The Ravens’ Samari Walker: Developed “flu-like symptoms”

Angels home run threat Tim Salmon: experienced “flu-like symptoms”

Dominican slugger Sammy Sosa: sidelined with “flu-like symptoms”

Braves ace Kevin Millwood: pitched through “flu-like symptoms”

Racism Stifles 76er Star

Dikembe Mutombo hasn’t always been a center for the Philly 76ers. Before the scouts found him and gave him a ticket out, he was just your average 7’2” central African in a war-torn former Belgian colony. Even after many years in the NBA, his angular jerks as he tries to set up in the inside are reminiscent of dances in his native land. We called the Congolese embassy to try to find out how else his motherland contributes to his experience.

Republic of Congo: Hello.
eXile: Hi. Is this the embassy of Congo?
RC: Yes.
eXile: Do you follow basketball? I’m Pierre Goldstein from l`Equipe and I’m trying to get an angle on Dikembe Mutombo. Do you know him? He’s from your country and is playing in the basketball finals tomorrow between the Lakers and the ‘76ers. I’m flying out tomorrow to LA to cover it. But I while I’m in Moscow I was hoping to get a comment.
RC: Actually, you’ve got the wrong Congo. We’re Congo Brazzaville. I think he’s from the Democratic Republic of Congo. But as a sport’s lover I can talk to you. My name’s George.
eXile: Great, thanks. Do you know that Mutombo doesn’t score too often? I was wondering if the reason his teammates don’t pass to him much is because he’s black. What do you think?
RC: Well, as is the case for any foreign athlete, I think there’s always discrimination, no question.
eXile: Are you happy the guy is going to play in the finals?
RC: As an African, it fills my heart with pride.
eXile: Do you think that pride is shared in all Africa?
RC: I do.
eXile: Even as far as the Ivory Coast? I mean, don’t they play soccer there?
RC: Well, athletes are our best ambassadors. No matter what sport you’re talking about.
eXile: By the way, have you heard about the shoe program in Kinshasa that Mutombo is involved in? He distributes sneakers to kids all over...
RC: You’re talking about the wrong Congo again. We’re across the river. But, yes, he’s a real humanitarian.
eXile: So you don’t have a pair of those shoes he gives out?
RC: No.
eXile: You mean you couldn’t help me get a pair?
RC: They are just your run-of-the-mill sneakers. We watch them flashing on the other bank. It’s nice idea, though. In Africa, we need shoes.

(all excerpts taken from wire reports)

Indianapolis running back Marshall Faulk has flu-like symptoms and his status is uncertain.
Oct 4, 1999

Rockets rookie Jason Collier went home before the opening tip-off with flu-like symptoms
Nov 14, 2000

Despite pitching with flu-like symptoms, Millwood (2-0) allowed only five hits and struck out seven.
April 26, 2001

Samaki Walker remained in San Antonio with flu-like symptoms.
Nov 24, 2001

Giants 3B Russ Davis left in the third with flu-like symptoms.
May 14, 2000

Anaheim RF Tim Salmon was scratched from the lineup because of flu-like symptoms.
May 4, 2001

On his first play back after leaving the game with flu-like symptoms, [Darnell] Arceneaux was intercepted on a swing pass by Doug Heald, who returned it for a 48-yard touchdown with 11:23 left in the third quarter.
Oct 21, 2000

Baker missed the game because of flu-like symptoms, but Westphal said that Baker went to the hospital and was checked.
Nov 21, 1999

Alex Rodriguez of the Mariners missed his second straight game because of flu-like symptoms.
Nov 2, 2000

Los Angeles shortstop Alex Cora left after five innings because of flu-like symptoms and was replaced by Jeff Branson.
Sep 2, 2000

Meluskey left after four innings because of flu-like symptoms...
Sep 9, 2000

Sammy Sosa was forced out of a home run hitting contest with flu-like symptoms that sent him to a local hospital Saturday
Feb 16, 2001

Nebraska starting quarterback Eric Crouch also may be ailing. He took only limited snaps on Tuesday because of flu-like symptoms and left practice with ice wrapped around his ankle.
Jan 4, 2000

He felt some soreness and started coughing up blood. “This wasn’t drops - this was buckets,” he said. And then came the headaches, the blurry vision, the flu-like symptoms, the dizziness.

He thought he was going to die. “I was scared when they first told me. Of course, they told me it was 95 percent curable, but that’s when they catch it early. I knew I had a more advanced case.”

Armstrong had surgery to remove his right testicle and brain lesions, then underwent three months of chemotherapy. He was out for the 1997 season and began his comeback last May.
Dec 24, 1999

When Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong developed “flu-like symptoms” in 1997, doctors diagnosed him as having testicular cancer. After having his right testicle and brain lesions removed and undergoing chemotherapy, Armstrong successfully began his comeback. Could this happen to you? We called the American Medical Center to investigate:

eXile: Hi, my name is Ron Lipski, I work at the Raddison in town and I’ve been having some “flu-like symptoms”, but I don’t think I have the flu. Is that possible?

