Section B · Page 4
The University Daily Kansan
Wednesdav, March 15, 2000
Spring Break
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•Drunk Driving
•Theft
•Minor in Posession
•Public Intoxication
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Spurs' player makes medical history
The Associated Press
Only Sean Elliott knew this was different, unlike anything that's been done in sports. Seven months after his kidney transplant, he was defying medical precedent in a return to the NBA.
"You have to be a little nervous," Elliott said after sinking three-pointers at the San Antonio Spurs' shootaround before their game with the Atlanta Hawks last night. "I'm really trying to kind of relax and remind myself that I've played in a lot of games."
He's been through a lot, even before the kidney trouble. He's had season-
SAN ANTONIO — He kept telling himself to relax. After all, he has been playing basketball his whole life.
ending leg injuries twice. He also has the distinction of once being traded to Detroit, for
Ellott received a kidney from his older brother Aug. 16. At first, he could walk only gingerly. He worked up to light conditioning exercises. By Feb. 2, he was able to have full-contact practices with his teammates.
But this is a piece of medical history. No
professional athlete in a major sport has returned to the game after a kidney transplant.
Detroit for Dennis Rodman
Along the way, there were setbacks. Perhaps the biggest came in
Until now.
December when he contracted pneumonia. That sent him back to the hospital and caused him to doubt his return to basketball.
But he persevered. He ended his stint as a TV commentator for the Spurs, knowing he was a player at heart — a player who wanted to rejoin the NBA champions.
"Seven months doesn't seem like a long time," he said. "I'm just pleased that I've made it this far, to be honest with you, especially with the several speed bumps I went through to get here."
Elliott had focal glomerulosclerosis, a disease that prevents the kidneys from properly filtering waste from the blood. He needed the transplant or faced the prospect of dialysis.
His brother was a medical match.
and the two underwent surgery two months after the Spurs won the NBA title.
"It's unbelievable," teammate Tim Duncan said. "But the way he's worked, to see him out here every day on the floor, that was one of his goals. To see him achieve it is great."
Doctors say the risk of injury to Elliott's new kidney, positioned in his right pelvic area, was minimal and the anti-rejection drugs were not expected to hinder his play.
Coach Gregg Popovich said the team didn't go easy on Elliott once he was given the OK to practice.
"He's obviously a true competitor," Popovich said. "He's thought this through with his family, with his physicians, and he wants this badly."
Jordan holds no magic for the Wizards
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Phil Jackson and the Chicago Bulls are coming to town. Not together, and on separate nights, but both have drawing power when it comes to one keenly interested spectator — Michael Jordan.
"I should be at both," Jordan said Monday, referring to the Washington Wizards games' against the Los Angeles Lakers tomorrow and the Bulls on Saturday.
That's a change from recent history for the Wizards' new part-owner and basketball president, who hasn't been to a game or a practice since
In New York on Monday to receive the J a c k i e Robinson Foundation's R o b i e Humanitarian Award, Jordan said he still planned to be a regular at the MCI Center, but noted that he would pick
Jordan: will attend Bulls and Lakers games
Jordan said he would attend more workouts but didn't want to be overbearing.
and choose the times.
"I don't want the players to worry about me being over their shoulders," he said. "But it is important to show the team I'm supporting them."
To hear the coach and the players talk, they hardly knew their star boss was missing.
When Jordan signed on, the goodnatured one-liner on everyone's lips was that the best way for Jordan to help the Wizards would be for him to suit up and play.
shouldn't have any bearing on the outcome of games."
"What's going to be the big difference?" point guard Rod Strickland said. "I don't know how many player-personnel directors or owners or whatever he is who goes to every game. That doesn't make a difference. We've got to go out and play when we step between the lines. Michael Jordan being there or not
Now, at least for this season, that appears to be the only way he could help them.
the feb. 24 trading deadline, the day the basketball immortal realized he was a mere front office mortal when it came to reviving a miserable team.
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The University Daily Kansan