Stem-cell decision key to trade for Rice By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2001 Houston Chronicle President Bush's speech endorsing federal funding of stem-cell research set in motion the Rockets' trade of Shandon Anderson to New York for Glen Rice, Coach Rudy Tomjanovich told reporters Thursday night. "We were sitting around the table watching the speech," Tomjanovich said. "The minute the president gave the thumbs-up, I picked up the phone and called New York." The Rockets had conducted extensive negotiations with the Knicks for Rice's services, but Tomjanovich said several concerns on the part of the Rockets had held up the deal. "He's old, slow, and doesn't really play defense," Tomjanovich explained. "Also, we need guys who are big and can play down low and grab some boards for us. He doesn't have any of that." Over the last week, however, Tomjanovich began reading about stem-cell research and became intrigued by the possibility of applying it to Rice. "They're saying it can rejuvenate organs, tissues -- you name it," Tomjanovich said Thursday. "It makes your body more like that of a younger man. Some guy on TV was saying you could transplant it into bones and make guys taller. The more I thought about it, the more I thought we could work something out with Glen." The hitch, of course, was that Bush might put an end to the research. Once he made clear that wouldn't happen, Tomjanovich placed his call, and the deal was done.
Mad Scientist, While you are in the lab, see if you can find a heart and a brain for Cato! Oz hasn't helped.