AMC: It’s hard to say without seeing you.

eXile: Is there anything I should worry about? Can that develop into anything? I’ve heard of flu-like symptoms preceding testicular cancer and things like that.

AMC: Oh, no no no no no. If you are talking about the small symptoms like low-grade fever, feeling generally unwell, that sort of things, no no no. That’s not the first thought. But there are many, many diseases that might be associated with flu-like symptoms. It might be the flu itself, it might be mononucleosis, it might be the beginning of hepatitis. It might be the sign of any viral disease, to say nothing about general depression.

eXile: OK. Is there something I should worry about?

AMC: What are the symptoms?

eXile: I’ve got a fever and chills.

AMC: How high is the fever?

eXile: You know, to tell you the truth, I don’t have a thermometer handy so I don’t know, but I’ve just had a general unwell feeling for the last two or three days. It’s hard to get work done with this sort of feeling.

AMC: Anything in particular? Soreness?

eXile: Yeah, I’ve got a soreness around my neck.

AMC: No swollen glands, no lumps that are sore to touch?

eXile: Not right now, just a little painful to talk actually. I feel like there’s something, like a block.

AMC: In the throat?

eXile: Yeah.

AMC: Then I would say it might be laryngitis, it might be tonsillitis, it might be mononucleosis, quite a few things you know.

eXile: I guess I will just see if it goes away.

AMC: Have you tried anything?

eXile: I’ve been drinking more orange juice.

AMC: That’s the correct thing to do. See if the fever responds to over-the-counter medications like Panadol or well even simple Aspirin or cold drugs. Say if it does, then we are most likely dealing with a viral infection. It might be interesting what kind of infection it is. If it doesn’t, say you take two tablets of Panadol extra-strength and still feel this chills and feel hot then the chances are high that you have a bacterial infection that might need an antibiotic.

eXile: OK, but you don’t think it’s anything very serious?

AMC: No, no no. <laughs> Symptoms of cancer develop gradually. First you don’t even pay much attention to them because they are very very mild. Then over a period of time, it takes weeks for the symptoms to become more and more noticeable. This is when you start to worry.

eXile: OK, well I guess I’ll take the medication.

AMC: Drink more liquids, try over-the-counter medications. If the symptoms don’t go away you need to be seen by a doctor.

eXile: OK, well, hopefully I won’t call you back.

AMC: Bye.

	The Ravens’ Samari Walker: Developed “flu-like symptoms”
	Angels home run threat Tim Salmon: experienced “flu-like symptoms”
	Dominican slugger Sammy Sosa: sidelined with “flu-like symptoms”
Braves ace Kevin Millwood: pitched through “flu-like symptoms”
Racism Stifles 76er Star Dikembe Mutombo hasn’t always been a center for the Philly 76ers. Before the scouts found him and gave him a ticket out, he was just your average 7’2” central African in a war-torn former Belgian colony. Even after many years in the NBA, his angular jerks as he tries to set up in the inside are reminiscent of dances in his native land. We called the Congolese embassy to try to find out how else his motherland contributes to his experience. Republic of Congo: Hello. eXile: Hi. Is this the embassy of Congo? RC: Yes. eXile: Do you follow basketball? I’m Pierre Goldstein from l`Equipe and I’m trying to get an angle on Dikembe Mutombo. Do you know him? He’s from your country and is playing in the basketball finals tomorrow between the Lakers and the ‘76ers. I’m flying out tomorrow to LA to cover it. But I while I’m in Moscow I was hoping to get a comment. RC: Actually, you’ve got the wrong Congo. We’re Congo Brazzaville. I think he’s from the Democratic Republic of Congo. But as a sport’s lover I can talk to you. My name’s George. eXile: Great, thanks. Do you know that Mutombo doesn’t score too often? I was wondering if the reason his teammates don’t pass to him much is because he’s black. What do you think? RC: Well, as is the case for any foreign athlete, I think there’s always discrimination, no question. eXile: Are you happy the guy is going to play in the finals? RC: As an African, it fills my heart with pride. eXile: Do you think that pride is shared in all Africa? RC: I do. eXile: Even as far as the Ivory Coast? I mean, don’t they play soccer there? RC: Well, athletes are our best ambassadors. No matter what sport you’re talking about. eXile: By the way, have you heard about the shoe program in Kinshasa that Mutombo is involved in? He distributes sneakers to kids all over... RC: You’re talking about the wrong Congo again. We’re across the river. But, yes, he’s a real humanitarian. eXile: So you don’t have a pair of those shoes he gives out? RC: No. eXile: You mean you couldn’t help me get a pair? RC: They are just your run-of-the-mill sneakers. We watch them flashing on the other bank. It’s nice idea, though. In Africa, we need shoes.