Update: Coach Karl diagnosed with throat and neck cancer
by Nate Timmons on Feb 16, 2010 4:41 PM MST
in Denver Nuggets: News and Opinion
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9news.com is reporting that Nuggets coach George Karl will miss several games due to another battle with cancer. 9news.com streamed a live news conference at 7 p.m. with the coach.
Andrew has detailed about Karl the man and all the good he has done from paying coaches out of his own pocket to helping his son through cancer. Our thoughts are with our coach.
At the press conference Karl said his doctor found a lump in his neck about six-weeks ago and after further testing he has been diagnosed with a form of throat and neck cancer. He will undergo an intensive radiation and chemotherapy program that he said would last roughly six-weeks.
Karl wasn't totally sure about the time he'll be away from the team, but he said he will likely miss the February 25th game on the road against Golden State as well as the March 10th game in Minnesota. More than likely Karl will miss plenty of additional dates, but his health needs to come first. The coach said he will address the media during this process and also asked for his privacy during this time as well.
(Story from Ric Bucher of ESPN on the situation)
(Great quotes from Karl in this 9News story)"I don't think I'm a guy that needs sympathy but I do need support," he (George Karl) said. "I think I'm very blessed to have a great family and an organization that has supported me through all of this, and great friends, and a great team, and I will need all of them."-------
"My belief is my team is a championship team and I want to do anything and everything I can to help them continue on the quest that we all want," Karl said.
Karl said he thinks he's looking over a championship caliber team and that his staff is one of the best in the NBA and he is comfortable with his staff presiding over the squad. Basketball should be one of the last things on the coach's mind, but for a basketball lifer like Karl I'm sure his players, assistant coaches and other members of the organization mean a great deal to him.
I'm sure many of us know from our pasts that a team can be really good for you when you are stuggling through personal issues. I can remember growing up and having various teammates and coaches dealing with all sorts of dilemmas, your team is like your family and the support they offer whether it's just allowing you to escape for a while or helping you directly cope with what ails you, can be immense.
Karl dealt with prostate cancer back in 2005 and helped his son Coby through thyroid cancer less than a year later. Having to go through more treatment will be difficult, but with the support of his family, his team and the city Karl is in good hands.
Here's to a speedy and healthy recovery George.
ntimmons73@yahoo.com
Twitter: Nate_Timmons
Photo courtesy of AP Photos: David Zalubowski
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Didn't like this blurb...
Karl will inform his players tonight that he has a serious illness and needs to leave the team for an undetermined amount of time.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery coach!
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
by My3Cents on Feb 16, 2010 5:13 PM MST reply actions 1 recs
I'm a little suspicious of this now actually
This isn’t coming from Karl directly and is just from a “source” which could mean anything. Let’s wait for some additional details before we start freaking out over extended time out for G.K.
Swats.
A quick thought...
Nate and I are monitoring this situation very closely. It’s been confirmed to me that a press conference is scheduled for 7pm to address the situation so there is something to this story.
In the meantime, I know that all readers of Denver Stiffs – regardless of where they come down on coaching – know that George Karl is a great guy with a huge heart deserving of our thoughts and well wishes right now.
Andrew Feinstein | DenverStiffs.com | denverstiffs@gmail.com
by Andrew Feinstein on Feb 16, 2010 5:18 PM MST reply actions 1 recs
strange timing for this
right after the all-star break and signing an extension? not implying anything just find it odd
Good Luck
Get better soon, Coach Karl.
I earlier listed two ways I would change my screen name. Make that three. I’m going to come up with a temporary new screen name until Karl recovers.
That's admirable
Good job.
"Jive turkey is a little over the line my man!"
by GoldenNugget on Feb 16, 2010 6:10 PM MST up reply actions
GetWellGK would be cool.
And with the 32nd pick in the 2009 NHL draft, the Red Wings select: Someone other than Ryan O'Reilly. LOL@Detoilet.
by Bob in Boulder on Feb 16, 2010 6:15 PM MST up reply actions
Damn
This sucks, I hope he is alright. Get well soon big George
"Don't chase the money, chase the dream"
If Karl reads this
Buck up lil guy, things will get better.
Kidding aside, Hope all is well and nothing to serious. Get well soon
Crud
I hope he beats it quickly and comes back 100% healthy asap. More than being an excellent coach, he seems like such a genuinely wonderful guy. I lived in Seattle when he coached the Sonics and respected him a great deal back then.
And with the 32nd pick in the 2009 NHL draft, the Red Wings select: Someone other than Ryan O'Reilly. LOL@Detoilet.
Hurry back George...
Vicki & George have a LONG standing “pre-game” ritual, which has been unbroken since his arrival. Hope to continue it again soon!
Couple of calls did yield some info, but we will respect our source and simply say watch the news conference.
Best wishes George and Family…
Thanks!
Vicki's Husband
(Russ)
Wow
I can’t believe this. After all the criticizing I have done on Karl, never in a million years would I ever want him to leave for health reasons, especially cancer. I am praying for him and will definatly tune into the press confrence.
