FanHouse

Ka-kaw! Ka-kaw! The Birdman could be back, son. That's right. Today is the day, at least in terms of Chris Andersen having served his two year suspension for violating the league's "drug of abuse" (amphetamines, cocaine, PCP, LSD, et al) policy; note that he never actually admitted what substance he actually abused. ESPN's Chris Sheridan is reporting via sources that the "'wheels are already in motion' for Andersen to attempt a comeback" although it is not an easy row to hoe, one that will involve lots of paperwork, applications and most importantly, approval from the league before he can return. And approval is not just David Stern doing the thumb up-thumb down Gladiator thing either. After filling out the lengthy application,

Andersen must then schedule a meeting with members of both the commissioner's office and the players' union, and the consent of both organizations is needed for Andersen to be reinstated. Andersen has no right to appeal if his reinstatement application is rejected. There is no language in the collective bargaining agreement specifying any kind of a timetable for the reinstatement process, so it could be only a matter of days -- or it could take several weeks -- for Andersen to get a definitive answer.

When he does get an answer, assuming he "wins", the Hornets get thirty days to sign him. Otherwise he becomes approachable for the entire league. As Sheridan points out, assuming Anderson gets approved, New Orleans will likely want to resign him. As they should. Anytime you can add a player of his, um, talent and, er, dunking ability, you want to do that. Not to mention the hysterical chants from opposing fans that will follow. Oh yeah, and the Hornets need help in the front court. Is it inappropriate to just assume that David Harrison approves of this move?