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The Birdman Flies Again: Chris Andersen Reinstated by the NBA
Chris "The Birdman" Anderson is ready to fly back into the NBA. (AP Images)
Goofy white dudes of the world, prepare to celebrate (in a clean and substance-free fashion, though)....the Birdman is back.
Chris Andersen, the high-flying center formerly of the New Orleans Hornets, is set to return from a two-year NBA drug suspension after being reinstated by commish David Stern today.
Andersen was dismissed from the NBA on Jan. 27, 2006 for violating the league's drug policy. While breaking said policy is nothing new (see: the entire roster of the 2001-02 Portland Trailblazers), the manner in which Andersen did it was. According to the CBA, a player can only be suspended for such a long period of time if they fail a fourth positive test for performance-enhancing drugs, or a first positive test for "drugs of abuse".
Drugs of abuse - according to David Stern - are:
- Methamphetamine
- Cocaine
- LSD
- Opiates including herion, codeine and morphine
- PCP
So you can draw your own conclusions as to what color of velvet elephants Andersen was seeing back in 2006.
Andersen is expected to sign a contract with the Hornets within the next 30 days so they can retain his rights. When he was expelled from the league, Andersen was earning $3.5 million in the first of a four-year, $14 million contract.