Shaq Out for a While According to the LA Times, Shaquille O'Neal's season got a little shorter again, and the Lakers' might have grown a little longer, though not as long as they feared. O'Neal will sit out at least the next two games because of a strained right arch, a diagnosis made Thursday by foot specialist Dr. Phillip Kwong. While Laker officials privately worried that O'Neal had suffered a stress fracture, which would have ended his season, an MRI and CT scan found no such structural irregularities. The tests also ruled out a torn ligament or tendon as the source of O'Neal's pain. 'I think it's good news,' O'Neal's agent, Leonard Armato, said Thursday night. 'He sees a clear path toward coming back and playing.' At the same time, Armato said, 'The doctor indicated at least a week and then more evaluation. It's important that he not rush back. This can be prolonged if he came back too quickly.' Which means, for all intent and purposes, Shaq will not be playing in this year's All-Star game. It was determined that O'Neal suffered the injury because of the frequent pounding taken by his size-22 feet, and because they naturally roll toward his arch upon landing. He was fitted Thursday for an orthotic piece for his right shoe, a device doctors hope will cushion and support the arch. 'This will be good for the guys,' O'Neal said. 'They should know how to play without me.' -------------------------------------------- Does this mean that Steve may still have a chance? ------------------ http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/houstonrockets2000
Sorry it was late at night, here it is: http://www.latimes.com/sports/nba/lakers/20010202/t000009826.html ------------------ http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/houstonrockets2000
