75
Friday, August 20, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 5
Houston Comets star dies at age 32
The Associated Press
HOUSTON — Kim Perrot, the popular Houston Comets point guard often described as the heart and soul of the two-time WNBA champions, died Thursday of lung cancer. She was 32.
Perrot died peacefully with friends and family by her side at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, the team said.
Perrot, who was diagnosed with lung cancer on Feb. 19, had been seeking alternative treatment in Mexico after undergoing surgery Feb. 24 to remove tumors in her brain, where the cancer had spread.
The Comets were in Los Angeles on Thursday preparing for Friday night's game against the Los Angeles Sparks.
Her condition worsened during her second trip to Tijuana, Mexico, where she had been receiving alternative treatment. She returned to Houston last Saturday.
Perrot, who was a native of Lafayette, La., arrived in Houston three years ago, fresh off the professional women's circuit in Europe.
She was signed as a developmental player for the fledgling Women's National Basketball Association franchise in Houston.
Despite her 5-foot-5 frame, Perrot quickly became a starter and crowd favorite noted for ferocious play that helped the Comets win championships in 1997 and 1998, the WNBA's inaugural seasons.
Last year, Perrot averaged 8.5 points and 4.7 assists with 84 steals in 30 regular-season games and was second in voting for WNBA defensive player of the year.
In the off season, Perrot began suffering headaches. After conducting several tests, doctors delivered the startling diagnosis of lung cancer for Perrot, a non-
smoker. The cancer already had spread to her brain when it was detected.
After brain surgery, Perrot entered radiation treat attack tumors in be head
After brain surgery, Perlman ment to attack tumors in her head. She went to Mexico for alternative medical procedures rather than submit to chemotherapy prescribed by her Houston doctors.
Perrot played four seasons at Southwestern Louisiana. She scored 58 points against Southeastern Louisiana in 1990, the second-highest total in NCAA history.
Perrot set 26 school records including the career scoring mark of 2,157 points.
Despite her illness, Perrot made about 100 public appearances as a motivational speaker, often at schools.
Track community skeptical of tests
The Associated Press
SEVILLE, Spain — Primo
Nebilo seldom, mines words
With drug scandals stealing headlines on the eve of his sport's showcase event, the International Amateur Athletic Federation chief called doping a "moral cancer" that should be cured through the diffusion of a culture of honesty in sport.
"One thing I particularly want to underline," the 76-year-old Italian said. "No one can give us lessons on this matter. Our intransigence is total and goes back a long way."
The latest shock came Wednesday when 39-year-old Jamaican sprinter Merlene Ottey withdrew from the World Championships after testing positive for the steroid Nandrolone. Nebiolou admitted it was uncertain whether Ottey had committed a doping offense or whether there had been some mistake.
In the last month, Cuba's Javier Sotomayor, Britain's Linford Christie and American Dennis Mitchell also have seen their careers tarnished by positive tests.
Morocco's Hicham El Guer-
"I don't understand that in a few days four of the biggest stars in athletics were tested positive," he said. "I'm surprised and I hope there's something wrong with the analysis or something like that."
rouij, the defending world 1,500-meter champion and mile world record-holder, is hoping the tests are flawed.
American sprinter Maurice Greene, the world recordholder at 100 meters, called for blood testing at next year's 2009 Sydney Olympics.
"I would say the best thing to
i=e… to take blood," Greene said. "That's going to be the best thing to do. I can't wait until that time comes."
World 200-meter recordholder Michael Johnson was highly skeptical when asked whether he had confidence in the testing process.
"I have confidence in God and my parents," he said. "That's about the extent of what I have confidence in."
"This is a scary thing," said American 400-meter runner Jerome Young. "They need to do more research. I think there was something wrong with the machine. There are too many athletes going down."
Elliott recovers, talks of return
The Associated Press
SAN ANTONIO — Sean Elliott was tired Thursday, three days after his kidney transplant, but he said he otherwise was doing well and might return to the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs.
"I feel like I'm doing great," he said. "I'm a little tired. But other than that, I'm just excited. I just want to enjoy life, that's for sure."
Appearing in public for the first time since receiving his brother's kidney, Elliott thanked well-wishers from around the world who have sent flowers, cards and e-mail messages.
Doctors performed the transplant at the hospital Monday.
Elliott wore a golf shirt and warm-up pants while sitting in a wheelchair beside family members as he spoke with reporters in the lobby of Methodist Specialty and Transplant Hospital.
Elliott's 32-year-old brother, Noel Elliott, donated one of his kidneys, which was immediately implanted in Elliott's body.
“It’s been hard, kind of, to move,” Elliott said. “My brother gave me a giant kidney, so I’ve got this extra lump in here and it’s a little different. But it’s working really good.”
Elliott, 31, a 10-year NBA veteran who helped lead San Antonio to its first NBA title in June, needed the transplant because of a disease called focal segmental glomerular sclerosis. Doctors don't know what causes the illness, which prevents the kidneys from properly filtering waste from the blood.
