Fred Bowen's "The Score" column,
March 29, 2002, Washington Post

Terps' Dixon Climbs Toward the Top

My daughter, Kerry, and I like to read poetry together. I was thinking about one of our favorite poems this past weekend while we were watching the Maryland Terrapins and their star shooting guard, Juan Dixon, make it into the Final Four for the second straight year. It's a poem, "Mother to Son," by the great American poet, Langston Hughes, and it goes:

Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor --
Bare.

You see, life for Juan Dixon sure ain't been no crystal stair. The Baltimore neighborhood where Juan grew up was pretty tough, with more than its share of crime, drugs and drug addicts. Sadly, his parents separated when Juan was 4 years old. They also were drug addicts. His dad did time in jail for drug-related crimes and neither parent ever really escaped drugs.

His mom died of AIDS when Juan was 15.

His dad died of AIDS when Juan was 17.

Despite all their problems, Juan loved his parents. He has a tattoo on his left bicep with his parents' names, Nita and Phil. He has another tattoo with his mother's name and face over his heart.

Next time Dixon is at the free throw line, notice what he does. He rubs his chest before every foul shot as a way to honor his mother's memory.

But all the time
I'se been a-climbin' on,
And reachin' landin's,
And turnin' corners
And sometimes goin' in the dark
Where there ain't been no light.

Juan Dixon didn't let the tragedies in his life stop him. He was lucky because he had other family members who loved and cared for him. Juan's grandmother took in Juan and his siblings when their mom and dad could no longer take care of them. She raised the four Dixon kids after raising six of her own.

Juan's older brother, Phil, provided a good example. Phil got his college degree and kept Juan practicing basketball and away from the trouble on the streets. When Juan went to Calvert Hall, a private high school outside of Baltimore, his Aunt Janice helped pay the school tuition. And Juan lived at a cousin's house so that he could be closer to school.

So this weekend, whether or not you're rooting for Maryland in the Final Four, root for Juan Dixon. And know that every one of Juan Dixon's silky smooth jump shots is a triumph. A triumph of one kid over some very long odds. A triumph of hope. And a triumph of a whole family full of love.

Because life for Juan Dixon ain't been no crystal stair.

Fred Bowen writes KidsPost's Friday sports column and is the author of sports novels for kids. Write to him at KidsPost, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, DC 20071. Or e-mail (with "The Score" in the subject field): kidspost@washpost.com.

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