[13][14][15] The Wall Street Journal reported that physicians "suspected that cocaine killed Boston Celtics star Reggie Lewisbut they were thwarted by actions by his family and a 'dismissive' policy toward drugs by the NBA." "He had my number that particular night.". In Game 3, with Bird unable to play because of back woes, he torched the Cavs for 36 points and seven assists. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Lewis attended high school at Dunbar High School, where he played basketball alongside future NBA players Muggsy Bogues and David Wingate. Reginald F. Lewis, 50, Is Dead; Financier Led Beatrice Takeover "He was a tough matchup," Jordan said. What kind of legacy would he have carved out in a city that had already embraced him as one of its own? "It's something that people don't like to bring up," Mr. Gaston said. If you know that somebodyused cocaine, you might think that caused it, but they might have heart damage for another reason," Dr. Gottlieb said. Lewis died at age 27 after he collapsed while shooting baskets. He never relinquished his own aggressiveness. December 29, 1998 / 10:15 PM "He had success against Jordan in other games, too," Shaw said. Following Lewis' death, questions were raised about whether he had used cocaine, and whether cocaine use had contributed to his death. October 19, 2022 by Robin. The 198384 Huskies advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament, falling one point shy of the Sweet 16 when Rolando Lamb scored at the buzzer to lift VCU over the Huskies. . Lewis denied using drugs. Reggie Lewis, all-time great Boston Celtic (1987-93) pic.twitter.com/r2dHHkgvl8, Robert Parish Said Phil Jackson Got Straight to the Point With Him After Signing With the Bulls. He said that, in cases of a damaged heart, the cause is often never discovered. The team stood to lose millions of dollars if Mr. Lewis were unable to play basketball because of drug abuse. The following day, the Celtics gathered a dozen heart specialists through New England Baptist Hospital, a dream team of doctors, according to The Boston Globe. Mr. Gavitt told Mr. Lewis' doctors that the ailing star "couldn't be forced into it." He also said he experienced guilt. His relative youth, his dedication, and his clear potential made his death all the more poignant. Recent media reports have raised questions about whether drug use weakened his heart. A drug scandal - especially coming after the death of Len Bias of a cocaine overdose in 1986, a day after being drafted by the Celtics - would be potentially damaging to the NBA and the Celtics. 2 Grizzlies, Celtics-76ers first look: What could decide the battle of East heavyweights, Pregame chats, language arts and 'a lot of fines': Inside NBA player-ref dynamics, Recipient of Basketball Hall of Fame Curt Gowdy Media Award. However, Dr. Baughman of Johns Hopkins said that through new molecular techniques, pathologists should have been able to test Mr. Lewis' heart tissue for remnants of the virus. He shocked me a little bit.. He denied it. "He was on his way to being one of the best 2-guards in the league," said friend and former teammate Brian Shaw. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. [22] The rules have since been changed so that a similar case would result in a deceased player's contract being paid by league insurance.[23]. By the time he died, he was one of six players who, from 1988-93, posted at least 7,500 points, 1,500 rebounds, 1,000 assists and 500 steals. And until she's ready to make that trip . This need became more urgent after Len Bias, the 2nd overall pick in the 1986 NBA draft, died of a cocaine overdose.[5]. [citation needed], On March 22, 1995, the Boston Celtics retired Lewis' jersey. Find a doctor at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center or Johns Hopkins Community Physicians. When a group of eminent cardiac pathologists met in Boston last year to discuss the issue of sudden death and athletes' hearts, they asked Kessler to discuss his conclusions in Lewis' death. A single dose can increase heart rate and blood pressure, narrow the arteries and cause a heart attack. "No, nobody did," Jordan said. Unfortunately, that path was cut tragically short. "Reggie was on his way to being something really special. During the ceremony, former teammate Dee Brown made a speech while two other former teammates, Sherman Douglas and Xavier McDaniel, held up Lewis' framed jersey. Get directions, important phone numbers, locations and more. Most players weren't athletic enough to literally "hang" with Jordan. The Journal quoted a doctor who consulted on the autopsy as saying that a lawyer for Lewis' family threatened to sue if anything came out about drugs. "Reggie Lewis' death was not caused by cocaine ingestion, nor was the damage to the heart at all typical of that known to be caused by cocaine usage," Dr. Richard Evans said. Each athlete will receive a cardiac ultrasound, or echocardiogram, to measure heart size and its pumping function, including blood volume, and to check for faulty valves. Among the most notable fatalities to date was Lewis, a graduate of Dunbar High School who was also African-American. She