http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/359143.html
Christie ready to give NBA another go
By Scott Howard-Cooper - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:07 am PDT Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
There are no hand signals this time.
This is proclaiming.
"I can't really put into words how excited I am," Doug Christie says.
And:
"I'm in the best shape of my life."
Christie is on the phone from his home in Seattle. Or maybe he's on cloud nine. Same thing.
He appeared in seven games in 2006-07 as a Clipper and seven games in 2005-06 as a Maverick, and he hasn't played for more than half a season since the 2004-05 split between the Kings and Magic. But he is adamant he will sign a free-agent deal, perhaps within two weeks.
In the summer of 36-year-old Penny Hardaway signing with the Heat, 37-year-old P.J. Brown being chased by title hopefuls in Phoenix and Dallas and 42-year-old Reggie Miller and 43-year-old Charles Oakley considering comebacks, Christie has firmly placed himself on the Graybeard Express.
"I know for a fact that I will be back," he said. "I am thoroughly excited. I've been working out to make sure I'm ready. I feel fantastic."
Christie is 37 but feels, in his estimation, 10 or 11 years younger. He said he has two or three more NBA seasons in the body once known for its conditioning and durability. He isn't looking for a last-gasp chance.
Now all he has to do is get someone to believe he has one season left.
Christie said there have been talks with seven teams, although only two have had "real high interest." He would not name any of the clubs, only that one of the best chances is in the West and one is in the East. He did say there have been no conversations with the Kings.
The preference is to land with a championship contender, which only makes sense -- he gets a shot at a ring, just as it is unlikely a team in building mode would invest minutes in a 37-year-old wing. But it is not a concrete rule for Christie.
If the SuperSonics called, there would be a great appeal to playing in his hometown. If the Kings called, doubtful given the depth they have at shooting guard and small forward, there would be a definite lure to return to a city his family enjoyed. And it was only last season he returned to the familiarity of Los Angeles, after previously playing at Pepperdine and with the Lakers, to join the lottery-bound Clippers.
Or at least he sort of joined the Clippers. Christie signed a 10-day contract, then another, and then bailed on them a few days before the deal expired in a bizarre sequence in which his publicist informed the media before the team.
Christie left after seven appearances worth 82 minutes, 13 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists and 5-of-17 shooting. Six months later, he calls it an amicable departure. Maybe from his standpoint. The Clippers' front office, though, considered the departure unprofessional and wondered if they hadn't been used as a publicity stunt by a player trying to drive interest for a reality-TV series and forthcoming book with his wife.
Christie says now his interest in sticking in the NBA was real, even if it did look as though he walked away from a job when few others, if anyone, were calling. Similarly, he talks in this offseason of making it back, somewhere, for two or three more years, not just for a quick match race against Father Time.
Remember, "the best shape of my life."
It's Christie pointing forward. A hand gesture after all.
About the writer: The Bee's Scott Howard-Cooper can be reached at showard- cooper@sacbee.com.
Christie ready to give NBA another go
By Scott Howard-Cooper - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:07 am PDT Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
There are no hand signals this time.
This is proclaiming.
"I can't really put into words how excited I am," Doug Christie says.
And:
"I'm in the best shape of my life."
Christie is on the phone from his home in Seattle. Or maybe he's on cloud nine. Same thing.
He appeared in seven games in 2006-07 as a Clipper and seven games in 2005-06 as a Maverick, and he hasn't played for more than half a season since the 2004-05 split between the Kings and Magic. But he is adamant he will sign a free-agent deal, perhaps within two weeks.
In the summer of 36-year-old Penny Hardaway signing with the Heat, 37-year-old P.J. Brown being chased by title hopefuls in Phoenix and Dallas and 42-year-old Reggie Miller and 43-year-old Charles Oakley considering comebacks, Christie has firmly placed himself on the Graybeard Express.
"I know for a fact that I will be back," he said. "I am thoroughly excited. I've been working out to make sure I'm ready. I feel fantastic."
Christie is 37 but feels, in his estimation, 10 or 11 years younger. He said he has two or three more NBA seasons in the body once known for its conditioning and durability. He isn't looking for a last-gasp chance.
Now all he has to do is get someone to believe he has one season left.
Christie said there have been talks with seven teams, although only two have had "real high interest." He would not name any of the clubs, only that one of the best chances is in the West and one is in the East. He did say there have been no conversations with the Kings.
The preference is to land with a championship contender, which only makes sense -- he gets a shot at a ring, just as it is unlikely a team in building mode would invest minutes in a 37-year-old wing. But it is not a concrete rule for Christie.
If the SuperSonics called, there would be a great appeal to playing in his hometown. If the Kings called, doubtful given the depth they have at shooting guard and small forward, there would be a definite lure to return to a city his family enjoyed. And it was only last season he returned to the familiarity of Los Angeles, after previously playing at Pepperdine and with the Lakers, to join the lottery-bound Clippers.
Or at least he sort of joined the Clippers. Christie signed a 10-day contract, then another, and then bailed on them a few days before the deal expired in a bizarre sequence in which his publicist informed the media before the team.
Christie left after seven appearances worth 82 minutes, 13 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists and 5-of-17 shooting. Six months later, he calls it an amicable departure. Maybe from his standpoint. The Clippers' front office, though, considered the departure unprofessional and wondered if they hadn't been used as a publicity stunt by a player trying to drive interest for a reality-TV series and forthcoming book with his wife.
Christie says now his interest in sticking in the NBA was real, even if it did look as though he walked away from a job when few others, if anyone, were calling. Similarly, he talks in this offseason of making it back, somewhere, for two or three more years, not just for a quick match race against Father Time.
Remember, "the best shape of my life."
It's Christie pointing forward. A hand gesture after all.
About the writer: The Bee's Scott Howard-Cooper can be reached at showard- cooper@sacbee.com.
I loved Christie as a King but he's a JOKE this point in his fading career. He may want to be a Laker or he may just want to hook up with anyone who'll have him. He may just be dreaming since at age 37 it will be very hard for him to get anymore looks in the NBA or make a 12 man roster this season.
