NBA Finals: Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki has a fever ... watch out, Miami Heat
The fever that struck Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki didn’t keep him from scoring the game-winning basket in Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat, though it may have some fans worrying how he’ll fare in Game 5. But hey, maybe that weakness could become a key offensive tool.
It might sound far-fetched, but the Mavericks would not be the first to pass on a bad bug to the opposing team. Back in 1998, Duke University’s football team, the Blue Devils, lost to the favored Florida State Seminoles -- but not before they infected the Seminoles with a nasty case of the stomach flu, as described by a study published in 2000 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Thirty-six Duke players suffered upset stomachs, vomiting and diarrhea on game day and 11 Florida State players became ill just hours after winning the game.
Normally, viral gastroenteritis is food-borne or water-borne. But with all the heavy breathing and sweat, it’s no stretch to think that sports games can be a dangerous breeding ground for diseases.
Just to be safe, Miami Heat players might want to keep that hand sanitizer, er, handy.
Get our high school sports newsletter
Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
