Don't underestimate the "Little General," Avery Johnson

For 11-plus minutes Avery Johnson owned the room at the A Club meeting on what was a very busy Saturday for the new University of Alabama men's basketball coach. There would be his introduction on the field during a break in the middle of the football scrimmage, and countless interviews, but this was his first chance to make a favorable impression with the backbone of the athletic department's alumni.

Like usual, he didn't miss.

Johnson didn't just tell those on hand what they wanted hear, he got them excited again about the future of Alabama basketball. Part of that was making it clear he's not trying to use Alabama to land a bigger job, either in the NBA ("I've done that") or at a perennial college power, rather bring the Crimson Tide up to that level.

- "We're welcoming them back with open arms," he said about former players in the pros.
- "It's not going to happen overnight, but it's not going to take six years." (Wait, how many years was Anthony Grant at Alabama?)
- "Every year our assignment is to reach the Final Four ... that's why I took the job at the University of Alabama. If it's not the goal, we're fooling ourselves."

For me his performance wasn't surprising because I had talked with Johnson numerous times years ago when he was the starting point guard with the San Antonio Spurs.

From 1998-2000 I worked for the Tucson Citizen as its Phoenix-based reporter/columnist covering not only the then-expansion Arizona Diamondbacks and Arizona Cardinals, but the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Coyotes, spring training and Arizona State University. It was a great gig and I really only had two "drop everything and cover" mandates: 1) Any football or basketball games when the University of Arizona was in town (for those who don't know the Wildcats are based in Tucson), and 2) Interview Sean Elliott whenever possible.

Elliott, who is still Arizona's all-time leading scorer, was like athletic royalty in Tucson, where he had been born and raised. After the Spurs won their first NBA title in 1999, Elliott disclosed that he had a kidney disease which required a transplant from his older brother. The following year he successfully became the first professional athlete to come back from such an ordeal.

Every time time the Spurs were in town I was basically camped out at America West Arena to get what I could, and not just from Elliott, who did team broadcasts until he was cleared to play in March 2000, but Johnson, David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Steve Kerr (another extremely popular former Wildcat) and even Coach Gregg Popovich -- who ended up giving me a really good interview.

Here's what I learned about Johnson, even back then:

• He really understands the game (thus the nickname "Little General.") 
• He's incredibly personable.
• He's not one to back down from a challenge.

"I'm the only player under 6-feet tall who's played in almost 1,200 games in the NBA," he said Saturday.

So when news broke two weeks ago that Alabama athletic director Bill Battle was talking to Johnson I immediately thought it could be a home run hire. Anyone who's been around Johnson for even a minute can tell he's going to be a very good recruiter. He already has strong AAU ties. His NBA connections could be huge, plus anyone who's been at that level for six years can coach. Johnson went 254-186, became the fastest head coach to win 100 and 150 games, and was named the league's Coach of the Year in 2006. 

No one knows how successful Johnson might be in the rising Southeastern Conference, but don't underestimate the man who hit the title-winning shot against the New York Knicks in the 1999 NBA Finals (followed, ironically, by a Latrell Sprewell miss).

If he's still as much of a tireless coach as he was a player the Crimson Tide could be on the brink of something special.