A Story about Dennis
The passing of NBA Legend, former Sonic and Celtic, Dennis Johnson yesterday came as a surprise to everyone. Steve Kelley of the Seattle Times eloquently recapped what Dennis Johnson means to the City of Seattle - Goodbye, D.J., a favorite when Sonics were champs. For me, there is an interesting story that dates back to the summer of 1979, that I’d like to share.
During the Sonics magical champtionship season, my parents were finishing up their grad degrees at The University of Washington and getting ready to make the move to the boom town known as Butte, Montana. I was comfortably nestled in my mothers womb, planning my pending September arrival into this world and must have somehow understood that I better enjoy the Sonics Championship, as there might not be another one in Seattle for a long time…
The story goes that my parents were such fans of Dennis Johnson, the NBA Finals MVP and heart and soul of the team, that they went as far as considering to name me Dennis. Instead, they named me Sean Brendan after a character Brendan Sean Barrett in the novel Trinity by Leon Uris. I’ll admit - I lknow like the name Sean Brendan much better than Dennis. Thanks mom and dad.
However, there was a time around 1st grade that I felt a little differently. 1986 was the height of the sucess of the Boston Celtics and my favorite team in the world was led by my favorite player - Larry Bird. Larry Legend had quite the supporting cast including Hall of Famers Robert Parrish, Kevin McKale, and Bill Walton. But the heart of that team was Dennis Johnson. My parents told me that they had considered naming me Dennis, after DJ, and I couldn’t believe why they wouldn’t have. For a time, I changed my own middle name. During that year of first grade, I went as far as signing papers as Sean Dennis O’Connor. Somewhere, I know that my mom still has copies of these papers tucked away - I only wish that I had a digital copy to share today. This phase wore off, but its a memory that I’ll never forget.
DJ, you were a hero to me and to many, and you’ll be missed.
- Sean Brendan “Dennis” O’Connor