also denied the Journal's report, attributed to his doctors, that her husband refused drug tests while hospitalized. The diagnosis was that Lewis suffered from focal cardiomyopathy, a condition of the heart muscle that could cause heart failure. Lemieux punched Brett Lindros on Sunday while the New York Islander right wing was pinned against the boards. Mr. Lewis denied using drugs, but refused to allow his blood or urine to be tested. "Michael would have 37 and Reggie would have 32, so all the talk was about MJ, but Reggie was right there.". On a night when Bird had his own shooting issues (he missed 21 of his 36 shots), Lewis scored 25 and utilized his lethal first step to keep Chicago's defenders guessing. You could always tell that.". [8], The following day, Lewis checked into New England Baptist Hospital, where he underwent a series of tests by more than a dozen heart specialists, who the Celtics called their "dream team" of doctors. They shouldn't bother. That's one reason why he never used drugs. He spent a lot of time improving his game. In a single dose or over years, cocaine will damage the heart. They agreed that Mr. Lewis had a life-threatening condition called focal cardiomyopathy, caused by scarring of the heart muscle. "It's more than just very flimsy as a cause of death," he said. The center was funded partially by Lewis and has hosted major indoor track and field competitions, the Boston Indoor Games, home basketball games for Roxbury Community College, and Northeastern University track and field events. They knew Reggie Lewis was no slouch. "It's thought to be the most common cause of unexplained heart damage in young, otherwise healthy people. Here's this talented guy who had never done anything wrong, who did so much for the city of Boston, and the next thing you know, he's gone.". Lewis' coach and a teammate said they knew nothing about the reported cocaine use. Navratilova will play Julie Halard, who beat Katerina Maleeva. Notice of Privacy Practices(Patients & Health Plan Members). According to the Journal, the partnership found itself with a capital deficit of $28.1 million in the summer of 1993. Risk reduction strategies to prevent cardiac arrest include avoiding rigorous sports; taking drugs called beta-blockers that temper the heartbeat, preventing it from beating too fast; or implanting defibrillators that can shock the heart back into normal electrical rhythm. "The question of drug use is not new," said John A. Curry, president of Northeastern University, alma mater of Mr. Lewis and Ms. Harris-Lewis. Dr. Baughman said a diagnosis of cocaine use could not be made unless there was evidence of specific cocaine-induced damage to the heart -- caused by spasms in the arteries -- and evidence the person was using cocaine. Brian Shaw and Reggie Lewis planned to grow up in the NBA together. His uniform number was retired and hangs in tribute in Matthews Arena (the home of Northeastern University's men's basketball team and the Celtics' original home arena in 1946). Reggie Lewis never had the chance to keep pace. His Northeastern teams won the ECAC North all four seasons and played in the NCAA men's basketball tournament every year. BOSTON - Doctors suspected that cocaine killed Boston Celtics star Reggie Lewis in 1993, but they were thwarted by actions by his family and a "dismissive" policy toward drugs by the NBA, the Wall Street Journal reported today. "I lived with him for his first two years with the Celtics, and we went everywhere together. Oh, I remember it well, Jordan laughed, according to a 2013ESPNarticle. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing this? "When someone with his talent does that to you, you can live with it. Lewis was clean "in every way possible," Brown said. The preliminary autopsy found that Lewis' heart was "abnormal, enlarged and extensively scarred" and that "preliminary drug screenings show no evidence of drug abuse.". He slashed to the hole, ripped away offensive rebounds and seized the game by its throat. [21], After Lewis' death, the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center was opened in Roxbury, Boston. He became an NBA All-Star during the 1991-92 season when he averaged 20.8 points and 4.8 rebounds. * Medical evidence uncovered after Mr. Lewis' fainting spell in April 1993 quickly led a team of a dozen noted specialists to a diagnosis of heart scarring, and they strongly suspected it was caused by cocaine. No, nobody did, Jordan said. But after listening to the tape he made in his 1995 testimony before the Northeastern Commission, Fuchs said he reported tat Lewis did not test positive. http://www.hopkinsheart.org/clinical-services/centers-excellence/center-excellence-hcm.html, David March 410-955-1534 office; 410-598-7056 cellular; dmarch1@jhmi.edu. [citation needed], Lewis' contract remained on the Celtics' salary cap for two full seasons after his death because at the time the NBA did not have a provision to void contracts if an active player died; NBA Commissioner David Stern suggested that the remaining NBA teams should approve an exemption for Lewis' contract, but the teams refused to do so. display: none; Selanne was suspended for two games and Lemieux for three. A bad back forced Bird into early retirement in 1992. Nobody ever gave Jordan any flak over his performance that night. Marta Figueras-Dotti ended 11 years of frustration on the LPGA Tour with a victory in the Hawaiian Ladies Open at Ewa Beach. This NBA Player Died on The Court.. - YouTube The Celtics selected Lewis with the 22nd overall pick in the 1987 NBA Draft. December 29, 1998 / 10:15 PM / AP. .