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,_------------------------------------------A- ~R-A~~ ~ ~~R-~ ~E- ~~:~--------around here" first year in wh ich he averaged 8 points a game, Houston established himself during the 199495 season as a risi ng star, averaging 14 points a contest for the Pistons. During one ga me aga inst the Bulls, Houston proved his shooting prowess by hitting seven three-pointers in one half, tying an NBA record. The next season, he moved his average up to nearly 20 point s a game and wa s clearly on his way to being a main part of the Pistons' future. But then New York came calling. To the dismay of Pistons' fans, the Knicks signed Houston as a free agent on Jul y 14, 1996. NBA followers now realize what a difference this made for Houston and the Knicks as together they' ve become a perennial playoff team. Yet something else happened in New York for the likeable Houston. He was challenged to get off the spiritual treadmill he had been troclding on for years. Waiting for him in New York were three people who challenged him: a relative plus a couple of players who were serious about their faith in Jesus Christ and who knew about the difference it makes in a person's life to have a close relationshi p with Him each clay. The relative was George "Sonny" Hughes, a cousin who was attending college in New York City. Hughes, now a Christi an rap musician who goes by the stage name "Son ny Faith," had an enthusiasm about his
faith that captured Al lan 's attention. The basketball players who helped redirect All an 's life were Charli e Ward and Ronnie Grandison. Ward , of course, is the former college football Hei sman Trophy winner who went undraftecl by the NFL but was selected by th e Knicks in the 1994 NBA draft. And Grandison, a journeyman basketba ll player who has toiled in Italy and for several CBA teams, had a couple of short runs with the New York Knicks. One of those stays at 33 rcl Street an d Eight h Avenue in NYC put him in the lockerroom with Ward and Houston. "It was th rough some fellowship and talki ng to those guys that I reall y realized what God was trying to do wit h me," say s Houston . "That 's when I said, 'I' m ready.' That's when I said to Jesus to take over in my life. Charlie and Ronni e had a huge role in tha t." The year was 1997, and Houston realized it was time to dedicate himself to knowin g God better and serving Him. Since that landmark decision, the continued maturity of Allan Houston as a Christian has been clearly evident to those who know him best. Ward says of one of the main targets of hi s crisp passes: "Yo u ca n see the progress. It 's lik e my bask etba ll skills. I' ve grow n and grow n as a player just as he's grown in his walk with Christ. It's about growing." Both Ward and Lang see the clif-
T Houston, we have no problem. Allan Houston and his star-spangled buddies captured gold at the Sydney Olympics.
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.a. The Instigators. Steve Jamison, Tom Mahairas, and Ronnie Grandison share a moment on the mike.
HOPE AND A PRAYER If anybody could be a spokesperson fo r "I " NY" bumper stickers, Tom Mahairas could be the man. He loves New York, and he has dedicated his life to reaching Manhattan with the gospel through his church, Manh attan Bible Church, and his ministry, CityVision. A couple of years ago, he saw an art icle in Sports Spectrum that gave him an idea. He read about the 1998 Washington DC "Jammin' Against the Darkness." At the time, CityVision was just getting started with an idea called Hoop Heaven, a basketball outreach camp north of the city. Th e idea of basketball evangelism appealed to Mahairas. When he ca lled the offices of SS and asked about "Jam mi n'," he was given the number of Steve Jamison, who along with David Wood, is cofounder of the event. When Mahairas ca lled, Jami son, who lives in Seattle, was not in, Tom left him a message, telling him of his burden to reach New York with an event li ke "Jam min'." To Tom's surprise, when he got a call back, Steve told him that he had just been in New York. In fact. he had walked around Madison Square Garden, and he had prayed for the city: "If you want me to come here, show me." Fast forward to February 2000. Allan Houston and David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs are at the All-Star Game. David tells Allan about the two "Jammin' " events that had been held in Sa n Antonio. Excited about the prospects, Houston gave Jamison a ca ll and suggested that he bring the event to New York. Sudden ly, things began to pick up speed. Jamison called Mahairas, who already had a meeting planned in 2 days for 20 key New York pastors to discuss Hoop Heaven. Jamison hopped on a plane to New York and addressed that group, yet he cautioned Mahairas that planning this kind of event takes at least a year. Mahairas, in his typical enthusiasm, said, "Can we do it now?" In just 5 month s, Mahairas, Jamison, and Houston teamed up to secure Madison Square Garden, enlist hundreds of volunteers, get com mitments from several other NBA players, sign up the popular group the Newsboys, and take care of the thousands of details this event required. As a result. 12,000 New Yorkers heard a message of hope. And it all began with a prayer for the city. 1M
- DAVE BRANON
Ference in Hou ston 's life. Ward no ti ced it espec iall y last season when Ho uston strug gled with a clown-time at the free-throw line. "He went through a stretch when he couldn' t knock clown big free throws at the end of games," recal ls Ward. "Whether it was to put us up or tie SPORTS SPECTRUM - NOVEMBER路 DEC EMBER 200 0
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