Hearn Still Could Return Sooner Than Expected

Chick Hearn’s recovery from a broken hip is progressing ahead of schedule and he may be back announcing Laker games sooner than expected, his orthopedic surgeon said Sunday.

“He’s doing just great,” said Herbert Huddleston of the Southern California Orthopedic Institute. “He’s remarkably strong and his clarity of mind is amazing.”

Huddleston, who performed hip surgery on Hearn at Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys Tuesday, said Hearn still wants to go back to work Friday, the original date scheduled for his return from heart surgery.

“I really don’t think that’s a possibility, but March 10 might be,” the doctor said. “Realistically, though, he’s probably a month away.”

After the surgery, Huddleston predicted Hearn would return to work in late April.

Hearn was transferred to the hospital’s acute rehab department on Friday, where he has been undergoing physical and occupational therapy three hours a day.

“He is walking 50 to 100 feet a day and making steady progress,” said Tim Tavanbakhsh, the hospital director of acute rehab services.

Hearn is expected to go home next weekend after finishing his therapy.

The Laker announcer broke his hip when he fell at a service station in Encino on Feb. 17. Hearn was about to begin pumping gas when his car began rolling forward. He fell when he tried to jump back into the car.