Lewis was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. Reggie Lewis/Children. Reggie Lewis was a gifted athlete with unlimited potential. The on-court collapse of Boston's Reggie Lewis left his future in doubt, sparked a bitter battle among medical experts and raised questions about the role of team doctors. Reginald C. Lewis (November 21, 1965 - July 27, 1993) was an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1987 to 1993. On the basis of that diagnosis, Lewis began working out to . This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Did Reggie Lewis have children? His death came as a shock to the basketball world, and it had a profound impact on the NBA. But tragic circumstances led to his untimely death at the age of 27. He was 27. However, he later sought a second opinion from Dr. Gilbert Mudge at Brigham and Women's Hospital, who diagnosed Lewis with neurocardiogenic syncope . The NBA would also feel the impact of Lewis death, as it raised concerns about player safety and led to changes in the way cardiac conditions are treated in athletes. . PRO BASKETBALL; Celtics' Lewis Dies After Collapsing in a Gym, https://www.nytimes.com/1993/07/28/sports/pro-basketball-celtics-lewis-dies-after-collapsing-in-a-gym.html. I havent talked too much about it over the years, Fox said to Bill Simmons in aYouTubevideo posted in 2018. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Lewis, the 28-year-old captain of the Celtics, first received intensive medical attention after his April 29 collapse. You have to understand, Reggie is dealing with being told that he has a major medical problem and the potential loss of his career, Scheller said. It was considered career-ending. Lewis transferred to Brigham and Women's Hospital, where a team led by Mudge diagnosed him with a less-harmful neurological condition. He is still remembered as one of the most talented players of his generation. Lewis got another, more satisfying opinion and was diagnosed with a non-fatal condition called "neurocardiogenic syncope." However, they found strength in each other and were eventually able to move forward. Lewis was told his condition was most likely career-ending. But African-Americans are more vulnerable, with two to three times the rate of sudden cardiac death than in whites. Reggie Jr. Lewis Reggieana Lewis Reggie Lewis/Children Despite this, he continued to play and even led his team, the Boston Celtics to the playoffs. Reginald F. Lewis, the legendary entrepreneur who rocked Wall Street when his firm, TLC Group, acquired Beatrice International Foods for $985 million. Parish played his final game as a member of the Celtics in 1994. Stanton C. Kessler, the associate chief medical examiner of Massachusetts who signed the death certificate, told the New York Times that a virus was found in Lewis heart and it caused myocarditis, an inflammation that scars and enlarges the heart. See the article in its original context from. Not since Edgar Allan Poe has there been a telltale heart that produced more drama and mystery than the heart of Reggie Lewis, captain of the Boston . He was an All-Star in 1992 and led the Celtics to the playoffs several times. a structural heart defect that . The Johns Hopkins University, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Johns Hopkins Health System. The tragic loss of Reggie Lewis is still felt today, more than 25 years later. According to The Globe, Lewis apparently told his doctor, Gilbert Mudge, that one of his two brothers was born with a hole in his heart and had undergone open heart surgery in Baltimore when he was 4 years old. He had made his first All-Star appearance, and he was the leader and team captain of the Boston Celtics. However, the U.S. Olympic team does not require physical exams for its competing athletes, but instead offers voluntary cardiac screening. But his untimely death would change the NBA forever. He apparently felt confident enough to shoot baskets at the Brandeis training center even though the Celtics did not allow him to take part in team workouts. Preparticipation screening had revealed no cardiac abnormality in three of them. Reggie had been supporting his wife and young daughter, as well as his parents, financially. Apparently, the murmur went away when he was 12. Lewis later received a second, somewhat less serious diagnosis of neurocardiogenic syncope. He was only 27 years old when he suddenly collapsed during a game and died of heart failure. #inline-recirc-item--id-b41ec884-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d, #right-rail-recirc-item--id-b41ec884-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d { Discover what's to love about Charm City for yourself. At least 11 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, The Saturday Six: Dental device controversy, scientist's bug find and more, Indonesia fuel depot fire kills 18; more than a dozen missing, 3 children killed, 2 others wounded at Texas home, Man charged for alleged involvement in 2 transformer