Isn't that sad? And though the talk is about the Celtics I remember him with Seattle, teamed in the backcourt with Gus Williams and Downtown Freddy Brown.
As Bill Simmons points out in a column over at ESPN.com (sorry - too tech-illiterate to provide a link), DJ had a history of having his greatness overshadowed. Case in point - Larry Bird's famous steal of the inbounds pass in the conference finals against the Detroit Pistons. Everybody remembers that Bird stole the ball, but hardly anybody remembers that DJ had the basketball smarts to (a) cut to the basket before Bird even stole the ball, (b) quickly catch a pass and shoot the ball, and (c) avoid a flying Joe Dumars trying to block the shot. A tremendous play by a great player.
Dennis Johnson was not only a great player, helping to lead the Seattle Sonics to a championship in 1978-79, but he was also a good friend to players and welcoming to their family and friends.
Superstar forward Lonnie Shelton of Oregon State University and a member of the Sonic championship team, spoke fondly of Dennis being one of the top five "clutch" players ever. I agree.
I watched DJ play basketball during my student days in Boston.
The Celtics were a terrible team in the late 1970's. You could buy tickets to games on game day. Cowens, Wicks, Ford and others were in the twighlights of their career.
Then Red worked his magic--picking up Bird, McHale, Parish, DJ, Walton (briefly), Ainge and a bunch of talented role players.
I think the Celtics traded Rick Robey, a third string center,to Phoenix for DJ.
I will never forget the game DJ stole the inbound pass and Bird scored the winning bucket.
Johnny Most's color commentary was a classic.
Larry Bird said it all in today's paper: a great teammate, a solid basketball player, and a quality person.
As someone in his late 40's, I still can't believe DJ was only 52 when he died.
Charamba, Douro 2008
Horse Heaven Hills, Cabernet 2010
Lorelle, Horse Heaven Hills Pinot Grigio 2011
Avignonesi, Montepulciano 2004
Lorelle, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2011
Villa Antinori, Toscana 2007
Mercedes Eguren, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Lorelle, Columbia Valley Cabernet 2011
Purple Moon, Merlot 2011
Purple Moon, Chardonnnay 2011
Abacela, Vintner's Blend No. 12
Opula Red Blend 2010
Liberte, Pinot Noir 2010
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Indian Wells Red Blend 2010
Woodbridge, Chardonnay 2011
King Estate, Pinot Noir 2011
Famille Perrin, Cotes du Rhone Villages 2010
Columbia Crest, Les Chevaux Red 2010
14 Hands, Hot to Trot White Blend
Familia Bianchi, Malbec 2009
Terrapin Cellars, Pinot Gris 2011
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2009
Campo Viejo, Rioja, Termpranillo 2010
Ravenswood, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Quinta das Amoras, Vinho Tinto 2010
Waterbrook, Reserve Merlot 2009
Lorelle, Horse Heaven Hills, Pinot Grigio 2011
Tarantas, Rose
Chateau Lajarre, Bordeaux 2009
La Vielle Ferme, Rose 2011
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Nobilo Icon, Pinot Noir 2009
Lello, Douro Tinto 2009
Quinson Fils, Cotes de Provence Rose 2011
Anindor, Pinot Gris 2010
Buenas Ondas, Syrah Rose 2010
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14 Hands, Pinot Gris 2011
Conundrum 2012
Condes de Albarei, Albariño 2011
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2007
Penelope Sanchez, Garnacha Syrah 2010
Canoe Ridge, Merlot 2007
Atalaya do Mar, Godello 2010
Vega Montan, Mencia
Benvolio, Pinot Grigio
Nobilo Icon, Pinot Noir, Marlborough 2009
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Espiral, Vinho Rose
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14 Hands, Hot to Trot Red 2009
Rodney Strong, Cabernet, Sonoma 2009
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Januik, Red 2009
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Garda Chiaretto Rose
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La Granja 360, Syrah 2009
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Kirkland, Pinot Grigio 2010
Trader Joe's Coastal Syrah 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Merlot 2008
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Vieux Papes Red
Domaine de l'Aujardiere, Chardonnay 2009
Santa Rita, Cabernet, Medalla Real 2007
Penfold's, Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2008
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Laforet, Burgogne Chardonnay 2009
Columbia Winery, Merlot 2007
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Elk Cove, Pinot Gris 2009
Maquis Lien 2006
Scott Paul, Pinot Noir, Le Paulee 2007
The Occasional Book
Neil Young - Waging Heavy Peace
Mark Bego - Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul (2012 ed.)
