Ignoring Severe Health Risks, Doug Christie Justifies Pre-Game Salt Smelling Superstition: “Ain’t Had Any Sleep”

Doug Christie has obviously had some sleepless nights. The Sacramento Kings management placed their faith on him after firing Mike Brown.

A lot of stress for someone who could again be labeled as the fall guy! So how is the Sac-Town’s boss managing all this?

Well smelling salts.

Yup, you heard that right. Smelling salts—once a staple for fainting heroines in the era of Jane Austen—are making a comeback in a surprising way. For the non-Jane Austen readers, smelling salts are a type of stimulant that boosts blood flow and breathing by irritating the inside of your nose with ammonia fumes. The Kings’ interim coach gave a candid explanation about his use of smelling salts in an interaction with a reporter.

When asked about the practice, Christie said, “Just trying to wake it up, man.” He went on to explain that his use of smelling salts isn’t just a routine but a necessity due to his lack of sleep, adding, “I ain’t had any sleep bro.”

He humorously added, “I did it as assistant coach. You just didn’t pay attention to me. That’s all.” He shared that the team suggested using the salts. “Sometimes it’s too much and the eyes water. It’s just, you know, trying to wake the brain up and and, and be ready or be ready to go. So, yeah, I’ve always done it.”

But even amidst allt he stress, he got the Kings fans a moment that they’d never forget—”light the beam” chants at Chase Center. Sacramento’s been riding high with a four-game win streak, taking down teams like the Grizzlies, 76ers, and Mavericks. And let’s be real—those wins are no fluke.

The 76ers have been balling out lately, and when the Warriors are on, they’re basically unstoppable. But Sacramento? They’ve just been figuring out how to make it work, even against elite competition.

Going back to our smelling salts, in the U.S., they are only legal when used to revive someone who has fainted. Also, there’s no proof that smelling salts increase alertness. Hence, it’s essential to stick to the directions and only use smelling salts the right way, as their safety and effectiveness for anything else is still unclear.

But hey, it got the Kings their first 4 match win streak of the season! So it might be working.

Malik Monk backs Doug Christie, throws shade at Mike Brown

The Kings are on fire, having strung together four wins in a row. That streak has pushed them up to 11th place in the West, just one-and-a-half games away from the 8th spot. With plenty of time left in the season, the Kings are right in the playoff race.

A lot of eyes will be on Christie if the Kings make a run. When they fired Brown and promoted Christie to interim head coach, it seemed like a bold move. But here we are, with Christie leading the team to a 4-1 record so far. He’s completely changed the vibe in Sacramento, and it’s hard to deny that his impact has been huge.

Malik Monk sums up the team’s shift in attitude under Christie: “We bought into what [Doug Christie] is doing. We all just bought into it right now. We all feel good and confident in what he’s saying. He is a player. He played before so I think he knows how to say it to us a little better than people that didn’t play the game before.”

It’s clear that Christie’s background as a former player makes a difference. The 54-year-old coach helped lead the ‘Beam Team’ to the 2002 Western Conference Finals, and his experience gives him credibility with this team.

Monk’s point about Christie’s player perspective is interesting. It seems like the Kings are responding better to someone who’s been through the grind themselves, rather than a coach who hasn’t played at that level.

Next up, Sacramento will face the Miami Heat on Monday. It’s another chance to extend their win streak to five games. Let’s see if they can keep the momentum rolling!