Muresan Gets Some Unusual Medical News

Gheorghe Muresan may finally have an answer.

The 7-foot-7 Washington Wizards center, despondent over missing the season because of a foot injury that never seemed to get better, has learned from doctors that he has a pinched nerve that was possibly compounded by eating bad fish.

“We find out that I have a pinched nerve in the back [of the foot],” said Muresan of tests performed last month by a New York specialist. “I also have some toxics in my urine from some food. This toxic is coming from fish. It’s pretty high, but I don’t eat a lot of fish. I don’t know why it’s so high. The toxics can damage the nerves too.”

He hopes to return next season.

In other news, “parental discretion advised” was the best way to describe the evidence given by witnesses in Rockville, Md., as the investigation of a sexual assault complaint naming Wizard forwards Juwan Howard and Chris Webber went before a grand jury.

One witness reportedly told prosecutors the alleged victim spoke of receiving $1,000 after having sex with Webber during a party at Howard’s house. Others reportedly disputed the accuser’s statement, saying the woman was “trying to interact with [Webber].”

Neither player has been charged in the alleged April 6 incident, and both have denied the allegations.

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Commissioner David Stern and players union director Billy Hunter had their first meeting in almost 2 1/2 weeks in New York to discuss a new collective bargaining agreement. Neither side revealed any specifics of their talks. . . . Chicago Bull forward Scottie Pippen, who missed Wednesday’s loss to Detroit because of a kidney stone, is expected to play tonight at Philadelphia, the team said.