And if you know only a little about his champion spirit, you know he’s going to win.  

“An athlete is well aware with what’s going on in his body. I knew there was something wrong,” the Hall of Fame guard told The Associated Press. “I wonder if they tested me now, would they have said I couldn’t have played?”

For the first time Monday, West discussed in detail his five-decade battle with the condition that led him to retire from the Lakers’ front office nine years ago. It’s a disease that disproportionally affects the elderly, but the man whose silhouette graces the NBA logo said he has been dealing with it since his 20s.

“I pretty much have kept it hidden over the years,” West said.

Sadly, AF isn’t a rare disorder, but it’s very treatable and only fatal in severe circumstances and untreated cases. We’ve discussed many times how West may very well be the proper candidate to be WVU’s future A.D., but we’ve also ticked off the reasons it won’t happen. Concern about his health was never one, as best as I can remember. It is now. 

The quote about how he couldn’t even watch Lakers games because they bothered him so much — “these anxiety, panic attacks, sleepless nights, irritable” — would indicate he’s very aware how competition affects him and that he no longer wants to invite danger. It’s safe to assume he’d avoid being the patriarch of an entire athletic program, even if it makes so much sense.