Two Bias Friends Say They Didn’t Think Cocaine Could Prove Fatal

Terry Long and David Gregg, roommates of Maryland basketball star Len Bias, said it never occurred to them that someone could die from cocaine use.

In an interview off-camera with WRC-TV, Long said: “It never occurred to me that someone might die. You always think something like that would happen to someone else.”

Long and Gregg, along with another friend of Bias’, Brian Tribble, were with Bias when the All-American who was drafted by the Boston Celtics went into a seizure June 19 in his dormitory room.

The Maryland state medical examiner has said the seizure was brought on by cocaine use.

Long said that when Bias became sick, he thought Bias would recover.

“I thought all along he would get up and everything would be all right. You don’t realize how strong Lenny was. None of us had ever seen him sick or in that state before,” the television station reported that Long said.

When asked when they realized Bias was not going to make it, Long said: “Not until doctors kept coming out of the hospital room and telling us, ‘No response.’ The doctor did it several times before they told his mother, ‘He didn’t make it.’ ”

Both Gregg and Long said Bias introduced them to Tribble, who was not attending the university.

Neither, Long, Gregg nor Tribble has talked to police about the incidents surrounding Bias’ death. They all have lawyers who have said their clients would respond to subpoenas from the Prince George’s County grand jury investigating the death.

Police have said Long used cardiopulmonary resuscitation on Bias in efforts to revive him before the rescue squad arrived. Tribble is said to have called the rescue squad.