Archive: It's about Heart, Literally

Eddie Curry is a 6’11 and 285 pounds and knew from an early age that he was destined for the NBA.

The superstar-in-waiting was watching his dreams come true when in 2001 when he was drafted by his hometown team, the Chicago Bulls.

After growing pains hampered Curry’s production his rookie and sophomore campaigns, the numbers started to come along. Those whispers debating whether Curry was the second coming of a young Shaquille O’Neal once again filled NBA locker rooms. Then disaster struck. While going on to average 16 points and 5 and half rebounds per game in the 2004-2005 season Eddy Curry’s world was turned upside down.

With the surprising “Baby Bulls” (coined for their youth movement) storming onto the Eastern Conference playoff seen they looked to jump on the young big man’s back. Only one problem, Eddy Curry wasn’t there.

Curry was diagnosed with an irregular heart-beat for the second time that season. Although doctors were unsure of the problem it could be very possible that Curry is susceptible to a potentially fatal heart problem. He missed the last 14 games and his contract had run out with the Bulls.

Now this is where the story takes a turn from a flawed center hitting the free agent market, to a story which has national and potentially global repercussions. During contract negotiations the Chicago Bulls requested that Eddy Curry take a full DNA test to access his potential risks of heart disease amongst other ailments. This contentious issue provided all the fuel to draw intellectuals both in sports and others into heated debate.

Needless to say Curry declined citing this test as an invasion of privacy.

Jim Paxon, the general manager of the Bulls and the man who requested the test came under heavy criticism from the national media. “I've taken a beating from a lot of people saying I was wrong to requesting that [DNA test],” Paxon said. “But I don't think I was. In my heart, I would never put anyone in jeopardy. If this was a child of mine, I would have done the same thing."

Does Paxon have a point? Well he does have the law on his side. Illinois is one of only 10 states that has no statutes against DNA testing by employers and insurance companies. He insists that the test was requested out of just concern for the Curry and his future as it was to backcheck a potential investment. They even offered Curry 500,000 dollars a year for the next 50 years if he failed.

The stages were set for controversy to come to a head as niether side was willing to compromise. However, just as onlookers awaited a precedent setting decision, Eddy Curry was abruptly traded to the New York Knicks as the trophy piece of the 5-player deal.

Now the story moves on to New York where it is illegal to request a DNA test from employees. Curry signed a 5-year deal worth 60 million and at much as 10 million of that is guaranteed regardless of how many games he plays for the Knickerbockers.

Eddy Curry avoided a potentially career threatening DNA test with his move from Chicago to New York. However, is he still stuck in a potentially life threatening dilemma? Only time will tell because there will be no such test results.Eddy Curry has appeared in 14 games with the New York Knicks averaging 12 points a game.

A Writer's Response

Earlier this year Jason Collier, a center for the Atlanta Hawks died after he had trouble breathing in his home. He was 28-years-old.It was later suspected that Collier's death was caused by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The same condition that took the lives of other former NBA players Reggie Lewis and Hank Gathers. This condition does show up in a DNA test. The same DNA test that arythmia-stricken Eddy Curry has refused to take.

Eddy Curry could be in a life threatening situation only he does not know it. Curry declined to take a DNA test because a failing outcome would ultimately affect his value as an NBA player. Even if he is deamed currently healthy, his potential risks for heart disease in the future will become public discourse. A fact which will play an unavoidable role in everything from an NBA contract to a life insurance policy. There is no doubt about it, Eddy Curry has a lot to loose by taking the DNA test.However there is little doubt that Eddy Curry may have more to lose by not taking the test, his life.

If Curry is diagnosed with a heart diease or even an elevated risk to heart disease he can begin the process of risk management. By taking medication and possibly changing his lifestyle, Curry could potentially avoid detrimental heart complications. If it goes undected he may be putting his life in jeoperdy.

Curry has millions of dollars at stake, is it worth it?