One heck of a player

For those of you too young to have watched him play, let me just say this about Dennis Johnson, who died Thursday during a practice with the Austin team in the NBA Developmental League team he was coaching:

He knew how to play the game the way it is supposed to be played, at both ends of the floor.

The Dominguez High graduate (Class of 72) never played varsity hoops for the Dons.

But he sure as heck learned how to play the game, in large part due to the coaching he got from Jim White at Harbor College before he spent a season with Pepperdine and then went to Seattle as a second-round draft choice in 1976.

There has never been a better defensive guard, although, I suppose, Michael Jordan and Jerry West, were on par with as defenders.

Here's a suggestion to all the 13-year-old kids who aspire to learn how to play the game the right way, especially in the backcourt: latch on to any videotape or DVD you can that has him in action, most likely as a member of the Boston Celtics.

You'll be amazed.