Kings Notes: Christie's Orlando absence is bewildering

[AleksandarN]

Christie out of lineup with mystery illness

http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050305/SPORTS/503050336/1002


Christie out of lineup with mystery illness

BY JOHN DENTON
FLORIDA TODAY
WEB EXTRAS

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ORLANDO - Doug Christie is the coverboy on this month's Magic Magazine under the title, "Fitting In."

But that's been anything but the case of late with the veteran shooting guard.

After getting demoted from the starting lineup in favor of rookie Jameer Nelson, Christie played just five, 12 and six minutes. He didn't show up for Thursday's practice after calling in sick. He also was absent from Friday's morning practice and the game against the New York Knicks. And after the Magic defeated the Knicks, he failed to join the team on its flight to New Jersey for tonight's game against the Nets, but he could join the team at some point today.The team did not identify the illness.

Curiously, Christie's absence comes on the heels of him admitting he is highly frustrated with his role in Orlando. He was traded from Sacramento to Orlando on Jan. 10 for Cuttino Mobley and Michael Bradley. He didn't play in the second half of Wednesday's game against his former team.

Magic general manager John Weisbrod said he spoke with Christie on Thursday night and was planning to meet with him again Friday. Weisbrod said he had no reason to believe that Christie wasn't sick. Christie is making $7.55 million this season, and is due $8.2 million next year, the final season of his contract.

"The many conversations I've had with him on the subject he's been fine," Weisbrod said. "I don't know the tact with regard to his agent or his family, but Doug's been in the league a long time and he understands the way things work. So, I don't know if any of this is new or different to him. I'm not that concerned about it."

Magic point guard Steve Francis said he could understand Christie's frustration.

"If it's the case of him not being able to handle the trade, I would feel the same way," Francis said. "They traded for him and brought him here to play, and he's not playing. I'd be (upset) myself. If that's the way he feels, I have no problem with that. But it's my job to keep my teammates happy and looking forward and not getting sidetracked. We're at a crucial point where we need everybody. Doug has been in the league long enough and knows exactly what he's doing."

 

[Bricklayer]

Doug seems to be just falling apart now. Pretty inglorious way to finish your career. Hope he's really sick -- you know your conduct is looking pretty questionable when you're getting sympathy from Steve "I just have no reason to get out of bed in the morning" Francis. Doug's supposed to a proud old pro, not a young clueless knucklehead.

 

[EmKingsFan4]

I really just don't understand Orlando. they trade away one of their guys who is a starter for Doug, but then when he gets their he's a bench warmer...how do they expect him to adjust well to the trade when he doesn't even get to play? Hey I'll take Doug back..no problem

 

[HndsmCelt]

I'll trust that DC is feeling sick, but I also am firmly convinced that there is a direct connection between mentla and physical health. Not to mention it is human nature to rise to the occasion when you are wnated and valued and to paly hookie when no one cares.

 

[Bricklayer]

I'll trust that DC is feeling sick, but I also am firmly convinced that there is a direct connection between mentla and physical health. Not to mention it is human nature to rise to the occasion when you are wnated and valued and to paly hookie when no one cares.

Of course there is a chicken and egg thing there -- if you come to a team moping and demoralized...

 

[LMM]

http://sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12512402p-13367819c.html

Kings notes: Christie's Orlando absence is bewildering



By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Saturday, March 5, 2005

MIAMI - "What?"


"Stop kidding around."



"Are you serious?"

Those were some reactions from former Kings teammates upon learning Orlando Magic guard Doug Christie had failed to show for practice Thursday morning as well as Friday's game-day shootaround and that night's home 111-89 victory over the New York Knicks at the TD Waterhouse Centre.

Even the concept, much less the action, that Christie would miss a practice or a shootaround was more than most could conceive. When most heard he'd not come to the game, some wondered if anyone actually had heard from Christie.

Kings assistant coach Elston Turner wondered if there was some joke attached to the news.

"That's just hard to believe about Doug even missing a practice," Turner said before the game. "When he was here, he was one guy whom you could count ... every day."

Christie's former starting backcourtmate, Mike Bibby, said the frustration of the Jan. 10 trade that sent Christie to the Magic for Cuttino Mobley and Michael Bradley - and the subsequent playing time inconsistencies - had gotten to him.

Christie, who had been supplanted in the starting lineup by rookie Jameer Nelson when point guard Steve Francis was moved to shooting guard, played just six minutes, all in the first half, in Wednesday night's victory over the Kings.

