[外電] Andersen is again the center of attention
原文出自 nola.com
http://www.nola.com/hornets/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1097821724180630.xml
Andersen is again the center of attention
From hairstyle to dress to antics, new Hornet is personality-plus
Friday, October 15, 2004
By William Kalec
Staff writer
Come on, Chris Andersen. Such in-your-face flamboyance has
to be an act, right?
Take the hairstyle that changes more than most restaurant
menus. In June, when the Hornets formally introduced their
free-agent acquisition at a press conference, it was smooth
and flowing, making him look like Jon Bon Jovi with a
vertical. Now that the season is here and functionality
conflicts with fashion, it's perfectly distressed, scattered
but cemented in place with some sort of hair product (Elmer's
glue, he joked last season.)
There's the tattoos, the tendency to wear sunglasses indoors,
the gift of bunny ears to his teammates before the Hornets'
team photo shoot. He once showed up for a TV interview in
jeans, a T-shirt and a mink coat. This is supposed to be the
quiet, small-town kid from Iola, Texas, a community so
minuscule its entire population would fit in Section 123 of
New Orleans Arena.
But the flamboyance has to be genuine, because the public would
see through a mirage, and everywhere basketball has taken
Andersen -- from China, to Denver, to here -- he's quickly
become a cult icon. If Andersen's statistical output comes close
to matching his popularity, he should be well worth the Hornets'
two-year, $2.3 million investment.
"If you meet him and you don't like him, there's something wrong
with you. It's not him," Hornets coach Byron Scott said. "(He is)
very energetic and has the same high energy on the court. He's a
very likable guy, and he fits in extremely well with the guys we
have here."
Andersen's youth and athleticism should help him succeed in
Scott's up-tempo philosophy.
Last season, his third in the league, Anderson ranked 19th in
the NBA with 114 blocks despite playing fewer than 15 minutes
per game.
On Wednesday night, in the Hornets exhibition opener, Andersen
showcased his defensive expertise with three blocks that helped
make up for his 0-for-6 shooting performance.
"In my mind, I can only get better. Every year that passes, I
get better. And every month that goes by, it just keeps going
up hill," said Andersen, who is slated to back up center Jamaal
Magloire. "I'm not going to just sit back and let this ride out.
I'm going to stay on the court and do what I've got to do to
keep this odyssey going."
It really began after his first and only year at Blinn Junior
College in Texas. During his brief stay, Andersen had
respectable but not astounding statistics, but decided to
turn professional partially because of family financial
concerns.
"I had a bunch of influences that year," Andersen said. "They
were telling me I was going to make a lot of money --
stretching my head a little too much. I just took the option."
China replaced Tennessee as the most exotic location Andersen
ever visited when Jiangsu Nagang, a franchise in the Chinese
Basketball League, discovered the 6-foot-10 project and signed
him for one season. Averaging a double-double in points and
rebounds while adjusting to a foreign way of life reassured
Andersen that reaching the NBA was still feasible.
"Even the Chinese said I was going to be in the league in two
years," Andersen said.
Right on schedule, the Nuggets signed Andersen -- who previously
patched together an income by playing in smaller U.S. leagues --
a month into the 2001-2002 season. This past February, Andersen
introduced himself nationally during the All-Star slam-dunk
contest -- not with his aerial acrobatics but his appearance.
Television cameras captured courtside staple Jack Nicholson
acknowledging Andersen's unique sense of style.
"He liked the hair. I told him to put me in the next Batman,"
Andersen said. "Jack's a good guy. It's always nice to get a
compliment from Jack. I'm sure he's said stuff to me before,
but it never was anything nice."
Anderson also said the Hornets' pursuit of him in the offseason
provided a sense of stability and, with it, additional confidence.
"It shows me that I'm capable of being in this league and I
belong here," Andersen said. "I've got to stay on the grind just
to shine."
. . . . . . .
William Kalec can be reached at wkalec@timespicayune.com or (504) 826-3413.
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