The Return of Clyde Drexler?

Brian Wagner

Known to the world as the Glide (not the floss, the classy basketball player with that hint of upper-lip hair and sporting a shiny, classy lack of hair on his head), Clyde Drexler teamed with quality players like Buck Williams (now managing partner of a computer service technology firm), Jerome Kersey (assistant coach of the Bucks), Kevin Duckworth (overweight body guard, still looks huggable), and Terry Porter (head coach of the Bucks) to infuse Portland with the spirit of Rip City. Even as we lamented never having taken Michael Jordan over Sam Bowie, a move that conceivably cost us those two NBA Finals (but hey, who's counting), we reveled in being the hippest, nicest team in the NBA. Honestly, we were flying high. Today, of course, we're just high while driving in our yellow SUVs between games.

But enough reminiscing and bad joke-making. The past is the past, or so I thought until a few days ago when I came across an interesting little tidbit. After coming straight from an economics class where we had discussed the potential impact MJ's return would have on Nike's stock, I see this headline: DREXLER PONDERS POSSIBLE RETURN. And suddenly, the past is the future.

Clyde, age 42, is already in the Hall. He has nothing left to prove. Why would he return? "It would be fun because it's been so long and it would be like the second part of my career." While he later toned down the comments, the rumor mill in Denver has started churning. The Nuggets of course, is under the general management of former Blazer Kiki Vandeweghe, who Drexler worked under as an assistant manager, and has $2.4 million to burn on a backup point guard.

My thoughts on this are murky and misleading, because when we speak of great athletes of our time, Clyde Drexler is right up there in my mind with class acts like Joe Montana, Wayne Gretzky, and Cal Ripken, players who were not just great athletes, but great people. In my mind, judging his return is like supporting major league baseball. Even though you might not think it is the best economic decision or use of energy, as a fan you REALLY want to see it happen. Unlike many other people, I did not see MJ's return as embarrassing; in fact, it kept my attention riveted on basketball at a time when the Blazers were (as they continue to) self-destructing.

So I say bring on Clyde the Glide. If he can run 5 miles a day (a feat that I, despite being in great shape, have a hard time achieving now that I'm in college), let him try 20 minutes on the floor. As he said, "if you can come in and do what (Nuggets guard) Earl Boykins does and provide a spark for six to eight minutes a half, you can do that on one leg."

Now if only Portland could bring back the Fab 5 (Williams, Porter, Kersey, Duckworth, Drexler) and just replace all the crackheads and problem cases we are currently working with. While we are at it, can we bring back late 1980/early 1990s Paul Allen, before he started trying to screw the city over at the Rose Garden?

Clyde Drexler for MVP. No sweat.

By Brian Wagner Sept. 18, 2004