| Show Brad Brad Davis Creates Hope for All of Us By Joe Shelton In a world that is ruled by giants and household names Brad Davis is proving proving proving ing that height and notoriety is not always the answer to success On February February February Feb Feb- 29 Davis who stands a modest 63 signed a ten day contract with the Utah Jazz A born-again born provision ten days to respond to the pressure of survival in the National Basketball As As- Relaxed and seemingly content with the unsettled yet unique style of life that pro basketball dictates the year old Davis spoke with confidence in a recent interview at the Tri Arc TraveLodge A HA big bigman bigman bigman man in pro ball is provided with lots of chances he said Its HIts a big mans man's game and if a big man fails there is usually the opportunity opportunity opportunity to try again with another ball club But a little guy has to work hard to survive There are so many guards in this league that it takes strong determination and an enormous amount of com- com in order to keep your job Brad Davis is an expert when it comes to determination determination determination nation and competitive competitive- ness He grew up in Monaca Pennsylvania a small mining town not far from where The Deer Hunter was filmed At the tender age of four he was out bouncing a basketball on the school playground Day after day all day daylong daylong daylong long my brother and I would sweat in the hot Pennsylvania sun It has obviously paid off not only for Brad but for his brother Mickey as well Mickey played for forthe forthe forthe the Milwaukee Bucks Ive got a little brother too Scott who is a freshman at Wake Forest said Davis a sparkle in his brown eyes Basketball is a provider you know It has enabled my family to have what we normally wouldn't have received I was able to get getan getan getan an education at the University University University Uni Uni- of Maryland What was his biggest thrill while teaming up wi with th such names as John Lucas and Mo Howard It It was in my freshman year reflected Davis We HWe were trailing North Carolina State by one point with three seconds to go and I hit a jumper to win it for us It was after his junior year at Maryland that Davis decided to apply for forthe forthe forthe the Hardship draft I HI hear constantly that we make too much money But what about the lifetime spent developing your skills and during that period you dont don't receive a dime A players player's salary is his reward for becoming the best a professional Davis admits it was the money that made him turn pro and forfeit t his last year in college I HI was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers Lakers Lakers Lak Lak- ers he said Initially I Iwas Iwas Iwas was playing alot but then guys like Ron Boone Lou Hudson not to mention Norm Mixon came along and my playing time was reduced Then I broke my thumb and was out of action action action ac ac- tion for eight weeks It was while he was living living living liv liv- ing in Los Angeles that Brad met his wife who was working as a legal secre secre- tary They were married last June Somehow after a year and a half with the Lakers the Davis family found themselves in Indianapolis Indianapolis Indianapolis In In- where Brad spent two months playing for the Indiana Pacers Then it was off to Great Falls playing for the Montana Montana Montana Mon Mon- tana Sky of the Western Basketball Association It had to be difficult not being part of the elite anymore Still he never gave up trying There is a noticeable cloud of optimism optimism optimism op op- that seems to engulf engulf engulf en en- gulf his Rod Stewart hair stretching 75 inches down downto to his sneakers I uI knew Portland Chicago and Detroit Detroit Detroit De De- troit were up scouting our games and I thought possibly possibly possibly pos pos- sibly Id I'd go with one of those teams I was sure surprised when I got a message to call Tom Nis- Nis of Utah offered him the theten theten theten ten day contract putting Mack Calvin on the injured injured injured in in- reserved list in order to make room Davis played his first Jazz game in Portland where he hit both of his shots Eight days later he was in the starting lineup against Bill Walton and San Diego The result of his ten day On March 11 Davis signed another contract contract contract con con- tract that places him as a permanent member with the Jazz for the rest of the year Determination Competitiveness Competitiveness Competitiveness Com Com- There is a aton aton aton ton of both encircling his presence Brad Davis has accomplished what only one-half one of one percent of this country's population has managed to do A player in the It UIt is the same in life Davis surmised If you believe enough in yourself if you never give up you'll get what you want Even if youre you're a little guy I HI really like Salt Lake he continued My wife and I rented a car and went up to Snowbird We loved it The people here are very friendly and the country is beautiful Even though he has been living in locker rooms and hotels Davis still has an ace in the hole Im I'm going after my real estate license this summer sum sum- mer We make our home in LA during the off season and just in case I find myself myself myself my my- self unemployed I want to tobe tobe tobe be able to depend on something something something some some- thing else Brad Davis is an example example example exam exam- that all of us should fol fol- low Determination Com Com- The world isn't so bad after all Not with Brad Davis around to keep reminding us that the light at the end of the tunnel is always ble |
