Customer Reviews

No Ordinary Love

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NO ORDINARY LOVE shares an up-close and personal, real-life love story of a couple that seemingly defies the odds; African-American, celebrities, faithful to each other, and loving their marriage. After many challenging confrontations, with the media and basketball personalities, they talk about how they learned to navigate through the fickle highway of fame. They've carved a meaningful life together in spite of their humble beginnings and the pitfalls of stardom, with love, faith and determination. They have kept their relationship fresh and true.

This magnanimous couple is professional NBA star, Doug Christie and his runway model wife, Jackie. The book has the feel of sitting in their living room, listening to them talk. They briefly touch on their respective backgrounds, but over seventy-five percent of the book centers on their life as a high profile couple during Doug's career.

Doug possesses the audacity to love his wife, and the strength to express his feelings publicly. For that, he has been called a lot of things, some not mentionable, by a lot of people, including Bryant Gumbel, who once labeled Doug whipped on national television. Jackie supports Doug in all his decisions and is able to let negativity roll off her back. Doug shares how some teams have very specific rules governing family association. Also, many of the 'groupies' are actual employees of the teams. He once refused a job because he would not agree that Jackie could not travel, even at her own expense, with the team.

NO ORDINARY LOVE is not Doug and Jackie's attempt to be role models for young married couples, or anyone searching for the true meaning of love and commitment, but a testament to what can happen when your goal is infinite love.

Reviewed by aNN
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

No Ordinary Love: A True Story of Marriage and Basketball is the true-life memoir of the marriage between 14-year NBA star Doug Christie and former fashion model Jackie Christie. The two of them cherish an increasing rarity in today's world, especially among society's elite - a traditional, faithful marriage. Though No Ordinary Love also offers an inside look at life in the NBA, but its crux is a celebration of the joy of cementing an alliance of love, teamwork, and unshakeable loyalty to one another. Presented in the format of a narrative alternating between Doug and Jackie's direct words, and illustrated with black-and-white photographs, No Ordinary Love is a solid testament to the joys and wonders of life and the rewarding satisfaction of building a healthy relationship.

No Ordinary Love
Monday, October 8, 2007 print | email


First things first, two things I think I know about Doug Christie: 1) lock down defender; 2) his name is synomous with being pussy-whipped! I really enjoyed this story of love, life and basketball that dispelled a lot of the ideas about the Christies that I had from the negative publicity that I've been exposed to as a basketball fan. No Ordinary Love is an autobiographical, love, sports and marriage story. Doug and Jackie Christie narrate their personal histories, intertwining thier stories like their shared life. The interesting/infamous tale of the Christie's public love being attacked, how the attacks start, build, and are widespread...even eventually becoming a contract issue with a woefully bad Sonics team that finished the season with less than 35 wins. The story exposed the links between the management/ownership and media, with the players culture of womanizing and infidelity, showing how teams even facilitate this mysoginist culture (look at what Stephon Marbury said at the Isiah trial). Doug Christie is very mature in expressing his emotions and growth as person. In re-telling his basketball career he even glosses over his big scoring years as a Raptor, focusing most specifically on his time with the Kings. It's interesting Christie doesn't seem fixated on the emotion of the past, instead remembering his friendships with C-Webb, Vlade Divac, Bobby Jackson, Hedo Turloglu, Peja, Mike Bibby, even the boyz from Team Dime, and the style and passion of basketball as the best part of his NBA experience. The message of the Christies is about being committed to the idea of family first, and experiencing Infinite Love. I think the Christies have a positive message to share with all of consumer culture, Jackie said it best: ''Stay committed to the commitment." Teaching by example, they've shown the world their love.

I was a little disappointed from chapter two on--. I thought the fact that Christie's supported each other was wonderful. But I was looking for more candid descriptions of what life was like prior to their marriage, and perhaps the emotional struggle they faced as individuals. All the readers get is a glossed over version that leaves us to draw conclusions. Additionally, Jackie described Doug prior to getting married as respectful. Why wouldn't he be? What was really going on with him to cause her to describe him as such. The story just seemed a little storybook and superficial, almost overwritten. And then the chapters on how to make a marrige work weren't anything I'd never heard before. Overall, it's an ok read--but one I would definitely check it out at the local library and save my $$$.

Since the Christie's are so family oriented I expected the book to be more about their family, relationship, infinite love and so on. The book focused more on rumors, Doug's basketball career and injury and then a little thrown in about their relationship.