explosions, Nikki Haley slams potential GOP contenders, and Trump and George W. Bush, Duo of 81-year-old women plan to see the world in 80 days, Tom Sizemore, actor known for "Saving Private Ryan" and "Heat," dies at 61, Alex Murdaugh trial: What to know about the double murder case. While his death was a tragedy for his family, friends and fans, it also shed light on a little-known condition that affects young athletes Lewis story is a reminder of the importance of heart health in athletes of all ages. After he collapsed on the Brandeis court shortlty after 5 P.M. yesterday with what doctors later described as full cardiac arrest, bystanders, paramedics and Brandeis police officers tried in vain to revive him. If there had been better understanding and appreciation for the risks involved with these heart abnormalities, Abraham says, it may have saved the life of Lewis, whos death was likely triggered by an overly enlarged and thickened heart. If Jordans Furniture wasnt so far away, I probably wouldve been there that day and may have been able to maybe get him over to the hospital.. Volunteers will test student athletes during the third annual Hopkins Heart Hype screening slated to take place at the 14th annual Basketball Academy Competition. He was a role model to many and his death left a lasting impact on the basketball community. Just two months earlier, he had collapsed during a game and was diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia. Dr. Gilbert Mudge said 16 days before Lewis collapsed from a heart attack in 1993, he acknowledged having used cocaine, but said he had stopped. In the last decade, Abraham has treated dozens of athletes with overly enlarged hearts. He had received conflicting diagnoses regarding his condition and was advised not to . Find more COVID-19 testing locations on Maryland.gov. I consent to the use of following cookies: Necessary cookies help make a website usable by enabling basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website. Three days after his collapse, Lewis abruptly switched from New England Baptist Hospital to Brigham and Women's Hospital. Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish, 17-part series on the Celtics championship history. This was a crucial step in protecting the health of athletes and ensuring that events like this would not happen again. Young athletes and their parents should feel secure in pursuing physical fitness to the best of their childrens abilities and without the unknown risk of sudden cardiac death.. The Big Three dominated throughout the 1980s, but age and injuries took their toll, forcing the three out of Boston. Although announcements of his death were soon being broadcast over Boston radio and television stations and nationally televised baseball games, at the request of Lewis's wife, Donna Harris, hospital officals refused to give out any information on Lewis until almost three hours later. ", Earlier on the witness stand, Mudge insisted he had been considering possible cardiac problems and said neurocardiogenic syncope -- which is not related to the heart -- was not a "definitive diagnosis.". Specific cause of death was not announced. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. . The temperature hovered in the mid-80s, with a light breeze and clear blue skies. Reggies tremendous sense of composure came across, Calhoun told the Baltimore Sun. Andy Neuer won his first Professional Bowlers Assn. During his Dunbar years, Lewis played with such later National Basketball Association stars as Tyrone Bogues, David Wingate and Reggie Williams on a team that went 50-0 during one season. Health officials in one region of Italy reported that screening had saved at least 22 lives. He excelled at basketball from a young age and went on to play for Boston College In 1987, he was drafted by the Boston Celtics and quickly became one of their star players. An autopsy revealed that he had an undiagnosed heart condition called cardiomyopathy. Some cookies are placed by third party services that appear on our pages. The abrupt switch of hospitals went against normal medical procedures but happened because of the lucrative nature of the cardiology field, the attention focused on Lewis's case and the politics within Boston hospitals, the newspaper reported. Defense was also a strength for Lewis. This season, Lewis succeeded Larry Bird as the Celtics captain, which made him Bostons centerpiece in its transition period. Lewis death shocked the world. In his four-year career at Northeastern, from 1983-1987, Lewis averaged 22.