AbeVigodaLive wrote:
As close friends as Saunders and McHale were at times, McHale has gained unique perspective on death and battling grief in the past couple of years. In one way, he could help Saunders family a bit with that. In another, he might think he's just another face in an enormous overwhelming horde... and decide to speak to them privately at a later time.
Everyone is different. Having been on both sides of this I have different view on it and how important it is to be there for the moment. I would actually think the grief would change one, but some people don't deal with it. They lock it up and avoid it.
I didn't listen to all of Chad Hartman's segment. I did notice the story Chad shared about one time in Houston was removed.
It would have been interesting to hear what Wally had to say. I think they had a good relationship just with the way Flip talked about him. I think they didn't see eye to eye all of the time, but had mutual respect.
I remember there was an interview sometime in the last year or 2 with Flip and the question was asked about if there was a whipping boy on his old wolves team. Without much hesitation Flip said Wally. He said he was always enthusiastic talking yelling especially from the bench and often saying the wrong defensive coverages. Flip was chuckling the whole time.
Wally was one of my favorite Wolves back then. He was maybe the best all around shooter in the league at that time. You literally expected everything to go in. If he was healthy and in his prime in the league right now he would be used and a nightmare matchup problem small ball PF. He had a post up game and rebounded well and had the bulk to his frame. He was a terrific transltion finisher. Wally always played hard that's probably the thing that really endeared him to me.
WolfDownUnder wrote:I can't match Lip, but this is my Flip story from 2001 in Brisbane, Australia:
I was a 20-year-old journalism student who scored a job working in the Goodwill Games press centre. Team USA had a bunch of young blokes playing for them like Marion, O'Neal, Szczerbiak, Martin and Davis. I was part of a team who had to interview players and coaches, get quotable quotes and issue them to wire services so overseas journos could cover the games.
Flip was Team USA coach and he did one presser and one presser only - after the gold medal game that saw the US win over a Brazil team that featured a super young Nene and Varejao. It was an awesome game, but anyway ...
There's a big media scrum after the game with 'real' journos asking Flip questions about the future of these up and coming NBA guns. I was totally starstruck, but after a while I finally took the plunge from the back of the scrum and asked: "What's your plans for the Wolves this season and what do you expect?"
Flip frowned at first - he looked confused and I totally shit myself thinking I was out of line - but then he moved his arms to the side and said: "Who asked that?" I raised my hand sheepishly and Flip explained that Wally was the shooter he was looking for, and Joe Smith would return and help KG down low.
My Wolves question brought the presser to an abrupt end, and at that moment Flip walked over to me, shook my hand and said: "I really appreciated that question." He then gave me his Team USA wrist band and I asked him to autograph my notepad. I can honestly say it's one of the moments that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
Great story. I doubt there's anther NBA coach who would have done that. I suspect there are hundreds of fans like us who have experienced Flip's decency.
Lip, how lucky you were to have had that special relationship with Flip...and how lucky we are that you have shared portions of it with us! Thanks for keeping Flip's secrets while he was alive. It sounds like he was remarkably open with people he knew he could trust, and many in the press clearly kept information to themselves because Flip had given them that trust...very unusual. I met with my usual Tuesday breakfast band of brothers this morning, and told Lip's story about carrying the T-Wolves coin. One of the guys chuckled and pulled out his Wolves coin, along with a Marine coin. Apparently his division had the same tradition...that whoever couldn't produce a coin upon meeting a division brother was obligated to buy a beer for the other.
Two of the 8 of us at breakfast were good friends of Flip's ( I personally never met him) and, in between some joyous stories, shared some insights about his health situation. And there's a lesson in there for many of us. Flip's cancer likely went back several years, but he either didn't have time or wasn't willing to visit a doctor. Many wondered about the very visible growth that appeared behind his left ear 2-3 years ago, and it turns out that enlarged lymph nodes in the neck are often are associated with Hodgkin's Lymphoma...which subsequently took his life.
We have heard that Flip's type of cancer has a very high rate of successful treatment. Well, only if you treat it early enough. My breakfast pals said it's likely Flip would have beaten this if he had just addressed it earlier...and there's the lesson for us. I'm going to book my "annual" physical this week.
It is surprising being around a medical staff this was not brought up earlier. I would think a simple blood test would have caught it. From what I assumed and what Taylor really confirmed is that the cancer didn't kill Flip. It was more the his weak immune system during the chemo. I worry with a guy like Flip he just didn't make sure he got the rest he needed and tried to power through it. All of this is assumptions on my part. I am not a doctor, but play one sometimes on message boards.
bleedspeed177 wrote:It is surprising being around a medical staff this was not brought up earlier. I would think a simple blood test would have caught it. From what I assumed and what Taylor really confirmed is that the cancer didn't kill Flip. It was more the his weak immune system during the chemo. I worry with a guy like Flip he just didn't make sure he got the rest he needed and tried to power through it. All of this is assumptions on my part. I am not a doctor, but play one sometimes on message boards.
That same thought occurred to me, too, bleed. Did Flip try to do too much during the weeks he was receiving chemo?
The one message I took from Malik Sealy's death was "always buckle up". And as LST highlighted, be pro-active with your health, such as annual physicals. It is something I have neglected, yet becomes so much more important as we get older (which I am!).
bleedspeed177 wrote:It is surprising being around a medical staff this was not brought up earlier. I would think a simple blood test would have caught it. From what I assumed and what Taylor really confirmed is that the cancer didn't kill Flip. It was more the his weak immune system during the chemo. I worry with a guy like Flip he just didn't make sure he got the rest he needed and tried to power through it. All of this is assumptions on my part. I am not a doctor, but play one sometimes on message boards.
Ha, yeah I sometimes play a doctor too. My assumption as I listen to those closer to the situation is the same as yours, bleed. Both the advanced lymphoma and chemo weaken the immune system, and that allowed the pneumonia to take over. Really sad, with the marvelous Sheldon Burns there at his disposal, that he didn't seek treatment for a treatable disease earlier.
Do a favor to your loved ones guys, and book that overdue physical today. Consider it just another gift from Flip.
bleedspeed177 wrote:It is surprising being around a medical staff this was not brought up earlier. I would think a simple blood test would have caught it. From what I assumed and what Taylor really confirmed is that the cancer didn't kill Flip. It was more the his weak immune system during the chemo. I worry with a guy like Flip he just didn't make sure he got the rest he needed and tried to power through it. All of this is assumptions on my part. I am not a doctor, but play one sometimes on message boards.
Interesting info about Flip's health. It's a good idea to take care of yourself so you can be your best. I should know better but it's not always the easiest thing to do. Hoiberg was lucky years ago when he got checked out for his life insurance which showed he had the heart issue and he was obviously in terrific physical condition.
Yesterday Hartman was talking with Izzo and had some comment like Flip slept like 1 hour a week or something like that. Both of them said it was common for Flip to call people at 2am and talk with them and they joked about. How Flip would be trying to convince them they needed to buy gadget on an infomercial that would be total crap. Lol It reminded me of Lenny Wilkins who said he only slept about 2 hours a night. From what I have read are a few people who actually need less sleep than others. People like my wife do better on 9 hours of sleep every night. If I got that much sleep every single night I would be lethargic. If Flip was a guy used to basically just taking a nap at night he may have simply not known how to slow down during cancer treatment.
I'm a cancer survivor and I get that physical done every year. Do it for yourself and your family. Nothing better than getting a clean bill of health every year.
