BRHornet45
02-24-2009, 02:42 AM
t's Destiny, and That's Why I'm Back
by Tyson Chandler
I had been hearing trade rumors, but it was all about me going to Miami. I hadn't really heard anything else. But when I was in Cabo [over the All-Star Break] I saw that Jermaine O'Neal went to Miami. So I figured it was pretty much dead. I talked to my agent over the weekend and he told me that my name was still out there and he was getting all the info.
Coming out of the All-Star Break, we're playing against Oklahoma City and practicing there. After Monday's practice one of their reporters is like, "How would you feel about coming back to Oklahoma City, there's trade rumors involving you. People in the community loved you. They really want you back."
I responded: "I had a great time in Oklahoma City and my family really enjoyed the city. The city was nothing but nice to us. But I'm a Hornet and I enjoy playing for the Hornets and that's that."
So that was the interview. And then their equipment manager walked by me and was joking and I was like, "I'll see you in a couple days," and he started laughing and was like, "Yeah, that's the word around here."
But I was just joking. I honestly didn't think there was any way that I was going to Oklahoma City. It wasn't even a thought in my head. So I just went back to my room and finished the day.
TRADE DAY
The following day I went to shootaround as usual to rehab my ankle, trying to get back on the court.
After shootaround I came back to the hotel and I talked to my agent a couple times and right when I was about to take a nap he called again and said I was being traded to Oklahoma City.
So I'm sitting in the hotel room and all of a sudden I get a phone call from their general manager, and they said, "Since you're in town, if you want to, go get the physicals and everything and that way we can get it done."
So their GM came and picked me up, and he was all excited. I go do my physicals and then I fly back to New Orleans.
HORNETS IN MY BLOOD
I planned to pack my stuff in New Orleans and then go back to Oklahoma City the following day.
So I'm watching the game and it's funny because I'm still like cheering for the Hornets because, you know, I've still got Hornets in my blood. Those are still my guys.
I spent the night packing my stuff for Oklahoma City, watching the ending of the game and the highlights.
DON'T GET ON THE PLANE
The next day I was getting everything straight with my family and packing up stuff. The kids were going to go back to California with our parents and I was going to head out to Oklahoma City and start looking for a house for the following year. Until then I was going to be in a hotel.
On my way to the airport I get a call from my agent again and he says "Don't get on the plane." And I'm like "What?" He repeats, "Don't get on the plane. There's some problems with the trade, I don't know if it's going to go through."
So I go back home and he calls me back to say the deal is not going through. Meanwhile, I'm like "WHAT?"
Next thing you know, I'm getting calls from a couple of the Hornets people, and they're saying, "We're looking forward" and this and that.
All my teammates are calling me back and they're all hyped. I got a call from Chris and one from D-West. Everybody was excited, saying: "We're so glad to have you back." Everybody was upset about the trade and now I'm coming back and we're all hyped up. So I'm telling them: "It's meant to be. It wasn't meant for us to be broken up. Now let's make this championship run."
YA'LL COULDN'T GET RID OF ME
The next day was just comical. I walk into the locker room and say, "Ya'll couldn't get rid of me!"
And everybody starts busting up laughing. I did the skit from Training Day when Denzel Washington was like, "King Kong ain't got nothing on ME!" Everybody was laughing and having a good time.
With my teammates it's all love. They welcomed me back like a brother.
With management, it's always going to be a little funny because these guys just tried to trade me away and I got bounced back to them. I'm sure that will be pretty awkward.
But for me, it doesn't matter because I play for my teammates, myself my family and the fans. That's all that really matters to me and that's all that will ever matter.
It's funny more than anything else because of everything that has gone down. But I think this will be a spark for my teammates and for myself, because we have to get this done. We have to win a championship. We have people doubting, even people doubting us from the top.