"Jive turkey is a little over the line my man!"
by GoldenNugget on Feb 16, 2010 6:14 PM MST up reply actions
It also said the throat cancer was the reason for the one year contract extention
"Jive turkey is a little over the line my man!"
by GoldenNugget on Feb 16, 2010 6:18 PM MST up reply actions
That's not good
My new screen name until Karl overcomes this.
My Grandfather died from throat cancer after years of smoking a pipe. Does/did Karl smoke or chew tobacco? In my grandfather, it kept spreading to other areas from his throat.
Good luck, G.K.
by CancerSucks on Feb 16, 2010 6:19 PM MST up reply actions 2 recs
How long ago was it that he had his prostate removed?
Or did he have it removed? It could be that rearing it’s head again if he didn’t have his prostate removed.
For all you Stiff have your PSA checked if you’re forty or over.
All men will have some kind of Prostate problem. It could be just enlarged which can be controlled with meds. If it’s cancer and caught while it’s still in the prostate you can beat it per say. Technology has come a long way in the treatment of this problem.
Here’s to you GMK get well.
Nice work on changing your screen name :)
Troy Tulowitzki - Best SS in the MLB - 2010 MVP
"With a guy like Melo, it’s tough to stop him with one person. You can’t. I don’t know one guy who can stop Melo on a consistent basis."-CP3
Brad Hawpe - Will prove the doubters wrong
PS Let's win the NL West in 2010, shall we?
Scary
9news.com is supposed to stream the press conference. GK and the Nugs will make it through this
2 Goals for GK
1. Beat Cancer
2. Beat LA
So, essentially beat 2 cancers.
And with the 32nd pick in the 2009 NHL draft, the Red Wings select: Someone other than Ryan O'Reilly. LOL@Detoilet.
by Bob in Boulder on Feb 16, 2010 6:26 PM MST reply actions 2 recs
+1
968 Victories.
This is just one more opponent GK, you can take it beat it!
by CSprings_Tommy on Feb 17, 2010 8:00 AM MST up reply actions
Damn....
Get well Coach. Nene was able to battle a form of cancer not too long ago, hopefully Coach will too. Prayers to him and his family…
MELO!!!
MileHighReport.com
DenverStiffs.com
get well soon coach
from your biggest fan in thailand
5280 or fight!!!!!
by stardate armageddon on Feb 16, 2010 6:43 PM MST reply actions
Cancer
That is quite a foe. ESPN quoted him as saying that even with treatable kinds, there are “no guaranteed contracts”. I’ve lost family to it, as have most people. He has beaten it before, and I can only hope he has the strength to do it again. Good luck, George.
According to the espn bottomline
George said the cancer is “very treatable and curable”…let’s hope so.
March 14, 2010: The great one returns!
From JR Smith's Twitter....
“JR_Swish:
Love coach Karl he will be fine everyone keep him in your prayers!"
MELO!!!
MileHighReport.com
DenverStiffs.com
Get better coach
Glad to see JR is thinking of george from his twitter
by Cargo5 on Feb 16, 2010 7:17 PM MST via mobile reply actions
Get well soon george
Glad to see JR is also thinking of his coach, hopefully the team can use this as motivation and karl will come back as soon as possible
by Cargo5 on Feb 16, 2010 7:18 PM MST via mobile reply actions
The team support was great...
very emotional press conference. Proud of Coach Karl and praying for him and his family. All the Nuggets players seemed very supportive and truly touched by the situation. We’re all behind you coach!
Kenyon Martin is swaggerific.
Carlos Gonzalez is amazing.
"Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is."
~Bob Feller~
by AtkinsandTulofan on Feb 16, 2010 8:31 PM MST up reply actions
That was great
Who knows, maybe this can bring the guys even closer and unite us as a team, because that’s what we need most to beat the Fakers.
"Jive turkey is a little over the line my man!"
by GoldenNugget on Feb 17, 2010 12:53 AM MST up reply actions
denver supports you, george
anybody else glad to know right now that this team is one of underdogs and over comers?
by meesh on Feb 16, 2010 7:38 PM MST reply actions 1 recs
I support Karl
Nothing but the best to Karl and the entire Nuggets organization. As much as I want the team to succeed, issues like this really put sports in perspective.
Get well, George Karl. I look forward to seeing you back on the bench soon.
Member: 10-man rotation for deep playoff push advocacy group
just watched the press conference
that was hard to watch….he looks very scared and that also makes this VERY real.
lets hope he gets better soon
"Groovy" Ash from Evil Dead 2
"No one came from miles around / and said man your music is really hot" No One Came...Deep Purple
Good to see the whole team standing behind Karl
says alot.
"Groovy" Ash from Evil Dead 2
"No one came from miles around / and said man your music is really hot" No One Came...Deep Purple
Get Well Soon!
Our prayers are with you and your family. Nuggets Nation is with you!