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. His untimely death is a reminder of how precious life is and how quickly it can be snuffed out. "They're trying to avoid facing the terrible medical mistake that was made by throwing in all this rumor and innuendo," Harley told the Boston Herald. There's an interesting twist to Lewis's story, though. Per CBS, Lewis had collapsed one time before, during a playoff game earlier that year against the Charlotte Hornets. Kyrie Irving, Read More Who Is The Best Point Guard In The NBA?Continue, Contents The USA basketball team is set to compete in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo The USA basketball team is looking to defend their gold medal from the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio The USA Basketball team has a new Head Coach in Gregg Popovich The USA basketball team has a new crop of, Read More USA Basketball News You Need to KnowContinue, ContentsLSUs 2020 Basketball CommitsWho is LSUs Top 2020 Commit?Why LSUs 2020 Commits MatterWho are LSUs 2020 Basketball Recruits?What LSUs 2020 Basketball Commits Mean for the FutureHow Good are LSUs 2020 Basketball Commits?What are LSUs 2020 Basketball Commits Rankings?What are LSUs 2020 Basketball Commits Stats?What Other Schools were in the Running for LSUs 2020 Commits?Whats Next, Read More LSU Basketball Commits: Whos Headed to Baton Rouge?Continue, Contents Peter Kiss An NBA Star on the Rise The Early Years The Making of an NBA Star The Rise to Stardom The All-Star Game The Playoffs The Finals The Off-Season The FutureConclusion Peter Kiss is quickly becoming one of the NBAs most promising young stars With his incredible shooting touch and impressive athleticism, hes, Read More Peter Kiss: An NBA Star on the RiseContinue, The Impact of Reggie Lewis Death on His Family, Basketball Tournaments In Ga: The Best of the Best. The intention is to display ads that are relevant and engaging for the individual user and thereby more valuable for publishers and third party advertisers. December 28, . Reggie Lewis, NBA player, 1965-1993. He led the team in scoring, averaging 20.8 points a game last season and was selected as the team's captain. Martina Navratilova made the final of the Paris womens open with a 6-1, 6-3, victory over Leila Meshki. Zena Ray Zeke Upshaw was American professional basketball player who played in the D league after going undrafted in the NBA. display: none; He remains one of the most beloved figures in Celtics history and his death continues to be felt by those who knew him and loved him. Autopsy results found Lewis had a large, extensively scarred heart, and the cause of that scar tissue is still not known. But we felt a little more attention to the career of Lewis on the court and what he . 1999 SportsLine USA, Inc. All rights reserved Has anyone ever died during a basketball game? Reggie Lewis - Reggie Lewis possessed all the tools necessary to be the next great Boston Celtics superstar in line. Lewis death is still felt today, more than 25 years later, and he remains one of the most beloved players in Celtics history. ``The idea that Reggie Lewis, who was known and loved by everyone who came into . No, nobody did, Jordan said. From Staff and Wire Reports The death of Reggie Lewis, Boston Celtic captain, was the result of a viral infection severely damaging his heart, leaving him vulnerable to the kind of abnormal. On July 27, 1993, Reggie Lewis died of a heart attack at the age of 27. Lewis would have trouble performing at a high level when taking medication, such as inderal. Dr. Mudge said the condition could be successfully treated with drugs, and that Lewis could safely resume his career. All rights reserved. Reggie Lewis was born on November 21, 1965 in Baltimore, United States (27 years old). PRO BASKETBALL; Reggie Lewis's Family Had a History of Heart Problems, Report Asserts, https://www.nytimes.com/1993/09/13/sports/pro-basketball-reggie-lewis-s-family-had-history-heart-problems-report-asserts.html. The NBA said that Roy Tarpley, who was banished in 1991 because of drug problems, has applied for reinstatement, and, at the request of his agent, the Dallas Mavericks have talked with their 7-foot center, who plays in Greece. ", Confused by the conflicting medical opinions following his collapse in April, Lewis may have sought even further medical advice. } Lewis's heart condition has been a subject of debate and controversy. Thats because they understood who I was up against. The former Chicago Bulls star, however, had to work for every single one. A Boston Celtics dynasty came to a close. What happens when you learn of a loss is you go through denial, anger and you gradually learn to accept it.. After arriving on campus, Reed found that his office . Charles Grantham, executive director of the NBA Players Assn., said if Lewis contract was not fully guaranteed, built-in disability insurance would cover the difference. His work continues to be an inspiration to many young people today. Reggieana Lewis Mudge diagnosed Lewis with a less-harmful neurological condition, and said he was optimistic Lewis could return to basketball under medical supervision. Like everyone on the Celtics, Lewis teammate Rick Fox took the news hard. It had a major influence on this situation.". . They will run a series of heart tests from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 16, on athletes who volunteer to be checked in Morgan State's University Student Center. Where was Reggie Lewis born? In 2004, the International Olympic Committee recommended that all athletes be EKG-tested every two years for potential heart abnormalities. But he abruptly left their care to get another opinion. The thickening makes it hard for the heart to pump blood and can cause fast heartbeats. He became an NBA All-Star during the 1991-92 season when he averaged 20.8 points and 4.8 rebounds. Reggie Lewis, who has emerged as the Boston Celtics rising star, was found Monday to have a serious heart disease that is expected to end his career. 