Flip Saunders passes away (pg 5)

[Klomp]

From today's Jay-Z chat: http://live.startribune.com/Event/Timberwolves_Live_Chat_with_Jerry_Zgoda_at_noon_Thursday_2?Page=0

There’s no question things have changed dramatically since the team announced his diagnosis in August, back when it quoted his doctors saying the cancer was very treatable and curable. Since then there have been changes to the way his body handled the chemotherapy (and maybe how much cancer they’ve found) that have made it life threatening. Everyone involved has gone radio silent because of the family’s request for privacy and federal patient-privacy laws, etc., but between the complete silence, the lack of people visiting as far as I can tell apart from his immediate family and very inner circle while he remains hospitalized here in Minneapolis and the things I’m hearing second-hand, well, none of it is good. I’ll just say this, and this is just my own opinion, if he pulls through this: I doubt very much he’s back this year, it’s probably unlikely he coaches again just because of the stress inherent doing both those jobs and I think there’s a pretty good chance he doesn’t return full time to either job. As far as the franchise goes, that will put them in a holding pattern for some time. I can’t see Glen Taylor allowing Milt Newton and Sam to make a major decision until they know more about Flip’s future and Glen decides who will run his team for the long term. I wouldn’t assume it’ll be Milt and Sam going forward, that’s just for the short term until things become clearer.

[C.lupus]

Well Zgoda has been wrong as often as not. Here's to hoping this is one of those times.

[Note30]

From today's Jay-Z chat: http://live.startribune.com/Event/Timberwolves_Live_Chat_with_Jerry_Zgoda_at_noon_Thursday_2?Page=0

There’s no question things have changed dramatically since the team announced his diagnosis in August, back when it quoted his doctors saying the cancer was very treatable and curable. Since then there have been changes to the way his body handled the chemotherapy (and maybe how much cancer they’ve found) that have made it life threatening. Everyone involved has gone radio silent because of the family’s request for privacy and federal patient-privacy laws, etc., but between the complete silence, the lack of people visiting as far as I can tell apart from his immediate family and very inner circle while he remains hospitalized here in Minneapolis and the things I’m hearing second-hand, well, none of it is good. I’ll just say this, and this is just my own opinion, if he pulls through this: I doubt very much he’s back this year, it’s probably unlikely he coaches again just because of the stress inherent doing both those jobs and I think there’s a pretty good chance he doesn’t return full time to either job. As far as the franchise goes, that will put them in a holding pattern for some time. I can’t see Glen Taylor allowing Milt Newton and Sam to make a major decision until they know more about Flip’s future and Glen decides who will run his team for the long term. I wouldn’t assume it’ll be Milt and Sam going forward, that’s just for the short term until things become clearer.

Flip is probably the best GM we've ever had.

[Calinks]

I definitely feel like things are worse than initially thought. This all seems really off to me and I'm pretty worried. I think Flip is in bad shape.

[Saltine]

I'll be seeing those who actually know on Monday, I'll ask.

[Mattya]

I have no doubts that his condition is serious, but I don't like speculating on his health. I'm not worried about Milt and Smitch's ability to fill in for now. I think Milt has had more of a say than we think as well.

[InfraRen]

I'll be seeing those who actually know on Monday, I'll ask.

Look forward to hearing. Praying for Flip.

[Murphs56]

I hate speculation. Best case is his body's reaction to the chemo. From family members that have gone through it, you don't anticipate how rough it's actually going to be. In the beginning, he thought he could remain in his day to day, but the Chemo can hospitalize you with how sick you get. I'm hoping it's not that they found more cancer than they anticipated

[PharmD]

I hate speculation. Best case is his body's reaction to the chemo. From family members that have gone through it, you don't anticipate how rough it's actually going to be. In the beginning, he thought he could remain in his day to day, but the Chemo can hospitalize you with how sick you get. I'm hoping it's not that they found more cancer than they anticipated

This is not it. He had finished all the chemo before he was hospitalized. To be hospitalized for this long, as a hematology patient, means something extremely serious is going on, like the chemo failed and they moved on to a stem cell transplant.

I just lost my dad to cancer in May (he was a high school girls basketball coach), and i'm a pretty big Flip fan. This sucks. C'mon Flip!

