Delle Donne denied medical opt-out by WNBA | Page 3 | The Boneyard

Delle Donne denied medical opt-out by WNBA

Bigpetunia said:
I feel sorry for Elena...she clearly suffers from some condition. But it isn't chronic Lyme disease. That condition does not exist!
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Researchers have discovered that ticks can transmit more than four different pathogens in a single bite, so it is possible that some of Elena’s persisting symptoms are due to coinfections. Elena mentioned Bartonella and other coinfections in her letter. It is also possible that Elena’s symptoms are due to Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease.

Persistence of Borrelia burgdorferi after several weeks of oral antibiotic treatment has now been demonstrated in humans, dogs, monkeys, mice, horses, and other animals. Some of the studies, such as this one and this one, have used xenodiagnosis to show that Borrelia can survive treatment with ceftriaxone. Indeed, this study demonstrated that persistent spirochetes remain viable for up to 18 months following antibiotic treatment.

The book “Bitten: The Secret History of Lyme Disease and Biological Weapons” alleges that scientist Willy Burgdorfer claimed that the disease was part of a biological weapons program that went awry.
 
Whatever way this comes out, you can be absolutely certain that the WNBA now wishes its committee had ruled her eligible to opt out. The league looks terrible. And far worse after EDD's letter.

Guaranteed that the league president is appalled by this entire PR fiasco.
 
Steelerone said:
Waquoit, sorry but I have to call you out on this one. I had a disc go on me thirty years ago and part of it went into the sciatic nerve. I've got to say that I thought I knew what pain was but I really didn't.
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I had much the same experience...3 bad discs in my neck... uncontrollable pain shooting from my back into my arms....Fortunately I had an aggressive doctor both with regard pain reduction and treatment and after 6 months he got it under control...but I lived on oxy for half a year and was lucky to get off those pain meds without complications..Much to the Dr's surprise, I had only one relapse, my wife's Chinese medicine has kept the issue at bay.
 
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It isn't just the WNBA here....this medical panel protocol was set up by the league AND the players' union. Where's the criticism of the players' union by the media and EDD for their responsibility in this matter? Not a peep as far as I can tell.

If her medical condition is so serious that she shouldn't play then she should have chosen not to play regardless of what the panel determined & she should have accepted whatever consequences that her decision brought. Instead she publicly whined about it and now she will get paid for not playing. I am not impressed, to me she is coming off as just another entitled elite athlete.
 
From Mechelle V’s story:

“Thibault seemed somewhat perplexed as to why Delle Donne gave the impression that she had to choose between playing this season and not being paid. He said that is not the case. Thibault added that Delle Donne shared with the team that she was denied the exemption.”
 
Poor EDD, the spectators in the coliseum have been have been waiting, there shall be no surrender; only a good killing will satisfy them. There is nothing worst than a gladiator refusing to fight til the end. Well. Maybe being at the front row at a hanging, in the dags! Were we always like this?
 
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Carnac said:
Mystics to pay Elena Delle Donne's salary, but agent says concerns remain.

Mystics coach and general manager Mike Thibault said in a video call Wednesday that Delle Donne is on the team's roster and is being paid. He said she will be paid throughout the WNBA season, even if she is doing only rehab for the back surgery she underwent in January and doesn't play.
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Sounds as though the WNBA quietly pulled that committee decision, without telling the public that it had done so. Seems as though Thibault can't do what he's doing without a 180 from the league.

A Rosanne Rosanna Danna? "Never mind!"
 
Cedar said:
Researchers have discovered that ticks can transmit more than four different pathogens in a single bite, so it is possible that some of Elena’s persisting symptoms are due to coinfections. Elena mentioned Bartonella and other coinfections in her letter. It is also possible that Elena’s symptoms are due to Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease.

Persistence of Borrelia burgdorferi after several weeks of oral antibiotic treatment has now been demonstrated in humans, dogs, monkeys, mice, horses, and other animals. Some of the studies, such as this one and this one, have used xenodiagnosis to show that Borrelia can survive treatment with ceftriaxone. Indeed, this study demonstrated that persistent spirochetes remain viable for up to 18 months following antibiotic treatment.

The book “Bitten: The Secret History of Lyme Disease and Biological Weapons” alleges that scientist Willy Burgdorfer claimed that the disease was part of a biological weapons program that went awry.
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Interesting. I’ve been diagnosed with both Lyme and Bartonella in the past. I never knew they were related. Time to go read up. Thanks for the insight!
 
Fairfield Fan said:
Sounds as though the WNBA quietly pulled that committee decision, without telling the public that it had done so. Seems as though Thibault can't do what he's doing without a 180 from the league.

A Rosanne Rosanna Danna? "Never mind!"
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Doesn’t sound like that is what happened. With the team’s decision to pay her for rehabbing, she is taking up a roster spot. The team will not be allowed to sign a replacement player.
 
As far as the WNBA and basketball go, it seems like a non-issue to me. The parties set the rules and chose the medical panel. A decision was made in accordance with the agreement. The Mystics did exactly the right thing to keep her on the payroll.

