University of North Carolina Athletics
From Fetzer To Finley: Johnson's Amazing Ascent
July 12, 2001 | Men's Tennis
July 12, 2001
By Dave Lohse
Associate Athletic Communications Director
In an era when it becomes all the easier to be cynical of sports, last Sunday's doubles win at Wimbledon by Americans Don Johnson and Jared Palmer provides a breath of fresh air.
Labor disputes, inflated salaries, ridiculous ticket and concession prices, college players leaving early for the pros, high school players going straight to the pros, academic scandals. Yikes. I need a mint. These are so often the headlines which dominate our sports culture. And people wonder why television ratings are down and some schools or teams struggle to put fans in the stands.
Then every once in a while something comes along which reminds me of the reason I continue to work in college sports after 27 years in this profession of college sports information. Don Johnson provided that tonic to me Sunday. His was the latest chapter in a story of accomplishments from obscure people like the members of the UNC women's soccer team or an incredible student-athlete like Sue Walsh or a remarkable coach like Willie Scroggs who led Tar Heel men's lacrosse team to unheard of notoriety in the 1980s.
When Johnson was recruited to North Carolina in 1986 by then tennis coach Allen Morris it was expected that he would add some necessary chutzpah to the Tar Heels' lineup. But no one could have expected that the lanky young man from Allentown, Pa. would ever be a Wimbledon champion.
As a sophomore in 1988 the Tar Heels went winless--yes winless--in the Atlantic Coast Conference. That from a Tar Heel program which has hardly ever been anything but first or second in the ACC every year since 1954. A year later Johnson helped lead the Tar Heels to a magnificent season and a berth in the championship match of the ACC Tournament before they were humbled 8-1 in the finals at Clemson by the then ACC dominant Tigers of Chuck Kriese.
ut a year later things would be different. Johnson played #2 singles for the Tar Heels and made the all-conference team as Carolina claimed its first ACC title in 12 years. He won both his singles match and then clinched the championship in doubles as the Tar Heels upset the defending champion Clemson Tigers 5-3 in the finals at Duke. It was one of those special moments in college sports that teach the true value of the pedagogical process. For in the non-revenue sports there is still an emphasis on teaching and learning. And Johnson's Carolina experience was a perfect example of that symbiotic relationship of body, mind and soul that evolves during the undergraduate years.
Johnson never came close to being an All-America player at Carolina. But that didn't stop him from working his behind off for over a decade to transform himself into one of the top doubles players in the world of professional tennis. And that feat has taken an enormous amount of work. The life of a touring doubles player is in no way glamorous. Matches in tournaments can be played at obscene hours to accomodate the singles stars and the travel is both expensive and tedious. Not to mention exhausting.
ut somehow Don Johson persevered. And he got better and better. He accepted the offer of Tar Heel coach Sam Paul to serve as a volunteer assistant coach after Don and his wife Krista moved back to Chapel Hill a few years ago. Krista went to medical school and is now a resident at UNC. Don had something to do while living in Carrboro between tournaments. And the couple decided to make Chapel Hill their permanent home, just finishing a brand new house in Chapel Hill where Don has lived maybe 20 hours so far.
His rankings improved. He won some obscure tournaments. Then a year ago he combined with Kimberly Po to win mixed doubles at Wimbledon. Through several not uncommon changes in men's doubles partners his game matured more and this past winter he won the world doubles title in India.
Just a few short months ago he and Jared Palmer of the Stanford Class of 1991 were both in need of partners. They decided to give it a shot. Eight tournaments later they have won five titles culminating with a win at Wimbledon last Sunday. Their victory creates a dilemma for U.S. Davis Cup coach Patrick McEnroe as the Americans prepare for a September match in Winston-Salem. Does he stick with the Bryan brothers or go to the pairing of Johnson and Palmer?
Monday night Don returned to Chapel Hill. He needed to leave town again Tuesday to go to Philadelphia in his native state to play World Team Tennis. But a celebration was planned in his honor at Top of the Hill Restaurant at 7:30 p.m. A hard core group of friends and family were there to meet him. And I invited the media with the help of tennis administrative assistant Andrew Parker. Several reporters showed. As Don finished his interviews he turned to thank me for setting the gig up. The guy has just won Wimbledon and he's thanking me.
So publicly I want to thank Don Johnson in this little corner of the world wide web. Not just for representing his alma mater in smashing fasion, even wearing a Carolina warmup to the victory stand to meet the Duke and the Duchess of Kent. But also for providing us with one of those moments where we become less jaded about sports, even though that feeling may be fleeting. We will continue to read headlines that disturb us. And then another Don Johnson like story will come along and warm our hearts.
And maybe best of all Don got to sleep in his new house on Monday night. It was a well deserved respite. And as his head hit the pillow he dreamed in stark reality about being a back to back Wimbledon champion. Sweet dreams Don.
