Doc: No need for DNA test Cannom says request not routine; Curry fine with 1-year deal By Marlen Garcia Tribune staff reporter September 27, 2005 The cardiologist who in June gave Eddy Curry clearance to resume playing basketball said DNA tests requested by the Bulls are unwarranted because Curry's heart is structurally sound for an athlete of his size. In a telephone interview from his Los Angeles office, Dr. David Cannom said Monday he attributed the benign arrhythmia the 6-foot-11-inch center experienced March 30—that led to an array of tests and inconclusive findings —to a magnesium deficiency and the ingestion of legal supplements with high levels of caffeine. "There's a standard being applied that wouldn't be applied if he weren't a $60 million athlete," Cannom said of the Bulls' request for genetic testing. "This is beyond clinical routine care." Curry declined to comment on specifics of his ongoing medical saga on the advice of his agent and lawyer. But he said he is satisfied with Cannom's diagnosis, especially since it was supported by two other California cardiologists in recent weeks and also was consistent with the opinion of Boston-based cardiologist Mark Estes, who examined Curry in April. The only specialist who apparently doesn't agree is Barry Maron, considered one of the world's leading experts in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. He recommended the genetic test with hopes of ruling out the condition, and the Bulls are adhering to his opinion. "There's one guy who isn't sure," Curry said. "I can live with that because of what the other doctors say." Bulls general manager John Paxson declined to comment. Last week he indicated the Bulls will compel Curry to submit to a genetic test during the team's physical exams Monday—assuming Curry accepts the team's one-year qualifying offer of $5.14 million. "I'm definitely prepared to do that," Curry said of accepting the offer. "One year, $5 million isn't the worst thing." Curry's lawyer, Alan Milstein, has said Curry again will refuse the DNA test and predicted the case will end up in arbitration. The NBA Players Association vowed Monday to back Curry. Union spokesman Dan Wasserman said the association doesn't oppose a player voluntarily agreeing to DNA testing. "But there is nothing in the collective bargaining agreement that allows a team to compel a player to undergo DNA testing," Wasserman said. "It's voluntary or it's not going to happen. And we'll back that up." Cannom pointed out that genetic testing remains an imperfect science, with a high rate of false negative results. "If there was a genetic test that could solve this thing once and for all, I might not disagree with it," he said. He said Maron, based in Minneapolis, takes a very conservative view of patients' risk. "I looked at family history and the benign arrhythmia," Cannom said of his diagnosis of Curry. "It all comes down to an interpretation of the echocardiogram and a more liberalist view. I don't think Eddy Curry is at a more serious risk than anyone else in the league." A published report in April claimed Curry's family had a history of heart trouble, but Cannom said there is no known history of such problems. Regarding the abnormalities on Curry's echocardiogram that raised concerns for Maron, Cannom said: "We did not see them. They were very minor." Cannom and Maron agree on at least one point: Curry has an enlarged heart. "[Maron] is saying it's abnormally large for someone his size; we're saying it's acceptable given the patient's size," Cannom said. Cannom said Curry's incident is being linked inappropriately to the health problems of the late Reggie Lewis and Hank Gathers, both of whom had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy when they collapsed and died. This is no [Reggie Lewis] or Hank Gathers, who had terribly diseased hearts when they died," Cannom said. Curry has been unable to secure disability insurance to cover a contract in the event of a heart-related incident. "Those mistakes have cost the field dearly and cost Eddy Curry dearly, " Cannom said. "We would never let that happen today. "That haunts John Paxson and everyone else making this decision." Cannom said Curry does not need medication but advised him to steer clear of most supplements and sports drinks with caffeine. An exception on the supplement ban is for magnesium. Curry said he is eager to play, but he seems to understand that because of the standoff on genetic testing, he probably won't be on the floor when training camp opens Oct. 4. "Whenever the beginning of the season is here for me, I'll be ready," he promised. Curry said he started playing full-court games about three weeks ago. "It got to the point where I needed to compete," he said. "I'm not worried about my heart at all. I'm worried about twisting an ankle or breaking a finger." Copyright c 2005, The Chicago Tribune http://myurl.com.tw/k8sp http://www.suntimes.com/output/bulls/cst-spt-bull27.html 主要说到关於Curry後续发展的两件事 1.球员工会也出面声援Curry 2.心脏专家David Cannom,六月份曾经替Curry证明说他打球没问题 也表示Curry不需要接受DNA test 然後如果这个议题球队跟Curry都没有取得共识的话， 将由联盟做最後的仲裁(不过看起来对Curry会比较有利) --

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