Parker returning to U.S. to have eye examined

By Mike Monroe

Tony Parker, the Spurs’ All-NBA point guard, will return to the United States from France on July 5 to have his injured left eye examined by a specialist in New York.

Parker’s participation in this summer’s Olympic basketball tournament in London will remain in question until the team clears him to play.

The 30-year-old suffered the injury when struck by flying glass during a brawl at a New York City nightclub June 14.

Parker wasn’t directly involved in the bottle-hurling melee, which involved hip-hop performers Drake and Chris Brown.

The Spurs, who signed Parker to a four-year contract extension worth $50 million before the 2010-11 season, insist they be involved in determining both the severity of Parker’s injury and his recovery.

“Trust that we’re going to take advantage of the remedies that are available to us through the NBA’s agreement with FIBA (the international basketball governing body) to understand the severity of the injury and be involved in Tony’s prescription for recovery from any injury,” general manager R.C. Buford said.

Parker posted in French on his official website, TP9.net, that he is to fly from Paris to New York, where his eye is to be re-examined by a specialist.

Buford said details of the exam have yet to be confirmed.

The posting on Parker’s website said the Spurs’ star underwent surgery last week in Paris to remove a shard of glass from the damaged eye. Parker asserted that the glass had penetrated 99 percent of the eye.

“I can say today, I almost lost my eye,” the posting said. “So I had surgery on Sunday morning (June 17) under general anesthesia.”

Parker said his participation in the Olympic tournament in London is in the Spurs’ hands.

“The Spurs are very worried,” he said. “Based on the result, it will be determined whether I have to miss the Olympics. The decision is no longer mine. It is in the hands of the physician and San Antonio.”

If he is cleared for the London competition, Parker said, he will wear protective goggles.

Parker was not involved in the fight that took place at the club, W.i.P., which is in the SoHo district of Manhattan.

He recently filed a $20 million lawsuit in state Supreme Court in Manhattan against the club and its operators.

The club has since been shut down because of code violations and could lose its liquor license, according to New York state officials.

Parker led the Spurs in scoring (18.3 points per game) and assists (7.7 per game) as they compiled a 50-16 record in the post-lockout 2011-12 season.

mikemonroe@express-news.net

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