By Mike Bresnahan, Los Angeles Times –
San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker said he might miss the Olympics after revealing he almost lost his eye in a New York nightclub incident earlier this month.
Parker was at the club when a fight broke out between musical artist Chris Brown and entourage members of hip-hop star Drake.
In an interview posted on his website Sunday, Parker said an additional round of medical tests last week found that a shard of glass had “penetrated 99 percent” of his left eye. The injury was initially thought to be a scratched cornea.
“I can say today, I almost lost my eye,” he said, adding that it negatively affected him mentally. “I hallucinate. I just spent eight days trapped in my hotel. I was not allowed out to prevent infection. I was so afraid that I have not left my room. I asked myself many questions. I cannot believe that happened to me a month before the Games. Every two hours, I have five different products to put in the eye.”
Parker, 30, would be the top player on a relatively strong French team at the Olympics. Without him, though, the French field a less-imposing roster with NBA players Joakim Noah, Nicolas Batum and Boris Diaw.
Parker said he would decide on the Olympics after consulting with a New York eye specialist July 5. France begins play July 29 against the U.S. team.
San Antonio would have a large say in whether he played in London, Parker said. “The Spurs are very worried,” he said.
Parker finished fifth in most-valuable-player voting last season, helping take San Antonio to the Western Conference finals, where they held a two-game lead over Oklahoma City before losing four in a row.
Parker also confirmed in the interview he was suing the nightclub, W.i.P. (Work in Progress). Media reports said he was seeking damages of $20 million, citing negligent security and supervision in allowing the fight to occur.
