s_knight8
2005-01-07 03:38:43 UTC
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/11936010p-128230
58c.html
It's said that truth can be stranger than fiction, so local curiosity
seekers may not be surprised that Sacramento Kings guard Doug Christie and
his wife, Jackie, may land in the expanding world of reality television.
The couple's marriage may be unique in the world of professional sports in
that Jackie is rarely far from her well-traveled husband's side, even during
a brawl with the rival Los Angeles Lakers.
The Christies say they plan to reveal considerably more about their
relationship, family and way of life in a proposed reality television show
on pop music network VH1. A deal between the Christies and the network is
not final, but talks are progressing, both sides confirmed.
Jackie Christie said a friend from another network initially contacted her
last summer about the project. "After Doug and I talked about it, we decided
to do it," she said. "They started filming a practice part of it in
December, and they'll start filming the actual part of it on January 11th."
Jackie Christie said clearance has been received from the National
Basketball Association. The VH1 crews, she said, are expected to be with
their family for a few months.
Vanessa Reyes, a spokeswoman in VH1's Los Angeles office, said Tuesday that
a deal with the Christies is still in the "developmental stage - nothing has
been finalized." Plus, until a contract is signed, she added, the show is
"not a guarantee."
"So many of these things fall through - that's just the way the industry
works," Reyes said.
If the Christies do make it to the small screen, their show will join a
legion of such shows that began flooding the airwaves after the success of
the pioneering "Survivor." Seemingly every network has at least one
reality-based show, from Donald Trump's "The Apprentice" on NBC to Fox's ode
to the decline of Western civilization, "Who's Your Daddy."
Reyes would not comment on any details of the proposed Christie show,
including how much the couple could be paid, how many episodes might be
commissioned, or why a relatively unknown couple - unfamiliar at least to
those who don't follow the Kings or the NBA - would be chosen to star in
their own reality TV show.
Doug Christie's relationship and unusually open commitment to his wife often
garners more attention than his on-court performance. While playing or even
sitting on the bench, he signals to her and his family throughout games with
a series of gestures, punctuated by raising his left arm. After nearly every
game his wife attends, Christie waits for her to come out of the stands and
they walk off the floor together.
When he was ejected in a recent game against the Miami Heat at Arco Arena,
cameras following his walk to the locker room saw him accompanied through
the tunnel by his wife, who had hurried down to meet him.
Jackie Christie travels to a number of Kings games on the team plane.
During an October 2002 exhibition game when a fight erupted between Christie
and the Lakers' Rick Fox in a tunnel at Staples Center, she was among the
first to rush to her husband's defense.
Such constant contact between a male professional athlete and his wife or
companion is extremely rare, and therein lies the curiosity, fascination,
and even disdain and ridicule by others regarding the Christies'
relationship.
Jackie Christie said she hopes to change misperceptions through the TV show.
"I think it was more or less because we can get a positive message out
there," she said. "There has been a lot of negative publicity and a lot of
misperceptions and misunderstandings about our relationship.
"We want people to know it's cool to be committed and respectful of yourself
and your family. We're just happy together the way we do it, and a lot of
people misunderstand that and think that he's an athlete and he should act
this way or that way."
Elayne Rapping, professor of American Studies at the University of Buffalo
and author of several books on media and pop culture, has an inkling of why
VH1 finds the Christies attractive.
"They'll take a chance on people whose personalities seem to be somewhat
outrageous or have a quality of drama," Rapping said.
Jackie Christie's reputation as a protective, stand-by-her-man wife,
unafraid to speak her mind, is a potential ratings bonanza, Rapping said.
The professor added that she had not heard of the Christies - although she
was aware of the Kings - prior to a call from a reporter Tuesday. But no
matter.
Doug Christie said he doesn't expect a reality show to make him an Hollywood
idol. "I'm a hooper," he said. "That's what I do. Other than that I just
hang out with the kids."
The Christies have two daughters, Ta'kari and Chantel, and son Douglas Jr.
Doug Christie has a skill and flair for designing men's clothes and this
season has been sporting some of his original outfits.
He said there'll be no acting on his part if the television series is made.
"I'm going to get on there and just be me. So if you want to see me, then
that's cool.
