My name is Juan Dixon
Saturday, April 5, 2008

This is my view of the court, most of the night. As a fifth guard for the Detroit Pistons, I play about 12 minutes a game.

But it wasn't always like this.
















As a college star, I used to get a lot of floor burn.
Six years ago this week, I even had my shining moment.


But that was just college, experts said. I wouldn't make it in the NBA; they claimed I was too small, that my jumper was too weak. Guys like Rod Grizzard and Steve Logan were ahead of me on the draft boards.

But one man believed. He plucked me in the draft, thinking I was worthy to sit at his side.
Looking back, my years in D.C. were good ones. The team wasn't great, but expectations were low and the town loved my effort and work ethic. When we finally made the playoffs, I even played a starring role, bringing fans to their feet.



Still, I wanted to get paid. And the Trailblazers obliged, to the tune of $8 million over three years.


My days in Portland were happy, at first; I ended up starting at shooting guard most nights, and Coach McMillan loved my guts and grit.



It didn't last, though. The team was awful, and everyone said that a skinny, short combo guard was part of the problem. So we drafted Brandon Roy and gave more time to Jarrett Jack. I fell out of favor by midseason and got shipped to Canada.

It felt like I'd been elbowed aside.

Toronto was sort of like Portland; things started well, but my time to shine quickly faded. After a year in the T.dot, I got dealt to Detroit; now, I sit behind rookies Arron Affalo and Rodney Stuckey, who sit behind Richard Hamilton and Chauncey Billups.

And that takes us back here.


Six years in the League, and I'm officially a journeyman guard.

But I'm not ashamed.

Draft experts said I'd be a second-round pick; the Wizards took me after the lottery. GMs said I was too small to stick in the league; I've outlasted bigger, more-hyped guards like Dajuan Wagner, Qyntel Woods, and Jiri Welsch. And maybe I'm a fifth guard, but it's on a team with a chance for a title. A team that's eyed me for more than a year.

This could be it for me in the NBA, though. My contract's up this summer, and who knows where I'll land next. The bottom of an NBA roster, at best; Europe, most likely.

Still, fans won't soon forget my heart and hustle. My drive in carrying the Terps, my hard work to carve an NBA niche. At least for a day, my praises will be sung.

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posted by Crucifictorious @ 20:20, ,


A Greivis oversight
Monday, August 27, 2007

Basketball fans all over the country got an eyeful of Maryland guard Greivis Vasquez, when he started for Team Venezuela against Team USA in the FIBA championships last week.

And all things considered, Greivis acquitted himself well. 12 points to lead squad Hugo Chavez. A decent compliment from Phoenix Suns GM Steve Kerr on the "B.S. Report." But totally overmatched (3/11 FGs, 4 TOs)...obviously when facing a team of NBA all-stars, but especially given who was across from him.

Courtesy of FoxSports, a fun backstory.

You’ve seen the way Kobe has been getting after it on D in the Olympic qualifying tournament, right? You don’t even know the half. Word is that before Team USA’s opener against Venezuela, Mamba was actually studying game film of opposing point guard Greivis Vasquez, who played at Maryland last year. Just what a college sophomore needs — the best player on the planet not only on his butt like cowboy jeans, but treating the assignment like it was the NBA Finals. Greivis told the L.A. Times, “I don’t know how to explain it. That was amazing.” He added, “All of a sudden, he was guarding me like it was the last game of his life. I’m 20 years old…It was tough…But tomorrow’s another day. It’s all good. I’m glad it happened.”


Kid's got spunk. A better night was Sunday, when he led Venezuela to the second round with a near-triple double.

Greivis is the #1 reason I'm excited for Terps basketball this season...although Rivals.com doesn't share my enthusiasm. According to their esteemed staff, Maryland's #48 in the preseason rankings, smack between George Mason and West Virginia. I just can't see it. The Terps bring back James Gist (a member of the U.S. Pan-Am team), Eric Hayes (a poor man's Steve Blake), and Boom Osby (a destitute man's Ben Wallace)...yeah, not exactly UNC '05, but certainly a talented core that should be top 20 in the country.

Well, whatever. Who's Rivals.com anyway? I don't know those kids. From happy days as a Terps fan...

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posted by Anonymous @ 12:24, ,


Hungry for some football!!! And a rodeo cheeseburger
Monday, August 20, 2007

The signs of the NFL preseason surround us. No-name defensive ends are delivering unnecessary hits. Ray Lewis has yet to knife anyone. Peyton Manning is skipping practice to film eBay commercials. Yes, it's still lame, mediocre August. Hence the current blog title artwork.

But sniff that hot, humid air--feel that late summer chill? It's the Ravens defense, about to freeze Carson Palmer in mid-read, ready to keep Ben Roethlisberger on ice. It's September in two weeks. And it gets us so excited for the season, we feel like dancing.

Actually...more like this kind of dancing.

Ok, maybe we're not going to dance this time. But, thank the lord that September is around the corner.

Also thanking the lord: FocusChurch.com, via the below -awesome- highlight package. Or perhaps they've taken a new savior...or have a special marketing deal...the heavenly message is unclear from this superior video. But that sort of nuance is why they're in the praying business and we're in the watching football in our underwear on Sundays business.



Update: Apparently, The King's college eligibility was not exhausted! Courtesy of fellow blog So Good, one of the highlights of the Terrapins' deceptively mediocre football season in '06...a special visitor down at FSU.



(But the audacity to ask for money at the end of the video? Kids these days...if you can't pay the fine, don't seek the airtime.)

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posted by Crucifictorious @ 22:37, ,


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