How a Bird Turned Into a Man - Chris Andersen Tattoos

Among all NBA players, Chris Andersen is the one who can proudly show off the most amazing tattoos. In this article I will try to describe this singular and often underestimated basketball player and his wonderful tattoos.

During this 2008/2009 NBA Season, Chris Andersen, also known as "The Birdman" (name he earned for his flying ability on the court and a couple of wings tattooed on his arms), has once again proved to be one of the best center in the NBA.

Nevertheless, he is still better known for his crazy hair-style and his many tattoos than for his basketball skills. Due to his tattoos and his defensive ability, Andersen has often been likened to an old NBA Star, Dennis Rodman.

Born July 7 1978 in Long Beach, California, Chris Andersen spent only a few years of his childhood in his homeland. As a teenager, he grew up in Texas, Iola, and he ended up choosing the University of Huston for his higher education. It did not take him too much time to understand he was not made to study. Therefore he tried to find an easier way to get a qualification at the little Blinn College in Brenham, where he managed to earn a diploma in just two years.

Nobody seemed to believe in his potential, as he was not picked by any team in the 1999 NBA draft. Therefore The Birdman had to start his basketball career in China with the Jiangsu Nagang.
In 2002 he finally joined a real NBA Team, the New Orleans Hornets, where he played some years with fluctuating performances.

In 2006 Chris Birdman Andersen was found positive for drugs. He got a two-year suspension for violating the league's drug policy. His career looked over. There are moments in life in which being a good player is not enough. You need to be a Man. Andersen had to prove he was not just a flying bird anymore; he needed the strength of a man to overcome the difficult moment and fly back to the rim again.

Well he proved it; he became a man and came back to the NBA in 2008 with his old team New Orleans Hornets.

Following the 2007-08 NBA season, Andersen agreed to sign a one-year contract with the Nuggets, where he is still playing. Andersen is currently second in the league in blocks per game.

During the seasons 2003-04 and 2005-06, Andersen bought thousands of dollars in tickets that were distributed among several different charities throughout the years.

But let's have a look at Chris Andersen tattoos, or at least the ones we could get a look at:

- A skull tattoo with a crown on his left biceps;
- Chains are tattooed on both his arms and his upper chest;
- Homage to his home state of Texas is inked on his right forearm;
- The words "Honky Tonk" on his stomach;
- Coloured wings are inked under both his arms; those are the wings of the only real Birdman in the NBA: An indelible sign of his flying ability and his love for tattoos. Curiosity: Andersen once admitted to crying "like a little girl" while getting his wing tattoos on both his inner biceps.
- A snow crystal on his left elbow;
- A basketball player making a Slam-Dunk on his right arm.
- Japanese signs on both his arms.

These are just a few of Chris Andersen Tattoos. Many others are visible but not clearly recognizable in many pictures online. Andersen got most of his tattoos compliments of his friend, tattoo artist John Slaughter in Denver.

Source : http://ezinearticles.com/?How-a-Bird-Turned-Into-a-Man---Chris-Andersen-Tattoos&id=2423017