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { Though his cause of death was later determined to be cardiac arrhythmia, at the time of his death, there was speculation that he had been using performance-enhancing drugs. However, the league permits testing when there is "reasonable cause" to suspect drug abuse. The possibility of another one existed when the torch was passed to Reggie Lewis. On March 31, 1991, at the Boston Garden, Lewis gave Jordan a night he hasnt forgotten. The autopsy found the heart "abnormal, enlarged and extensively scarred," but there was no trace of drugs. "To me, this was an example of gutless journalism, yellow journalism -- based fully on a complete disregard for the truth. Celtics executive vice president Dave Gavitt consoles Dee Brown (left) and Rick Fox . 1998 The Associated Press. "He was a gamer. He called me literally the day he died, and I was at Jordans Furniture remember Jordans Furniture? Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Reggie Lewis's death still hurts, 20 years later. L He charged further that the article was motivated by racism. . The newspaper's report offered no proof of cocaine abuse. The most dynamic scorer in NBA history is now admitting two decades later that he was shocked by what Reggie Lewis did to him, confused by his length and made tentative offensively. I firmly believe that this is certainly a part of this article.". While not citing any direct evidence of drug use, doctors involved in Lewis' diagnosis, treatment and autopsy told the paper they suspected cocaine damaged his heart, causing him to collapse during a 1993 playoff game. One of the world's leading experts on heart viruses, however, Dr. Jangu Banatvala, told the Journal that most people carry the common cold virus dormant in their bodies, making its presence in Mr. Lewis' body meaningless. Lewis was diagnosed with "focal cardiomyopathy", a disease of the heart muscle that can cause irregular heartbeat and heart failure. After he finally got up, he looked perplexed and dazed as he headed to the Celtics bench. Doctor Knew Lewis Used Cocaine - CBS News Dr. Jeffrey Isner, a Boston cardiologist who assisted with Mr. Lewis' autopsy, called the conclusion of the Massachusetts state medical examiner's office "wildly improbable.". Shaw left the Celtics in 1994. Lewis was examined by 12 experts who concluded that he suffered from a life-threatening disease that would most likely end his career. When it happened again, this time on a pull-up jumper, Jordan became irked. . "He had those long arms that really bothered me. Dr. Stanton Kessler, the deputy medical examiner, told the Journal that he stood by his findings. The failed physical means that center Olden Polynice and forward David Wood return to Detroit. "We felt it was our duty to abide by our pledge of confidentiality," Janet Hookailo, the spokeswoman, said Tuesday. "His length confused me," Jordan conceded. That was about it," Bird told ESPN. In Game 4, he topped that with 42 points, six assists and five steals. The following day they were tested again, and finally passed. Meanwhile, the Journal reported, the Celtics' chief operating officer at the time, David R. Gavitt, was telling doctors that NBA rules prevented them from forcing Mr. Lewis to submit to drug testing. Lewis was one of the exceptions. Reward offered as manhunt for Texas shooting suspect reaches "dead end", Louisiana's health care deserts put women, babies at risk, doctors say, How a tall Texan became an unlikely Australian rules football star, Second convoy of U.S. citizens fleeing Khartoum arrives at Port Sudan, ISIS chief killed by Turkey's intelligence agency, Erdogan says, General Mills issues Gold Medal flour recall over salmonella concerns, Investors sue Adidas over Kanye West Yeezy deal, Tornado flips cars, downs trees after touching down in South Florida, Shaquil Barrett's 2-year-old daughter dies in drowning accident. "Reggie and I were really close friends," Derrick Lewis said. He blocked four of Jordans shots, shocking His Airness in the process. "Reggie was a model citizen and an intelligent and wise man. Like Sportscasting on Facebook. With young people, experts say, scarring of the heart is more often associated with cocaine abuse. The NBA's drug policy, however, does not allow its veteran players to be tested for drugs without probable cause. A Boston Celtics dynasty came to a close. Lewis attended Northeastern University in Boston. According to depositions, Lewis and his teammate Andre LeFleur first delayed taking a school-administered drug test. "It was clear the expectations for Reggie were very high at that time," Jordan said. . He spent his entire life working his hardest to make it into