Don't know if anyone posted this yet.. but
http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/1202364.html
Davis High grad waits for his big shot
By Melody Gutierrez - mgutierrez@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PDT Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
There's nothing different about the sound of the phone ringing in the Johnson home, but the reaction is new.
Each call stokes a level of anticipation in David Johnson, a 2001 Davis High School graduate, attempting to make an NBA roster.
Who will be on the other line? Perhaps Larry Bird. Maybe Don Nelson or Pat Riley. Johnson said they've all called to express interest.
"They are pretty much keeping me on their radar," said Johnson, a 5-foot-10, 170-pound point guard.
And that is more than the 25-year-old imagined possible just a few months ago.
Most NBA long shots say they never give up hope. Basketball is all there is.
Not Johnson.
Basketball became a source of heartache for Johnson while at Davis after his best friend and former teammate, Jason Paz, died in a car accident.
"I just was like, 'forget basketball,' " said Johnson, who did not play his senior year. "When a person you care about, a person you spend a lot of time with on and off the court, passes away, it puts a damper on your mood, to say the least."
So he gave up on the idea of reaching the NBA.
"But I didn't give up hope that I knew how to play basketball," said Johnson, who coaches seventh- and eighth-grade boys and girls basketball at Oliver Wendell Holmes Junior High in Davis.
Four years later, Johnson, whose friends call him DJ, felt ready to give basketball another shot. But by then he was a father of two, with responsibilities aplenty.
Unable to move his family, Johnson commuted to Napa Valley College from his Davis home to take classes and join the basketball team.
"He's definitely sacrificed more than most players I've coached," said Steve Ball, who was in his first year coaching at Napa Valley when Johnson arrived in 2005.
In his first game at Napa, Johnson's layup at the end of regulation pushed the Storm into overtime and eventually awarded Ball and his point guard their first win at the school.
"I will always remember that," Ball said. "DJ is a great leader. Basketball isn't just about him. That unselfishness carried off the court, too."
Johnson was easily targeted to be the team's co-captain. But as much as he enjoyed his time there, Johnson grew tired of the long drive on Highway 12, followed by classes and four-hour practices. He learned he didn't have enough lab hours to earn the required 12 units to participate in athletics.
Ten games into the season, Johnson left Napa.
"It was great in Napa," Johnson said. "A lot of people supported me there. I thought I could do it (commute and work). It took awhile, but it kicked me in my rear end a month or two into it. Plus, you really realize how expensive gas gets when you're driving a minivan."
Johnson's basketball dreams again were on hold. An e-mail would change that.
Jessica Raumer never doubted Johnson's talent. If given the opportunity, Raumer believes her longtime boyfriend could be an NBA player.
"I knew this was his dream and I know that he's good," said Raumer, 21, who has a 4-year-old girl and 5-year-old boy with Johnson.
Raumer, a talented children's photographer, thought of ways she could help Johnson open doors to a playing career. What he needed was an agent.
"I read online what agents do," Raumer said. "I got to know the terms, like 'free agent.' I'm good at researching contact information. And I started e-mailing general managers."
E-mails were sent to all 30 NBA teams with information on Johnson. She created his Web page, with details on Johnson's playing career and information on his one-on-one training sessions for kids. Raumer followed e-mails with phone calls.
"It took a lot of persistence," she said. "A lot of times they brush you to the side."
The first returned call was an invitation from the Kings for Johnson to join the team's summer-league roster.
After the first Kings practice in July, Johnson couldn't contain his excitement. Long after players left the practice facility, he lingered, joking that he wanted to sleep on the court. He chatted with Kings players and coach Reggie Theus.
"I just enjoyed the fact that he said this was the happiest day of his life, besides his kids being born," Theus said. "I understand that. Walking onto an NBA floor is a lifelong dream for a lot of people who would never get an opportunity to do that. He has a memory that will last him a lifetime."
The experience, however, lasted just two days. Johnson was one of four players cut from the Kings' summer-league roster before the team headed to Las Vegas.
"There were a lot of emotions," Raumer said. "You are so excited, but it was so discouraging that he didn't go to summer league (in Las Vegas)."
The phone rang at 7 on a recent morning, awaking Johnson and Raumer at their Davis residence. Raumer managed to squeak out a half-awake 'hello.'
"Is someone sleeping?" the voice inquired. "This is Larry Bird."
Hours after his conversation with the Indiana Pacers' president and basketball legend, Johnson still was in disbelief. He said he's spoken with other teams and is scheduled for a workout with the Miami Heat in the next day or two.
A flight to Miami would mark his first trip on an airplane and first trip out-of-state other than to Reno.
"Coming from nothing, and I mean nothing, to having Larry Bird calling me … I can't even put words on it," said Johnson, whose original workout with the Heat was supposed to be Aug. 18, but was pushed back because of tropical storm Fay.
For now, Johnson continues to work out daily, shooting hoops at a neighborhood park in Davis.
And waiting for the phone to ring and more doors to open.
