Chuck Hayes Cleared to Play, Signs Deal in Sacramento For 1.1 Million Dollars More than Previously

by Glenn Logan on Dec 23, 2011 7:38 AM EST in Kentucky Wildcats Basketball

After being diagnosed by Sacramento Kings team doctors with a heart problem that caused the Kings to void his 4-year, $21.3 million dollar contract, Chuck Hayes went to the Cleveland Clinic, one of the most renowned medical facilities in the nation -- right up there with Mayo and Johns Hopkins -- who found he had no heart problem after all, and was fully cleared by the doctors there to play unrestricted professional sports.

This obviously makes one wonder about the competency of the Sacramento medical staff. From Sactown Royalty, the SB Nation Sacramento Kings blog:

Even if that happens, why the Hades did the Kings void the contract without seeking more opinions? We don't know who exactly looked at Hayes -- the team doctors surely did the initial physical, but there's a possibility that Chuck went to additional doctors. But it took Hayes' agent three days to find a reputable, renowned unit to clear Chuck. The Kings spent five days and couldn't do it to their satisfaction.

Indeed, this is just plain weird. Theoretically, the Kings wanted Hayes to play after picking him up as a free agent. I can't for the life of me figure out why they didn't get several other opinions before voiding his contract, it just seems inexplicable to me.

The good news is, it worked out fine for Chuck -- he will apparently sign with the Kings again for about $1.1 million more than previously. I guess it was worth going through another stress test and echo cardiogram for that kind of dough. Still you have to wonder just exactly what the heck is going on in Sacramento.

So now, Hayes will get to play with former Wildcat and Kings draft choice DeMarcus Cousins. Chuck and Boogie together on the same team. Somebody just needs to tell Cousins to look the other way when Chuck shoots free throws lest he get infected with the incurable Shaquille O'Neal virus that Chuck apparently caught right after he left UK.

As an aside, I was in Rupp Arena for Chuck Hayes senior day, and it was one of the most moving events of my life. He is among my favorite players ever to don the Blue and White, and it is a nice Christmas gift to us all that he is okay and ready to return to action.

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Comments

I guess the extra $1.1 million

Is “oops” pay!
I’m very happy Chuck is healthy and gets to continue his dream.

Blue... there is no other color to Bleed !!!

by a2d2 on Dec 23, 2011 8:22 AM EST reply actions

This was a great sports day for me

Cards get Carlos Beltran; Chuck gets a good report and his deal renewed (and sweetened) and I get off work early to see the Cats beat the Greyhounds. Christmas on the 22nd!

by BCinVA on Dec 23, 2011 8:35 AM EST reply actions

Yes it was a good day

The Beltran signing is nice, Chuck being in good health is great and Kentucky winning is just icing on the cake

"Come test me every day if you want," says Pujols, "Everything I ever made in this game I would give back to the Cardinals if I got caught."

by StLHugo on Dec 23, 2011 8:42 AM EST up reply actions

Great News!

I was sad when it was reported that Chuck couldn’t play – that $1.1 mil sure is a nice “sorry” gift (probably not as nice as Kobe’s ring to his soon-to-be ex-wife … but still really nice).

JandPsDad
Been Blue All My Life
Bleedin' BLUE all over NW Indiana

by JandPsDad on Dec 23, 2011 8:56 AM EST reply actions

Indeed

More important than the $ millions is that Chuck Hayes is healthy.

Next to Tayshaun Prince, maybe Tubby’s best recruit at UK.

by FortyYearCatFan on Dec 23, 2011 8:58 AM EST up reply actions

Toss up for number 2 IMHO

Hayes vs Bogans

Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."

by chirop1 on Dec 23, 2011 1:07 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Great news for Chuck....

Go Lakers! ;-)

Slower Traffic Keep Right!

by SevenRings on Dec 23, 2011 9:41 AM EST reply actions

These things are probably more subjective. . .

than most of us would like to believe.

ALS

by Alex Scutchfield on Dec 23, 2011 10:37 AM EST reply actions

From what I could understand the team's Doctor is an Orthopedic Surgeon

And doesn’t know beans about the cadiovascular system – why didn’t they do this sooner, send him to some specialists, instead of scaring the dickens out of Chuck, his family, his fans and the BBN..?

A man is nothing more than a summation of his scars!

by KansasUKCat on Dec 23, 2011 1:15 PM EST reply actions

I had a similar experience personally.

My physician did a routine EKG, saw an abnormality and referred me to a specialist. She read it as a mild heart attack. After more intensive evaluation, the specialist’s office called to schedule me for an invasive procedure, saying I had blockage in the lower chambers of my heart. I asked to speak to the specialist before I agreed to the procedure. I met with him and he told me the pictures showed a shadowing of the lower chambers of my heart. He said this meant one of two things, a deprivation of oxygen to the heart, OR my stomach got in the way of the pictures. Having seen x-rays in the past where a doctor told me my stomach sat up high I of course looked for alternative explanations. The specialist told me what the family physician saw was a thickening of the heart muscle caused by high blood pressure. He told me to get the blood pressure under control and it would correct itself. Big difference in diagnosis. By the way, how the heck can I be expected to control my blood pressure and continue to watch UK basketball? Any doctors out there want to take a crack at that one?

I am all for people expressing their opinions, as long as they back them up with facts.

by kywineman on Dec 24, 2011 1:15 PM EST up reply actions