Tyson Turns Frown Upside Down

On February 17th, New Orleans Hornets center Tyson Chandler was traded to the lowly Oklahoma City Thunder for a washed up Joe Smith and never-was Chris Wilcox. Ouch. On February 18th, Chandler was sent back to the Hornets because the Thunder's team doctor said he had turf toe. Burn. Having to go back to the team that traded you because the crappy team you were supposed to go to wouldn't have you, is definitely grounds for pouting.

To say Chandler's return to the Hornets was expected to be uncomfortable would be putting it mildly. If history has shown us anything, it's that professional athletes do not deal well with being told they're not wanted. Typically, we'd expect to see Chandler's return to the Hornets go something like this...Tyson's turf toe - try saying that 5 times fast - continues to "hobble" him, he wears fancy suits and plants himself firmly on the bench the remainder of the year, the Hornets fail to make the playoffs due to lack of a true center and Chandler occasionally spits fire towards the media about how he's been "unappreciated" and "can't wait to get out of this (fill in this blank with whatever offensive description of New Orleans your heart desires)".

But apparently, Tyson Chandler did not attend the Terrell Owens School of Etiquette. Since returning to the Hornets, Chandler has played in 7 straight games...all Hornets victories. Chandler has averaged 11 points and 11 boards, shot 63% from the field and averaged 34 minutes a game. The team that once seemed destined to be this year's biggest disappointment, now appears to be it's greatest story of resurgence. And who do they have to thank? I'll give you a hint, his name isn't Joe Smith, and it sure as hell ain't Chris Wilcox.