Appendectomy sidelines Shock CEO

Brady Nelson enjoyed all the festivities leading up to ArenaBowl XXIII, but game day wasn’t as kind to the Spokane Shock’s majority owner and CEO.

While Spokane was playing for the AFL championship at the Arena on Friday, Nelson was undergoing an appendectomy at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center.

“He sent me a text (Friday morning) and said he didn’t sleep well, his stomach was bothering him and he was going in to get it checked out,” Shock general manager Adam Nebeker said. “A few hours later he checked into the hospital and was having his appendix taken out, presumably right about now (30 minutes before kickoff) because he’s not responding to any texts or calls.”

Nelson was extremely disappointed he missed the game.

“This is what he’s worked so hard for for five years,” Nebeker said. “It would have been kind of his proudest moment, and he’ll still be proud of it of course, but he’s disappointed not to be here in person. He’s never missed a playoff game. I think he missed about half a game a few seasons ago because he had a flight delayed and he got back into town a little late.”

After the game, Nebeker said of Nelson: “He’s a little groggy, he was holding out hope as soon as he woke up he’d be Superman and swing over here, but once he came to, word was he wasn’t feeling too hot, as you’d expect. He sent congratulations to the team and to Rob (Keefe) and we sent word back to him.

“It’s pretty good news to wake up to.”