Christie called in sick Thursday.

"He's probably fed up," Bibby said.

In the next few days, Christie's cell phone is likely to receive some calls as the rest of his former teammates attempt to check on his well-being.

Maloof group all over Miami - The Maloofs - Colleen, Gavin and Joe - all were in Miami having a good time - that is, until the game started. Stomach problems, though, kept Joe from the game. Minority owner Bobby Hernreich was in AmericanAirlines Arena as well. Also attending were some of the prominent Sacramento friends of the ownership group. Afterward, there was little to celebrate as the Kings looked like a team that had reached the end of an 11-day, six-game road trip.

 

[Diehard Jim]

This is actually a kind of scary thing.

With no one having any contact with doug it almost sounds like he has gone into a massive state of depression after the kings game.

The way he was sounding in his interview was like it was depressing him.

It is strange the fine line between success and depression.

 

[GoSACtown]

wow, this sucks...keep your head up

 

[M10Bibby]

ill take doug back....he meant alot to the kings

 

[Ryle]

Suck it up Doug. You get paid money to play a game.

 

[Folsom Al]

My Opinion, new LOW for McNeal

Just my feelings ....

McNeal - stick to writing about what happens on the court, the field or ring ....whatever.

Some things just don't need to be in print.

 

[emar]

Suck it up Doug. You get paid money to play a game.

Wow...what encouraging words! Try putting yourself in his shoes...

I really feel for the guy. His whole world has been turned upside-down and no amount of money is going to stop him from being human and experiencing feelings and emotions.

I know this is a business, but come on...these guys aren't robots.

 

[gman23]

Wow...what encouraging words! Try putting yourself in his shoes...

I really feel for the guy. His whole world has been turned upside-down and no amount of money is going to stop him from being human and experiencing feelings and emotions.

I know this is a business, but come on...these guys aren't robots.

Everyone gets fired from a job if they are not performing well, that includes sports players.. I get paid to work, you get paid to work, if we don't work then don't blame anyone but yourself...Christie is a grown man, let him handle his own business. He gets paid a hell of lot of money for 7 months of work. I will only give sympathy to those who need it............

 

[BigWaxer]

I will tell you how this is gonna go. See my NBA trade/waiver post in the NBA forum.

Christie is gonna hold out, get waived, Kings will pick him back up for cheap and their ya go. Its the new NBA trend that has me PO'd about the league right now.

 

[vj9999]

With DOug it is obvious that it is not about money. If it was, he would suck it up and play. It is obvious that the guy left his heart and soul in Sac

We miss you Doug!!!

 

[Ryle]

Wow...what encouraging words! Try putting yourself in his shoes...

I really feel for the guy. His whole world has been turned upside-down and no amount of money is going to stop him from being human and experiencing feelings and emotions.

I know this is a business, but come on...these guys aren't robots.

I'd love to be paid the amount of money he makes to play a game. I think he's just upset because his wife is not allowed to travel on the team plane with him.

 

[Ryle]

I will tell you how this is gonna go. See my NBA trade/waiver post in the NBA forum.

Christie is gonna hold out, get waived, Kings will pick him back up for cheap and their ya go. Its the new NBA trend that has me PO'd about the league right now.

Not gonna happen. Doug is under contract for next year as well at about 8 million. Orlando will not buy out his deal and he is stuck playing there. If this was the last year of his contract I could see that but I think it is now to late to have him on the playoff roster anyway(not that I would want him).

 

[BigWaxer]

Hey Ryle I seen in that other thread you posted just curious. I know the team that waives a certain player has to buy out his contract. Does the team that picks up the waiver sign a new contract or do they basically get that player for free?

 

[Kev.in]

Sitting out games/practices and just moping around isn't going to make it any better. Doug just needs to tough it out, he's not the first (or the last) guy to get traded from a team/city he loved.

 

[ReinadelosReys]

Mystery illness? How about a broken heart?

 

[Variant]

Feel bad for Doug... but yes, put me in his shoes anytime, i'll take $6 mil a year to play basketball in Siberia, much less in Florida.

Actually, I'll pass if it includes his wife.

Seriously though... Doug needs to just finish his career out and get back to Sac. Just see it as an extended vacation or something.

 

[Heuge]

Suck it up Doug. You get paid money to play a game.

