European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 29, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse Thursday july 29,1993 sports the stars and stripes Page 27 celtics mourn kind gentle Leader by Howard Ulman Boston a Dave Gavin spoke quietly. Chris Ford spoke not at All. The Boston celtics family was United in trag Edy once again mourning the death of a gentle person and great athlete. Members of that family sought Comfort in each other tuesday night after one of its youngest members team Captain Reg Gie Lewis died. Some gathered at team offices. Larry Bird and others seeking a Way to Cope with their loss called in from out of town. It s a time of incredible grief for everyone in our organization Gavitt the celtics senior executive vice president said at a late night news conference. Ford the team s coach stood behind him in silence his drooping eyes showing his grief. Five other club officials spread out beside Ford none of the six changing their grim expressions As Gavitt spoke for 73 seconds. Red Auerbach the team s president and patriarch was Home in Washington recuperating from heart bypass surgery. The Man who took great Pride in the number of sex celtics who remained close to the organization issued a statement through the club. Those of us who knew him Well knew a warm kind gentle and generous per son Auerbach said. Boston s first round draft pick in 1987, an amiable Young Man whose ego never grew with his Success was gone at the age of 27. The celtics top pick in 1986, Len Bias died of a cocaine overdose two Days after being drafted. Their top pick in 1988, Brian Shaw lost his parents and sister in a car Accident outside Las vegas last june 26. Lewis was the team s representative at the Shaw funeral. Standing at a Battery of microphones an hour before Midnight Gavitt supported himself with his left Arm on a chair. We be lost a very treasured member of our family he said. We be had peo ple who work for us and players and coaches flood Back into our office tonight because they did t know where else to go of what else to do or what else to think or what else to say. Some went to the Hospital when they heard the he finished and the group shuffled out of the room. Gavin patted head scout Rick Weitzman on the Back. Assistant coach Jon Jennings put his Arm around general manager Jan Yolk. The always upbeat . Carr the Boston celtics Captain Reggie Lewis reacts after collapsing during Aba playoff action against the Charlotte hornets on april 30. April team s director of Community relations lowered his head. Usually cheerful Public relations chief Jeff Twiss was distraught. Lewis was going through a Light shoot ing workout when he was stricken. He had worked out occasionally since he collapsed during a playoff game april 29, he first was diagnosed with a career threatening heart ailment then with a nerve disorder that gave him new Hope of returning to the Aba. But late tuesday afternoon he col lapsed again on the Brandeis University court. He was pronounced dead at 7 30 . Not. He was a great athlete former celtic Dave Cowens said at Walt Ham Wes ton Hospital where Lewis was taken. He was one of the Guys who bucked the Odds and became a professional two weeks ago at a nearby court in the same building where he collapsed Lewis had watched in Street clothes As his teammates and aspiring celtics scrim Maged at their Rookie free agent Camp. He did t participate in the workouts and politely declined comment to report ers. It s the of season and the players off season regimens Are theirs to Deal with Gavitt said at the time but he seems on tuesday night Gavitt said the Only thing i can say is that our hearts Are very heavy tonight for Reggie Lewis and his family. Reggie Lewis was obviously an out standing basketball player but Reggie Lewis was an outstanding human being a gentle kind wonderful considerate Guy who just had so much to give to the City of Boston in a nearby team office copies of newspaper stories about a Spokane wash., doctor recommending that Lewis never play again were scattered beneath a desk. From Washington d.c., Auerbach said this is a terribly sad moment for All of us in the celtics family. Reggie s infectious smile and joyous love of Basket Ball were always evident to All of us who were fortunate to have seen him play. All of us will miss 2nd opinion May have Cost Lewis his life Byro Gloster Boston a one group of tors told Reggie Lewis he had a serious heart condition. Another specialist said he had a minor nerve problem and a Normal athlete s Lewis chose to believe the second opinion and it May have Cost him his life. Despite doctors and teammates urging him to seek further advice. Lewis re turned to the basketball court tuesday and died after suffering a Complete cardiac arrest while shooting death of the 27-year-old Captain left Many unanswered questions about the wildly differing diagnoses and about How a Man who devoted his life to a physically demanding sport could have died during a Light was leading the celtics in scor ing and appeared to be in Good health before collapsing during the frenetic first period of an april 29 playoff game against Charlotte. He returned briefly to the game but continued to have trouble catching his breath. He was taken to new England Baptist Hospital and spent the weekend under going tests. Following analysis of the re sults by 11 cardiologists Lewis was told he had a serious heart ailment. The celtics released a statement say ing Lewis had cardiac abnormalities and team physician Arnold Scheller said Lewis had a life threatening condition and probably would not play again. But Lewis abruptly walked out of the Hospital in the Middle of the night and checked into nearby Brigham Ana women s Hospital after another week of tests or. Gilbert Mudge said Lewis had a nerve condition that confused the Sig nals telling the heart whether to Speed up or slow said the condition was treatable and should not prevent Lewis from resuming his career. Mudge based his results in part on a tilt test in which Lewis was strapped to a table that was suddenly raised. Lewis said he Felt lightheaded during the test much As he had during the april 29 game and that helped Lead Mudge to conclude Lewis did not have a cardiac was ecstatic and said be planned to play again. But doctors from the Origi Nal group that examined Lewis questioned Mudge s techniques and conclusions focusing on the tilt test As an unreliable indicator. Lewis was thrown into the Center of what his agent. Peter Roisman called a medical crossfire As doctors sniped at each other Over the differing diagnoses. The controversy Over Lewis condition was reignited last week when a doctor in Spokane wash., told Boston reporters he had a patient with a similar Case who went into cardiac arrest after being cleared to resume playing basketball. Or. David Oakes warned that Lewis second opinion was based on tests such As the tilt test that matched those he had Given to his patient and suggested Lewis would be taking a risk by returning to the court. Doctors involved in the Lewis diag noses could not be reached for comment tuesday night. But Mudge told a reporter for the Boston Globe earlier in the Day before Lewis collapsed and died that Lewis was progressing Well. Reggie is doing Fine. He is working out at Nis own Pace Mudge told the newspaper. He is doing the things he usually does at this time of year to get ready for basketball and i think you will see within the next two weeks that he will accelerate his program. I expect him to begin playing Basket Ball and doing All the things that player do to get ready for the
