Randy Foye gets big family news in middle of Clippers practice

Randy Foye’s timing off the court was nearly as impeccable as it has been through the first few days of the Clippers training camp.

His creativity was greatly tested, however, by circumstances beyond his control during a long practice with the Clippers on Wednesday. Foye knew that his family was about to expand by one, a few thousand miles away.

But it was not easy to get some big news from New Jersey, even in this day of instant information. Foye could hardly whip out his phone during conditioning drills with a new team and new coach nearby.

“I tried to sneak out [Wednesday], icing or getting in the cold tub,� Foye recalled after Thursday’s practice. “I went back and I looked at my phone and saw a picture of a baby. That’s pretty much how it went down.�

That was his introduction to young Penelope, his second child.

The Clippers had two practices Thursday, and Foye was going to try to leave after the night session to go back to see his family. His plan was to return Saturday to prepare for Sunday afternoon’s open scrimmage at Camp Pendleton.

Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro has not offered much specific praise about his players through the first few days, but he has made a point of singling out the versatile 6-4 guard and spoke about Foye’s chemistry with forward Ryan Gomes; both were signed in the summer as free agents.

“They talk on defense, they’re good … they play,� Del Negro said. “They haven’t missed practice. They play every play. They talk on defense. They’re just good character, sound guys.�

With Baron Davis sidelined thus far, Foye said he has been playing exclusively at point guard. He can play both guard positions, and, one possible scenario, could mean having three Clipper guards on the floor, Davis, Eric Gordon and Foye.

“I do what I always do,� said Foye, who had off-season knee surgery. “Try to be a blue-collar, hard-working guy. Don’t complain, Just go about my business. Be myself.�

That became easier than it was, say, a year ago. Foye, who once played with current Clippers Gomes and Craig Smith in Minnesota, was traded from the Timberwolves to Washington and it never seemed quite right with the Wizards.

“Last year, my situation coming in there, it was already set,� he said. “It wasn’t my choice. Coming here was my choice.�

Etc.

Rookie Willie Warren suffered a strained left hamstring in the night practice session and is day to day.

The Clippers said individual game tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday.

There wasn’t much of a change in the status of Davis and Brian Cook, and Del Negro said both did very little in the morning session Thursday. Cook has tendinitis in his knee. Rookie point guard Eric Bledsoe did not practice Thursday after suffering a bone bruise in his right knee the day before.

Duke star guard Jon Scheyer is in camp with the Clippers and spoke about the eye injury he suffered in summer league when he was playing for Miami’s team, an injury to the optic nerve and a retinal tear. “It gave me a chance to appreciate your life,� he said. “It’s the longest I’ve gone without any activity. Even in the past when I’ve gone two weeks without shooting, I’d be playing basketball or football just to stay active.�

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