It was just a few short weeks ago that Orlando center Dwight Howard
shook the basketball world by donning a Superman getup, taking off from
Metairie and delivering a dunk so vicious and obscene it single
handedly made the dunk contest relevant for the first time since
Michael Jordan battled Dominique Wilkins in 1988. It was a great
highlight, that's for sure, but perhaps also a fitting antithesis to
the most recent chapter in the rollercoaster story of Chris "Birdman"
Anderson. In the last 10 years, there are few more compelling and
controversial figures (outside of Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson and Ron
Artest) in the basketball community.
Unlike
those three aforementioned all-stars, Anderson is interesting not
because of his talent, but rather for his comparative lack thereof. As
an undergraduate, the 6-feet 10-inch pogo stick and Long Beach native
dropped out of the University of Houston to play Juco ball at Blinn
College in Texas. There he showcased uncommon athleticism for a man his
size, but NBA scouts weren't exactly lining up to get a glance at the
latest Blinn College product.
The Birdman continued to chase his
dream by signing with the now defunct Fargo-Moorehead Beez of the IBA.
He played well and was the first player selected in NBDL history in
2001. His rare combination of size, tenacity and athleticism earned him
a contract with the Denver Nuggets, and in 2004 he joined the Hornets.
However,
Anderson still had his share of trials ahead of him. If Howard's
performance symbolizes the rebirth of the dunk contest, Anderson's now
infamous 2005 effort symbolized its death. The Birdman failed on a
total of 13 attempts, drawing open laughter from the crowd and causing
an unprecedented number of television sets across the country to turn
off completely. This episode would have been laughed off if not for his
2006 violation of the NBA's "drugs of abuse" policy. For this violation
he was given a two-year ban. Although the drug was undisclosed, it was
rumored to have been methamphetamine.
Why am I recounting this
sad story to you now? For all you math majors out there, 2006 was
exactly two years ago. Last Tuesday the Birdman was officially
reinstated, and Wednesday he was resigned by the Hornets. Reportedly
sober since the violation, Anderson is, from a basketball perspective,
precisely what the Hornets need. As many western conference contenders
made moves to bolster their front lines, the Hornets had been content
to stay with Ryan Bowen and Hilton Armstrong as Tyson Chandler and
David West's backups. Anderson is an immediate upgrade.
More
than just because of basketball, however, Anderson belongs in New
Orleans. Above all things he is tenacious. He cares deeply about what
he is doing. This determination is contrasted only by his occasional
debauchery. He has made mistakes. He was embarrassed on a national
stage. He is looking for redemption. Does any of this sound familiar?
Enter the Birdman
After a two year drug suspension, NBA player Chris Andersen steps into a key role for a playoff caliber team. Will his unconventional personality help or hinder the New Orleans Hornets? From The Hullabaloo.