So let's show them what we're made of.
http://www.tysonchandler.com/tyson-chandlers-blog/its-destiny-and-thats-why-im-back/2009/02/19
by Tyson Chandler
I had been hearing trade rumors, but it was all about me going to Miami. I hadn't really heard anything else. But when I was in Cabo [over the All-Star Break] I saw that Jermaine O'Neal went to Miami. So I figured it was pretty much dead. I talked to my agent over the weekend and he told me that my name was still out there and he was getting all the info.
Coming out of the All-Star Break, we're playing against Oklahoma City and practicing there. After Monday's practice one of their reporters is like, "How would you feel about coming back to Oklahoma City, there's trade rumors involving you. People in the community loved you. They really want you back."
I responded: "I had a great time in Oklahoma City and my family really enjoyed the city. The city was nothing but nice to us. But I'm a Hornet and I enjoy playing for the Hornets and that's that."
So that was the interview. And then their equipment manager walked by me and was joking and I was like, "I'll see you in a couple days," and he started laughing and was like, "Yeah, that's the word around here."
But I was just joking. I honestly didn't think there was any way that I was going to Oklahoma City. It wasn't even a thought in my head. So I just went back to my room and finished the day.
TRADE DAY
The following day I went to shootaround as usual to rehab my ankle, trying to get back on the court.
After shootaround I came back to the hotel and I talked to my agent a couple times and right when I was about to take a nap he called again and said I was being traded to Oklahoma City.
So I'm sitting in the hotel room and all of a sudden I get a phone call from their general manager, and they said, "Since you're in town, if you want to, go get the physicals and everything and that way we can get it done."
So their GM came and picked me up, and he was all excited. I go do my physicals and then I fly back to New Orleans.
HORNETS IN MY BLOOD
I planned to pack my stuff in New Orleans and then go back to Oklahoma City the following day.
So I'm watching the game and it's funny because I'm still like cheering for the Hornets because, you know, I've still got Hornets in my blood. Those are still my guys.
I spent the night packing my stuff for Oklahoma City, watching the ending of the game and the highlights.
DON'T GET ON THE PLANE
The next day I was getting everything straight with my family and packing up stuff. The kids were going to go back to California with our parents and I was going to head out to Oklahoma City and start looking for a house for the following year. Until then I was going to be in a hotel.
On my way to the airport I get a call from my agent again and he says "Don't get on the plane." And I'm like "What?" He repeats, "Don't get on the plane. There's some problems with the trade, I don't know if it's going to go through."
So I go back home and he calls me back to say the deal is not going through. Meanwhile, I'm like "WHAT?"
Next thing you know, I'm getting calls from a couple of the Hornets people, and they're saying, "We're looking forward" and this and that.
All my teammates are calling me back and they're all hyped. I got a call from Chris and one from D-West. Everybody was excited, saying: "We're so glad to have you back." Everybody was upset about the trade and now I'm coming back and we're all hyped up. So I'm telling them: "It's meant to be. It wasn't meant for us to be broken up. Now let's make this championship run."
YA'LL COULDN'T GET RID OF ME
The next day was just comical. I walk into the locker room and say, "Ya'll couldn't get rid of me!"
And everybody starts busting up laughing. I did the skit from Training Day when Denzel Washington was like, "King Kong ain't got nothing on ME!" Everybody was laughing and having a good time.
With my teammates it's all love. They welcomed me back like a brother.
With management, it's always going to be a little funny because these guys just tried to trade me away and I got bounced back to them. I'm sure that will be pretty awkward.
But for me, it doesn't matter because I play for my teammates, myself my family and the fans. That's all that really matters to me and that's all that will ever matter.
It's funny more than anything else because of everything that has gone down. But I think this will be a spark for my teammates and for myself, because we have to get this done. We have to win a championship. We have people doubting, even people doubting us from the top.
So let's show them what we're made of.
http://www.tysonchandler.com/tyson-chandlers-blog/its-destiny-and-thats-why-im-back/2009/02/19