Without the transplant, Elliott likely would have had to begin kidney dialysis in a matter of weeks. He said there is no way he can repay his brother for donating the kidney, which Elliott called "the greatest gift."
"I've just got to be the best brother I can and take care of what he's given to me," he said, joking that he probably would get his brother some Snurs game tickets. too
Elliott has said he would like to return to the Spurs. On Thursday, he said he hadn't thought much yet about an NBA comeback, although he didn't rule it out.
"If I feel as good and keep progressing as I have been, I'm sure I'm going to want to have a go at it. But we'll have to wait and see," he said.
This week Elliott has concentrated mostly on trying to walk around. He said he may spend some of his recovery time in Tucson, Ariz., his hometown where several family members live.
But because his doctors and treatment are in San Antonio, much of his recuperation period will be spent in Texas.
Other NBA players have called, visited or sent flowers. Karl Malone, Scottie Pippen, Detlef Schrempf and former Spurs player Vinny Del Negro have been among those offering support, Elliott said.
"Dave came by, Avery came by," Elliott said. "Avery was scared to death. I think I scared him. I had all these tubes and stuff coming out of me, so I don't think he was used to that."
David Robinson, Avery Johnson and Steve Kerr of the Spurs have visited the hospital.
Elliott urged others to follow his brother's example and become an organ donor.
"I'm just so proud of him," he said. "To be able to give a part of your body like that is just an amazing sacrifice."
'Phenomenon' aims for golds
The Associated Press
SEVILLE, Spain — Maurice Greene swaggers onto the stage like a rap star, flashbulbs popping all around him, basking in the fame that befits his status as the world's fastest man.
Greene grabs the microphone and delivers his message for the day: "Beware of the Phenomenon."
Now Greene has his sights set on another prize: three gold medals at the World Championships.
Greene is referring to himself, using a nickname that sums up the spectacular impact he has had on sprinting in the past three years, highlighted by his 100-meter world record of 9.79 seconds.
The 25-year-old American is competing in the 100, 200 and 400-meter (4 x 100) relay. Carl Lewis (1983 and 1987) and Michael Johnson (1995) are the only male athletes to win three golds at a single world.
Greene is seeking to become the first man to complete a 100-200 sprint double at the worlds, and the first at any major championship since Carl Lewis won both events at the 1984 Olympics.
The 100-meter heats are tomorrow, with the semifinals and final on Sunday. The 200 heats start Tuesday, with the semifinals Wednesday and final Friday.
"I'm just eager to get on the track and run," Greene said Thursday. "They say the track is very fast. I just want to see how fast."
In only three years of elite competition, Greene has already established himself as one of the most prolific sprinters in history.
He has broken the 10-second barrier — the standard for excellence in the 100 — 22 times, including six times this year alone. Only Namibia's Frankie Fredericks has run more sub-10 races (26), but he accomplished it during an eight-year period.
Greene entered sprinting lore June 6 in Athens, Greece, when he shattered Donovan Bailey's world record (9.84 seconds at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics) by an astounding five-hundredths of a seconds. He became the first man to run legally under 9.80 (Ben Johnson's 9.79 was erased from the books after his positive drug test at the 1988 Olympics).
While Greene looks untouchable in the 100, a gold medal in the 200 is no certainty. Greene is still learning the longer sprint and his best time this year (19.92) is behind the 19.86 run by Fredericks and Ato Boldon and the 19.87 by John Capel.
"The 200 is a challenge for Maurice," said Greene's Coach, John Smith. "It's an event he won't run a great deal, but he's real good at it. So he needs to step up in this area to become that sprinter he's always wanted to be — not only tops at the short races, but be able to go up to the furlong."
Smith said Greene had improved on and off the track since taking the '97 gold in Athens.
"He's a lot more confident in himself," Smith said. "He knows now when he puts him out there he can accomplish his goals. He's a mature competitor. He takes the sport seriously. He feels his responsibility is to carry his weight."
One of Greene's greatest assets, Smith said, is rising to the occasion at the big meets.
"He's able to push the elevator and go up to a different floor every time," Smith said. "I've seen him go higher, higher and higher. He's a wonderful architect. I'd like to know how he does it."
Dogs, Cats and New City Ordinances ...
The City of Lawrence reminds you to take good care of your pets and respect your neighbors and fellow citizens.
Use common courtesy when out and about with your animals, especially your dogs that now need to be on leashes. Keep a close eye on your cats when they are outside and be aware of the new animal control ordinances.
The City increased fines for violating the "at large" prohibitions. Owners who allow their cats off their property or dogs to run at-large (not on attended leash) face a first-time fine of $30 plus court costs.
- Pet owners must keep animals on leashes and under control when outside their own fences. Dogs on electronic collars, under control of the owner are exempt.
- Cats do not have to be restrained if they stay on their owners' property. Cats not on their owners' property will be considered "at-large" unless restrained by leashes.
- Pet owners must clean up their animals' excrement.
- Pet owners must comply with strict cruelty to animals regulations.
Persons with questions about animal control ordinances may call the animal control division, Police Dept, 832-7560. To file a complaint and request officer assistance, phone 841-7210.
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