Jenny Lawson - Let's Pretend This Never Happened
J.D. Salinger - Franny and Zooey
Charles Dickens - A Christmas Carol
Timothy Egan - The Big Burn
Deborah Eisenberg - Transactions in a Foreign Currency
Kurt Vonnegut Jr. - Slaughterhouse Five
Kathryn Lance - Pandora's Genes
Cheryl Strayed - Wild
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Jack London - The House of Pride, and Other Tales of Hawaii
Jack Walker - The Extraordinary Rendition of Vincent Dellamaria
Colum McCann - Let the Great World Spin
Niccolò Machiavelli - The Prince
Harper Lee - To Kill a Mockingbird
Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus - The Nanny Diaries
Brian Selznick - The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Sharon Creech - Walk Two Moons
Keith Richards - Life
F. Sionil Jose - Dusk
Natalie Babbitt - Tuck Everlasting
Justin Halpern - S#*t My Dad Says
Mark Herrmann - The Curmudgeon's Guide to Practicing Law
Barry Glassner - The Gospel of Food
Phil Stanford - The Peyton-Allan Files
Jesse Katz - The Opposite Field
Evelyn Waugh - Brideshead Revisited
J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
David Sedaris - Holidays on Ice
Donald Miller - A Million Miles in a Thousand Years
Mitch Albom - Have a Little Faith
C.S. Lewis - The Magician's Nephew
F. Scott Fitzgerald - The Great Gatsby
William Shakespeare - A Midsummer Night's Dream
Ivan Doig - Bucking the Sun
Penda Diakité - I Lost My Tooth in Africa
Grace Lin - The Year of the Rat
Oscar Hijuelos - Mr. Ives' Christmas
Madeline L'Engle - A Wrinkle in Time
Steven Hart - The Last Three Miles
David Sedaris - Me Talk Pretty One Day
Karen Armstrong - The Spiral Staircase
Charles Larson - The Portland Murders
Adrian Wojnarowski - The Miracle of St. Anthony
William H. Colby - Long Goodbye
Steven D. Stark - Meet the Beatles
Phil Stanford - Portland Confidential
Rick Moody - Garden State
Jonathan Schwartz - All in Good Time
David Sedaris - Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Anthony Holden - Big Deal
Robert J. Spitzer - The Spirit of Leadership
James McManus - Positively Fifth Street
Jeff Noon - Vurt
Road Work
Miles run year to date: 21
At this date last year: 52
Total run in 2012: 129
In 2011: 113
In 2010: 125
In 2009: 67
In 2008: 28
In 2007: 113
In 2006: 100
In 2005: 149
In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269
Comments (7)
Isn't that sad? And though the talk is about the Celtics I remember him with Seattle, teamed in the backcourt with Gus Williams and Downtown Freddy Brown.
Posted by Bill McDonald | February 22, 2007 10:59 PM
Sad, indeed. Man he could play defensive for a guard, like no one except maybe Gary Payton in his early 90s prime.
Posted by Sebastian | February 22, 2007 11:02 PM
As Bill Simmons points out in a column over at ESPN.com (sorry - too tech-illiterate to provide a link), DJ had a history of having his greatness overshadowed. Case in point - Larry Bird's famous steal of the inbounds pass in the conference finals against the Detroit Pistons. Everybody remembers that Bird stole the ball, but hardly anybody remembers that DJ had the basketball smarts to (a) cut to the basket before Bird even stole the ball, (b) quickly catch a pass and shoot the ball, and (c) avoid a flying Joe Dumars trying to block the shot. A tremendous play by a great player.
Posted by Sheef | February 23, 2007 7:51 AM
Dennis Johnson was not only a great player, helping to lead the Seattle Sonics to a championship in 1978-79, but he was also a good friend to players and welcoming to their family and friends.
Superstar forward Lonnie Shelton of Oregon State University and a member of the Sonic championship team, spoke fondly of Dennis being one of the top five "clutch" players ever. I agree.
Posted by Shadow | February 23, 2007 8:28 AM
I watched DJ play basketball during my student days in Boston.
The Celtics were a terrible team in the late 1970's. You could buy tickets to games on game day. Cowens, Wicks, Ford and others were in the twighlights of their career.
Then Red worked his magic--picking up Bird, McHale, Parish, DJ, Walton (briefly), Ainge and a bunch of talented role players.
I think the Celtics traded Rick Robey, a third string center,to Phoenix for DJ.
I will never forget the game DJ stole the inbound pass and Bird scored the winning bucket.
Johnny Most's color commentary was a classic.
Larry Bird said it all in today's paper: a great teammate, a solid basketball player, and a quality person.
As someone in his late 40's, I still can't believe DJ was only 52 when he died.
Nick Fish
Posted by Nick Fish | February 23, 2007 4:32 PM
Or rather when Bird stole the ball and passed it to DJ for layoff.(Thanks Sheef for having a better memory)
How many players today even know what it means to play off the ball?
Posted by Nick Fish | February 23, 2007 4:35 PM
As someone in his late 40's, I still can't believe DJ was only 52 when he died.
Every day is a gift.
Posted by Jack Bog | February 23, 2007 4:36 PM