2 Jim Courier, 7-6 (8-6), 6-2, in the semifinals of the U.S. Indoor tournament at Philadelphia. He left the game briefly, then played twice more before sitting out while suffering from dizziness. The death of Reggie Lewis, Boston Celtic captain, was the result of a viral infection severely damaging his heart, leaving him vulnerable to the kind of abnormal heart rhythm that killed him last July, according to his death certificate. His death left the Celtics reeling, and they would go on to lose in the first round of the playoffs that year. Dr. Gilbert Mudge, answering questions publicly for the first time since the NBA star's death at age 27, testified at his malpractice trial that he never discounted the possibility Lewis had a potentially fatal heart condition -- even as he told the player and the world that Lewis had a less serious neurological ailment. Our testing showed no evidence of cardiomyopathy or abnormal life-threatening arrhythmias," Mudge said at the May 10, 1993, event. Can you integrate if function is not continuous. Find a doctor at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center or Johns Hopkins Community Physicians. Navratilova will play Julie Halard, who beat Katerina Maleeva. Nurse Emily Rice dispenses the Pfizer vaccine into syringes at the Reggie Lewis Center in Roxbury. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Lewis attended high school at Paul Dunbar High School, where he played basketball alongside future NBA players Muggsy Bogues, David Wingate, and Reggie Williams. Mudge did just that at a news conference the day Lewis was discharged from Brigham and Women's, and his words came back to haunt him Wednesday as Harley played videotape of the doctor triumphantly announcing he had disproved the "Dream Team.". After pressing from Harley, he added, "He conveyed the thought we had to take it seriously. Lewis attempted to come back and play again, but he died just months later of a heart attack. Lewis was 27 when he died in the Celtics practice gym at Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., on July 27, 1993. In the initial shock, the death of basketball star Reggie Lewis last week seemed a grim parable of the seductive power of professional sports -- of an athlete so devoted to a game and its. Lewis career is probably ending as his commercial clout increases. Autopsy results found Lewis had a large, extensively scarred heart, and the cause of that scar tissue is still not known. He had my number that particular night. He played basketball at Northeastern University, where he quickly became one of the best players in the country. He was a tough matchup, and he had those long arms that really bothered me. More than 110,000 high school students in Maryland are active in sports, and, according to Abraham, the stress of athletic competition poses ultra-dangerous risks to those who have inherited tendencies to develop overly enlarged and thickened hearts, hypertrophic cardiomyopathies, or similar abnormalities. A frustrated Lewis left the hospital at 11:30 p.m. EDT Sunday and entered Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston to get another opinion. Under questioning by Harley, Mudge said that after discharging Lewis, he saw him eight times and physically examined him once. . A motion filed Thursday by Mudge's lawyer, William Dailey Jr., seeks to force Northeastern University to turn over documents related to drug tests given to Lewis while he was a student in 1987. Now the onus is on him to say no," he said. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Twelve weeks later, Lewis's sudden death reignited controversy over Mudge's diagnosis. Part of it has to do with the fact that he died so young. display: block; "I asked whether Mr. Lewis had ever taken drugs and Mrs. Lewis became very excited and stated, 'Drugs, drugs, drugs. Reggie Lewis. Our goal is to make this not only an annual program in Maryland, but to serve as a model for other programs to start across the country, state by state, city by city, if necessary, Abraham says, noting that other countries, such as Italy and Japan, have since the early 1980s run regular school programs to screen teenage athletes and non-athletes for possible heart problems. However, in 1993, he collapsed again and this time he died. Reggie Lewis died of a heart attack on July 27. A six-foot-seven-inch shooting guard Lewis was drafted out of Northeastern University in 1987 and quickly became a fan favorite in Boston. