The Birdman Phenomenon

For those of you who aren't familiar with the ultimate "Disney style" feel good story of Chris Andersen, here's the cliff notes version.

Of course Andersen immediately is thrusted into the underdog role, going undrafted (UNDRAFTED) in the 1999 NBA draft. Granted the '99 draft featured such All Stars and luminaries such as Elton Brand, Steve Francis, Shawn Marion, Richard Hamilton, Baron Davis, and Ron Artest. Not to mention the second to last pick in the draft, a little known, undersized guard from Argentina (Hint: Manu Ginoboli).

From there things just got harder. He then went on to play in China and D-League, the D-League average salary being around a paltry $30,000, until the forward was called up by Denver to the NBA. He even managed to hook on with New Orleans and, due to a massively miscalculated PR decision, was featured in the '05 Slam Dunk Contest. Which went kind of like the Vietnam War. Except a lot funnier.




Chris Andersen ('05 Slam Dunk)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_ksqrFQPgU

From there life just from bad to hellish. He kept the ugly haircut, got disqualified from the NBA for violating the NBA drug policy, and gets reinstated to the league by Commish David Stern two years later to New Orleans/OKC.

This is the part you need to pay attention to however. The next few sentences are a testament not only to Chris Andersen's character and mental fortitude, but also to the fact that America can forgive nearly anything given results. Following his reinstatement to the league, Andersen gets released by New Orleans/OKC and signs with the Denver Nuggets once again. He then proceeds to turn into a poor man's Dikembe Mutumbo, albeit without the offensive skills, flap his wings, gel his hair (Which must cost a fortune in hair products), and take over the city of Denver.

So in the midst of a year, a single NBA season, Andersen goes from NBA outcast to NBA sensation sweeping the nation. Not everyone knows who Chris Andersen is. But EVERYONE, even the Indian family across the street whose house smells like New Dehli, knows who Birdman is. Yes, Chris Andersen, the undersized, even underskilled (I don't even know if that's a word) has officially become larger than life. Simply known as "Birdman", he has swept the nation with Birdman Mania, spawning numerous copycats in arenas around the country.