Home >  Sports >  Other Sports

Monday, September 30, 2002

By Mike White, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

When University of Cincinnati men's basketball coach Bob Huggins was having a heart attack at Pittsburgh International Airport Saturday, the first person he called was J.O. Stright, his good friend from Pittsburgh.

Stright, who lives in Mount Washington, had dinner with Huggins Friday and the two spent time together at Stright's home on Mount Washington. Huggins attended an open-gym practice at Baldwin Friday afternoon to watch some players, and Stright got a phone call from Huggins at 8:30 a.m. Saturday.

"He called me from the airport and said, 'Hey, I'm having a heart attack,'" said Stright, who owns an Etna business and also runs the Pittsburgh J.O.T.S. AAU basketball club. "Then he said he couldn't take another step because he felt like he had an elephant on his chest."

Stright quickly phoned 9-1-1, but someone else already had done the same. Stright drove to the airport and then to Sewickley Valley Hospital, where Huggins had been taken by ambulance.

"The doctors told us he had a heart attack and that he needed surgery," Stright said. "There was a surgeon on hand at Beaver Medical Center and it was decided to move him to there."

Stright also went to the Medical Center in Beaver. He said when Huggins arrived, "he was in very critical condition."

Huggins had surgery to clear a clogged artery and a stent was inserted to keep the artery open. Huggins was listed last night in serious but stable condition, and Stright talked with Huggins by telephone at 5:30 Saturday.

"The good news was that, prior to the operation, the pain in his chest was immense," Stright said. "When I talked to him, he said he had no more pain in his chest."

Stright has known Huggins for years and the two stay in contact on a regular basis. Huggins recruited Shaler's Dan Fortson to Cincinnati and Stright was an adviser to Fortson. Huggins also has recruited others who played for Stright's J.O.T.S. team. Huggins was at Baldwin Friday to watch some younger players participate in an open-gym practice. Stright also had asked him to take a look at Baldwin senior point guard Gavin Prosser to get an idea of what college level Prosser could play.

Huggins was at the airport for a flight to Milwaukee for a coaching clinic.

Stright said Huggins, 49, had no previous heart problems.

"He's always been strong as an ox," Stright said. "His weight would fluctuate up and down. He'd go on a kick for a while and get his weight down, but the circuit he's on, it's pretty easy to gain weight."

Stright said Huggins seems intent on still coaching.

"You could tell in his voice that he was not planning on missing the season," Stright said. "But as serious as this was, he might be given some advice to back off a little bit."

Dr. Lynne Wagoner, director of cardiac services at University of Cincinnati Hospital, said Huggins' doctors will have to determine the damage to his heart before they decide when he can return to Cincinnati.