the N. 7 seed Lori McNeil, 6-3, 6-1. Since Reggie Lewis collapsed and died on a practice court in 1993, there have been rumors that the Boston Celtics star's death was . He shot the ball. "If there were suspicions, it was from discussions outside of the autopsy.". In a long report, the Journal said part of the answer as to why a treatable heart ailment ended in tragedy could lie in "the willingness of family members, lawyers, Celtics officials and some doctors to sidestep the possible cause of Mr. Lewis collapse.". Two Brandeis University police officers found Lewis and attempted to revive him using mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, but they were unsuccessful. . Reggie Lewis, the Boston Celtics' leading scorer who fainted during an NBA playoff game three months ago, died Tuesday night in Waltham, Mass., after collapsing while shooting baskets at Brandeis . As many as 300 young athletes from 18 teams, ranging from 14 to 18 years of age, will be examined for HCM. At a Boston news conference yesterday, the team's majority stockholder, Paul Gaston, criticized the Journal for suggesting in the Page 1 article that the team sought, for financial reasons, to cover up suspicions that drug use lay behind Mr. Lewis' illness, thereby undermining his care. You could always tell that.". After he collapsed last April in a playoff game against the Charlotte Hornets, his condition became a highly publicized medical dispute among Boston doctors. He refused. As the trio got older, Lewis got better. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "I was in Chicago when I got the news," Jordan said. Had Reggie Lewis lived, would there have been additional battles with Jordan to add to the highlight reel? January 14, 2010- To this day, it still shocks former Dunbar High School basketball coach Bob Wade when he thinks back to June 1993, when he first heard that his star former student, 27-year-old Reggie Lewis, 67 and 195 pounds, the top scorer and center for the Boston Celtics, had suddenly collapsed and died during basketball shoot-around. "For something like this to come out to just tarnish an image, it doesn't even have to be true. The Tragic Death of Reggie Lewis: Boston Celtics Championship History Reggie had no choice but to learn to wait on greatness. Lewis had worn the number 35 for his entire career. display: block; Andy Neuer won his first Professional Bowlers Assn. [1] At the age of 27, Lewis died while still a member of the Celtics, and his number was posthumously retired by the team. He was just 27. "It was so surprising, so sad. Lewis death shocked the world. Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish, 17-part series on the Celtics championship history. Follow us on Twitter @sportscasting19 and subscribe to our YouTube channel. There were a few guys in the league I hated to guard because you didn't know what they were thinking. As ESPN reports, on July 27, 1993, Lewis collapsed on the basketball court during a practice at Brandeis University, just outside Boston.The All-Star was pronounced dead two hours later. "When Reggie first came into the league," Bird told me, "he really didn't know how to play the game. The next time, he became concerned. An electrocardiogram, or EKG, to assess the hearts electrical rhythms will also be given. "[19][20] Also, Lewis's heart tissue tested positive for adenovirus during his autopsy. "I don't give a damn what people say. A doctor defending himself against a malpractice suit in the death of Boston Celtics star Reggie Lewis said Lewis told him he had used cocaine, according to court . "So it comes down to detective work, depending on age of person and what else you see, you would make that determination. Experts estimate that one in 500 Americans has undiagnosed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. When Reggie Lewis collapsed and died on July 27, 1993, at the age of 27, he was already a husband, a father, a community leader, an NBA All-Star and a Celtics captain. Lewis got another, more satisfying opinion and was diagnosed with a non-fatal condition called neurocardiogenic syncope. He then began working out later that summer, preparing for the 1993-94 season. Our experts predict every series, 2023 NBA playoffs: Second-round series, Finals, MVP odds, 'He looks better than ever': Why the Orlando bubble was 'just the beginning' for Jamal Murray, Memphis wasn't 'fine in the West' -- getting there hinges on massive culture questions, 'Help the bear': LeBron James trolls Dillon Brooks, Memphis Grizzlies, Why the Lakers' real test begins now, after dispatching the No. Follow @TIME. That was about it. The 24-year-old daughter of former Celtics great Reggie Lewis never met her father, born a few months after his tragic and untimely death 25 years ago. He died too young, too soon, under murky circumstances that left more questions than answers. He also told him that "cocaine is the only thing that would explain what we are seeing." The cause of the former Dunbar High School star's first fainting spell and his eventual death was the subject of public medical debate from the beginning.
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