AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > March > 01 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USSneak 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.”
Permalink | Comments (8) | Post your comment | Categories: Basketball
Comments
By antonio
March 1, 2007 6:32 PM | Link to this
crit is a very good player just need to sure up that jump shot and he will be the most dangerous point in the land. his idol kenny anderson was not a great shooter but his talent was so great that you really didn’t see the weakness. you could not stop him at all. dean smith ran the only junk defense for kenny. i think crit can be that good with his ability. kenny had less help and talent than this team and took them to the dance. crit keep watching the kenny tapes.
By SanDiegoJacket
March 1, 2007 7:20 PM | Link to this
Matt
I really can’t believe you’re coming to the Lunch Bunch this month. I won’t even ask the question…..,
“Why do you hate TECH so much?”
So, I will ask my question early and if you choose not to bring it up on your own, I’ll be the guy who will ask it there. I just wanted you to have a “heads up” before.
I don’t know what it must be like to write for a Jeff, Terrence, Bark to make you write in their idiom.
Even Furman,whom I love, would speak up. I hope you will dispell the conslucion that the AJC is Dawg Red.
Just give us some facts. Don’t let your bosses control your analysis.
BTW, congratulations for the awards for great sports newspaper….I’ve lived in CO,MD,NY,DC,OR,UT, and CA; and no one does better in college sports than you guys (except for the Ugag bias), even if you love the UGAGers better than us.!!
Your closest and only friend,
SanDiegoJacket.
chaffinmhc@hotmail.com
By Joe Morgan
March 1, 2007 7:25 PM | Link to this
Rayshawn Terry has 25 pts and UNC wins….b/c Terry has lit up Tech in his career. Crit and fellow Jackets need to be in his dang face like makeup on Liz Taylor.
By Matt Winkeljohn
March 1, 2007 8:43 PM | Link to this
San Diego,
Hate Tech? WT #$%& are you talking about?
Matt
P.S. Feel free to ask that question Monday.
By trade Vick for CalvinJohnsn!
March 1, 2007 11:22 PM | Link to this
I feel ya crinnenton….Go Tech!
By Burdell's Brother
March 2, 2007 12:00 AM | Link to this
Good call big w tonight…hey Morgan you were half right!
By GT80
March 2, 2007 1:19 PM | Link to this
Matt, do you know what the deal is if Tech wins and Duke loses this weekend as far as seedings in the ACC tourney. We will both be 8-8 and we will have split head to head. What is the next tie-breaker?
By Darren in the Springs
March 4, 2007 5:20 PM | Link to this
Was listening to 790 after the game and they said if Duke loses Tech would play Wake in the first round, and Duke would play NC State.