Tony Parker wears protective goggles in game vs. Spain

The Miami Heat might have made big-framed, black eyeglasses all the rage during the NBA Finals, but Tony Parker is wearing his new eyewear for reasons other than fashion.

The San Antonio Spurs guard suffered a scratched cornea during a nightclub brawl between R&B stars Drake and Chris Brown on June 14.  Now Parker will wear the black Bolle goggles to protect his eyes as the French team prepares for the London Games.

Resembling a miniature version of a goggled Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Parker looked like he was back to form after concern if the eye injury would jeopardize his chance at playing in the Olympics— or even derail his career.  The Spurs' team doctors cleared the point guard to play and he scored 11 points in 30 minutes in a friendly against Spain Sunday.

Last month, the 30-year old Parker filed a $20 million lawsuit against the Manhattan club W.i.P. —where the wild bottle-throwing melee broke out.

While Parker wore his frames in a game against Spain, the French team still lost, 75-70.

France opens its Olympic basketball competition against the U.S. squad on July 29.

You never know, the French star may bring the Horace Grant look back in vogue.

Tony Parker cleared for Olympics after eye injury from club melee

San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker has been given clearance to play for France in the Olympic Games after the the NBA team's doctors agreed that he has recovered from an eye injury suffered as a bystander in a Manhattan nightclub bottle-tossing brawl.

Parker scratched his left cornea during the wild fight and has been wearing special eyeglasses since the June 17 incident.

"The ophthalmologists (from the Spurs) confirmed the opinion of the French doctor who operated on Tony Parker, and the two Swiss specialists also examined the player last Thursday, and indicated that he can resume playing playing," the French Basketball Federation said on Friday, adding that Spurs coach Gregg Popovich also gave his blessing.

Parker is joining the French team in Orleans and he could play in a tuneup against England on Saturday.

France's first game at the Olympics is against the United States on July 29.

"It is great news and a relief for the whole French team," said coach Vincent Collet.  "I spoke with Tony on the phone and he sounded very happy— and also releived— about his development.  It was a difficult and alarming situation for everyone."

Parker was included on the team's 12-man roster even as he waited to see if he would be cleared to play.  The French team is already without the services of Joakim Noah who will miss the Olympics because of an ankle injury.

Parker was hit by flying glass after a brawl broke out at the Soho nightclub W.i.P. between members of rappers Chris Brown and Drake's entourages. Parker has said he was sitting with his friend Brown when the trouble started.  Six other people were hurt in the early morning fight.

Parker has filed a $20 million lawsuit against the operators of the club.