ExNBA center Bradley reveals paralysis
Former NBA player Shawn Bradley disclosed Wednesday that he was paralyzed two months ago when he was struck from behind by a vehicle while riding a bike near his Utah home.
The statement issued through the Dallas Mavericks on behalf of the 48yearold was the first public acknowledgement of the incident involving the second overall pick in the 1993 draft by Philadelphia.
The 7foot6 former center was riding his bike about a block from his home in St. George, Utah, on Jan. 20, when he was struck, causing a traumatic spinalcord injury, the statement said. Bradley has been hospitalized since the accident, undergoing neckfusion surgery and rehabilitation.
“With his wife Carrie at his side around the clock, and supported by an amazing team of rehabilitation specialists and family, Bradley is in good spirits,” the statement said. “He plans to use his accident as a platform to bring greater public awareness to the importance of bicycle safety.”
Bradley, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, played one season at BYU in 199091 before doing two years of missionary work in Australia. Bradley was drafted after he returned.
Bradley spent the last eightplus seasons of his 12year NBA career with the Mavericks. He averaged at least three blocks per game in each of his first six seasons, including an NBAbest 3.4 the season (199697) he was traded to Dallas. Bradley’s career averages were 8.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.5 blocks.
ELSEWHERE Boston Marathon icon dies at 80
Dick Hoyt, who inspired thousands of runners, fathers and disabled athletes by pushing his son, Rick, in a wheelchair in dozens of Boston Marathons and hundreds of other races, has died at 80.
Dick Hoyt died in his sleep at his Holland, Mass., home Wednesday morning, said son Russ Hoyt, who added he “had an ongoing heart condition.”
The elder Hoyt first pushed his son, who is quadriplegic and has cerebral palsy, in the Boston Marathon in 1980. Dick and Rick, in a specialized wheelchair, completed 32 Boston Marathons together, until Dick retired in 2014.
The Boston Athletic Association, which runs the marathon, called Hoyt a legend. In 2013, a statue of father and son was erected in front of a school in Hopkinton, near the Boston Marathon’s starting line.
South Carolina basketball Hall of Famer Art Whisnant, the grandfather of world No. 1 golfer Dustin Johnson, has died at 81 after a long illness.
Whisnant played for the Gamecocks from 1959 through ’62 and was a threetime AllACC selection. He finished his career with 1,505 points (19.1 points per game), 11th alltime at South Carolina career scorers.
Sabine Schmitz, the only female racecar driver to win the annual 24hour race on the famed Nurburgring circuit (in 1996 and ’97, as part of a team driving a BMW M3) and a renowned TV personality, died at 51 after a long bout with cancer.
Soccer: Hakim Ziyech’s 34thminute goal against Atlético Madrid built on host Chelsea’s 10 firstleg lead and Emerson Palmieri netted in stoppage time to seal a 30 aggregate win to send the English Premier League side to the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
Also advancing was defending champion Bayern Munich. Robert Lewandowski netted in the first half in a 21 home win over Lazio that sealed a 62 aggregate win.
Skiing: Italy’s Sofia Goggia and Switzerland’s Beat Feuz clinched the downhill World Cup season titles without needing to put on their skis after the final races in in Lenzerheide, Switzerland were canceled because of heavy snow.