Herald Tribune: Spurs' Ginobili says he needs surgery on heel

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/08/29/sports/LA-BKN-Ginobili-Surgery.php

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina: San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili says he needs arthroscopic surgery to repair a ligament injury in his left heel after playing for Argentina in the Beijing Olympics.

"They're going to operate on me," Ginobili was quoted as saying by Argentina's La Nacion newspaper Friday.

Ginobili, who helped lead Argentina to a bronze medal in Beijing, said a subsequent MRI exam of his injured ankle showed no improvement.

"It's the same as it was two months ago, when they did the first exam," he said. "It's not worse, which is important. Now, the thing is, it's not better either, and it seems like the only way to repair it completely is arthroscopic surgery."

Ginobili first hurt the ankle during the NBA playoffs, and Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had urged his player not to compete in the Olympics unless the injury improved. Ginobili had to sit out the bronze-medal match against Lithuania after feeling pain during the semifinals against the United States.

Ginobili, 31, said he doesn't know what doctor will perform the surgery or when.

"Aside from this situation, I'm comfortable with the situation," he said. "My plan was to be part of the Olympic games, and I knew that if I suffered from pain they would have to operate. This isn't something that took me by surprise."