"It might be boring, it might not."
58c.html
It's said that truth can be stranger than fiction, so local curiosity
seekers may not be surprised that Sacramento Kings guard Doug Christie and
his wife, Jackie, may land in the expanding world of reality television.
The couple's marriage may be unique in the world of professional sports in
that Jackie is rarely far from her well-traveled husband's side, even during
a brawl with the rival Los Angeles Lakers.
The Christies say they plan to reveal considerably more about their
relationship, family and way of life in a proposed reality television show
on pop music network VH1. A deal between the Christies and the network is
not final, but talks are progressing, both sides confirmed.
Jackie Christie said a friend from another network initially contacted her
last summer about the project. "After Doug and I talked about it, we decided
to do it," she said. "They started filming a practice part of it in
December, and they'll start filming the actual part of it on January 11th."
Jackie Christie said clearance has been received from the National
Basketball Association. The VH1 crews, she said, are expected to be with
their family for a few months.
Vanessa Reyes, a spokeswoman in VH1's Los Angeles office, said Tuesday that
a deal with the Christies is still in the "developmental stage - nothing has
been finalized." Plus, until a contract is signed, she added, the show is
"not a guarantee."
"So many of these things fall through - that's just the way the industry
works," Reyes said.
If the Christies do make it to the small screen, their show will join a
legion of such shows that began flooding the airwaves after the success of
the pioneering "Survivor." Seemingly every network has at least one
reality-based show, from Donald Trump's "The Apprentice" on NBC to Fox's ode
to the decline of Western civilization, "Who's Your Daddy."
Reyes would not comment on any details of the proposed Christie show,
including how much the couple could be paid, how many episodes might be
commissioned, or why a relatively unknown couple - unfamiliar at least to
those who don't follow the Kings or the NBA - would be chosen to star in
their own reality TV show.
Doug Christie's relationship and unusually open commitment to his wife often
garners more attention than his on-court performance. While playing or even
sitting on the bench, he signals to her and his family throughout games with
a series of gestures, punctuated by raising his left arm. After nearly every
game his wife attends, Christie waits for her to come out of the stands and
they walk off the floor together.
When he was ejected in a recent game against the Miami Heat at Arco Arena,
cameras following his walk to the locker room saw him accompanied through
the tunnel by his wife, who had hurried down to meet him.
Jackie Christie travels to a number of Kings games on the team plane.
During an October 2002 exhibition game when a fight erupted between Christie
and the Lakers' Rick Fox in a tunnel at Staples Center, she was among the
first to rush to her husband's defense.
Such constant contact between a male professional athlete and his wife or
companion is extremely rare, and therein lies the curiosity, fascination,
and even disdain and ridicule by others regarding the Christies'
relationship.
Jackie Christie said she hopes to change misperceptions through the TV show.
"I think it was more or less because we can get a positive message out
there," she said. "There has been a lot of negative publicity and a lot of
misperceptions and misunderstandings about our relationship.
"We want people to know it's cool to be committed and respectful of yourself
and your family. We're just happy together the way we do it, and a lot of
people misunderstand that and think that he's an athlete and he should act
this way or that way."
Elayne Rapping, professor of American Studies at the University of Buffalo
and author of several books on media and pop culture, has an inkling of why
VH1 finds the Christies attractive.
"They'll take a chance on people whose personalities seem to be somewhat
outrageous or have a quality of drama," Rapping said.
Jackie Christie's reputation as a protective, stand-by-her-man wife,
unafraid to speak her mind, is a potential ratings bonanza, Rapping said.
The professor added that she had not heard of the Christies - although she
was aware of the Kings - prior to a call from a reporter Tuesday. But no
matter.
Doug Christie said he doesn't expect a reality show to make him an Hollywood
idol. "I'm a hooper," he said. "That's what I do. Other than that I just
hang out with the kids."
The Christies have two daughters, Ta'kari and Chantel, and son Douglas Jr.
Doug Christie has a skill and flair for designing men's clothes and this
season has been sporting some of his original outfits.
He said there'll be no acting on his part if the television series is made.
"I'm going to get on there and just be me. So if you want to see me, then
that's cool.
"It might be boring, it might not."