It was really easy for many people to hate Rick Fox.
He dated, married, and cheated on beautiful women.
He was on the Lakers’ dynasty team with Shaq and Kobe.
He was real(y, really) good looking.
He was doing movies (I love HE GOT GAME) and TV shows (I love OZ).
He was doing models, and did I mention he was really good looking in my Zoolander voice, and played on a Lakers team that sour Queen fans still believe was assisted by the refs in the playoffs?
During an exhibition game on October 28th, 2002, the Kings’ Doug Christie did what so many non-Laker fans and some women wanted to do: uppercut Rick Fox right in the jaw!
It all started with an elbow and face push from Fox. Then that’s when Doug hit him with a Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out style uppercut. Things got really ugly (yes, even though Fox was involved) after that, as both teams got into a tunnel scuffle, which also involved an injured Shaq and his favorite flopper, Vlade Divac.
“Rick didn’t just go too far. He went overseas and back,” said Divac of Fox. “I don’t feel secure, man. They are supposed to keep these games secure.
“I thought it was going to be fun. The last game of the preseason, you try to work on your game and get ready for the regular season.”
Kings coach Rick Adelman also had some complaints about the security.
“I’m not disappointed in Doug, I’m not disappointed in my team. There’s something wrong with the security. That type of thing shouldn’t even come close to happening.”
On the other side, a young muscular Kobe said, “It’s personal now.”
Believe it or not, no players involved were fined, but Christie was hit with a two-game suspension, and Fox took a second hit in the form of a six-game suspension.
Shout out to my friend Imadul Kabir, who ran into Christie and got him to re-enact the punch.
Not only is Christie willing to re-enact the moment, he wears a shirt with an illustration of the moment.
😂 Doug Christie’s shirt
📷 @SacramentoKings pic.twitter.com/5eWlyjVQnQ— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) December 1, 2021
Fox also doesn’t mind joking about the incident, as evident by this moment with former King Chris Webber.
BONUS VIDEOS
HBD @TheDougChristie
He made 4 All-Defensive teams & was a regular on NBA Action's Top 10 Plays📼 @NBACobwebs pic.twitter.com/3iVGMvMTW2
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) May 9, 2023