Anterior Cruciate Ligament

Florida State linebacker Tommy Polley will undergo major reconstructive surgery on his left knee early next month, the school announced yesterday. The former Dunbar star was injured in the second quarter of his team's 46-29 victory over Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl national championship game Tuesday night. X-rays taken in Tallahassee revealed that Polley suffered a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament and an almost complete tear of the medial collateral ligament. The surgery will be performed by Florida State team doctor Tom Haney.

Kelley Gibson, a redshirt sophomore guard for the Maryland )) women's team, has suffered a probable tear of the anterior cruciate ligament and a strain of the medial collateral ligament in her left knee and likely will not play again this season, the school announced yesterday.Gibson, averaging 9.4 points and 4.2 rebounds this season, suffered the injury on a baseline drive with six seconds to go in Thursday's 79-59 win over Florida State.A school spokesman said it won't be clear for four weeks whether Gibson, who was evaluated yesterday by Maryland medical personnel, will have to undergo reconstructive surgery on the knee.

Tim Wittman has lost track of the exact count. Has it been six knee operations or seven?The Baltimore-born Spirit player knows the first was in 1982 -- cartilage, left knee -- and that the most recent was midway through last season -- to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the right knee."

Randy Burridge refers to the double surgeries that reconstructed anterior cruciate ligament tears in both of his knees as "a little setback." What, one might wonder, would be considered major?Burridge, who was having a career year for the Washington Capitals before he was injured last season, is all smiles at the Piney Orchard Ice Rink. He has just completed a full practice and stayed after for a 45-minute conditioning workout. He feels great. He has only a slight twinge in his right knee.

Kris Bryant had other plans.She planned to be at another girls basketball camp this week. Since ending a sensational junior season at Mount Hebron High School last winter, Bryant had planned on an exciting senior year. She had envisioned leading Hebron back to a state championship, while choosing among a host of college basketball scholarship offers.But everything changed a week ago, when Bryant suffered every basketball player's nightmare.During a pickup game while vacationing in Ocean City last Wednesday, Bryant tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee.

Mount Hebron senior center Kris Bryant, The Baltimore Sun's 1991-92 Girls Basketball Player of the Year, will be out for the season after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee Wednesday.Bryant, who averaged 15.6 points and 10.6 rebounds in leading Mount Hebron to a 22-2 record last season, suffered the injury while playing in a pickup game in Ocean City.Mount Hebron coach Dave Greenberg said Bryant is scheduled to be operated on this morning."I feel bad for her," Greenberg said.

For all Lawrence Taylor has accomplished in the NFL, there are some barriers the All-Pro linebacker has not been able to break down. And, for the first time, he's talking about them."

Northeast pitcher Kristy Zulka, The Sun's 1990 Player of the Year, returned to action last week after doctors said the injury to her right knee was not as serious as originally feared.It was thought that Zulka had torn the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee while diving back to third base in a loss to Glen Burnie, April 17, which ended Northeast's 64-game win-streak. However, tests last week showed that Zulka suffered torn cartilage in the knee.Zulka, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee last summer, will have reconstructive surgery on the right knee after the season but has been cleared to play "as long as nothing else happens," she said Friday.

Blast defender Angelo Panzetta, who injured his left knee Jan. 19 against the Wichita Wings, underwent two hours of surgery yesterday to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Panzetta is expected to be out from eight to 12 months.*The Blast, which has toned down its player introductions out of respect for the war in the Middle East, may scale back even more after the Feb. 13 All-Star Game. Surveys were issued fans last weekend to determine if they wanted player introductions to continue.

Injured Baltimore Blast defender Angelo Panzetta will require major reconstructive knee surgery and extended rehabilitation that may keep him out of action seven to 12 months, Blast trainer Marty McGinty said yesterday.Panzetta, a starter in his second year with the Blast, injured his left knee in Sunday's 9-6 victory over the Wichita Wings, suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament and torn lateral meniscus.He will undergo surgery Monday. At best, Panzetta could return for the start of next season, McGinty said.