I-Light Media
No Average Joe
I-Light Media
Christmas came a week early for members from Metro Atlanta's Boys and Girls Clubs. Each of the Boys and Girls Clubs Member of the Year were honored with an invitation to join Atlanta Hawks guard Joe Johnson for dinner and games at the ESPN Zone in Buckhead.
A spirited question and answer session kicked off the evening's activities. Questions ranged from "how did it feel beating the World Champion San Antonio Spurs" to "Do you think its fair for younger players to get paid more than older players".
A buffet dinner followed the Q&A session. As the guests and their parents dined on chicken fingers, french fries and other fare Johnson made his way around the room to answer even more questions. "How old are you" quizzed a table full of precocious 8 and 9 year olds.
Dinner was followed by every kids dream, free video games. Teens and pre-teens alike swarmed the well-stocked second floor game room where they competed against each other and Johnson.
Brittany Seymour was the first to challenge Johnson in a game of air hockey. With the score 3-0 Brittany joked that she was letting him win. To which Johnson quipped "I appreciate it" before adding a friendly bit of trash talking "so when are you going to score". The barb drew even more laughter from his opponent as the timer ended the game.
Just when the kids thought things couldn't get any better, Joe and the Hawks organization took the event to another level. After thanking them for coming Johnson with the help of two of the A-Team Dancers surprised the attendees with a holiday gift, a CD stereo system.
Metro area Member of the Year, Edgardo Castaneda was surprised by Johnson's generosity. "Man it's just awesome him doing this for us. I wasn't expecting this so I'm pretty amazed" Castaneda said glowingly.
Johnson credited his success on the hardwood to his days at the Boys and Girls Club he attended growing up in Arkansas. "My Uncle started taking me to the club everyday after school and on weekends. If it wasn't for the boys and girls club I probably wouldn't be where I am today" explained Johnson.
Most of his six months in Atlanta has been spent getting to know his teammates and trying to help the franchise win games. Johnson was very honest when asked if he had visited any of the Boys and Girls Clubs his guests represented. "I actually haven't had a chance to go around to the different boys and girls clubs yet but I'm pretty sure I'll get a chance to sooner or later" answered Johnson. Judging by all the ear to ear smiles on the kids faces it was evident sooner was high on everyone's list.