<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Come next season, the NBA will likely become the first of the major sports leagues to standardize its physical exams. The proposed policy was created this past weekend in Houston, the site of the league's All-Star Game, where a panel of cardiologists spoke in front of team doctors. Sources told ESPN.com that, as a result of the cardiologists' recommendations, the league wants to mandate that the standard electrocardiograms (EKGs) be replaced with echocardiograms, which were being performed by a minority of teams. EKG's can detect an irregular heartbeat, while the more costly echocardiograms are ultrasounds that allow a doctor to study the size of the heart and the strength of the heart muscle. The league's action comes in response to a flurry of heart-related incidents in the league this year. Minnesota Timberwolves guard Fred Hoiberg, New Jersey Nets forward Robert "Tractor" Traylor and Los Angeles Lakers draft pick Ronny Turiaf all had offseason surgery on their aorta, the main artery that carries blood away from the heart. Then, in October, Atlanta Hawks center Jason Collier died from the affects of having an enlarged heart. NBA spokesman Tim Frank confirmed that the league had decided on a standard testing policy for players' physicals, though he would not confirm specifics. "At the annual meeting of team doctors, a panel of independent cardiologists retained by the league gave a presentation of sudden cardiac death in athletes," Frank said. "The presentation included a cardiac screening protocol that, beginning next season, will be required of all teams. The hearts of large, elite athletes differ from so-called 'normal hearts' and the panel felt that having a standardized protocol -- informed by the most up-to-date-learning -- for examining these hearts is the best thing for the health and safety of our players." It is not clear whether the NBA Players Association will have the right to object to the more testing. Echocardiograms are not only more informational than EKG's, they also take 30 minutes as opposed to mere seconds, even though they are not in any way invasive. A battery of tests was performed on Eddy Curry after he experienced an irregular heartbeat before a game last March. When the Chicago Bulls wanted to give Curry a DNA test to see if he was genetically predisposed to a certain heart condition, the union successfully objected on the basis that the test was beyond the scope of what they had ever agreed to. Curry, despite being offered a $20 million annuity by the Bulls if he failed the test, never took it, but after several doctors -- including a league doctor -- cleared him to play, he signed a six-year, $56 million contract with the New York Knicks. Union spokesman Dan Wasserman said that union officials were aware that a meeting was taking place to discuss further cardiac testing, but that there has yet to be a conversation with league officials as to the scope of the plan. While it is easy to see why teams making huge investments in these players would want all the information available to them, it's also easy to see why some players would be uncomfortable with the new level of testing. "I think it should be freedom of choice to have it done," Knicks center Channing Frye recently told ESPN.com. "Because if you want it done, that means you are going to want it known, that means you are liable for it. But more guys will say, 'I just don't want to know' and I understand why they say that. More guys have heart problems than what they lead on. If they find out, how are you going to put food on your table, not only for you, but for your family, your uncles, your aunts, your grandma." Returning to play after being diagnosed with a heart-related issue could be a challenge. Curry has seen plenty of time and without, he says, any issues. But Los Angeles Clippers backup center Zeljko Rebraca, who had surgery to correct an irregular heartbeat in November, played in only his 14th game of the season on Tuesday night. Turiaf has only played nine total minutes since his offseason surgery, while Hoiberg is still weighing whether he wants to try to become the first player in the league to play with a pacemaker. Hoiberg had two echocardiograms with the first two teams he played with the Bulls and the Indiana Pacers but during his two years with the Minnesota Timberwolves, he never had an echocardiogram. His problem was discovered when he had an echocardiogram done in order to purchase a greater life insurance policy. Turiaf's condition was discovered during an exam by the Lakers, who are currently among a select group of teams including the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks -- that give echocardiograms to all their players. </div> Source
I think it's a great thing for this league, as long as the NBA isn't too strict with its policies. If the condition isn't going to affect the player's health to the point where it's absolutely necessary that they can't play ball, then they should still be able to pass. The teams have a right to know the complete details of every player's conditions, so they know the risks and consequences of bringing that player into the team. It also wouldn't hurt that it potentially can save people's lives.
