Top basketball star comes home

VILNIUS - Sabonis and his wife Ingrida arrived in Lithuania earlier this month to become the godparents of two children of a friend of theirs, Pranas Mickevicius.

But it seems that was not the only purpose of their visit to Kaunas. Four days later, on Sept. 5, the new godfather was seen in the city's Red Cross Hospital, where, 15 years ago, he was treated for ankle problems.

According to the daily Kauno Diena, the Lithuanian basketball star was avoiding putting his full weight on his right foot when walking.

A hospital spokesman confirmed Sabonis was undergoing physiotherapeutic treatment but did not specify the reason. "He has had a few serious injuries in the past, so it is obvious that he has to take care of his health," said a doctor.

According to other undisclosed sources, said the paper, Sabonis' injured right-foot toes are to be immobilized with a splint. Sabonis can walk but not engage in sports. It will be more than a month before he is able to run and play basketball at full strength.

Some years ago Sabonis suffered a similar injury while playing soccer on a beach at the Lithuanian sea resort of Palanga. For the past six years, the 2.23-meter-tall center forward has played for the NBA Portland Trail Blazers. But now he is a free agent and still does not know where he will play next season. Sabonis' agents say he will choose between his first basketball team, Kaunas Zalgiris, and several NBA clubs.