 Long Shot’s GoodSep 25 2009 4:29PM
Paul, Now an Author, Continues to Set a Great Example
By Max Willens  On Monday afternoon, Chris Paul stopped by the NBA Store to promote his new book, Long Shot: Never Too Small to Dream. The book, which features illustrations by the award-winning artist Frank Morrison, is Paul’s story of perseverance and dedication to his basketball dreams and part of a larger effort to reach out to kids in search of positive messages. “I’m trying to touch kids who are at that certain age,” Paul explained, “let them know they don’t have to limit themselves.” Long Shot took over two years to write (“There’s a lot that goes into it,” Paul said), and even though his first book was written for a very specific audience, the range of fans that showed up on Monday suggests he might soon be calling himself an internationally successful author. Dozens of expectant, occasionally awed ’tweens, some of them part of a red-shirted NBA Cares contingent, mingled with exuberant, even more awed adults. And not just displaced Hornets fans, either: iPhone-packing teens from Germany, scantily clad, dreadlocked women from Australia, giddy Japanese college kids, a young Israeli couple, Serbians in velour tracksuits and leggy Russian moms, all waiting to spend a moment in Paul’s presence. “Couldn’t ask for a better turnout,” Paul smiled. As one of the game’s young, rising superstars, this is Paul’s future. He is an All-NBA selection, an All-Star, part of the Jordan brand, and as a result, he has to be a lot of things to a lot of people. That afternoon, the kids were the easy part. They were so dazzled by him, even the slightest personal interaction – a handshake, a fist bump, even a quick wave goodbye – was enough strike them totally dumb, and boys and girls alike exited the store with an adorable glow about them. The adults were another story, but Paul never let on. A radio DJ asked him to do a drop for his mixtape show (“Hi, this is Chris Paul, and you’re listening to…”); a journalist asked about his best bowling score (“256”); a jittery, middle-aged memorabilia hound squeaked, “I love your Twitter!” (“…Thank you?”) Just watching it was exhausting, but Paul played it cool throughout, much like he does on the court. Every fan was greeted with eye contact, and every signature was identical to the one before it. Even 45 minutes in, Paul looked and acted like he’d just gotten started. Long Shot is about a lot of important things, including the importance of family. But everything from Paul’s bearing to the reactions of his fans drove home the book’s main message: there is no limit to how much you can achieve through hard work and self-belief.  |