ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Should NBA teams be allowed to run DNA tests on players to identify medical problems? I say YES. Because of the huge amounts of guaranteed money they are investing in a player they have legitimate need to know of any potential medical problems. What do you think?
Updated: Sep. 30, 2005, 12:38 PM ET
Stern backs Bulls in DNA testing of Curry
NBA commissioner David Stern told SI.com he understands both sides of the Eddy Curry DNA testing controversy, but he said he doesn't see any harm in a team asking for the test, given the financial commitment given to the player.
<!--------------------------START PLAYER CARD------------------><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0 vspace="5" hspace="5"><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width=8></TD><TD width=200 bgColor=#ecece4><!---------------------HEADSHOT TABLE STARTS HERE---------------------><TABLE cellSpacing=6 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=2>[SIZE=-1]Eddy Curry[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-2]Center[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]
Chicago Bulls[/SIZE]
</TD><TD width=65 rowSpan=2>
</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD width=67>[SIZE=-2]Profile
[/SIZE]
</TD><TD width=68></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!---------------------HEADSHOT TABLE ENDS HERE---------------------></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD width=8></TD><TD width=200 bgColor=#ecece4><TABLE cellSpacing=4 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width=190 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top align=middle bgColor=#ae5a00><TD colSpan=6><CENTER>2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS</CENTER></TD></TR><TR align=right bgColor=#bcbcb4><TD width="17%">[SIZE=-2]GM[/SIZE]</TD><TD width="17%">[SIZE=-2]PPG[/SIZE]</TD><TD width="17%">[SIZE=-2]RPG[/SIZE]</TD><TD width="17%">[SIZE=-2]APG[/SIZE]</TD><TD width="17%">[SIZE=-2]FG%[/SIZE]</TD><TD width="17%">[SIZE=-2]FT%[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR align=right bgColor=#bcbcb4><TD>[SIZE=-2]63[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-2]16.1[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-2]5.4[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-2]0.6[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-2].538[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-2].720[/SIZE]</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!---------------------INLINE MINI-PLAYER CARD ENDS HERE--------------------->
The Chicago Bulls want to test the 22-year-old center who has been sidelined since March with heart arryhythmia, to see if his medical condition could be fatal. Curry has been negotiating a new contract with the team and declined the test on the grounds that it would enable the team to search for other pre-existing medical conditions that could hurt the value of his contract.
Stern suggested to SI.com that the teams do the testing in rookie camp: "Let's put it back in rookie camp. If you're thinking about drafting a player, you do blood [tests], you do X-rays, skeletal, you look for scars, for breaks, for weaknesses, for disease. I don't know what you would be looking for with DNAs, but given the size of the contract and the importance of the draft pick, I think that diagnostic testing that tells you whether you're making a good investment is not a bad idea."
Stern also said safeguards should be in place to ensure the results of DNA testing are controlled by the player.
"Always," Stern told SI.com. "It should only be dispersed with the consent of the player. I guess the player, for limited purposes, can make it available to the team, but I'm a firm believer in medical privacy."
If the Bulls and Curry cannot come to an agreement on the testing, the conflct may end up in arbitration with the players union representing Curry, SI.com said.
The Bulls are scheduled to report for training camp next week.
<!--end leftcol -->http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2176913
Updated: Sep. 30, 2005, 12:38 PM ET
Stern backs Bulls in DNA testing of Curry
NBA commissioner David Stern told SI.com he understands both sides of the Eddy Curry DNA testing controversy, but he said he doesn't see any harm in a team asking for the test, given the financial commitment given to the player.
<!--------------------------START PLAYER CARD------------------><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0 vspace="5" hspace="5"><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width=8></TD><TD width=200 bgColor=#ecece4><!---------------------HEADSHOT TABLE STARTS HERE---------------------><TABLE cellSpacing=6 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=2>[SIZE=-1]Eddy Curry[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-2]Center[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]
Chicago Bulls[/SIZE]
</TD><TD width=65 rowSpan=2>
[/SIZE]
</TD><TD width=68></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!---------------------HEADSHOT TABLE ENDS HERE---------------------></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD width=8></TD><TD width=200 bgColor=#ecece4><TABLE cellSpacing=4 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width=190 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top align=middle bgColor=#ae5a00><TD colSpan=6><CENTER>2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS</CENTER></TD></TR><TR align=right bgColor=#bcbcb4><TD width="17%">[SIZE=-2]GM[/SIZE]</TD><TD width="17%">[SIZE=-2]PPG[/SIZE]</TD><TD width="17%">[SIZE=-2]RPG[/SIZE]</TD><TD width="17%">[SIZE=-2]APG[/SIZE]</TD><TD width="17%">[SIZE=-2]FG%[/SIZE]</TD><TD width="17%">[SIZE=-2]FT%[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR align=right bgColor=#bcbcb4><TD>[SIZE=-2]63[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-2]16.1[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-2]5.4[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-2]0.6[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-2].538[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-2].720[/SIZE]</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!---------------------INLINE MINI-PLAYER CARD ENDS HERE--------------------->
The Chicago Bulls want to test the 22-year-old center who has been sidelined since March with heart arryhythmia, to see if his medical condition could be fatal. Curry has been negotiating a new contract with the team and declined the test on the grounds that it would enable the team to search for other pre-existing medical conditions that could hurt the value of his contract.
Stern suggested to SI.com that the teams do the testing in rookie camp: "Let's put it back in rookie camp. If you're thinking about drafting a player, you do blood [tests], you do X-rays, skeletal, you look for scars, for breaks, for weaknesses, for disease. I don't know what you would be looking for with DNAs, but given the size of the contract and the importance of the draft pick, I think that diagnostic testing that tells you whether you're making a good investment is not a bad idea."
Stern also said safeguards should be in place to ensure the results of DNA testing are controlled by the player.
"Always," Stern told SI.com. "It should only be dispersed with the consent of the player. I guess the player, for limited purposes, can make it available to the team, but I'm a firm believer in medical privacy."
If the Bulls and Curry cannot come to an agreement on the testing, the conflct may end up in arbitration with the players union representing Curry, SI.com said.
The Bulls are scheduled to report for training camp next week.
<!--end leftcol -->http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2176913
