Jazz's Harpring is feeling great

When Utah Jazz forward Matt Harpring takes to the EnergySolutions Arena court tonight at 7 against the Sacramento Kings, it will be with a freedom he hasn't felt in a long time, perhaps for more than a year.

He is A-OK.

"It's a huge relief to know that I'm healthy. It's great," Harpring said Thursday after returning to Jazz practice with the emancipating news that the lesions in his gastro-intestinal tract are not cancerous and not the result of some other serious diseases.

They're just from the anti-inflammatories he has been taking for his surgically repaired knees, and with the help of a new medication over the past month or so, Harpring is even healing up inside.

Harpring underwent a colonoscopy and other tests Wednesday, and even though results of some biopsies won't be known until next week, he's been told he's OK.

"There were some serious things that they didn't think I had, but, 'We have to make sure you don't have,"' he said.

"Some of the issues they were talking about, they were not just things that are not serious. I mean, you're talking about some things that I would have to deal with the rest of my life if they came up, and the good thing is, obviously, they're not there."

The burden being lifted was almost enough to make a guy cry.

"Well, yesterday," he said. But instead, Harpring had another more pressing need.

"I ate. So hungry," he said.

"Because all day Tuesday (before Wednesday's tests) you have to fast. And then, my test was during the afternoon, so I didn't get back until like 4, and so, I was so hungry, and I just wanted to eat all night. I didn't, but ..."

Wife Mandy cooked a big dinner, and Harpring happily consumed it.

"Obviously we're both happy. It's just great because just the news and the concern of having something like that is tough," he said, feeling empathy for others not so fortunate. "For the people that do have it, it's tough for that person, it's tough for the family, it's tough for everyone."

For a year, Harpring had endured half a dozen episodes where he would get sick to his stomach and throw up so violently he passed out. Doctors suspected it was the anti-inflammatories, but in-depth tests last month spotted some lesions in Harpring's G.I. tract that raised questions that were finally answered on Wednesday.