Ostertag reports on time

? Greg Ostertag still gets mail from fans complimenting him for donating a kidney to his sister, who is doing fine.

“It was neat to see how many people sent me cards saying ‘Way to go,’ and all the people on the radio who said nice things,” said the Utah Jazz center, who had the transplant surgery in late June. “The letters still flow in. I hope people see this as a good reason to donate organs.”

Ostertag, a seven-year NBA veteran from Kansas University, has had no side effects from the surgery, but it has put his conditioning for the upcoming season behind schedule.

“I’m behind, I’ll admit. I’m about 65 percent right now,” Ostertag told the Salt Lake Tribune at Monday’s Media Day. “I’ve got a lot of work to do, but I’ve got a month to do it. I plan to bust my tail and be ready to go Oct. 30.”

He won’t worry about his remaining kidney, either.

“The shot you’d have to take (to damage the organ) would be like getting kicked by a horse,” Ostertag said. “Unless somebody hauled off and punched me there on purpose, it’s not going to be something I think about.”