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Thursday, March 1, 2007
Sneak peek of Crittenton profile
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
So spring practice was delayed by a monsoon. What to talk about?
I predict Tech wins tonight. How ‘bout that?
Seriously (actually that was), I’m working on a big Javaris Crittenton story for the Sunday paper. Here’s an excerpt:
Hard courts, soft hearts
Try as his protectors might, they couldn’t shield Crittenton from all evils as he grew up. “There was a lot of people killed when I was growing up,” he said. “There was a guy named Shaun who looked after me, who got shot like nine times.
“A friend named Tank, I don’t remember his real name because it was so long ago, but he got killed right before they tore Capitol Homes down. He got shot in the head after an argument or a beef with somebody.”
“It was almost like Rucker [a famous New York City basketball hotbed]. We had a basketball court, and you’d have people doing things that were illegal, like selling drugs and gambling, on one side of the lot. Then you’d have a bunch of people waiting to compete. Sometimes, you’d have to fight for your turn.”
When Slaughter’s team played a squad from West Virginia that featured O.J. Mayo — a Southern Cal signee who is currently considered the top high school prospect in the nation — that brought out the best, and worst, in Crittenton — in reverse order. He was playing 100 mph in the sixth-place game.
“Mayo was in Javaris’ class before they put O.J. down a grade. They were 12 years old, I think,” Slaughter said. “The game wasn’t going well and he wasn’t making his shots, and I benched him for the most of the first half. We were down by like 15 at halftime, he had 2 points, and that’s why.
“He’s just like my son so I’m really riding him at halftime. I said, ‘What do you want to do? You got me in this situation.’ With his competitiveness, we won by double digits and he finished with 42 points.”
Good thing they won. The alternative nearly kills Crittenton.
“Dude hates to lose,” said Bookie Ball Long.
“Since he was able to play, Javaris has always cried when they lost,” his mother said. “He cried when they lost against Clemson. His heart is in it.”
Or, as Slaughter said, “I tell you, we could lose a game and he he’d hurt more than me. He’d fill me with pain.”
Prayer is a part of his life, but Crittenton is no saint.
“Everybody sins,” he said. “I believe in God, and his son Jesus Christ. I don’t want people to think I’m this perfect religious freak. Everybody messes up. Kids do stuff, shooting dice on corners, running with the wrong crowd.
“I didn’t do certain stuff they did when they’d go way out of line. I still have friends who sell drugs and do what they do. I’m not affiliated with what they do, and I don’t agree with it, but they’re still my people.”
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