Riley takes leave of absence from Heat

[clevfan]

Riley takes leave of absence from Heat




By Ira Winderman
Sun-Sentinel.com

January 3, 2007, 1:25 PM EST



For the second time in four years, Heat coach Pat Riley has stepped down at midseason.

A team spokesman confirmed Wednesday that Riley would hand over the team to assistant coach Ron Rothstein because of health issues.

The spokesman said the departure is open-ended, with Riley recently suffering from knee pain, in addition to ongoing hip problems.

The Heat has scheduled a 3:30 news conference at AmericanAirlines Arena.

Riley was not immediately available for comment, but spoke earlier in the week about the knee pain that had him hobbled in recent days.

"I've got floating chips," he said. "I've got three or four things that have been floating in there for years. If I get it done, it'll be a day. There's just going to scope it and flush it out.

"I had an MRI the other day. It showed all these loose parts in there. Lately it's been locking up and staying there."

Riley previously stepped down as coach Oct. 24 2003, handing the reins over to assistant Stan Van Gundy. He then resumed coaching in December 2006, after Van Gundy resigned citing family reasons.

Rothstein filled in twice for Riley last season, when Riley attended to the death of his mother. Riley then returned to guide the team to the 2006 NBA title.

Rothstein served as the Heat's inaugural coach in 1988 and also coached the franchise's entry in the WNBA, the Miami Sol. He rejoined the franchise as an assistant coach in 2003.

[Uncle B]

pretty convenient timing for Riley....i can't help but find this a bit suspicious.

[Uncle B]

MIAMI -- Pat Riley had three large pieces of cartilage successfully removed from his right knee Friday, but a timetable for the Miami Heat coach's return is still unknown.




<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>The 61-year-old coach's hourlong surgery was performed at Doctors Hospital of Miami, Heat officials said in a statement. The cartilage was removed with an arthroscopic procedure and Riley was resting at his home.

Ron Rothstein, the Heat's coach in their first three seasons, took over as interim coach after Riley announced an indefinite leave of absence Wednesday because of painful knee and hip problems. </end quote></div>



o.k., maybe he isn't just trying to avoid the losses.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif[/img]

[soli]

the Heats look awful, they need to find a few young players to mix with what they have