``I kept hoping for a television timeout, because if I didn't get one, I was going to pass out," Bird said.
When the referees finally whistled the scheduled TV break, Bird sank into his chair on the sideline, narrowly avoiding fainting in front of a nationally televised audience. After taking a moment to regain his composure, Bird coached the rest of game without incident. Neither his players nor assistant coaches noticed he was in distress and he didn't tell anyone except the team trainer, David Craig, and that was well after the game.
The condition that caused Bird such distress? Atrial fibrillation, which may be what is ailing another Boston superstar, David Ortiz.
Red Sox Nation has been flooded with bad news in the past couple of weeks, and the last thing anyone wants to hear is that Big Papi has a heart condition. But Bird said there's every reason to believe Ortiz can continue to function at a very high level with the proper care.
Bird said his episode during that Bulls game happened because his doctors had not yet pinpointed the proper amount of medication he should have been taking.
``I had already been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation by that time," he said, ``but it took me a while to find the right dose. Someone like you might take a 3-milligram pill, but for me it might require 5 milligrams because of my body size. Once we figured out how much I needed to keep my heart in rhythm, I was fine.
``I haven't had an episode in 2 1/2 years. Obviously, I'm not playing anymore, but I guarantee if I was still young and still in my prime, I'd be just fine."
While he was playing for the Celtics, Bird said, he experienced a few incidents as a result of his condition. He was unaware at the time it was atrial fibrillation, but, he said, after long runs during the offseason, he often would feel dizzy and lightheaded, and he would lie down and sleep for hours before he'd feel better.
Bird said he is required to take medication for the rest of his life.
``I take a few things, I don't even know their names," he said. ``One, obviously, Coumadin, a blood thinner, because when your heart doesn't pump efficiently, you can develop blood clots, which can lead to a stroke."
