Bulls, Curry and DNA testing - What do you guys think of the ethics here?

[wayniac]

I personally think this situation is ridiculous and hope Curry stands his ground. from www.espn.com Bulls operations chief John Paxson made it clear Friday the team wants Eddy Curry to take a DNA test before allowing him back on the court. And an attorney representing Curry was just as adamant that the test is not going to happen. The legal wrangling over Curry, who missed the final month of last season with an irregular heartbeat, has intensified with training camp opening Oct. 3. It appears certain Curry will play for the Bulls' $5.14 million qualifying offer and then become an unrestricted free agent next summer. At that point, it appears Curry will leave the Bulls. ''We feel if Eddy is under contract to us and accepts the qualifying offer that we have the right to ask him to do certain things to make sure he's capable of playing,'' Paxson said. The Bulls first asked Curry to undergo DNA testing in the spring when it was suggested by Minneapolis-based cardiologist Barry Maron as a way of determining whether the arrhythmia Curry suffered before a game at Charlotte March 30 was benign or a sign of a more serious condition. Curry refused and was cleared to play in late June by Los Angeles-based cardiologist David Cannom. But the NBA's insurance carrier refused to insure Curry's heart. Paxson believes the DNA test would go a long way in removing doubt by determining whether Curry is genetically disposed to cardiomyopathy, a potentially fatal condition when combined with arrhythmia. But Alan Milstein, a lawyer handling the matter for Curry, made it clear his client has no interest in taking a DNA test -- and disputes Paxson's claim that the Bulls would have a right to demand the test. ''Based on multiple state privacy laws and parenthetical federal employment laws, the Bulls have no right to demand that Eddy take the [DNA] test,'' Milstein said. ''If employers had such a right, they could require prospective employees to take tests for all sorts of pre-dispositions -- to such things as cancer and alcoholism -- and then base hiring decisions on the results from such tests.'' Paxson said the Bulls are only interested in findings related to Curry's heart condition. ''It's becoming that [by] asking him to do this ... we have some other motive,'' he said. ''The bottom line is if Eddy had not had any incident and a doctor hadn't suggested it, we wouldn't be asking for it.'' Paxson believes letting Curry play without the test would be negligent. ''The arrhythmia Eddy had is the same arrhythmia Reggie Lewis had, so it is a concern,'' Paxson said referring to the former Boston Celtics player who died from cardiomyopathy. ''Mr. Milstein can say what he wants, but we believe there is language in the collective bargaining agreement that supports us. ''We're trying to get a complete picture. I find it irresponsible for them to ask us for millions of dollars and not do everything possible to get a clear picture.'' Milstein, though, disputes whether the genetic testing would be beneficial in providing a clearer picture of Curry's condition. ''This test does not rule out anything,'' he said. ''You can also get false positives and false negatives from such a test. ''If the Bulls insist on Eddy taking the test, I'm sure the [National Basketball Players Association] will get involved and there could be an arbitration.'' The fight over the DNA test is just the latest frustration for Curry, who is said to be upset the Bulls haven't made him a long-term contract offer. ''It's a shame because Eddy is a young talent who is going to be a great player in this league -- and apparently with a team other than the Bulls after this season,'' Milstein said. NOTES: The Bulls officially signed free agent forward Darius Songaila to a one-year contract for $2.2 million with a player option for the second year. *An item in Friday's Sun-Times mistakenly said Bulls tickets would go on sale today. The tickets don't go on sale until Saturday, Oct. 8, at 10 a.m

[Valiant23]

Re: Bulls, Curry and DNA testing - What do you guys think of the ethics here? I can only make general observations, as I'm not an NBA fan. I assume Curry (if it's the same as NFL) has been with the Bulls for 2 yrs, Which is why he will become an RFA @ the end of the year? Now Curry will have sh't loads of advisors, none of whom want the best for him, but just want to maximise his earning potential. They don't give a sh't about him having a potentially life-threatening conditon, they just want their 5 or 10%. If YOU were Curry, wouldn't this concern you, seriously. " But the NBA's insurance carrier refused to insure Curry's heart." Wouldn't you want to take any damn test on offer to make sure you are healthy? He already has enough money to live some sort of life, so why not. Ok, he may retire at 20something, but better that than dead at 30 surely. " Paxson said the Bulls are only interested in findings related to Curry's heart condition. ''It's becoming that [by] asking him to do this ... we have some other motive,'' he said. ''The bottom line is if Eddy had not had any incident and a doctor hadn't suggested it, we wouldn't be asking for it.'' Paxson believes letting Curry play without the test would be negligent. ''The arrhythmia Eddy had is the same arrhythmia Reggie Lewis had, so it is a concern,'' Paxson said referring to the former Boston Celtics player who died from cardiomyopathy. ''Mr. Milstein can say what he wants, but we believe there is language in the collective bargaining agreement that supports us. ''We're trying to get a complete picture. I find it irresponsible for them to ask us for millions of dollars and not do everything possible to get a clear picture.''" Makes sense to me, take the godamn test and get on with your life-and sack your advisors.