Jester

I did not see anyone else post this, so here it goes.... ---------------------------------------------- HAWKS' DERMARR JOHNSON INJURED IN MORNING AUTO ACCIDENT ---------------------------------------------- Condition Stable, Surgery to be Performed Friday Afternoon Atlanta Hawks forward DerMarr Johnson (22) was involved in an early morning auto accident Friday in Atlanta. He, along with two other passengers, suffered injuries when Johnson's car veered off the road near his home in the Cascade area. His injuries are not considered life threatening. Initially taken to Southwest Community Hospital, Johnson was later airlifted to Atlanta Medical Center. Johnson's condition is currently listed as stable, with a vertebral body fracture, described by Dr. Paul King, neurosurgeon at Atlanta Medical Center, as a cervical spine fracture. According to Dr. King, Johnson could be released from the hospital as early as Monday, following surgery scheduled for Friday afternoon. According to Dr. King, the prognosis for Johnsons long-term recovery is excellent, but in the short term, his playing status for the upcoming season is in question. All the signs appear to be very positive, said Hawks VP/General Manager Pete Babcock. There's no paralysis and none of his functions appear to be affected at all, so thats great news. The surgeon says the spinal fracture can be repaired. After spending one season at the University of Cincinnati, Johnson was the Hawks top pick (sixth overall) in the 2000 NBA Draft. Last season, he saw a significant increase in playing time as the season progressed, starting 46 games (playing in 72 overall) and averaging 8.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game (.396 FG%, .360 3FG%, .810 FT%). He posted a career-best 28 points vs. Milwaukee on April 2, 2002. Johnson has been working diligently this offseason on increasing his upper-body strength. He participated in voluntary workouts with his teammates at Philips Arena on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week. I do not see anything about burns, so maybe the radio station I heard the info from did not have all the facts at the time they reported what had happened. Still, I wish DJ a full and speedy recovery. To begin with, it is too bad that it happened, that he was hurt, and that he was hurt at a time like now when the team may be up to good things. Still, his health is more important than anything else. PEACE.

Hawks' Johnson hurt in car wreck By TASGOLA BRUNER and JEFFREY DENBERG Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writers The Hawks' DerMarr Johnson escaped with his life and, apparently his NBA career, Friday morning after a fiery one-car accident on Cascade Road. Johnson was diagnosed by Dr. Paul King at Atlanta Medical Center with a fracture in his sixth vertebrae. "A fraction of an inch one way or the other, and the doctor said it would have been very bad," Hawks executive vice-president and general manager Pete Babcock said. The third-year player, 22, may be able to leave the hospital early next week, and the anticipation is that he will be able to continue his career. The accident occurred at around 5 a.m. today. It is not known whether Johnson was a passenger or the driver of the car. The vehicle, a newer model Mercedes, was going west on Cascade Road just west of Fairburn Road when it crossed the center line and ran into a tree, said Maj. Wenda Phifer, spokeswoman for the Fulton County Police Department. A witness in a passing car, Ali Laila, told police she saw the car in flames and three individuals lying on the ground. She helped them and took them to get medical assistance. The car was "completely destroyed," Phifer said. "Everyone in the car was tested. Whether or not there was alcohol involved we don't know at this point," she said. The other two men in the car were Floyd Williams and James Richard Burnett, Phifer said. One suffered serious internal injuries, she said. The other received non-threatening injuries. Johnson, 22, was a first-round pick of the Hawks in 2000, the sixth choice overall even though he played just one year of college basketball at Cincinnati. He played little his rookie year but began to get more playing time later in his second pro season. A 6-9 small forward, he started 46 games last year and averaged 8.4 points a game. As a rookie, Johnson started 21 games and averaged 5.1 point. Johnson, who has been focusing on upper body strength during the off-season had just attended a three-day voluntary workout that went Tuesday through Thursday. Official training camp opens Oct. 1. Hawks spokesman Jon Steinberg said the opening day's starting roster is determined in training camp but, ÒOn paper, he was slated to be the starter at shooting guard.Ó

DJ was involved in a car accident downtown Atlanta earlier this morning and he go seriously burnt (hurt). PEACE.

In spite of this post by DIesel, all the posts here about DG were thought provoking and very well thought out and written. I enjoyed reading them all. This is a forum and no one here is getting paid by the NBA because they have a talent that would pay money. All we do is watch games and form opinions about the team or player and we don't have the insight that Pete, Lon or anyone else in the organization has. In spite of it all, I enjoy the reading and give thought to your opinions - because it is not just one person looking at something from just his point of view - and then form my own. BTW, I never lost faith in DG because he always reminded me - a little - of Dominique when he played. Now that DJ may be out because of today's car accident in downtown ATL, DG may be starting at OG and have a chance to show that his playing in the Summer League was no fluke. PEACE 10-4.

serious burns to DJ. 3 people in the car. Only DJ identified. Report said he was hurt, but not sure if it is just from the burns. Sounded like he was a passenger and not the driver. Let's pray that the young man is not too seriously hurt. PEACE.