The players
After watching that interview I have to say that the team as a whole I think will rally behind this in a let us win for coach theme for the rest of the year. You could see the look on most of their faces and a few including kmart cb and JR looked hurt.
Here’s proof that I didnt mean to be cruel on my top comment…. I have 1 eye…this is due to having rhabdomyrscarcoma(optical nerve cancer) as a kid from ages 6 to 9. At 8 it was decided to remove the affected eye. I have been there and done that. Its been 20 years since then and I’m a survivor.
P.S. if you dont believe me ask Nuggsbuckets he bought some tix to a game from me and can validate the 1 eye thing.
Get well soon GK, not only do the players and organization need you but we fans do TOO!
by The U.N. Fab Five on Feb 16, 2010 7:47 PM MST reply actions
george karl is NOT the best coach in the nba
the nuggets coaching staff is the best in the nba. it was good to see the players at the press conference lending their support. this will prove to be just another bump in the road to the finals.
pick up a calf every day pretty soon you will be picking up a cow
damn
just heard about this. Karl, please get better soon. All of Nuggets nation is with you in getting better.
Swats.
Can anyone tell me where to go online to see the press conference?
I missed it on tv
by Cargo5 on Feb 16, 2010 8:06 PM MST via mobile reply actions
new #1 on stiff list is cancer.
fucking asshole cancer.
by calvin brodus on Feb 16, 2010 8:07 PM MST via mobile reply actions 2 recs
+infinity and rec'd
Troy Tulowitzki - Best SS in the MLB - 2010 MVP
"With a guy like Melo, it’s tough to stop him with one person. You can’t. I don’t know one guy who can stop Melo on a consistent basis."-CP3
Brad Hawpe - Will prove the doubters wrong
PS Let's win the NL West in 2010, shall we?
Just thought of something
You know how Karl chews on throat lozenges each game? Maybe there’s a connection there…. :(
Swats.
I thought that also
but like I said earlier it might be connected to his past prostate issues
Everything seems to cause cancer
Teeth whitening gels, causes cancer of the gums if over used. Remember the guy down in Alamosa that died from eating too much microwaved popcorn? I swear the FDA needs to check into that.
by Joelsopinion on Feb 17, 2010 8:56 AM MST up reply actions
beat me to it
I had the same issue with my father 4 years ago… he would always need tea or lozenges. eventually turned into vocal cord cancer, he never smoked or drank very much.
Best of wishes to the karl family, it is not fun to have to deal with cancer 3 times in 5 years (his son and him). Really hope he pulls out of this.
The doctor said it was connected to a virus
Now maybe Coach sucked on the lozenges because of the chronic virus.
This seems most likely
Troy Tulowitzki - Best SS in the MLB - 2010 MVP
"With a guy like Melo, it’s tough to stop him with one person. You can’t. I don’t know one guy who can stop Melo on a consistent basis."-CP3
Brad Hawpe - Will prove the doubters wrong
PS Let's win the NL West in 2010, shall we?
Good luck, George.
"All by their heads, he places crowns."
Matt Prater, pre-2009 season: Despised, lambasted, Josh McDaniels is derided for not replacing him.
Matt Prater, post-2009 season: Loved, praised, everone forgets the time when they called Josh McDaniels an idiot for not replacing him.
by Tempestuous Binary on Feb 16, 2010 8:31 PM MST reply actions
Damn
Sorry haven’t been around the boards lately but been keeping up with everything via the BEST Nuggets website on the internet.
Terrible news about GK. I’ve been pretty indifferent to GK for the past couple of years but have respected the work that he is done. Hope he can get healed up quickly and without any re-occurrence. Here’s to hoping that the team starts off with a bang against the Cavs.
Go Nuggs. In our thoughts Coach Karl!
We Stand With You, Coach Karl
I hope you know, Coach Karl, that Nuggets fans and the City of Denver are standing with you through this next battle you are facing. Get this thing licked, and let’s go win a World Championship.
well....this season has had a little bit of everything
what kind of screwed up bunch of crap has NOT happened yet? can things get worse then this? you bet they can. no matter what happens between now and when the season ends is NO REGRETS.
pick up a calf every day pretty soon you will be picking up a cow
Add my name to the list of well-wishers
Just hope he can recover, he can rest assured that Nuggets Nation and the rest of the NBA is behind him.
Nuggets Nation will support you, GK
Wishing you the best through your treatments and on to a healthy recovery. Great to see the players behind you!
After watching that press conference
It made me think of how precious life really is. Any little thing can take it away, INSTANTLY. It’s scary, and sadly true, but it’s something everybody has to live with.
What makes Karl’s situation worse if the fact that he had already survived cancer, but this time, it’s in his throat. Due to the risks, he won’t have the surgery, so it’s going to be a long, painful process. Like everybody else, I too will pray for Karl to get 100% better hopefully, along with the Nuggets, will be there in the end holding that Championship.
Get well soon Karl. We’re all thinking about you.
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