Post by Akomplice on Dec 29, 2010 20:11:36 GMT -5
It's rare these days that you have a superstar stick around with one team and try and improve the community. Look no further than Joe Johnson and his attempt to put Portland on the map. It's been quite a struggle because no one gives a damn about Portland, they don't have the sexy names and their stats are inflated because of their system. All of this doesn't matter to Joe Johnson because he is happy in Portland.
Since signing his contract extension, Johnson has been looking for ways to improve the team and community. The first thing that Johnson bought was a team truck. However this isn't your custom truck, but rather a super duper pimped out truck. It is equipped with every child's wildest dreams. It has hydraulics, rims, spinners, TV's, a wood grain dash and gator skin on the seats. Joe Johnson laughs as we go through the features. Johnson believes that all the extra features are unnecessary, but it's all about the small moments that bring the team closer. The first time Peja went to get in the car he didn't know how to get in at first, that's when Johnson hit a button and a step up ladder came out the door. Joe Johnson laughed as Peja didn't know what was going on.
As the tour continued he stopped in South Dakota to visit Mike Miller who was hosting a charity event. Joe Johnson came in to surprise Mike Miller and to challenge him to a three point shootout with the loser donating a check to the opponents charity of choice. In this epic shootout between two of the better shooters in the league, the fans were able to see a classic match. Miller went first and quickly started to drain shots. He finished hitting 4 out of the 5 money balls and 24 points out of 30. Joe Johnson got off to a slow start but heated up by the time the third rack came. Heading into the last rack he had 22 points and missed the first two shots, hit the next one. He was down to his last two shot, he air balled the shot on purpose to put the pressure on the last shot. He squared off and drained the shot. Joe Johnson was a good sport and donated a check regardless of the outcome.
Finding himself in New York at the draft, Joe Johnson was one of the fans on this night. He was on the bus with the rookies heading to the draft. He started to talk and hang out with the draftees. Danny Granger proceeded to talk some smack about how he was going to dunk on him once the games started, Johnson laughed him off and said look out for the Bonner elbow coming to Portland this summer. Johnson gave a speech about how to act properly once you get to the league and don't let the fame get to their heads. As the draft rolled on it was ironic that Danny Granger found himself in Joe Johnson's division. This should be a good rivalry in a few years, one that Johnson looks forward to.
Trying to get his name out to the public, Joe Johnson joined a athletes only dance off. He called up his buddy from up north, Josh Smith. In trying to learn some basic moves, Josh Smith proved that he had two left feet. Johnson couldn't even save this lost cause, Smith is the type of athlete that better pray that he has a long career in the NBA because dancing isn't for him. Johnson ended up coming in next to last to the star studded duo of Shaquille O'Neal and Dwight Howard. Once they took the stage, everyone knew that they already lost.
In his final stop Joe Johnson had a photo shoot for Nike and the Jordan brand. Joe Johnson had a great summer and touring the city and spreading the Blazers name and his own as well. Joe Johnson will be a player that the entire league has to pay attention to. No longer can teams sleep on Johnson, after four years in the league he is averaging 25 points a game. He has been on the all league team, defensive team, playoffs. The only thing that he has his eye on is a piece of jewelry. He wants that championship ring and the trophy.
Since signing his contract extension, Johnson has been looking for ways to improve the team and community. The first thing that Johnson bought was a team truck. However this isn't your custom truck, but rather a super duper pimped out truck. It is equipped with every child's wildest dreams. It has hydraulics, rims, spinners, TV's, a wood grain dash and gator skin on the seats. Joe Johnson laughs as we go through the features. Johnson believes that all the extra features are unnecessary, but it's all about the small moments that bring the team closer. The first time Peja went to get in the car he didn't know how to get in at first, that's when Johnson hit a button and a step up ladder came out the door. Joe Johnson laughed as Peja didn't know what was going on.
As the tour continued he stopped in South Dakota to visit Mike Miller who was hosting a charity event. Joe Johnson came in to surprise Mike Miller and to challenge him to a three point shootout with the loser donating a check to the opponents charity of choice. In this epic shootout between two of the better shooters in the league, the fans were able to see a classic match. Miller went first and quickly started to drain shots. He finished hitting 4 out of the 5 money balls and 24 points out of 30. Joe Johnson got off to a slow start but heated up by the time the third rack came. Heading into the last rack he had 22 points and missed the first two shots, hit the next one. He was down to his last two shot, he air balled the shot on purpose to put the pressure on the last shot. He squared off and drained the shot. Joe Johnson was a good sport and donated a check regardless of the outcome.
Finding himself in New York at the draft, Joe Johnson was one of the fans on this night. He was on the bus with the rookies heading to the draft. He started to talk and hang out with the draftees. Danny Granger proceeded to talk some smack about how he was going to dunk on him once the games started, Johnson laughed him off and said look out for the Bonner elbow coming to Portland this summer. Johnson gave a speech about how to act properly once you get to the league and don't let the fame get to their heads. As the draft rolled on it was ironic that Danny Granger found himself in Joe Johnson's division. This should be a good rivalry in a few years, one that Johnson looks forward to.
Trying to get his name out to the public, Joe Johnson joined a athletes only dance off. He called up his buddy from up north, Josh Smith. In trying to learn some basic moves, Josh Smith proved that he had two left feet. Johnson couldn't even save this lost cause, Smith is the type of athlete that better pray that he has a long career in the NBA because dancing isn't for him. Johnson ended up coming in next to last to the star studded duo of Shaquille O'Neal and Dwight Howard. Once they took the stage, everyone knew that they already lost.
In his final stop Joe Johnson had a photo shoot for Nike and the Jordan brand. Joe Johnson had a great summer and touring the city and spreading the Blazers name and his own as well. Joe Johnson will be a player that the entire league has to pay attention to. No longer can teams sleep on Johnson, after four years in the league he is averaging 25 points a game. He has been on the all league team, defensive team, playoffs. The only thing that he has his eye on is a piece of jewelry. He wants that championship ring and the trophy.