All is fair in LOVE & Basketball

No Ordinary Love is a fascinating and victorious story about love and basketball, well of course! Jackie and Doug allowed us into their world prior to Doug being drafted into the NBA as well as allowed us to ride along for the rest of the journey. The true story behind their public love affair is extremely simple, Infinite Love, which is what they have politely named their bond to one another and their family. In purchasing the book I wasn't real sure what to expect, however I had an open mind, despite the harsh and cruel way the media had portrayed the celebrity couple. Being an author of an Urban Fiction book dealing with the NBA and Mistresses I felt I absolutely had to at least read the book. I too have had very unique experiences in and around the NBA, with my stepbrother playing in the NBA over a decade and befriending just a few for over a decade as well.

After reading the book I felt compelled to fall in love and try my hand at love again. I had stepped away and bowed out gracefully from the dating games most men play and decided to focus on God, my family, teaching within the urban community, writing, and publishing. The story was exceptionally inspiring and I truly commend the NBA couple for speaking out and sharing the intimacies of such a wonderful friendship as well as defining Infinite Love. The approach of the book, was a surprise, which added a neat and fabulous aspect and spin to the book. It's not too often that a book is presented in dialogue; however it was appropriate and very fitting. This is a great read for married couples as well as the unmarried who may have lost hope on what true love is. Reading this book will define and allow you a courtside seat into loving another. Thank you both for sharing your world with us and much success and happiness to you both! Let's toast to Infinite Love! Congrats and I will be waiting on part 2.

Reviewed by:
Ya'Heard Magazine
~The Urban Fiction Lounge~

After reading this book I felt like I didn't really get the true story about their relationship. My book club members also felt the same. I was just not impressed reading about them both defending their relationship. I do feel they are a great couple and role model for young couples as they do demonstrate love and togetherness, but I think I was expecting a different read.

Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (05/07)


Doug and Jackie Christie are an unusual couple in the glittery world of NBA. Not only they are married and have three children together, they actually profess to love being married to each other and choose to be faithful to each other. For this they have been highly ridiculed in the media, both by some fans and certain reporters.

Doug is a 14-year NBA veteran, who has played for a number of teams and had been honored several times with All-League defensive awards. Jackie is a former fashion model. Both came from single-parent households, which just might have been the deciding factor in choosing the path they've chosen. While not completely traditional from the beginning (they had their first child a while before they've decided to get married), nowadays they live like any perfectly ordinary family. They profess to do most of the work in the house by themselves (and yes, Doug is supposed to be a great cook!), their children are being watched over by the grandmother and Doug, as much as he loves basketball, does not put it ahead of Jackie and their family.

The book, which is written like a dialogue between Doug and Jackie, is a fascinating glimpse in the world of NBA teams and their practices as well as a thought-provoking and inspirational testament to their love and devotion. As Jackie would say, "A man has to be ready for a relationship - not forced or coaxed or convinced." And in Doug's own words, "So that's my message to the men reading this book - stick your ego in your back pocket. Maybe it is making you look bigger than you are, but it's hard to reconcile fronting with love. Let that special someone see that real you. Let yourself see the real you. You just might be surprised by what you find." Sound advice - and it would not hurt any if one were to substitute a "she" for a "he" in those words. All of us could benefit from this.

Doug and Jackie renew their vows every year. So far they've done it a dozen times. I would not be surprised if they do it another couple of dozen times. Putting your family ahead of everything else might be outmoded nowadays, but I can not see how it could hurt anything. Everybody needs an anchor in life. Having your spouse and/or family as an anchor could only make you a stronger person.

"No Ordinary Love" was an interesting read, which will certainly appeal to fans of NBA as well for family-oriented readers. Approach it with an open mind and you just might decide to make some changes in your own life as well.

Received book free of charge.

I think it is amazing that Doug and Jackie were willing to share their journey this far, with the public. I believe that they set the bar for relationships in the industry. They have also provided an opportunity for others in relationships to evaluate themselves as individuals with morals, as well commiting to a relationship with morals,respect, patience and understanding.

It is unbelievable that some athletes would have taken certain opportunities given to Doug so they can have self fullfillment. But Doug was not (and once you read you will know)and will never put anything before his family.
If your into Sports, Love and Relationships, this is a must read!

After reading this book I can truley say that love is not to be taken for granted. Here are two people who are a prime example of how and what love should be like. It's not about the riches, fame or the material things with Doug and Jackie. It all boils down to good ole' fashion L-O-V-E. Which doesn't cost a dime. Of course couples are going to have their ups and downs but you stick it out and make your partner your friend for life. And they prove true to this. They are husband and wife yet identify themselves as FRIENDS as well. Not many people do that, because they get caught up in WHO BELONGS TO WHO and the relationship is more of an OWNERSHIP opposed to COMPANIONSHIP. You don't have to follow their pattern exactly but use it as a guideline and encouragement that you too can have a trusting, loving and enduring companionship with the one you love. So I've learned something from this book and I will take heed as well because I don't want an ORDINARY LOVE either.... a must have for everyone in, seeking or hoping for lasting love.