"We still panic whenever the phone rings," Johnson said. "That hasn't gone away. I don't think I will ever get used to it."
http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/1202364.html
Davis High grad waits for his big shot
By Melody Gutierrez - mgutierrez@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PDT Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
There's nothing different about the sound of the phone ringing in the Johnson home, but the reaction is new.
Each call stokes a level of anticipation in David Johnson, a 2001 Davis High School graduate, attempting to make an NBA roster.
Who will be on the other line? Perhaps Larry Bird. Maybe Don Nelson or Pat Riley. Johnson said they've all called to express interest.
"They are pretty much keeping me on their radar," said Johnson, a 5-foot-10, 170-pound point guard.
And that is more than the 25-year-old imagined possible just a few months ago.
Most NBA long shots say they never give up hope. Basketball is all there is.
Not Johnson.
Basketball became a source of heartache for Johnson while at Davis after his best friend and former teammate, Jason Paz, died in a car accident.
"I just was like, 'forget basketball,' " said Johnson, who did not play his senior year. "When a person you care about, a person you spend a lot of time with on and off the court, passes away, it puts a damper on your mood, to say the least."
So he gave up on the idea of reaching the NBA.
"But I didn't give up hope that I knew how to play basketball," said Johnson, who coaches seventh- and eighth-grade boys and girls basketball at Oliver Wendell Holmes Junior High in Davis.
Four years later, Johnson, whose friends call him DJ, felt ready to give basketball another shot. But by then he was a father of two, with responsibilities aplenty.
Unable to move his family, Johnson commuted to Napa Valley College from his Davis home to take classes and join the basketball team.
"He's definitely sacrificed more than most players I've coached," said Steve Ball, who was in his first year coaching at Napa Valley when Johnson arrived in 2005.
In his first game at Napa, Johnson's layup at the end of regulation pushed the Storm into overtime and eventually awarded Ball and his point guard their first win at the school.
"I will always remember that," Ball said. "DJ is a great leader. Basketball isn't just about him. That unselfishness carried off the court, too."
Johnson was easily targeted to be the team's co-captain. But as much as he enjoyed his time there, Johnson grew tired of the long drive on Highway 12, followed by classes and four-hour practices. He learned he didn't have enough lab hours to earn the required 12 units to participate in athletics.
Ten games into the season, Johnson left Napa.
"It was great in Napa," Johnson said. "A lot of people supported me there. I thought I could do it (commute and work). It took awhile, but it kicked me in my rear end a month or two into it. Plus, you really realize how expensive gas gets when you're driving a minivan."
Johnson's basketball dreams again were on hold. An e-mail would change that.
Jessica Raumer never doubted Johnson's talent. If given the opportunity, Raumer believes her longtime boyfriend could be an NBA player.
"I knew this was his dream and I know that he's good," said Raumer, 21, who has a 4-year-old girl and 5-year-old boy with Johnson.
Raumer, a talented children's photographer, thought of ways she could help Johnson open doors to a playing career. What he needed was an agent.
"I read online what agents do," Raumer said. "I got to know the terms, like 'free agent.' I'm good at researching contact information. And I started e-mailing general managers."
E-mails were sent to all 30 NBA teams with information on Johnson. She created his Web page, with details on Johnson's playing career and information on his one-on-one training sessions for kids. Raumer followed e-mails with phone calls.
"It took a lot of persistence," she said. "A lot of times they brush you to the side."
The first returned call was an invitation from the Kings for Johnson to join the team's summer-league roster.
After the first Kings practice in July, Johnson couldn't contain his excitement. Long after players left the practice facility, he lingered, joking that he wanted to sleep on the court. He chatted with Kings players and coach Reggie Theus.
"I just enjoyed the fact that he said this was the happiest day of his life, besides his kids being born," Theus said. "I understand that. Walking onto an NBA floor is a lifelong dream for a lot of people who would never get an opportunity to do that. He has a memory that will last him a lifetime."
The experience, however, lasted just two days. Johnson was one of four players cut from the Kings' summer-league roster before the team headed to Las Vegas.
"There were a lot of emotions," Raumer said. "You are so excited, but it was so discouraging that he didn't go to summer league (in Las Vegas)."
The phone rang at 7 on a recent morning, awaking Johnson and Raumer at their Davis residence. Raumer managed to squeak out a half-awake 'hello.'
"Is someone sleeping?" the voice inquired. "This is Larry Bird."
Hours after his conversation with the Indiana Pacers' president and basketball legend, Johnson still was in disbelief. He said he's spoken with other teams and is scheduled for a workout with the Miami Heat in the next day or two.
A flight to Miami would mark his first trip on an airplane and first trip out-of-state other than to Reno.
"Coming from nothing, and I mean nothing, to having Larry Bird calling me … I can't even put words on it," said Johnson, whose original workout with the Heat was supposed to be Aug. 18, but was pushed back because of tropical storm Fay.
For now, Johnson continues to work out daily, shooting hoops at a neighborhood park in Davis.
And waiting for the phone to ring and more doors to open.
"We still panic whenever the phone rings," Johnson said. "That hasn't gone away. I don't think I will ever get used to it."
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