Wednesday, March 11, 1998
Image is nothing
MBASKETBALL: Henderson learning to sweeten play with a smile
By Brent Boyd
Daily Bruin Staff
J.R. Henderson did a little extra something to leave the Pauley
Pavilion crowd speechless last Saturday.
No, his 15 points, five rebounds and two assists weren’t
anything special. For Henderson, those numbers were below his
season averages.
Nor did any thunderous dunks, leaping rebounds and intimidating
blocks make one think twice. Those, too, are all vintage
Henderson.
Rather, what he did was so unlike Henderson that it left even
the most casual fan thunderstruck.
He smiled.
Seriously, he really smiled … and it was a mile wide.
As Henderson was introduced for the final time to the resounding
cheers of the crowd, he just couldn’t help himself.
And in that one all-too-brief but unforgettable moment,
Henderson showed the fans and media alike what his teammates and
coaches already knew – that in the senior forward’s case, image
isn’t everything. In fact, it barely means anything at all.
"I’ve said all along that he is the most mis-understood player
in college basketball," UCLA head coach Steve Lavin said. "He’s
really a very unselfish basketball player, very sensitive, very
caring, and is really a good person. He doesn’t always project that
to the fans, the media or the scouts – what he is like as a
person."
While he has always been a model of consistency for the Bruins,
he has also been a model of consternation for the fans. They can’t
decide whether to love him for his amazing athletic ability or
despise him because of his sullen facial expressions and body
language.
For four years, Henderson has regularly been among the team
leaders in points, rebounds and blocks.
But he is also far and away the team leader in frowns, scowls
and sneers.
And whether it’s fair or not, that’s what many people will
remember about him.
Some may realize that he has been on the first-team
all-conference team twice, was just named an honorable mention
All-American Monday, and stands at ninth on the all-time UCLA point
list and 13th on the rebound charts.
But virtually everybody is well aware that he cries at the
referees, pouts when something goes wrong and often just exudes
complete ambivalence.
And he hears all about it. The thing is, he just doesn’t
care.
"It doesn’t bother me at all," he said. "Because what they are
saying is like totally opposite of why I make the face, so it’s
like I don’t even bother to acknowledge their comments at all.
"Usually it’s because I’m just getting down on myself, and
getting focused or if I don’t like a particular play. I’m kind of a
perfectionist on the court."
It’s not as if he likes the insinuations that his expressions
promote, but that’s just the way he is.
"That’s just his personality. What you see is what it’s always
been," his dad, Milton, said. "We’ve talked a lot of times about
facial expressions and body language and the look like the moping
look. In terms of facial expression, people want him to be Johnny
Rah-rah or something, but that’s just not him."
Ever since high school, when he used to wave obscene gestures at
fans and talk back to coaches, Henderson’s on-court behavior has
been a hot topic of conversation.
Every step of the way he has been told by his parents, his high
school coach and now Lavin that his image suffers with every extra
glare, additional mope and each subsequent sigh.
But most importantly, with every additional complaint to a
referee, he is that much more unlikely to get the call to go his
way the next time down the floor.
"We’ve talked about that a lot," Lavin said. "But practically, I
just don’t want him wasting energy and emotion on something he
can’t control. I’d rather him channel that energy into something
that is more conducive and productive."
And in fact, Henderson is finally understanding where his
coaches and his parents have been coming from all his life. Well,
to a certain extent, anyway.
When he watches himself on television, he often asks himself why
he looks like he does.
"I don’t really like that about myself," he said. "It’s like it
should be totally different when it comes to that. Sometimes you
don’t really know how you react. I’ve been working on it as much as
I can."
And it’s not just talk; he has practiced it on the court.
On one possession in last Thursday’s 102-94 victory over Arizona
State, Henderson was called for a charging foul against ASU’s Mike
Batiste, even though it was obvious to everyone in the building
that the Sun Devil had taken a flop to fool the referee.
"After that I just told the ref that they were really flopping
down there, and I came (to the ref) in a way I’ve been working on,"
Henderson said. "I wasn’t just yelling at him and going off on
him."
