Tuesday, June 18, 2002
All the small things
By by Scott Burton
Caron Butler is from Racine, Wisconsin. I am from upstate New York. These are two of the coldest, most inhospitable places in the continental United States. So what's the first thing Caron and I do when we get together in body-soothing, soul-enriching Los Angeles? Hit the beach? Walk the boardwalk? Find an outdoor café and drink ice tea? Nah. We went to the movies to see Spider-Man. Which was strange. Because although I told Caron I was dying to see Spiderman as we were driving to the metroplex, he had seen it once already, and he had been talking all day about wanting to see Unfaithful.
Caron Butler has come a long way from Racine, WI.
So how is it that we ended up watching Tobey Maguire in his red undies instead of Diane Lane in her black undies? Well, when we got to the front of the line, Caron bought tickets to Spider-Man. Then he handed me my ticket. Just like that. I lamely protested that he had wanted to see Unfaithful. I can't remember exactly what he said. I think he just kind of shrugged his shoulders. And that was that. That's what happened. It was almost, well ... Geez. You know what it was, when I think about it? It was sweet.
Understand, it was a small gesture, barely detectable, rendered without a trace of grandeur, or flair, or even a winkety-wink to cue me in. I'm not sure he even expected me to notice -- or wanted me to. But I did. Because I was on the look out. Because everyone I talked to about Caron says it is these types of small things -- the thoughtfulness, the selflessness, the humility, the humbleness -- that make him special.
Which is not to deny his physical talents. They are prodigious. Working out a few weeks ago in Los Angeles with former Iowa Hawkeyes Reggie Evans, a power forward, and Dean Oliver, a point guard, the 6'7'', 235-pounder proved he is the best of both worlds. He wasn't as strong as Evans (few men are), but his back-to-the-basket moves were smoother, more skillful. He wasn't as quick as Oliver, but his handle was just as sharp -- if not sharper. And then there was his killer jump shot. Last summer, UConn coach Jim Calhoun hooked Butler up with shot doctor Dave Hoppler to correct his much-maligned stroke. Within five minutes of watching Butler shoot Js, Hoppler issued his diagnosis: As Caron would wind up to shoot, he'd pull the ball across his eyes, from the left side of his face to his right. "What's the problem with that?" Caron asked. Hoppler told Caron to shoot in slow-motion. When he did, Caron realized that in pulling the ball in front of his face, he was temporarily blocking his view of the basket. For a jump-shooter, even that tick of a distraction is enough to throw off your shot. Now, Caron keeps the ball at his right side during his whole motion -- and his shot is that much more accurate because of it. Indeed, pretty much every NBA team that he's worked out for the last few weeks have been floored -- shocked, even -- by his perimeter prowess.
But forget all that. You wanna know why he's been one of the breakout stars of the pre-draft workout circuit and a sleeper No. 1 overall pick? It's his interviews. Teams have predictably and rightfully asked hard, probing questions about his past (he served 15 months in prison when he was 15 for drug and gun charges). Caron hasn't shied away for accepting responsibility for his actions, or from pointing out the steps he's taken to get his life right. According to one report, the Cavs asked Butler what the turning point in his life was. Winning MVP at his first-ever AAU tournament? Hooping for prep powerhouse MCI? Accepting a scholarship to UConn? Leading the Huskies to the Elite Eight this year? Nah. None of that. Caron talked about when he was in prison, and the personal inventory he took on his life. Cavs coach John Lucas was dutifully impressed. After all, he knows better than anyone: It takes a big man to own up to his mistakes. It takes a bigger man to correct them. Caron, like Lucas, has done both.
So how will Caron's small gestures, and big-time talent, be rewarded on draft day? Caron's two best workouts came at Houston, which owns the No. 1 pick, and Cleveland, which owns the No. 6. Not coincidentally, Caron could go as early as No. 1 (it's a stretch, but if Yao Ming ain't cooperating, and Mike Dunleavy ain't in, Butler would be the next-best player that would address a Rockets need) and no lower than No. 6 (the Bulls likely are the only team in the top 6 that aren't taking a hard look). That's a pretty good deal.
Back to Spider-Man. I give the movie three stars: Quality nonsense, glad to see it. Caron, meanwhile, didn't think much of the movie the second go-around: He slept through the whole damn thing.