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. Autopsy results would later confirm that Lewis had an enlarged heart, an inherited defect called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), which produced an errant heart rhythm under exercise stress that led to his sudden death. Reggie Jr. Lewis As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Reginald C. Lewis (November 21, 1965 - July 27, 1993) was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland where he attended Dunbar High School, alma mater of NBA veteran Muggsy Bogues, David Wingate and Reggie Williams. Doctors who examined the late Boston Celtics player Reggie Lewis say they believed his heart quite likely was damaged by cocaine before the former Dunbar High basketball star collapsed and died of . Director Torey Champagne provides a powerful look . Thickened heart muscle (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy). The Celtics leading scorer, with a 20.8-point average, had a successful basketball shoe commercial that gave him national recognition. Lewis was told his condition was most likely career-ending. (Jesse Costa/WBUR) This article is more than 1 year old. Donna Harris-Lewis sued Mudge and consultants Mark Creager and Peter Friedman, claiming they misdiagnosed and mistreated her husband's heart condition. Reggie Lewis was born in Baltimore, Maryland. On July 27, 1993, a 27-year-old Boston Celtics player, Reggie Lewis, died from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy during an offseason practice at a basketball court. Lewis, Boston's top scorer the past two seasons, originally was diagnosed with a career-threatening heart disorder after he collapsed April 29 during a playoff game against Charlotte. Kessler told the New York Times, I found evidence of disease, lots of it. The pathologist identified the virus as adenovirus type 2, one of several types viruses that can cause myocarditis. After Lewis suffered his collapse in April 1993, the Celtics assembled what they called the "Dream Team" of 12 Boston cardiologists at New England Baptist Hospital. Playing both guard and forward for the Celtics, the 6-7 Lewis emerged as both a high scorer and a team leader. They struggled to cope with the loss of their loved one and deal with the new reality of their lives. Not only had they lost a son and brother, but they also lost the breadwinner of the family. Reggie Lewis collapsed on the court from sudden cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at Bostons New England Medical Center less than an hour later. Many cases go undiagnosed, Abraham adds, because the young athletes healthy appearance and peak physical condition may mask their underlying sickness. He finished the game with one more point (37) than shots taken (36). He averaged 20 points per game over his seven-year career and was selected for the All-Star team in 1992. An electrocardiogram, or EKG, to assess the hearts electrical rhythms will also be given. Who has died from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy? Reggie Lewis was one of the most promising young stars in the NBA when his life was tragically cut short. Reggie left behind a loving wife and two very young children. Reggie Lewis, the Boston Celtics' star who collapsed with a heart ailment during a playoff game last April and was warned by doctors that he would risk his life if he ever played basketball again, died last night after collapsing while shooting baskets at the team's training center at Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass. After a week of further tests, Dr. Gilbert Mudge gave a second opinion, that Lewis did not have a life-threarening heart ailment but merely suffered from a comparatively benign neural condition, neurocardiogenic syncope, in which confusing signals regulate the speed of the heart beat. 18. He was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1987 and quickly became one of the teams best players. On this day in Boston Celtics history, rising franchise star Reggie Lewis would die unexpectedly after collapsing on a basketball court at Brandeis University while working out in the offseason in 1993. Gathers died of cardiomyopathy, a heart muscle disorder of unknown origin that damaged both lower heart chambers. Reggieana Lewis' father married her mother Donna Harris-Lewis in 1991 before dying in 1993. The death of the man who had been captain of the Celtics recalled at once the 1986 cocaine-related death of Len Bias, which occurred less than 48 hours after the Celtics had made him their top draft choice and second pick over all, and the 1991 death of Hank Gathers, the Loyola Marymount player, who succumbed to cardiomyopathy, a disease that causes the heart to beat less vigorously. That was the same heart ailment that some doctors said had led to Lewis's collapse last April. "I don't believe he actually said to me that sentence," Mudge said.
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