Water polo: USA settles for fourth at Unicum Cup

BUDAPEST, Hungary - The United States men’s national water polo

team lost more than just two straight matches in the Unicum Cup this past

weekend; they may have lost one of their top players.

Two-meter man Chris Humbert missed Sunday’s 5-4 loss to Australia with

a compression of the neck, suffered in Friday’s 9-5 win over Germany.

Humbert was kneed and kicked in the head during Friday’s game and

suffered temporary paralysis of his left side.

The paralysis lasted only a few minutes and he returned to play on

Saturday in the Americans’ 17-5 loss to eventual Unicum Cup winner,

Hungary.

During that game, Humbert experienced some slight paralysis to his

left arm and he was benched on Sunday.

Humbert’s injury might play a big factor for the Americans in the

upcoming FINA World Cup, which is scheduled to begin Sept. 28 in Sydney,

Australia.

The U.S. team, with a berth at the Olympic Games in Australia in 2000

already assured, finished fourth in the Unicum Cup, behind Hungary, Spain

and Australia.