[Chuck Everett]

Just gonna say a prayer for Flip and hope for the best. My mother had cancer last year, but fought it. I lost my mentor to cancer two years ago. You're a fighter Flip, you'll beat this too.

[Tirion]

Best of health to Flip, there are things much bigger than basketball, he can take as much time as he needs. Hope he's well soon!

[Feilong]

Everyone involved has gone radio silent because of the family’s request for privacy and federal patient-privacy laws, etc., but .... and Zgoda continues saying all this stuff about Flip's health.

Everyone is showing respect to the family's request except you Zgoda. What an idiot.
Best of luck to Flip.

[andyhop]

Everyone involved has gone radio silent because of the family’s request for privacy and federal patient-privacy laws, etc., but .... and Zgoda continues saying all this stuff about Flip's health.

Everyone is showing respect to the family's request except you Zgoda. What an idiot.
Best of luck to Flip.

Zgoda is doing his job, I am fine with it.

If you want to stop speculation you come out and tell people what is happening it doesn't have to be detailed but you give a general update on the situation.

In a case like this the less you say the more coverage you encourage .

[Devilzsidewalk]

Could very well be wrong, but I was thinking an infection seemed most likely. Especially if he developed pneumonia or something too - he'll be on antibiotic and other IVs until this fever goes down and the bacterial levels are below threshold.

[C.lupus]

Could very well be wrong, but I was thinking an infection seemed most likely. Especially if he developed pneumonia or something too - he'll be on antibiotic and other IVs until this fever goes down and the bacterial levels are below threshold.

Could be. He would be immune compromised after chemo, which would also explain the limited number of people visiting him.

[horaceworthy]

Been going through my own cancer scare this year, no fun (not as serious as Flip's, had successful surgery a month ago, margins are negative around the tumor site, start radiation to axe any microscopic stragglers in a couple weeks). My heart goes out to Flip, even though the nurses/aides in hospitals tend to be pretty great, it's pretty frustrating being cooped up in a room/hallway. He's been a visible part of the MN hoops scene since I was old enough to start following it, really hope he pulls through and knows he's got a lot of people in his corner. Hoping that sooner rather than later his biggest hassle will be remembering everybody to write thank you notes to.

[C.lupus]

Been going through my own cancer scare this year, no fun (not as serious as Flip's, had successful surgery a month ago, margins are negative around the tumor site, start radiation to axe any microscopic stragglers in a couple weeks). My heart goes out to Flip, even though the nurses/aides in hospitals tend to be pretty great, it's pretty frustrating being cooped up in a room/hallway. He's been a visible part of the MN hoops scene since I was old enough to start following it, really hope he pulls through and knows he's got a lot of people in his corner. Hoping that sooner rather than later his biggest hassle will be remembering everybody to write thank you notes to.

Damn. Good luck with your battle, man.

[Sothron]

This is not good. I have been praying for Flip since the initial diagnosis was made public. Without the cancer I always thought this was going to be his last year coaching but now I am concerned he will have to give up both coach and GM duties. His health obviously comes first. Hope he can beat this and live a full, LONG life after he beats cancer.

[Adenusi]

I'm scared.

[horaceworthy]

Been going through my own cancer scare this year, no fun (not as serious as Flip's, had successful surgery a month ago, margins are negative around the tumor site, start radiation to axe any microscopic stragglers in a couple weeks). My heart goes out to Flip, even though the nurses/aides in hospitals tend to be pretty great, it's pretty frustrating being cooped up in a room/hallway. He's been a visible part of the MN hoops scene since I was old enough to start following it, really hope he pulls through and knows he's got a lot of people in his corner. Hoping that sooner rather than later his biggest hassle will be remembering everybody to write thank you notes to.

Damn. Good luck with your battle, man.

Thank you sir. Most of its over, now it's just healing and showing up to get zapped for a couple months. It's weird, the lottery was actually when I decided I'd be okay. It was early enough in the process I wasn't sure how serious things were, but when the Wolves got the #1 pick I figured that God isn't cruel enough to take me just when there's legitimate reason for optimism with the team after sticking through all the doldrums of this franchise. Sports are such a strange thing.