EDD stated exactly what she should have been doing all along... use her platform to fund raise, bring attention to the condition and encourage more research and education. Get busy Elena.
 
Not sure if this has been posted already, but EDD wrote an open letter about her condition in the Players tribune a day ago. Good read and I feel so bad for her. She takes 64 pills a day to combat the effects of her illness, and is living with current infections now. A shame for anyone, but for a great athlete to have their body revolting against them seems especially devastating. :eek:
 
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First, does anyone know the rules for this? :confused: I don't. But If the 'average joe' in an average job' asked for time off with pay, because they had a medical condition, would they get it? Becoming a pro athlete you know when you sign up you will be held accountable (for everything...........on and off the court). She has the right to 'opt out' of the season. But don't expect payment just because you think you're entitled to it.
 
WNBA barely staying afloat. If they give a pass to EDD, it sets a precedent that may encourage other players to try paid medical leave. I dont see the viability of the WNBA getting better anytime soon.
 
LCConnFan said:
First, does anyone know the rules for this? :confused: I don't. But If the 'average joe' in an average job' asked for time off with pay, because they had a medical condition, would they get it? Becoming a pro athlete you know when you sign up you will be held accountable (for everything...........on and off the court). She has the right to 'opt out' of the season. But don't expect payment just because you think you're entitled to it.
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A significant percentage of average joes with average jobs are covered by short term and/or long term disability insurance which pays all or a portion of their income along with medical expenses provided they cannot perform a “core function” of their job due to injury or illness. In order to qualify for disability insurance, an individual must receive a certification from a medical professional.

EDD essentially is in the same position. The one difference being that the WNBA policy board does not recognize Lyme disease as a disability relative to the risk of contracting COVID-19.
 
oldude said:
A significant percentage of average joes with average jobs are covered by short term and/or long term disability insurance which pays all or a portion of their income along with medical expenses provided they cannot perform a “core function” of their job due to injury or illness. In order to qualify for disability insurance, an individual must receive a certification from a medical professional.

EDD essentially is in the same position. The one difference being that the WNBA policy board does not recognize Lyme disease as a disability relative to the risk of contracting COVID-19.
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So maybe the WNBA should offer that as well! After all, w/o it, we are left with making hard choices (like people that have to choose between rent/food/heating or medical insurance. :(
 
LCConnFan said:
So maybe the WNBA should offer that as well! After all, w/o it, we are left with making hard choices (like people that have to choose between rent/food/heating or medical insurance. :(
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LCConnFan said:
So maybe the WNBA should offer that as well! After all, w/o it, we are left with making hard choices (like people that have to choose between rent/food/heating or medical insurance. :(
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? The WNBA contract with players essentially guarantees them their salaries if they get injured or sick and cannot play. There is an additional agreement between the league and the players to pay “at risk” players who choose to sit out during the COVID-19 pandemic. The only issue is that the WNBA does not recognize Lyme disease as a risk. If, for instance, EDD had asthma or diabetes, she would be entitled to sit out the season with pay.
 
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I have to wonder, if EDD was not one of about a dozen widely recognized faces in the league, would they made the same concession?
 
Argonaut said:
I have to wonder, if EDD was not one of about a dozen widely recognized faces in the league, would they made the same concession?
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no answer to that but pretty incredulously, EDD felt her fame worked against her in the initial ruling.
 
eebmg said:
no answer to that but pretty incredulously, EDD felt her fame worked against her in the initial ruling.
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Which is crazy talk. There was a list and her disease wasn’t on the list...

It’s the same kind of preferential treatment that kept Stewie on the WNBA payroll last season.
 
Argonaut said:
I have to wonder, if EDD was not one of about a dozen widely recognized faces in the league, would they made the same concession?
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"They" in this case is the Mystics, not the league. Because the league doesn't recognize her COVID vulnerability, the Mystics are sacrificing a roster spot this season in order to pay her. I suspect it's more about her value to the team than her 'recognized face'.
 
j66kicker said:
"They" in this case is the Mystics, not the league. Because the league doesn't recognize her COVID vulnerability, the Mystics are sacrificing a roster spot this season in order to pay her. I suspect it's more about her value to the team than her 'recognized face'.
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It doesn’t really matter who the “they” is. Would the Mystics do the same for Shey Peddy? Or Tianna Hawkins?

The Mystics recognized they had a problem when the league didn’t excuse her from the Wubble and because EDD has an audience and a following, the Mystics made it go away.
 
Argonaut said:
It doesn’t really matter who the “they” is. Would the Mystics do the same for Shey Peddy? Or Tianna Hawkins?

The Mystics recognized they had a problem when the league didn’t excuse her from the Wubble and because EDD has an audience and a following, the Mystics made it go away.
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Oh yeah they had a problem. “An audience and a following” doesn’t let Thibault keep his job. Having the [alleged] best player in the league committed to his team lets him keep his job.
 
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