Hayes leads Sacramento Kings to heart-felt win

SACRAMENTO -- SACRAMENTO — About 90 minutes before the NBA season opener Monday night, Chuck Hayes routinely goes about the pregame ritual.

Signing ticket envelopes for about 40 of his Modesto friends. Greeting his new Sacramento Kings teammates. Making sure his uniform is in order.

"A little nervous," he admits, "but after the game starts, I'll be OK."

Hayes, 28, has been through it all before, and opening-night jitters are felt by veterans and rookies alike. But this night is different. Very different.

The grin on the face of Hayes, the pride of Modesto Christian, seems forever stamped. He couldn't hide his smile if he tried. His career, a fat contract and — oh, by the way — his future on this Earth appeared to be in jeopardy as late as last week.

Today, he's fine, he's happy, he's back home and it's all good. Merry Christmas, Chuck.

"A lot of this has been out of my control. The Lord just put me in places where I know I can respond well," Hayes said. "All of this has happened by luck, by chance and by faith."

Think about the whirlwind that spun Hayes sideways the past two weeks — how he signed a four-year $21.3 million contract with the Kings, how it was voided after he failed his physical because of a heart irregularity, and how he underwent 11 hours of testing in Cleveland.

"There was a glimpse of it (the potential end of his career) … where I was scared," he said. "I didn't know what would happen next."

And then it ended like someone in Hollywood scripted it. We learned what we knew all along. His heart is thumping just fine, thank you. It's just a little bigger than most, like the legendary racehorse Secretariat.

A bonus million

The Kings re-signed Hayes, for an additional $1 million more than the original deal, seemingly about 10 seconds after he had been OK'd by specialists. Yes, the Kings wanted the former Crusader, and goodness, did he want them. He used to be a Houston Rocket, a free agent seeking new hoops employment. Then he fretted about even watching his 4-year-old son, Dorian, grow up.

Today, it's all good.

"(Dorian) gets it," Hayes said. "I told him the Rockets don't want Daddy no more. He was mad at the Rockets, not me."

There are a fortunate few in this life where down is never down and the darkest day always will finish in sunshine. Hayes belongs in that select group. How else can you explain this scenario?

Hayes hardly had time to say hello to his new teammates before the Kings' ear-splitting 100-91 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. Because of his heart crisis, he had taken part in zero preseason games and only four practices. Indeed, he had never even walked onto the same court with a few of his mates.

But there he was, a member of the Kings' starting lineup, the team captain, the spokesman for the team before tipoff.

"It's going to be a great season of Kings basketball," Hayes told the capacity crowd at Power Balance Pavilion. "We all love you."

Again: How?

This relatively young Kings team needs Hayes' leadership and all the intangibles he brings with him. That's why the Kings' front office acquired him. He has the "it" factor, which he's carried from the MC hardwood, to the bluegrass of Kentucky, to Houston and now back to the valley.

Sacramento inked him without reservation, just as the Wildcats sought him a decade ago. Kansas and UCLA, two other collegiate suitors, attached conditions to his commitment, but not Kentucky. It's why he journeyed to Lexington, and it's the same reason he's already a fan favorite in the state capital.