A few minutes later, the other ASU forward Bobby Lazor took a
flop, no foul was called, and Henderson scored an easy lay-up.
"It worked in my favor. That game I was kind of laughing every
foul off."
It was no coincidence that the game was one of his best of the
season. He had a double-double by halftime, and finished with 25
points and a career-high 16 rebounds.
"Yeah, when you just play your game and ignore the refs and
don’t get involved in that sort of thing, it just works out better
for you," he said.
OK, so he’s working on limiting his complaints to referees, but
what about all the other negative connotations that arise from his
sighs, frowns and such – like popularity?
He is the most versatile Bruin: He can play any of five
positions. He is their most intelligent player: Lavin says
Henderson has the highest "basketball IQ" of any player he has
coached in his 10 years of Division I basketball experience.
But by no means is he the most publicized, nor is he the most
well-known throughout the country – that "honor" would be bestowed
upon Toby Bailey, freshman Baron Davis or others.
And that is what Henderson doesn’t mind. He would just as soon
be the one left alone. And that’s why he could care less what
others think of him.
"It’s kind of refreshing, actually, in this era where everybody
is so concerned with their perception," Lavin said. "Everybody is
so image-conscious now that it’s kind of nice to have a player that
cares less.
"He’s not trying to manipulate the media or manipulate the team
to try and draw attention himself. He likes to remain in the
background and he doesn’t have an ego where he needs to be front
and center."
Though an interview with Henderson is no longer like pulling
teeth, talking to the media is just about the last thing Henderson
would choose to do. He would just as soon be spared all the
superfluous distractions.
After last Tuesday’s practice, which is one of only two open
practices to the media each week, Henderson refused to talk.
And Sunday, when a press conference was held after the NCAA
Tournament pairings were announced, he could be heard approaching
the table muttering (only half to himself) the hope – or perhaps, a
demand – that nobody ask him a question.
Then, when reporters were allowed to approach the table for
one-on-one questions, he excused himself for a bathroom break – and
never returned.
Meanwhile, Bailey, Davis, Kris Johnson and Earl Watson were
inundated with cameras and notepads recording their every word.
Some – like ASU’s Batiste, who was victimized by Henderson’s
wide array of moves – say avoiding the media is his "problem."
"He is one of the most underrated players in the county," ASU’s
Batiste, who was dominated by Henderson Thursday, said. "He’s
quiet, he needs to be on ESPN more, but all the players know what
he can do."
But that’s just how Henderson likes it. If it were up to him, he
would never be the center of media attention.
"Sometimes it comes back to haunt you," he said. "People place
all these expectations on you one night, and if you don’t meet
them, they’re not your friends the next day. I don’t want to be
like that."
And that’s why he doesn’t care if his actions on the court are
misunderstood.
As long as his teammates and coaches appreciate him, Henderson
is happy. And his teammates and coaches? Oh, boy, do they love him
– frowning or not.
"People always talk about how he’s always frowning or whatever,
but a lot of times things haven’t gone his way. I didn’t know there
was a law against smiling," Johnson said. "It seems like people
always want to ridicule him. But he is an intense competitor – one
of the most intense I have ever seen.
"What I see most on J.R.’s face is a plain look like ‘I’m just
playing ball, I am just out here.’"
Henderson is considered one of the team leaders.
And it’s not just on the stat board, where in 30 games he has
led the team in points 12 times, rebounds 14 times, steals 5 times
and even led the team in assists once.
Henderson is also considered to be among the most important
"locker room" leaders. Although he is not a yeller and a screamer –
rather, he leads by example – when he does talk, the Bruins pay
attention.
"J.R., I think, is just the overall leader," guard Davis said.
"He is the guy who, when he speaks, everyone listens, and by his
play – well his play just does so much for us."
Henderson is a good leader and a great athlete. He plays hard
and is one of the smartest on the court.
But his smiles are rare, and thus public criticism is
prevalent.
Does it really matter?
Not to the team and not to Henderson. He can just shrug it off
and walk away – without a comment – then go score his 20 points and
get his eight rebounds.
And make everybody else smile.