DJ # 3

Yes, the Tigers have got off to a horrific start and yes their pitching is and has been very suspect but their line up is too good to continue to struggle. Pitching is always ahead offense early in the season. Plus once the weather heats up, I think their bats will too. I am still going to stick with the Tigers to win the division. I will not be a flip-flopper.


Today the Basketball Hall of Fame announced its 2008 inductees. The seven new members are Pat Riley, Dick Vitale, Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, Adrian Dantley, Cathy Rush, and William Davidson. However, there is one name that is missing. That name is Dennis Johnson. DJ, as he is known around Boston, was just as important to those 80s Celtics teams as Larry Bird and Kevin McHale. Johnson won 3 NBA titles (2 with the Celtics and 1 with the Sonics), a 5 time All Star, and was also named to an All Defensive team 9 straight years. Johnson didn't have great numbers but he had solid numbers. He averaged 14.1 points per game, 3.9 rebounds, and 5 assits but his numbers didn't speak to what kind of player he actually was. DJ was a unbelievable defender. In the 1984 NBA Finals, he shut down Magic Johnson and completely took him out of that series. When DJ retired, Magic called him "the greatest backcourt defender of all time"

DJ was also tremendously clucth and almost always came up big in the biggest games. In 1985, Johnson hit a game winner in Game 4 of those Finals against the Lakers. In 1979, Johnson was a finals MVP. In that series with the Sonics, DJ put averages of 23, 6, and 6 including 32 points in the game clinching win. He was the definition of a big time, big money player. You know, someone had to be there for Bird's steal vs the Pistons.

People also forget that DJ was a shooting guard when he was with the Sonics. He was known as a above the rim type of guy. A huge contrast compared to what he was later in his career with the Celtics.

Johnson was a very consistent player throughout his career. He was very fundamental and great player to watch. When I was growing up and learning the game, I would like to watch how Johnson played defense and would try to learn the little tricks that he was amazing at. Former Celtic teammate Danny Anige called him "one of the most underrated player of all time and one of the greatest Celtics acquisitions". In my mind he IS the most underrated player of all time.

For DJ not to be inducted into the Hall of Fame is a complete and utter injustice. Joe Dumars is in the Hall and they are similar players but no way did Dumars have the career like Johnson. Dumars has 2 rings, Johnson 3. Dumars averaged 16.1, 2.2, and 4.5 compared to DJ's 14, 3, and 5. Larry Bird said that DJ was the best teammate he ever had. That is pretty much the highest praise that any player can give to any teammate never mind from the greatest player of all time. There is a reason that Bird asked that his "33" be retired next to DJ's "3". Dennis Johnson should have got in this year and hopefully he will in the coming years. Its just too bad that he is not around to see it.