Getting paid does not remove the fact that he is human. You would be sick to if you were removed from your friends, transfered to a different job, and then demoted, surplanted in the lineup by a guy who has been around less then a year. While sucking it up is right thing, its easy for you to say.

 

[Variant]

We're all people too and have had to "suck it up" many times for much less money. I am sure Ryle speaks from experience and so do I.

We all empathize with Doug, but he is still in such a fortunate position in life that it's hard to feel extremely sorry for the guy. So he'll make $12 mil and then move back to where he wants to be... I hope he can learn to think about things in that sort of positive light. It will make dealing with his "misfortune" much easier!

 

[JohnGalt]

you guys who say you'd "take the $6 mil" - are you serious? Do you have any idea how much work those athletes put in so they can "play a game for millions of dollars"?

Now baseball, sure - any fatass can play baseball. But NBA players earn every penny 365 days/year - there's only a couple hundred guys in the world who can do what they do - so don't act like they're being "given" anything that they didn't earn starting probably when they were 11 years old or so.

(except Greg Ostertag... there are millions of useless fatasses who can do what he does 365 days/year. For every rule there is an exception).

 

[VF21]

He called in sick for one day.

I think this is much ado about nothing and I agree with Folsom Al. Some things just don't need to be in print.

 

[PacMan]

you guys who say you'd "take the $6 mil" - are you serious? Do you have any idea how much work those athletes put in so they can "play a game for millions of dollars"?

Now baseball, sure - any fatass can play baseball. But NBA players earn every penny 365 days/year - there's only a couple hundred guys in the world who can do what they do - so don't act like they're being "given" anything that they didn't earn starting probably when they were 11 years old or so.

(except Greg Ostertag... there are millions of useless fatasses who can do what he does 365 days/year. For every rule there is an exception).

They worked hard, no doubt, but they are in fact "given" plenty. If i was "given" their height and athletic ability, hell I would quit school right now. In Doug's case, I agree with VF that the press are making too much out of this. BUT, if indeed he's quitting on the team, then i have to say suck it up. You get pay 12 million in two years. Hell, i can retired with that much money and im only 22 right now.

 

[Twix]

With DOug it is obvious that it is not about money. If it was, he would suck it up and play. It is obvious that the guy left his heart and soul in Sac

We miss you Doug!!!

I agree with this.

It's good to hear some of the Kings will be calling Doug up to check on him. Hopefully they can help him snap out of it. To be honest, I'm starting to get worry about Dougie myself. :/ I like Doug as a person so I will always care on how he's doing. When I heard he didn't show up for practice, I was surprise and thought it'll just be for that day. Now he also don't show up for game day shootaround, etc... weird. I hope he don't get too depress and is back on his feet supporting his teammates.

 

[HndsmCelt]

He called in sick for one day.

I think this is much ado about nothing and I agree with Folsom Al. Some things just don't need to be in print.

Yup

 

[iheartBrad]

last night i was watching the Knicks/Magic game and the announcers were talking about it

they said that after he called out sick for the Friday game i guess Coach Davis went to his house to see what was up...DC said he was sick didn't feel too well....and so Davis was like "its DC you have to take him on his word"

they said the interesting thing was to see if DC showed up later that night to get on the plane to NJ....

i felt bad cuz you know its his frustrations with the whole ordeal...i remember thinking to myself he'd have to be extrememly sick to miss out on practice and a game...cuz the guy is tough ya know...and i never remember hearing any stories of him being a no show to a game or a practice...thats just crazy

::sigh::

 

[TruckeeKingsFan]

Magic place Doug on injured list

Magic place G-F Christie on ILMarch 5, 2005

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) - The Orlando Magic will be without veteran guard-forward Doug Christie for at least the next five games.

On Saturday, the Magic placed Christie on the injured list with bone spurs in his left foot. The 34-year-old Christie, who was acquired on January 10 in the trade that sent forward Cuttino Mobley to the Sacramento Kings, has averaged 5.7 points in 21 games with the Magic.

"I met with Doug this afternoon in New Jersey," Magic general manager John Weisbrod said. "He has concerns in regards to bone spurs in his left ankle and his ability to play. In conjunction with our medical staff, he will seek further consultation and surgery seems likely."


To replace Christie on its roster, Orlando activated center Mario Kasun from the injured list. Kasun, who has missed the last 21 games with left knee patella tendinitis, is averaging 2.6 points and 2.9 rebounds this season.