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01-28-2010, 09:48 PM
Toros Help Honor the Late Dennis Johnson (http://www.48minutesofhell.com/2010/01/28/toros-help-honor-the-late-dennis-johnson/#more-6229)
by Andrew A. McNeil
http://www.48minutesofhell.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/dennis_johnson.jpg
On February 22, 2007, Dennis Johnson was standing outside the Austin Convention Center following Toros practice, shortly after playing a light game of one-on-one with one of his players.
Moments later, Johnson was on the ground, suffering from cardiac arrest. Paramedics were called and attempted to revive him, but Johnson never recovered and was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. He was 52 years old.
Nearly three years later, the Austin Toros are teaming with the Maine Red Claws, the D-League affiliate of the Boston Celtics and Charlotte Bobcats, to petition the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to enshrine Dennis Johnson in the Hall of Fame Class of 2010.
Finalists for the Class of 2010 will be announced on Friday, February 12.
Johnson played 14 seasons in the NBA from 1976-90 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8sAyIZiPJ0), winning three NBA titles with the Seattle Sonics and Boston Celtics, and was named Finals MVP in Seattle’s 1979 title. He was named an All-Star five times and made the All-Defensive first or second team nine straight seasons.
At the time of his death, Johnson was coaching of the Toros in the season before the team was taken over by the Spurs.
“Coach was pretty close with everybody,” Toros forward Justin Bowen said. Bowen is the only current Toros player who played for Johnson in Austin.
“He was the kind of coach you can talk to about anything, whether it was basketball or your personal life.”
Johnson coached at the D-League level, hoping to work his way back to the NBA, like so many of the players he coached. Johnson had been an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers, and was even named interim head coach of the Clippers after the firing of Alvin Gentry in 2003.
“Sometimes people get frustrated in how to deal with the ups and downs of an NBA season or an NBA D-League season,” Bowen said. “He really helped me become more professional and I really appreciate it.”
When the Toros take on the Los Angeles D-Fenders tonight (http://www.48minutesofhell.com/2010/01/27/party-in-austin/) at the Austin Convention Center, the Toros will have special $3 tickets, in honor of Dennis Johnson’s number with the Celtics, and signatures will be collected for the petition.
“I think it’s well past due for him to be in the Hall of Fame,” Bowen said. “I thought he was not only a great player, but he’s also a great professional, a role model for a lot of kids that grew up watching basketball.”
If you can’t make it out to sign the petition, you can do so online (http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/DennisJohnson).
“I was fortunate enough to spend the time I spent with him, and he helped me a lot as a professional and how to present myself to this game.”
by Andrew A. McNeil
http://www.48minutesofhell.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/dennis_johnson.jpg
On February 22, 2007, Dennis Johnson was standing outside the Austin Convention Center following Toros practice, shortly after playing a light game of one-on-one with one of his players.
Moments later, Johnson was on the ground, suffering from cardiac arrest. Paramedics were called and attempted to revive him, but Johnson never recovered and was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. He was 52 years old.
Nearly three years later, the Austin Toros are teaming with the Maine Red Claws, the D-League affiliate of the Boston Celtics and Charlotte Bobcats, to petition the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to enshrine Dennis Johnson in the Hall of Fame Class of 2010.
Finalists for the Class of 2010 will be announced on Friday, February 12.
Johnson played 14 seasons in the NBA from 1976-90 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8sAyIZiPJ0), winning three NBA titles with the Seattle Sonics and Boston Celtics, and was named Finals MVP in Seattle’s 1979 title. He was named an All-Star five times and made the All-Defensive first or second team nine straight seasons.
At the time of his death, Johnson was coaching of the Toros in the season before the team was taken over by the Spurs.
“Coach was pretty close with everybody,” Toros forward Justin Bowen said. Bowen is the only current Toros player who played for Johnson in Austin.
“He was the kind of coach you can talk to about anything, whether it was basketball or your personal life.”
Johnson coached at the D-League level, hoping to work his way back to the NBA, like so many of the players he coached. Johnson had been an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers, and was even named interim head coach of the Clippers after the firing of Alvin Gentry in 2003.
“Sometimes people get frustrated in how to deal with the ups and downs of an NBA season or an NBA D-League season,” Bowen said. “He really helped me become more professional and I really appreciate it.”
When the Toros take on the Los Angeles D-Fenders tonight (http://www.48minutesofhell.com/2010/01/27/party-in-austin/) at the Austin Convention Center, the Toros will have special $3 tickets, in honor of Dennis Johnson’s number with the Celtics, and signatures will be collected for the petition.
“I think it’s well past due for him to be in the Hall of Fame,” Bowen said. “I thought he was not only a great player, but he’s also a great professional, a role model for a lot of kids that grew up watching basketball.”
If you can’t make it out to sign the petition, you can do so online (http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/DennisJohnson).
“I was fortunate enough to spend the time I spent with him, and he helped me a lot as a professional and how to present myself to this game.”