[Denver Post] Alcohol, Hard Drugs Led to Suspension for Birdman

http://www.denverpost.com/spears/ci_4281473

Birdman flying straight, narrow

By Marc J. Spears
Denver Post Staff Columnist
DenverPost.com

"So what will you be drinking?" the waitress at earl's in Littleton asked.

"I'll get a pineade," Chris Andersen said.

Pineade is the former Nugget's own sweet mix of pineapple juice and lemonade. It is the new Larkspur resident's beverage of choice in his recovery from a destructive stint with alcohol.

On Jan. 27, the NBA suspended the former New Orleans/ Oklahoma City Hornet for a minimum of two years for violating the league's drug policy with a first positive test for "drugs of abuse." Andersen, in his first interview since the suspension, told me this past week that it was his use of alcohol that led to the ruination of his NBA career.

"I tell people I don't drink anymore and they look at me sideways," Andersen said. "Then they'll say, 'Seriously, let me buy you a drink.' And I'll say, 'I don't do that any more.' Some of them don't know what happened to me. But the ones that do, they respect me more for that. A couple people have told me I'm a big inspiration to them."

The undrafted 6-foot-10, 228-pounder won the hearts of Nuggets fans with his high-flying dunks, hard-nosed hustle and hairdo changes over three seasons. After one year with the Hornets, he signed a four-year, $14 million contract last summer. Soon after "The Birdman" crashed. Hard.

A lengthy relationship with a Denver woman ended shortly after he signed his new contract. His next stop was the New Orleans bars. Then came Hurricane Katrina, which damaged his home and sent him into depression. After Ander- sen evacuated to Denver, he tried to pick himself up at the LoDo bars. The two-time NBA dunk contest participant arrived in Oklahoma City for preseason workouts bulked up by 25 pounds. But the extra weight grounded his athleticism. Combined with the difficulty of adjusting to Oklahoma City, he sank further mentally and his next stop was the town's Bricktown bars.

Andersen said he also experimented twice with hard drugs, which he declined to name, just before Christmas a year ago. On Dec. 26, he was given a random drug test by the league. He thought enough time had elapsed for the drugs to leave his system. Nope. An NBA security official called him Jan. 23 to tell him of his failed test, which led to an immediate suspension.

Andersen is the first NBA player kicked out of the league for drug use since Stanley Roberts in 1999. The first was Denver native Micheal Ray Richardson 20 years ago. Andersen's appeal failed and his contract was voided. He said he has saved enough money to get him through the suspension. The NBA declined comment.

"(NBA commissioner David Stern) did what he was supposed to," Andersen said. "I'm not going to sit back and complain about it. I'm going to take my medicine, and show him I'm capable of being a man and stepping up to the plate. If he never did that, I wouldn't be feeling as good as I feel today."

Andersen began his journey to feeling good in mid-February, when he voluntarily entered an alcohol rehabilitation clinic in Malibu, Calif., that cost $50,000. He completed the 30-day program and said he hasn't touched alcohol or drugs since.

"Not a day goes by where I don't think about (alcohol), because I do," Andersen said. "Any recovering addict does. That's one of the things I've learned from rehab, every day I go through my day and think about it. But I pray to God that he gives me a strong mind and gets me through the day without having to resort to that."

The NBA's suspension for drug offenders is understandably strict. Andersen not only can't play in the NBA, he's barred from competing overseas because FIBA respects the suspension. FIBA prevented Roberts from playing in Turkey in 1999. The NBA's Development League and Continental Basketball Association also are off limits.

Andersen's best option? The American Basketball Association (the much weaker new version). Not long ago, you could purchase a team for $10,000. Seriously. Do you remember the defunct Colorado Storm? Didn't think so. Team owners in the ABA include Allen Iverson's mom and Sports Illustrated writer Alexander Wolff. The 2006 ABA All-Star Game MVP was 44-year-old Armen Gilliam.

While the NBA understandably kicked him out, I believe the league should now put its arm around Andersen and help his recovery. What would it hurt for the NBA to allow Andersen to suit up for the expansion NBADL Colorado 14ers? Isn't losing the majority of a $14 million contract and being kicked out the league punishment enough? The minor- league team could give the 28-year-old without a college degree a chance to keep his skills sharp and live a positive life. It also would give the interested Broomfield team a marquee name player.

"If he's demonstrated strong rehabilitation, we'd certainly be interested," said Gary Hunter, the president and CEO of the 14ers' parent company. "It's all subject to the NBA's rules and guidelines."

Andersen, who is working out daily, said: "It would definitely help me out to play. Staying in shape. Staying on top of my game. Improving on areas in what I need to improve."

Don't expect the NBA to budge despite its motto, "NBA Cares." And now more than ever, Andersen needs the NBA to care about him. He's willing to take more than just the mandated random drug tests. If he fails again, then it's his fault, not the NBA's. But if he succeeds, a great motivational story could help change more lives.

"I am extremely pleased to hear that Chris is working hard to improve himself and would encourage him to continue to look towards the future rather than focusing on the past," Hornets owner George Shinn said.

Hopefully, Stern will look toward the future, too, by having a change of heart over a glass of pineade with Andersen.