TODAY is Part II of my exclusive series on metropolitan NBA presidents who've recently suffered frightening medical problems.
Sunday, Knicks chief Donnie Walsh revealed a cancerous part of his tongue was removed June 30 at Sloan-Kettering. Yesterday, Nets boss Rod Thorn divulged he had heart scare after undergoing right knee replacement surgery Aug. 20 at Lenox Hill Hospital.
For some reason, doctors can't explain why, Thorn's heart got jolted out of rhythm and started beating wildly.
"It was jumping all over my chest!" exclaimed Thorn. "Damn right I was nervous."
Arrhythmia is reasonably common. A lot of people get it. Some are afflicted by it all the time. Some experience it every now and then. And some aren't even aware it took place.
"Believe me, I felt it," stressed Thorn, who knew immediately what was happening. Three and half years ago, after undergoing the very same replacement procedure (on his left knee), his heart jumped out of rhythm for the first time. Two isolated incidents in 67?? years, that's it.
Meanwhile, Thorn's knees have been subjected to the scalpel six other times, four during the course of his eight-year (10,376 minutes) playing career in which he averaged 10.8 points, and there was never a twinge of heart trouble.
"Nobody can figure out why it has happened twice," Thorn said. "It's a pretty tough operation. It could have something to do with the anesthesia. It shook me up, no doubt."
Who can't relate to that? The slightest sharp pain in the chest area is guaranteed to alarm the fearless. Normally, patients are released in three or four days following a knee replacement. Thorn remained for seven in case of a possible aftershock.
"Maybe you got Hot Rod Hundley's old knees by mistake and your body tried to reject 'em," I submitted.
"I just hope they didn't give me Hot Rod's heart," he said.
Different drugs can help to reduce or eliminate arrhythmia. Nothing has transpired since the last episode to make Thorn's cardiologist believe he needs medication.
"He says my heart is working fine," Thorn said.
powervomit 
