Johnson Speaks at Westmont Athletics Fundraiser

More than 200 people enjoyed an inspirational evening with Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson May 31 at the Westmont Athletics Presidential Scholarship-Challenge dinner. The former NBA All-Star told stories from his youth and from his days as a professional basketball player, encouraging the audience to serve others.

The purpose of the two-day event, which included a golf tournament at Birnam Wood Country Club, is to raise crucial financial aid for talented and deserving Westmont student-athletes.

Johnson, the son of a single mom, grew up in Sacramento and was raised with the help of his grandparents. He recalled being awakened one night when he was six years old by his grandfather. After driving Johnson to the projects, his grandfather handed him a $20 bill, told him to go knock on the door of a particular apartment, and to give the money to the women who answered the door. The young Johnson did so and observed the tears of the women who received the money.

After returning to the car, Johnson’s grandfather drove home without saying a word about what they had done. When they arrived home, he tucked his grandson back into bed.

“I thought I had had a dream,” said Johnson. “But years later I asked my grandmother and she told me that the woman had been on the news the night before because her home had been burglarized and burned down. Among the things lost were the Christmas presents she had bought her six children.

“We didn’t have a lot of money,” continued Johnson, “but my grandfather taught me that night that even though it is hard to do when things are not going well, you do it anyway because it is the right thing to do.”

Years later, Johnson would ask legendary coach John Wooden to give him words to live by. Wooden reinforced his grandfathers’ lesson with two words – help others. He also encouraged Johnson to make each day his masterpiece.

During Johnson’s rookie year with the Phoenix Suns, the team was in Boston to play the Celtics in a 7:30 game. Players were expected to arrive by six o’clock. Rookies arrived by five because once the veterans arrived they couldn’t get any floor time.

“Being a hungry rookie, I thought I would get there at 3:30,” said Johnson. “I heard noise coming from the court and decided to see what was going on. There was MVP Larry Bird, who had already won championships, working on his three-point shots. He’d shoot from outside and a bellboy would rebound for him. I sat down to watch and he hit three or four in a row. I decided I’d go to the locker room to change when he missed one. He hit eight, nine in a row and I kept watching. Eighteen 19, 20 in a row and I began to wonder if he ever missed. He made 32 in a row before I left for the locker room – I don’t know if he ever did miss. I learned that night what it takes to make it in the NBA. Watching the MVP show up at 3:30 to take shots had a profound impact on me. I learned about work ethic and commitment and the importance of making the extra effort when people weren’t looking.”

Johnson also reflected on the 1993 NBA Finals between the Sun’s and the Chicago Bulls.

“I was guarding B.J. Armstrong and John Paxson in the first two games and I played terrible,” said Johnson. “We lost both of those games and were headed to Chicago for game three. Somewhere over Kansas I was napping under a blanket when Coach Paul Westphal woke me up. He told me he had good news and bad news. The good news was that the series wasn’t over. The bad news was that I was going to be guarding Michael Jordan.

“At that point I lost my faith,” quipped Johnson. “Why would the God I serve give me an impossible task? We got to Chicago and instead of going into the Westin, I went right across the street to a church and told God I didn’t believe in him any more.

“When we walked out for the start of the game, I told Jordan I was going to be guarding him and then I elbowed him during the tip-off. We scored the first time down the court and then Chicago brought the ball down the court. Jordan caught the ball and motioned to his team to clear out. He was going to show me he could take me one-on-one, and he did.

“That game went to triple-overtime. I played the whole time and we won. Jordan was averaging 45 points and I held him well under his average at 43.The moral of the story is that even when times are tough and the odds are insurmountable, keep your faith. The good Lord can get you through anything, even guarding Michael Jordan.”

Johnson encouraged those in attendance in their support of Westmont Athletics and the scholarships they were helping to provide. He also encouraged them to follow Wooden’s advice and to make their lives about helping others.

Johnson serves as a model of that advice, having helped to revitalize the inner-city community by serving as the founder and CEO of St. HOPE (Help our People Excel). Originally an after-school program aimed to help 12 young men, the program has grown to have a major economic and educational impact on the community.

Last November, Johnson was elected mayor of Sacramento, defeating twice-elected incumbent Heather Fargo. Johnson ran on a campaign of change through increased police protection, improved public education and economic revitalization. Long known for his work ethic while an NBA player, Johnson is bringing together a coalition to address the needs of a city that is battling a skyrocketing crime rate and that saw two-thirds of its city schools fail to meet state academic growth standards in the past year.