Dante’s Speak, Installment 33
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Good riddance to Doug Christie! The Band "Steam" so eloquently brought us the words "Na na na na, hey hey-ey, goodbye." I'll try my hand at putting how I feel into a poem:
Your name was Doug, you hated Orlando
this you made very clear!
We waive goodbye, take Jackie with you
and don't let the door hit your rear!
We can even do a haiku if you will.....
We needed your D
Who would miss Sacramento?
Wish that I had called
The bottom line is the Magic wanted Christie's defense and playmaking ability and they were willing to part with Steve Francis' best friend AND the third leading scorer on the team (Cuttino Mobley) to get it. Now I know you like Sacramento, not sure WHY, but I know that you do. But don't you have to realize A) you're just not very good and B) you have an $8 million a year contract so maybe it's not that crazy of an idea that you'd be traded? How about instead of hating the team that WANTED and NEEDED you, you be upset with the team that got RID of you!!
Mobley was a popular player on this team, the fans loved him, he was an energy guy and he could flat out score in bunches. Christie already had a lot to live up to if he was going to prove his worth to his new teammates and fans, instead he chose to take his sweet time before joining the team, chose to be the first one to leave practice and the games (BLOWING away Horace Grant's records in those departments), expected us to relate with how sad and difficult his life had now become, and then quit on the team altogether after only 21 games averaging 6 points and 3 rebounds.
What I'm happy about is the fact that we cut our losses! Cuttino Mobley would have opted out of his contract and left Orlando this year anyway (and after joining the Clippers, he's where he belongs....in La-La Land). Be as mad as you want to get about the whole Christie saga, just realize he's no longer here and the team can move on without him.........which they've basically done since March anyway. Just promise me when the Dallas Mavericks come to town you cheer for Darrell Armstrong as loud as humanly possible and boo just as loud for Doug Christie, as he no doubt cost the Magic a shot at the postseason and owes ALL of us a huge apology. It should have been Doug, not Steve-O, who took out the full page add in the Orlando Sentinel!!
In the "Never Has Incompetence Been So Greatly Rewarded" Department: Steven Hunter received a 4-year $16 million contract from the Philadelphia 76ers. I know he's athletic, I know he's 7-feet, and hell he might even have a little upside.
I only hope the Miami Heat DO sign Michael Finley! They can also add Latrell Sprewell, Nick Van Exel, and anyone else that shoots way more than they should, to join Antoine Walker and Jason Williams. Zo is gonna want minutes this year, Udonis Haslem needs time after the big deal he just signed. Pat Riley may not have fired Stan Van Gundy, but he's given him the impossible job of satisfying all those egos. Riley may get to take over after all.
Dante welcomes your comments, questions and alternative opinions. E-mail him here.
Dante’s Speak is solely the opinion of Dante Marchitelli and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA. Marchitelli has served as radio producer in the Orlando Magic's Broadcast department for seven seasons.
