biba
12-23-2007, 04:22 AM
Spurs honor Dallas Mavericks coach
Mavs coach reflects on unlikely career as San Antonio jersey is retired
Sunday, December 23, 2007
By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News [email protected]
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/basketball/mavs/stories/122307dnspomavslede.2b62160.html
SAN ANTONIO – Of all the great moments he had in nine seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, Avery Johnson had no trouble picking out his standout memories.
And "the shot" could do no better than tie for first.
"There was a family in San Antonio whose home burned down near Christmas," Johnson said. "And I took their kids Christmas shopping. I can remember holding that little boy's hand at Toys R Us. I would say moments like that – and that shot on the court – kind of encapsulated my career."
And what a career it was for a 5-11 point guard who was never drafted by an NBA team, yet is one of only two players in league history under 6 feet to have played 1,000 games. The other: Calvin Murphy.
In an emotional ceremony Saturday night – complete with a video tribute and reflections by Spurs luminaries – the Mavericks' coach had his No. 6 Spurs jersey unveiled in the rafters of the AT&T Center, alongside those of his pals David Robinson and Sean Elliott, who were in attendance.
Also hanging on high: George Gervin's, James Silas' and Johnny Moore's jerseys.
Lofty company, to be sure. Someday, Tim Duncan's jersey – and probably Manu Ginobili's, Tony Parker's and Bruce Bowen's – will join the current sixsome.
A solemn occasion, it wasn't. Not with Gregg Popovich involved. The Spurs' coach for all four of their championships, starting with the one Johnson's baseline shot at Madison Square Garden delivered in 1999, had said beforehand he was going to roast Johnson as much as honor him. He didn't disappoint.
"Avery who?" he asked when pressed for a comment. And Popovich had a tough time being serious when talking about the Spurs of yesteryear.
"That particular team had Avery's personality stamped all over it," Popovich said. "He was a very focused player, very demanding player, which is unique because he wasn't that good.
"Usually the demanding players are the Michael Jordans of the world. This guy still got it done even though all he did was go left his entire career. And nobody ever figured it out. If that's all you can do and you end up winning a championship, you deserve to be honored."
Elliott said Johnson's passion made him what he is and was a primary reason the Spurs became champions.
"Coaches don't make point guards," Elliott said. "God makes point guards. And in Avery, he made an even better man."
But for every serious commentary, there was a moment meant to keep Johnson humble and the event light.
"As we all know," Popovich said, "Avery wasn't that talented. But at the end of every quarter, he always shot it.
"It never went in. But we lived with that because that was Avery. He was competing, always."
When the jersey was unveiled, Johnson got choked up, as he did several times during the 45-minute ceremony after the Spurs had beaten the Los Angeles Clippers.
Johnson said he hoped his career could be in some small way inspire others who aren't necessarily the biggest, fastest or prettiest.
"For those young people out there that really aren't the high-fliers or the dunkers or the 3-point shooters, here's a guy who wasn't drafted and [was] in obscurity, didn't go to a big college, but he had a chance to join the big boys in the rafters that went to the big schools and were bigger in stature," Johnson said.
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said that Johnson came to him when the Spurs contacted Johnson about retiring his number.
"It shows a lot of class on behalf of the Spurs' organization," Cuban said. "I remember he asked me if I thought it was appropriate that he accept it, given the rivalry and everything. I told him: 'Hell yeah, you earned it.' "
There are too many memories for Johnson to run through. His Spurs career started with getting cut in 1991. The Spurs let him go again the following year, although technically he left as a free agent. Before he rejoined the Spurs, he was cut by Denver – on Christmas Eve. He finally latched onto the team for good in 1994. He joined forces with Robinson on numerous community projects.
One initiative became Johnson's personal project. He essentially built the Antioch Community Center. A threadbare community – just like the one where Johnson grew up in New Orleans – now has a gleaming activity and learning center.
Popovich added that the honor was meant to glorify a man as much as a career.
"There are a lot of players that have more stats than Avery and they don't get their jerseys retired," Popovich said. "He's always going to be a San Antonio Spur in our minds. And that's because of what he did in the community."
