COLLEGE BASKETBALL: SE's GORDON CLEARED AFTER EXPERIENCING 'RACING HEART'

Southeast Missouri State University basketball player Monte Gordon, a touted junior-college transfer who is expected to challenge for the Indians' starting power forward position, has been cleared to begin practice Saturday after experiencing what is commonly referred to as a "racing heart" during a recent workout.

According to Southeast coach Gary Garner, Gordon experienced problems during one of the team's pre-practice workouts. Under NCAA guidelines, squads are allowed to hold workouts a few times a week, with only a limited number of players at each session, prior to Saturday's start of official practice.

"Monte's heart just got to racing one day during our individual workouts and we were really concerned," said Garner. "But he's been checked out by a cardiologist and cleared to start practice. He needs to take medication, but he should be fine."

Southeast head athletic trainer Lance McNamara said Gordon has a condition known medically as supraventricular tacchycardia, which in layman's terms is simply a racing heart.

"It's where the heart tends to beat above normal," said McNamara. "It's not real common, but this can be easily managed. But Monte has to take his medication daily."

According to McNamara, when Gordon's heart began to race during the individual workout that Garner mentioned, "He (Gordon) said it felt like his heart was pounding out of his chest."

McNamara acknowledged that any time there is something irregular about one's heart, it is something that has to be taken extremely seriously.

"Any time something like this happens, it's always a concern, but Monte has been cleared to play," McNamara said.

Gordon also apparently had a couple of instances of the racing heart during his junior-college playing days but nothing serious was ever found and he wound up having an impressive juco career. The 6-foot-5, 225-pounder averaged 16.5 points and 7.4 rebounds for a 31-7 Kankakee (Ill.) Community College team last season.

"We're happy Monte has been cleared to practice, but more importantly, we're just pleased that Monte's health has checked out fine," Garner said. "His personal well being is the main thing."

The Indians will get practice going this weekend by holding two-a-days both Saturday and Sunday, working out in the morning and evening both days.

"We'll try and work pretty hard this weekend," said Garner. "Everybody is excited to get going."