Diabetes should not be factor in decision

As a serious Zags fan and type one diabetic for almost 34 years, your recent reporting concerning Adam Morrison’s future causes me concern for two reasons.

First, it seems everyone is assuming he will move on to the NBA without graduating. If I were Adam’s dad, uncle or coach, I would emphasize the importance of getting his degree and another year of maturity before turning pro.

Second, Adam and his father, John, apparently said that because of Adam’s diabetes, they felt he had to leave for the NBA as soon as possible because the disease causes “feet and eyes to go early.”

This belief is not based upon present medical facts concerning diabetes. I can attest that a diabetic who takes care of himself, as Adam Morrison seems to, can have a full and useful life and, receiving proper medical care, would nearly never experience any complications from his diabetes until long after any foreseeable NBA career had ended, if at all.

I say, Adam, finish up your degree, play another season here, and you’ll have a better NBA career and a better life for it. There’s plenty of time.

Cameron Phillips

Coeur d’Alene