Two weeks after having a heart attack during a recruiting trip in Pennsylvania, Cincinnati basketball coach Bob Huggins was back on the court presiding over his team’s first practice of the new season.
About 3,200 fans showed up for Huggins’ first public appearance since the Sept. 28 heart attack. He introduced players while sitting on a wooden swivel chair at center court, then watched from the bench as his team scrimmaged for 20 minutes.
“I’ll probably have to spend a little less time working out of the office,” said Huggins, 49. “But as far as being on the floor and preparing to be on the floor, I’m going to do what I’ve always done.”
– Veteran forward Charles Oakley signed a one-year contract with the Washington Wizards, reuniting him with former teammates Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing.
The 38-year-old Oakley has averaged 10 points and 9.8 rebounds over his 17-year career.
Oakley and Jordan played together with the Bulls from 1985-88. Oakley returned to the Bulls last season with mixed results, openly criticizing the team’s rebuilding efforts.
Oakley also played 10 seasons in New York with Ewing, who recently became a Wizards assistant coach.
