BearTalk

Former Cal star Kevin Johnson will be the focus of a 30-minute special, “A Day in the Life With Kevin Johnson,” to be aired Wednesday at 6 p.m. on Comcast SportsNetCalifornia.

Johnson went on to a spectacular career in the NBA and now is mayor of his hometown of Sacramento.

Comcast SportsNet’s Matt Morrison spent the day with Johnson on Feb. 25, the day of his first State of the City address. The network’s cameras were there for Johnson’s 5 a.m. run with his staff, along with his speech, where he was introduced by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Also featured in the piece are former Warriors player and coach Al Attles, NFL Hall of Famer Jim Brown and baseball Hall of Famer Joe Morgan, a native of Oakland.

After its Wednesday debut,”A Day in the Life with Kevin Johnson” wiil be replayed on June 11 (10:00 p.m.), June 14 (12:00 p.m.), June 18 (6:00 p.m.), June 20 (10:30 p.m.), and June 22 (4:30 p.m.). 

A few excerpts from Johnson:

On his childhood: “My father passed away when I was three.  My mom was a single parent.  My grandparents and my grandfather in particular stepped in to pinch hit. . . . So, I had three parents instead of two, and that sort of laid the foundation for who I am today.”

 On growing up in a poor neighborhood: “Growing up in a poor neighborhood, you realize that there are inequalities.  You play a Little League team in another neighborhood and they have different uniforms and different backstops and you realize like, ‘Whoa, this is like a mile from where I live and why is their neighborhood so much different than ours?’  When you’re young and in that community you start asking questions, you get inquisitive and realize that getting a good education is going to help level the playing field.”

 On his family values: “My grandfather probably epitomized what a Good Samaritan is all about, being a good neighbor.  We didn’t have a lot but what we did have, we always shared.  Those are the things that shaped me and who I am today.  I’m so thankful for those simple acts of kindness.  I think that’s where the notion of social justice and being a good neighbor, philanthropy, being a public servant, all came into play.”

 On his experience at Berkeley: “There’s so much diversity; race, gender, religion, sexual orientation – it didn’t matter what it is.  So, you’re in this big melting pot of these people that have different interests and different cultures, and you’re all kind of together; that experience was kind of enlightening for me.”

 On his decision to pursue a career in politics: “At some point you realize there’s not enough people that are doing good work in elected office.  I shouldn’t stand on the sidelines and complain.  If not me, then who should do it?  If not now, then when? . . .  I need to get in the ring and do my part to not just make sure the neighborhood I grew up in, but the city I’m so proud of, reaches its potential.”

 On inspirational athletes off the court: “Almost every athlete that I’ve played with would be successful in some other field – their competitiveness, their drive, their work ethic, their talent, their intuitive skills.  You look at someone like Magic Johnson.  This guy was a great athlete and then he went and became a businessman.  Look at Bill Bradley; he was a great athlete and then he goes on and becomes a politician.  These are very rare individuals and this is just the profession that they chose.”

 On being a role model: “I have felt very strongly that athletes have a responsibility, whether they like it or not or we like it or not, to be role models. . . . Now that I have a career after basketball and I’m an elected official, I have told the NBA and I have told the NBA Players Association, use me in any shape or form possible if you need me to mentor, to sit down and talk to younger players.”

 On President Obama: “President Obama is always the smartest person in the room and we used to always hear that about President Clinton.  So not only is he a man that is articulate and inspirational, he has an unbelievable intellectual capital that he’s contributed to the country and to the decisions that are being made, and I think that’s even that much more impressive in terms of what he’s doing.”