A sad day for Boston sports fans.

[WilliamPitt]

He always rose to the occasion

By Jackie MacMullan, Globe Columnist | February 23, 2007

He was the guy who would miss 11 straight shots, then come down the court with everything on the line and drill the game-winner without blinking.

That's how I will remember Dennis Johnson, the freckle-faced bulldog who joined the Celtics in 1983 and was a pivotal member of the 1984 and '86 championship teams. DJ's role was often diminished amid the long shadows of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish, yet he was the one Bird singled out as "the best teammate I've ever played with."

Johnson collapsed and died yesterday in Austin, Texas, where he was the coach of the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League. He was 52 years old, too young to have his life cut so terribly short.

"What a sad, sad day," said McHale. "I tell you, this one really hits you. I was just talking to a friend who had just talked with DJ, and he was telling me how excited DJ was about his team. I guess his guys had started out losing eight in a row, or something like that, but lately they had been winning, and no one was happier about that than him.

"I can't believe this has happened. First Reggie (Lewis) and now him. We're too young to be losing teammates like this."

(snip)

Johnson's career averages of 14.1 points and five assists per game don't begin to explain his value. He was an unorthodox point guard, a below-average shooter who was a tenacious defender during critical moments, who used his strength, moxie, and high basketball IQ to make exactly the right pass at exactly the right moment, or drill the big jumper when his team needed it.

"I remember that time in the '85 Finals against the Lakers in (Game 4)," said Bird. "I got the ball on the right side at the top of the key, and they sent two guys running right at me. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw DJ was open and I said, 'Thank God.' I knew he'd hit it, and of course he did."

One of Johnson's more memorable hoops was during the 1987 Eastern Conference finals against the Detroit Pistons, when Bird intercepted Isiah Thomas's inbounds pass and relayed it to a streaking Johnson.

"He was stretched out on that play," Bird recalled. "He was using his right hand going in on the left side of the basket. But it never occurred to me he'd miss it. Not DJ. He told me once, 'I'm a horrible shooter. But give me the ball down the stretch and I'll hit it every time.'

More: http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2007/02/23/he_always_rose_to_the_occasion/

Bill Simmons of ESPN.com has an excellent essay about DJ here:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/070222

============================

Patriots' Dillon to call it quits
Running back will ask for his release

By Mike Reiss, Globe Staff | February 23, 2007

INDIANAPOLIS -- Running back Corey Dillon wants to leave the game on his own terms, saying yesterday he will ask the Patriots for his release and is prepared to retire.

"I think more of my health, how I envision myself 5-10 years down the road," Dillon said via cellphone from California. "I don't want to be broken down, not able to play with my kids. I've been blessed and fortunate enough to play 10 years. I can get up and walk around and be comfortable. That's one of the big determining factors."

New York Giants running back Tiki Barber made a similar decision this season, retiring to accept a broadcasting job with NBC despite still playing at a high level.

"We came into the league together and when he said 'retire,' I said to him that we were thinking the same stuff," Dillon said. "We've had a ton of carries, a ton of pounding."

The 32-year-old Dillon believes he has nothing more to prove. In 10 seasons with the Bengals (1997-2003) and Patriots (2004-06), he totaled 11,241 rushing yards, 14th on the NFL's all-time list. In 2004, he won the Super Bowl ring he coveted.

"There comes a time in your football career when you come to a conclusion and I'm at mine," he said. "I don't need to play."

More: http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/02/23/patriots_dillon_to_call_it_quits/

:(

[underpants]

1. WOW he died like Pistol Pete -on the court

Bird said that the best two players he ever played with were Cedric "Cornbread" Maxwell and DJ

Bird stole the ball but DJ was there to make the bucket.

[WilliamPitt]

2. Read that Simmons article

...and watch the replay. That shot was really tough.

[underpants]

3. Something else

Dumars was pretty quick (with it) to actually stay on that play. Yes DJ made a great move and had great awareness but Dumars was right there.

Great play.

[matcom]

4. In other news: Shilling shows up to camp 40 & Fat. Sox won't re-sign him.

[meegbear]

6. Good! Dump the right-wing fucker!

The Sox won't win another World Series as long as he's on the team; "The Curse of Shilling".

[WilliamPitt]

9. LOL

Sorry. You wrote "another" instead of "a." Still makes me smile.

[WilliamPitt]

8. Best of both worlds

He'll pitch his ass off this year to boost his value for free agency...and we get that last good year from him, and then send him off, before he goes all Buster Douglas on us and balloons to 350 lbs. :)

[Forkboy]

5. I always liked the scrappers,and DJ was one of the best

Every team in every sport needs a player or two like him.The stars get the attention but it's the guys who do the dirty work that I like.DJ was never very flashy but man,what a great defender.Saddest of all is it sounds like he was an all around decent guy.

Dillon is being wise.He knows his role will be diminished next year with Moroney getting more carries,and he does run really tough.His body has taken a pounding.I always thought when he was with the Bungles that he was a flashy,big play guy,but with us he was just one of most hard-nosed runners we've had since Sam Bam Cunningham.He was one of my favorite players on the Pats.

[izzybeans]

7. Growing up in Southern Indiana, the Celtics were like a religion because of Bird.

DJ was my favorite player on that team. I cried when I heard. He was one of my main childhood heros. I used to get my Celtics gear on and mimic DJ with my little basketball goal while the game was on in the background. I am glad my grandfather is senile enough not to understand, because this would crush him. He still has his Celtics Championship plaque and a framed picture of DJ, Bird, Parish, and McHale in the house.

I was just thinking that I should have seen him as an NBA head coach by now the other day.

Very sad.

[VelmaD]

10. my condolences...

to the Boston folks. DJ was well liked down here in Austin where he had been coaching the last couple of years. His players really liked him...so did the local sportscasters. His family had just moved down here and they were considering making Austin home for a while. I'm really disappointed Austin didn't get the chance to know him better.

Again...our sympathies on the loss.

[Strawman]

11. RIP DJ

As a Piston fan, Bird and DJ broke our hearts on that inbounds steal play. But the fact that it was so hard and such an achievement to finally overcome the Celtics is what made that 1980's Pistons-Celtics rivalry enjoyable. Same thing with Celtics/Lakers. As a Sparty, I was always a Magic Johnson fan, except when he played the Pistons. There's no fun in a rivalry without a worthy rival.

The 1980's Celtics were a great team made up of real competitors. I still think that era of the NBA was the best and DJ played a big part in that. I was sad to hear of his passing yesterday at such a young age.