We haven’t heard much from Doug Christie lately - he hasn’t been on an NBA roster since playing for the Los Angeles Clippers last season - until now.

(Cry me a river, Doug.)

Some players’ skills deteriorate over time, while others just burn out from the grind of playing 82 games every season. And then there’s Christie, who cries that he’s been blackballed because of stories going around about his relationship with his wife.

Christie who played for four different teams in his last three years in the league, made the claim while discussing the recent Tim Donaghy scandal. From Christie’s blog, MVN:

Well, now we know why (if these allegations are true). It’s hard enough that you are facing the defending champs, hall of fame players and coaches, but you are also playing 5 on 8…What really makes me mad in the turn of events since then is the fact that these events have turned into what I consider a black balling of myself in the NBA!!

Christie referenced the rumors have been circulating about him and his wife, Jackie:

After my family and I took all of the bullets and were put through hell, our businesses suffered and ultimately the profession that I love so dearly has been taken away with lies and propaganda, just as that series was.

Are you kidding me? Last season (‘07/’08), I go in the gym with the Sonics and Trail Blazers (not to mention the GMs that I spoke to personally) and outplayed 90% of their guys. The only thing my agent told me they were interested in was my relationship with my wife, what happened before, or why did I leave the Clippers??? Truth be told, my family and I were dealing with the same old lies and workers starting trouble with us. I’m not willing to deal with that!

There’s just one hole in that theory, Doug. Those rumors came out with a NEW YORK TIMES story that ran in 2002.

This is review for some of you, but here are the highlights:

With few exceptions, Doug Christie does not look at other women, avoiding dialogue or even eye contact. ”Every conversation I’ve ever had with a woman since we’ve been married besides my wife she knows about,” he said. ”She’s been there…”

The Christies… get married on July 8 each year, their anniversary. It is not a mere renewal of their wedding vows, but an actual wedding — replete with friends, family, cake and a reception.

The best part? Jackie actually coached him during games!

Jackie Christie said she and her husband began communicating with each other during games a while ago. ”When I make this sign, it means drive to the hole,” she said. ”When I make this sign, it means smile because you look a little sad on the bench. He started making this sign and said, ‘This means I love you,’ and it developed from there. It makes me feel real special.”

Do you think Kobe Bryant would take those sorts of signals from Vanessa? Me neither.

I guess there is such a thing as being “too coachable.” And if he’s 38 and hasn’t averaged double-figures since 2004, that probably doesn’t help either.