Matt Meiners isn't just an NBA scout; he's also dealing with a very rare form of cancer. He began treatment during last season, after he had a heavy slate of games already laid out. Thankfully, his body is starting to recover and technology has allowed him to scout live, and at home using DVDs of recorded games.

He was diagnosed with stage IV rhabdomyosarcoma a little more than a year ago, but he's still going strong and took some time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions for RealGM.

After reading, if you are interested in reading more about Meiners' story, please visit his blog: Scouting Cancer With Matt Meiners.


RealGM: How did your career as a scout begin?

Matt Meiners: My career as a scout began during my third year of law school. While finishing up school, I interned in the Clippers' Basketball Operations Department. I did salary cap work for the President, Andy Roeser, and also helped Director of Scouting, Gary Sacks, with projects related to the NBA Draft. I was very fortunate to have them take me on as an intern. After I finished up law school, I continued to help them in any way I could, and fortunately they created a spot for me full-time.

RGM: How long have you been with the Clippers?

MM: This is my fifth season. I've served or assisted in just about every capacity one could in a Basketball Operations Department. Besides scouting, I've been involved in salary cap work, contract negotiations, trade analysis, free agent analysis, the Draft, statistical analysis, and designing a player evaluation system that we use to help us evaluate players.

RGM: How has your cancer affected your job as a scout?

MM: Well, last year was particularly tough. I began last season going to a bunch of games and I pretty much had my schedule laid out for the entire season. That was all put on hold after I found out I had cancer. As soon as I was diagnosed with cancer, I had to begin aggressive treatment which included intense doses of chemotherapy and radiation at the same time. Because of the risk of my cancer invading my brain, the doctors threw everything at me.

Unfortunately, I encountered a lot of side effects and was very weak and sick. Cancer treatment makes you feel like you've been run over by a truck. This left me mostly bedridden and included a lot of hospital stays. It's a very humbling experience. The best I could do was watch games on DVD and even that was tough.

Thankfully, this year things are a lot different. I finished my radiation sessions last year and now my body has slowly started to recover. I am still slated to receive more chemotherapy, but there has been an unexpected six month delay because my platelet counts have never fully recovered from the harsh treatment. I've used this delay to build my strength and focus on getting back to a "normal" life. Now, I am able scout and attend games, write reports, watch games on DVD/TV, etc.

Attending games isn't as easy as it used to be, but I manage. The cancer treatment caused a nerve disorder which really affected my mobility and hand/eye coordination. Initially, I was bound to a wheelchair. I've worked hard and progressed to using a walker. Try lugging a walker up a few flights of stairs at these stadiums ?- it's not an easy task. Driving has been another challenge. Fortunately, my wife, Amy, has filled in as my "chauffeur" as I re-teach my body to drive. The brutal Chicago winter is probably not the best weather for me to practice in. Even with the hurdles, I love the fact that I can get back to doing what I love.

RGM: Can you explain your rare condition a little bit?

MM: I was diagnosed with stage IV rhabdomyosarcoma in December 2007. The primary tumor was located in my sinuses and behind my left eye. At the time, I thought I just had a sinus infection. It wasn't until I started noticing blurry vision while scouting a game that I suspected something more. The next thing I knew my eye started bulging.
We soon learned the cancer had also spread to a gland on the left side of my face, the lymph nodes in my neck, to my spine, and to my pelvic bone. The damn thing got around. Rhabdomyosarcoma is a cancer usually found in children.

I believe I am one of the oldest rhabdo patients in the country. There are a few different types of rhabdo. The subtype I have is called alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) and unfortunately, it is the most aggressive kind of tumor. After I was diagnosed, I was enrolled in a pediatric clinical trial at the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital. Since rhabdo is a pediatric cancer, the doctors and my family agreed the trial would give me the best chance at survival. I have had to endure months of brutal chemotherapy as well as 55+ sessions of radiation. The good news is that I have responded to the treatment thus far and knock on wood, right now I'm winning the battle. I hope and pray that I continue to be blessed and the cancer stays away forever.

RGM: What role has basketball had in your dealing with the illness?

MM: Basketball has been an influence on me throughout my life and has played an important part in my recovery process. Scouting basketball gives me something to look forward to, even when my health is at its worst. I've been fortunate to play at various levels and have played for some of the best coaches in the sport. Most of my basketball knowledge comes from playing at DeMatha High School under Hall of Fame Coach Morgan Wootten.

In order to play for Coach Wootten, you had to be extremely disciplined and have a strong work ethic both on and off the court. Playing basketball has helped shaped me into who I am today. It took a lot of perseverance and commitment to play at such a high level. Coach Wootten liked players who worked hard and were fighters. I knew I wouldn't play unless I fit that mold. The same held true at the University of Wisconsin. Coach Dick Bennett was another man that expected only your best. I guess that philosophy has become ingrained into my daily life. You need that attitude when you're fighting cancer. I look at cancer like an opposing team. I have to be at my best, if I want to beat it.

To me, working in the NBA is a dream job. Having a job that I love, helps keep me charging ahead and fighting cancer. It's given me something to look forward to even when I'm down. There's an old saying that goes, "you don't know what you've got until it's gone." Not that I ever took my job for granted, but it makes me appreciate it more than ever. I think some people in this profession forget how lucky they are and take their jobs for granted. I have always felt blessed, but this fight makes me appreciate basketball and my life even more!

RGM: Have the Clippers been supportive of your needs during this time?

MM: Yes, the Clippers have been very supportive. They have given me the space and time I need to receive my much needed treatment and get on the road to recovery. They've been very patient, allowing me to work at my own pace. Fortunately, my wife's employer, Cumberland Consulting Group, has been supportive as well. They've allowed her to make adjustments with her job so she can also be a caregiver for me. We are extremely grateful to both organizations for their support and faith in us.

RGM: How's your blog going, and what type of response have you received?

MM: Good. Actually, I have two blogs. My wife put one together on CarePages (a site for patients to connect friends and family during a health challenge). I can't say enough about the support we have received and the nice comments from friends, family, and even total strangers. These messages and emails have played a big, big part in motivating me to keep fighting. The address is: http://www.carepages.com/carepages/TeamMeiners

I recently started another blog on my own. I was told by a doctor that writing would be therapeutic for me. It's titled "Scouting Cancer.". I try to incorporate my cancer journey with scouting. It has also been well received. Again, I can't say enough about the kindness that people have shown me through their emails and notes. A huge honor for me has been the number of people who have told me I am an inspiration to them. I am a pretty humble person so to hear that is a little overwhelming for me. It means a lot. I've really never thought of myself as an inspiring person but if I've inspired even a few people and given them hope, then I?ve done my job. Hope, strength, and perseverance ? that's what it's all about.

Andrew Perna is Deputy Editor of RealGM.com and co-host of RealGM's Radio Show. Please feel free to contact him with comments or questions via e-mail: Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com