Channing Frye Sidelined Indefinitely Due To Enlarged Heart

It is with sadness that I must impart this news on the Suns world.

The Phoenix Suns today announced that forward Channing Frye will be sidelined indefinitely for medical reasons. Frye has developed a dilated cardiomyopathy, an enlarged heart. The condition was discovered during a screening echocardiogram conducted as part of a routine preseason physical by Suns team cardiologist Dr. Tim Byrne.

Frye will be followed closely by his team of medical specialists. He will not participate in basketball activities and will be re-evaluated in December.

"Nothing is more important to us than the health and well-being of our players," said Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby. "Channing and his family have the full support of our organization. His health is our primary concern and we are committed to helping him in any way he needs."

UPDATE, per Coro: Suns forward Channing Frye told azcentral sports that he will miss the 2012-13 season because of medical concerns.

"The good news is it is a virus so it does have a good chance of going away," Frye said. "My heart can be normal again."

Frye will not participate in any basketball activities and his progress will be re-evaluated in December. He said he would rest for six months, confining his activities to golf and yoga.

I was wondering what was up when Channing tweeted a cryptic message the other day. I guessed he'd had a setback on his shoulder recovery, but unfortunately for all us it's not that simple.

Chuck Hayes had a heart abnormality last year (to which the Kings responded with voiding his free agent contract because the contract was on the condition of passing a physical). Within weeks, he was cleared again to play and signed a new contract. It's quite possible that Frye will follow that same road. I myself was diagnosed with an abnormality last year. I did stress tests and came out with flying colors. But for a few days there, I was nervous. The Kings were nervous enough to void Hayes' contract.

The scary part is that an enlarged heart could be fatal. The Hawks' Jason Collier died in 2005 from what was called a "sudden rhythm disturbance caused by an abnormally enlarged heart."

You are in our thoughts and prayers, Channing. You may be a lot of peoples' punching bag, but you're OUR punching bag. We know what it's like to play without you, Channing, to the tune of missed playoffs the last two years after you went down injured.

Get healthy and come back, Frye guy!