Wassup blog fam? It's your boy Chris Douglas-Roberts, and I want y’all to know I got the most wins in the gym today, and don’t let nobody tell you otherwise!
I’ve been going at it with Brian Hamilton, just like last year at training camp. I really respect Brian’s approach to the game. A lot of the veterans on our team say that he’s the best on-ball defender that they’ve ever seen – and that’s guys like Keyon and Jarvis that have been in the league nine or 10 years. So if it were my preference, I’d want him to guard me every game because I know that’s making me better.
A lot of guys don’t compete on the defensive end, but I seen that in him probably the second day of training camp – he really got after it. I approached him immediately, and said, “If you ever get the chance, I want us to match up, because you’re not gonna do anything but make me better.” I like competing and I don’t want an easy go on offense. Brian told me that I’m a very tough guard, so it’s a mutual respect. And we’re cool off the court, getting lunch every day. We’re good friends.
You can tell he’s gotten better in the past year. First and foremost, you go to any coach in the NBA and the first thing they’re going to preach to you is defense, and that’s what he brings. We have 15 players, so as of now we have no roster sports, but hopefully he gets on somewhere. At the end of the day, I tell him, “It’s about getting paid to play basketball, and you’ll always have a job somewhere because of the tenacity you have on defense.”
Picking Up A Killer Instinct
I saw the article that said Terrence “tore up the gym” in our pickup games. Terrence is playing well with us. And Keyon shouting me out was cool. Respect! I’m just trying to improve.
My approach to the game is killer: you’ve got to be a killer out there. When I’m playing, I have absolutely no friends or no sympathy for anybody. It’s as simple as that. I’m trying to kill you out there, and that’s what people see.
Your play stands out. I do a lot of talking on the floor, but I back it up. And I’ve always been known to back it up. I’ve never just been a guy to talk and nothing comes after that. Ever since college, I’ve been proving people wrong.
And that’s what Keyon said. He said my best asset – he thinks – is my killer instinct and my ability to persuade people. He said I can make people run through a brick wall for me. Like I said, when it comes to basketball I have no sympathy. If I can manipulate a situation, if I can manipulate somebody on the floor, if I can take your heart, that’s what I’ma do. And that’s exactly what I’ve been doing. Every time I’m on the floor, that’s what I’m going for.
Chris Doug TV!!!
My first video was definitely going to be about heading to the gym at all hours of the night, because I say it, but I still feel that people don’t believe me: “Oh, he can say whatever he wants on Twitter – he could be at home.” It was a Friday night. And I promise on everything I had VIP tickets to Jay-Z’s concert that night and I didn’t go. I went to the gym and I just wanted to show people I’m not just talking. I’m really doing this. It’s evident and I want you to see it.
It took a lot to turn down the tickets. But Jay is my guy, I’m pretty sure that won’t be his last and I’ve already been to one. At the end of the day, it’s about me and my game.
… But if it was Gucci Mane, I’da been there! Hahahahaha. Nahh. For the record, I’d never disrespect – Jay-Z’s one of the best ever. I can’t even compare Gucci to him, but Gucci is hot right now.
I Twittered about it, but didn’t see Kanye’s outburst ’til after the fact. Kanye was … I have no clue what Kanye was really thinking on that, but I heard that he was a little intoxicated, under the influence, and that’s what led to that.
But it was very … unprofessional and I feel like it tarnished his image a little bit, though I feel his apology was sincere. He said he’s going to take time away to reflect on his life, and that’s the best thing. He’s feeling bad about that right now.
At the time, everyone on Twitter was talking about the VMAs, and I wasn’t watching. I came back from the gym and everyone was talking about what happened. I felt like the kid coming to school and everyone’s talking about wrestling, and I had nothing to talk about.
I know I also mentioned on there that I got taller over the summer. Before he got traded, I was here for Vince’s camp. Last year, we were probably the same, but Coach Frank was in there, and he was like, “You’re taller than Vince now!” So I measured myself. It’s not ridiculous – I’m still 6-7, but I’m a little taller. Just a little bit.
I’ve definitely picked up five or six pounds in the weight room. On my frame, it’s not gonna show, but I definitely feel stronger and have been playing through bumps and getting my handles on, punishing people on offense too.
Bengals Behaving ... Better
Kieko and Kiana are better behaved now. But they’re still in that exploring mode where they’re jumping on everything. They’re jumping on the windows, jumping on the screens. They already tore one of my screens up. At the end of the day, it’s aight. They’re a little sporadic now, but when they get older they’ll be more relaxed.
They’re about two months old now. I got ’em when they were fresh kittens. They’re definitely inside cats – they can’t even go out. I had to sign a contract saying they can’t be outside, so I’m living up to that. They’re just a rare breed, and they don’t want them mating other types. They just want the breed to stay pure and don’t want any inbreeds or anything like that.
Labor Day Love-In
Aw, man, my Labor Day party was a hit. It was definitely a hit. I took a lot of my friends out, I took my brother out, my brother’s girlfriend. Everyone came out and it was a great time and there was no trouble. It was easy sailing. That’s the way parties have got to be.
Camp Can't Come Soon Enough
That’s about it, man. Everything is coming together. I’m real excited for the beginning of the season, and I’m excited that the guys are excited about me. I’m excited about the team. I see a different work ethic this year. I see Josh Boone staying after. I see guys actually putting something into their game and that is nothing but positive. When you put time into your game, you can’t get worse. At the very least, you can’t get worse. That’s what I see, and I think we’re going to be good.
