Ex-Bull Allen recalls irregular heartbeat scare

Tribune News ServicesMagic forward Malik Allen said he hadn't thought about what happened to him in Orlando three years ago. And that's a good thing. It means Allen's ticker is ticking like it should. Allen was with the Bulls in 2007 when he suddenly left the bench during the second quarter of a game against the Magic. He had developed an irregular heartbeat -- heart arrhythmia -- and had to be taken to an Orlando hospital for an eventual two-day stay after being evaluated by Magic team doctors. Allen, 32, said he started feeling his heart racing during warm-ups and was light-headed through the first quarter that night. He felt "a little jumpy," but figured it was just typical game-night excitement.Photo: Malik Allen during the 2010 season with the Nuggets. (AP)But he headed to the locker room before then-coach Scott Skiles -- a former Magic guard who, coincidentally, also has had issues with heart arrhythmia -- sent him into the game in the second period. ...