The curious case of Chris Bosh continues to pose more questions than answers.
Out since the All-Star break in February with the recurrence of a dangerous blood clotting problem which forced him to miss a huge chunk of the previous campaign, the 32 year-old had been pushing for a shock return.
The Heat are in the play-offs. Bosh, the centerpiece of the franchise following LeBron James’ return home to Cleveland, was obviously desperate to play.
So was wife Adrienne. There she was, bless her, unleashing a Twitter campaign with the embarrassing #BringBoshback hashtag. T-shirts were made with the slogan. Incredibly, she even wore one recently to a Heat match.
Yet this isn’t some run of the mill knee tweak or groin strain.
You can’t run off a blood clot after dousing it with the magic sponge. This a potentially life-threatening illness. The first clot was on his lungs. Now it had affected his legs.
“My situation this year has never been life-threatening,” he said in a statement last month, a rare utterance for someone who’s not spoken since the problem returned.
#BringBoshBack RT @EthanJSkolnick: @My_view_in_life They're really missing Bosh now
— Adrienne Bosh (@MrsAdrienneBosh) April 26, 2016
In pure layman’s terms, however, it’s a total and utter no brainer. A player with such a condition should not be allowed to play.
Bosh, though, was pushing the players union to intervene. However, sorting out financial disputes is one thing, but reversing known medical conditions is another kettle of fish entirely.
Sources close to him were leaking tales of desperation to help Dwayne Wade and co lift their first title since 2013. Reports also claimed Bosh found a doctor who passed him fit, even though team medics suggested otherwise.
An almighty, messy row was brewing. Heat officials, unsurprisingly, shuffled uncomfortably in the shadows.
Bosh is only in the second year of a guaranteed, five-year, $118 million deal.
He clearly has no intention of hanging up his size 14 boots, and although the balance of his deal would be paid up, there would be zero salary-cap relief until a full year after he retires.
A whopping $23.7 million would count against the cap, ensuring moving for a free agent in the shape of Kevin Durant, for example, would become very problematic.
Here's the timeline of events that led to the Heat and Chris Bosh deciding he would sit out the NBA playoffshttps://t.co/Fjy5mJUbnm
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) May 4, 2016
“Our top priority is Chris’ health and well-being. We have spoken with Chris and his agent, and have reached out to the Miami Heat. We are hopeful that all parties involved can meet as soon as possible to resolve the situation,” said the NBA players union statement.
There is, however, only one way to resolve everything: Bosh needs to get better and stop acting like one of his five kids.
The Heat took a stand and protected him. How could they field a player who was suffering from a problem which could potentially leave him fighting for his life?
Imagine the lawsuits, never mind the incredulous head scratching from medical professionals scarcely able to believe what was transpiring. They looked out for they own – and for that they should be applauded.
Bosh remains an integral part of the squad – he was here at the American Airlines Arena the other night acting like a de facto assistant coach and cheerleader as Miami crashed to the Toronto Raptors in game three of their post-season semi-final encounter.
Undoubtedly, his experience and know how can help stars like Hassan Whiteside and Justise Winslow fulfill their potentials.
“It’s good to have him communicating with us and especially the younger guys,” Amar’e Stoudemire told Sport360. “He’s a leader and talker who knows the system we use. He’s only doing what the doctors are telling him to do.”
There is, however, one further curious twist. Ever since being diagnosed, Bosh has starred in TV adverts alongside golf legend Arnold Palmer to promote the sale of blood thinning drug Xarelto (see below).
That’s the same Xarelto which is the subject of over 3,000 lawsuits with allegations of deaths and unstoppable bleeding after usage.
“I’ve seen that commercial with Bosh and the other guys, and it’s full of c**p,” one former user told the Miami New Times. “I just shake my head seeing them pushing the drug.”
Whoever is advising Bosh needs to have a long hard look in the mirror.
If he’s staring back at himself or not, this will surely go down as a terribly managed situation which could easily have been avoided.