Mavs coach reflects on unlikely career as San Antonio jersey is retired
Sunday, December 23, 2007
By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News [email protected]
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/basketball/mavs/stories/122307dnspomavslede.2b62160.html
SAN ANTONIO – Of all the great moments he had in nine seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, Avery Johnson had no trouble picking out his standout memories.
And "the shot" could do no better than tie for first.
"There was a family in San Antonio whose home burned down near Christmas," Johnson said. "And I took their kids Christmas shopping. I can remember holding that little boy's hand at Toys R Us. I would say moments like that – and that shot on the court – kind of encapsulated my career."
And what a career it was for a 5-11 point guard who was never drafted by an NBA team, yet is one of only two players in league history under 6 feet to have played 1,000 games. The other: Calvin Murphy.
In an emotional ceremony Saturday night – complete with a video tribute and reflections by Spurs luminaries – the Mavericks' coach had his No. 6 Spurs jersey unveiled in the rafters of the AT&T Center, alongside those of his pals David Robinson and Sean Elliott, who were in attendance.
Also hanging on high: George Gervin's, James Silas' and Johnny Moore's jerseys.
Lofty company, to be sure. Someday, Tim Duncan's jersey – and probably Manu Ginobili's, Tony Parker's and Bruce Bowen's – will join the current sixsome.
A solemn occasion, it wasn't. Not with Gregg Popovich involved. The Spurs' coach for all four of their championships, starting with the one Johnson's baseline shot at Madison Square Garden delivered in 1999, had said beforehand he was going to roast Johnson as much as honor him. He didn't disappoint.
"Avery who?" he asked when pressed for a comment. And Popovich had a tough time being serious when talking about the Spurs of yesteryear.
"That particular team had Avery's personality stamped all over it," Popovich said. "He was a very focused player, very demanding player, which is unique because he wasn't that good.
"Usually the demanding players are the Michael Jordans of the world. This guy still got it done even though all he did was go left his entire career. And nobody ever figured it out. If that's all you can do and you end up winning a championship, you deserve to be honored."
Elliott said Johnson's passion made him what he is and was a primary reason the Spurs became champions.
"Coaches don't make point guards," Elliott said. "God makes point guards. And in Avery, he made an even better man."
But for every serious commentary, there was a moment meant to keep Johnson humble and the event light.
"As we all know," Popovich said, "Avery wasn't that talented. But at the end of every quarter, he always shot it.
"It never went in. But we lived with that because that was Avery. He was competing, always."
When the jersey was unveiled, Johnson got choked up, as he did several times during the 45-minute ceremony after the Spurs had beaten the Los Angeles Clippers.
Johnson said he hoped his career could be in some small way inspire others who aren't necessarily the biggest, fastest or prettiest.
"For those young people out there that really aren't the high-fliers or the dunkers or the 3-point shooters, here's a guy who wasn't drafted and [was] in obscurity, didn't go to a big college, but he had a chance to join the big boys in the rafters that went to the big schools and were bigger in stature," Johnson said.
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said that Johnson came to him when the Spurs contacted Johnson about retiring his number.
"It shows a lot of class on behalf of the Spurs' organization," Cuban said. "I remember he asked me if I thought it was appropriate that he accept it, given the rivalry and everything. I told him: 'Hell yeah, you earned it.' "
There are too many memories for Johnson to run through. His Spurs career started with getting cut in 1991. The Spurs let him go again the following year, although technically he left as a free agent. Before he rejoined the Spurs, he was cut by Denver – on Christmas Eve. He finally latched onto the team for good in 1994. He joined forces with Robinson on numerous community projects.
One initiative became Johnson's personal project. He essentially built the Antioch Community Center. A threadbare community – just like the one where Johnson grew up in New Orleans – now has a gleaming activity and learning center.
Popovich added that the honor was meant to glorify a man as much as a career.
"There are a lot of players that have more stats than Avery and they don't get their jerseys retired," Popovich said. "He's always going to be a San Antonio Spur in our minds. And that's because of what he did in the community."