soon. I admit that sending him to Minnesota, which I think reasonably means the Mayo Clinic, is scary. On the other hand, it certainly is a great medical institution and hopefully they will be able to give him some good answers.

 

[Frankensteiner]

Is it possible for KC Johnson to write an article without an impending sense of doom for the reader?

Anyway, if Eddy actually missed the remainder of the season, why would anyone in their right mind (especially the Bulls) offer him a high paying, long-term contract? If doctors are hesitant to clear him for such a significant portion of time, then one would have to assume that whatever condition is causing this apprehension won't just disappear for the next 6-7 years, never to be heard from again.

On a side note, and as I mentioned earlier, we are rapidly approaching Shareef Abdur Rahim territory.