AJWatson3
June-21st-2003, 06:24 AM
latest from ESPN.com:
http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2003/0620/1571035.html
Friday, June 20
Report: Bulls' Williams in intensive care after surgery
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ESPN.com news services
CHICAGO -- Chicago Bulls guard Jay Williams is listed in intensive care after undergoing pelvic surgery Friday, according to a source in a report in Saturday's editions of the Chicago Tribune.
Williams reportedly needed surgery to correct nerve damage in his pelvic area and might need reconstructive surgery on his left knee. He could also have several other procedures after crashing his week-old motorcyle Thursday afternoon.
While several team sources told the newspaper that the multiple injuries might jeopardize Williams' career, the unnamed source said he might only miss next season.
The Bulls wouldn't comment on the extent of Williams' injuries, and his family didn't return phone calls from The Associated Press on Friday.
"The last thing on our minds right now is basketball and the foremost thought on our minds is that of Jay's health,'' Bulls general manager John Paxson said in a statement Friday.
"We respect the privacy of the family and as time goes on we will be waiting for the family and doctors to report to us on Jay's status.''
Williams was riding a new Yamaha sportbike that he had purchased last week when it slammed into a pole Thursday on the north side of Chicago. The impact broke one of his legs, and a witness said she saw Williams laying about 10 feet from where his bike came to rest.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, an eyewitness was coming home from work when she arrived at the accident scene. ''He was yelling and saying, 'I can't feel my legs,''' said Alysha Grenier, 26.
Teammate Marcus Fizer said he had warned Williams of the potential dangers of riding a motorcycle.
"I told him before, that may not be something that you want to do in your career at this time. Any number of things can happen to you,'' Fizer said Friday. "I tell all these young guys who like to ride motorcycles that. A lot of them still do it, though.''
After the crash Williams was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he underwent surgery. A spokeswoman at the hospital on Friday referred all inquiries to the Bulls.
Paxson and coach Bill Cartwright visited Williams on Friday. Neither returned messages left by the AP.
"I'm not worried about the team or what this does for our future,'' Cartwright told the Chicago Tribune. "I'm just worried about the severity of his injury for his career. We just have to wait and see. Our thoughts are with him.''
Chicago Police spokesman Wayne Frisbie said officers have been unable to interview Williams because the hospital is denying them access to him.
Williams was the No. 2 pick last June out of Duke, where he was the AP college player of the year in 2002 and a two-time All-American. He averaged 9.5 points last season, and was a second-team All-Rookie selection.
Great things were expected of Williams, who was believed to be the most NBA-ready of all the draft picks. He backed that up early in the season, recording his first career triple-double with 26 points, 13 assists and 14 rebounds on Nov. 11, 2002 against the New Jersey Nets.
It was the first triple-double by a Chicago Bull since Michael Jordan in April 1997.
But Williams struggled much of the season, eventually losing his starting spot to Jamal Crawford. Williams finished strong, shooting better than 60 percent from the field in six of his last seven games when he was paired with Crawford in the backcourt, and he vowed to build on that momentum in his second season.
"I'm kind of in shock,'' Crawford told the Tribune. "Jay and I were really looking forward to playing together and making some noise next season. Like everybody else on the team, I just hope he's OK and recovers quickly.''
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2003/0620/1571035.html
Friday, June 20
Report: Bulls' Williams in intensive care after surgery
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESPN.com news services
CHICAGO -- Chicago Bulls guard Jay Williams is listed in intensive care after undergoing pelvic surgery Friday, according to a source in a report in Saturday's editions of the Chicago Tribune.
Williams reportedly needed surgery to correct nerve damage in his pelvic area and might need reconstructive surgery on his left knee. He could also have several other procedures after crashing his week-old motorcyle Thursday afternoon.
While several team sources told the newspaper that the multiple injuries might jeopardize Williams' career, the unnamed source said he might only miss next season.
The Bulls wouldn't comment on the extent of Williams' injuries, and his family didn't return phone calls from The Associated Press on Friday.
"The last thing on our minds right now is basketball and the foremost thought on our minds is that of Jay's health,'' Bulls general manager John Paxson said in a statement Friday.
"We respect the privacy of the family and as time goes on we will be waiting for the family and doctors to report to us on Jay's status.''
Williams was riding a new Yamaha sportbike that he had purchased last week when it slammed into a pole Thursday on the north side of Chicago. The impact broke one of his legs, and a witness said she saw Williams laying about 10 feet from where his bike came to rest.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, an eyewitness was coming home from work when she arrived at the accident scene. ''He was yelling and saying, 'I can't feel my legs,''' said Alysha Grenier, 26.
Teammate Marcus Fizer said he had warned Williams of the potential dangers of riding a motorcycle.
"I told him before, that may not be something that you want to do in your career at this time. Any number of things can happen to you,'' Fizer said Friday. "I tell all these young guys who like to ride motorcycles that. A lot of them still do it, though.''
After the crash Williams was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he underwent surgery. A spokeswoman at the hospital on Friday referred all inquiries to the Bulls.
Paxson and coach Bill Cartwright visited Williams on Friday. Neither returned messages left by the AP.
"I'm not worried about the team or what this does for our future,'' Cartwright told the Chicago Tribune. "I'm just worried about the severity of his injury for his career. We just have to wait and see. Our thoughts are with him.''
Chicago Police spokesman Wayne Frisbie said officers have been unable to interview Williams because the hospital is denying them access to him.
Williams was the No. 2 pick last June out of Duke, where he was the AP college player of the year in 2002 and a two-time All-American. He averaged 9.5 points last season, and was a second-team All-Rookie selection.
Great things were expected of Williams, who was believed to be the most NBA-ready of all the draft picks. He backed that up early in the season, recording his first career triple-double with 26 points, 13 assists and 14 rebounds on Nov. 11, 2002 against the New Jersey Nets.
It was the first triple-double by a Chicago Bull since Michael Jordan in April 1997.
But Williams struggled much of the season, eventually losing his starting spot to Jamal Crawford. Williams finished strong, shooting better than 60 percent from the field in six of his last seven games when he was paired with Crawford in the backcourt, and he vowed to build on that momentum in his second season.
"I'm kind of in shock,'' Crawford told the Tribune. "Jay and I were really looking forward to playing together and making some noise next season. Like everybody else on the team, I just hope he's OK and recovers quickly.''
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.