I am amazed at how things have changed over time and the technology of America. For instance I am entering the fourth entry over a cell phone with my brother as I cross the Bay Bridge, on my way to a meeting in San Francisco. (P.S. I am driving on the phone with my diary in my lap reading from it and driving across the bridges. Yes, this is very dangerous and I wouldnąt advise anyone to do it but I am maximizing my time right now.)
June 12
This morning is a big step toward my future, as I am traveling to Detroit through United Airlines but I have a layover in Denver.
My day started with me waking up at 3:30am and working out. I worked out from 4am to 4:25am as I stretched first. Then I had a cup of tea. All of that, while making salat (Arabic word prayer) in between, but I had a cup of green tea before my departure to the airport.
My big brother B Ward was up and ready to go at 4am but I mentioned to him that we'd leave at 4:30 so that I could perform the above-mentioned rituals. But B waking up at that time in the morning is big in my eyes because he's not a morning person. It was also big for me and him because he has played a big role in my development as a person and the transition of my re-entry into society (may God reward him and his family).
B and I was venting the whole trip to the airport as he was giving me suggestions and we were attempting to learn a few words in the dictionary (the dictionary is my second most read book in the world behind the Qur'an). He explained the pleasure of being able to witness firsthand where I came from and what I have grown to be. He was mentioning how proud he was of the job that I've done since coming home. But in my mind I admire how much he has developed into a productive person, not just for himself or his family but also how much he has changed lives in society.
As I arrived at the airport I was a little confused because as you all know I had just come out of prison less than seventy days ago and these were very different circumstances that I was dealing with. It seems that I was back in prison at the security area they had me take my jacket and shoes off along with other security measures.
Look at me now, from December 1999 to April 2004 my travel consisted off being transported my bus in shackles. Now look at your boy flying on airplanes. (Now I see why my main man Topper Allen named me Hollywood.) I am being flown to Detroit by NBA entertainment.
In all human certainty this is to let my fellow people struggling in society and behind the walls to know that God is alive and He never turns His back on me. We just turn our backs on Him and even though I turned my back on Him for so long He still had mercy on me. No matter what we go through God has His plan for us if we place our whole-hearted interest in Him. It's never too late for whatever your heart desires.
In Denver it was a two-hour delay. First it was an hour layover because of the plane's late arrival. Then once we boarded the plane we had a problem with the fuel. The captain of the plane said that it would take one hour due to the normal procedure of making sure everything is okay. (Like in life there is a natural process, a divine order, and necessities behind everything.) Then after the announcement that we was going to lift off after a two hour delay we had turbulence upon takeoff and I was very nervous because I'm nervous about flying anyway. But that's a whole 'nother story.
Now I have flown through three time zones with people around me that I don't know. As I lay out the plane, I shake the captain's hand and say "thank you sir."
With me being late a new friend I had met, Damien Bulluck, a brother a part of Team Hooked was there patiently waiting to pick me up. This is a good brother, as he may have thought that I had lost my mind because all the way to the theater I was reading my comprehensive notes of what to say to the audience being though that I was an hour late and as I got to the theater I only had ten minutes before the film was over. When I arrived at the theater I had the honor of meeting Mr. Baron Davis from the New Orleans Hornets. This was very special to me because Baron Davis is someone I look up to in the NBA. I am a student of his job between the lines and outside the lines. Him and I were doing a Q and A after the screening of the film.
All this is attributed to God's mercy on me as well as the hard work of Mr. Skolnik and Mr. Stone. I am going to do something very special for these two guys and Team Hooked (God willing). Reebok is also in my heart as they made gym bags, t-shirts and little basketballs with the inscription "Hook the Legend of Demetrius 'Hook' Mitchell." Could one imagine all this for little 'ole me?
The Q and A went very well as I answered the bulk of the questions, signed autographs afterwards, performed interviews for NBA TV, and also took pictures with NBA affiliates from Mexico, Germany, and other countries. All this in one day as all the conjoining forces, the State of California Department of Corrections, NBA Entertainment Reebok, Team Hooked and others all came together as one to come up with solutions to what the youngsters are dealing with in society today. We wrapped the day up with a big dinner at a four-star restaurant, compliments of Mr. Rob Stone. He is a very unique individual.
As I have been staying at my brother's house, sleeping on the floor for the last seventy days, now I am in a lavish hotel suite sleeping on a king's size bed‹the Marriott was very hot. This was a big day for my future. Now I have to catch up on a couple prayers before I retire for the evening.
June 13
This morning I woke up at 4am Western time and went and worked out. My body is still programmed to get up early for the 6 in the Morning Club. Ten or fifteen minutes into the workout and look who shows up. Mr. Rob Stone.
Ten we went back to the room to wake up Mr. Skolnik. And they had been saying for the last thirty minutes that they had wanted to watch the commercial about the film. And then out of nowhere it came on and all of us were stuck to the tube. I was dumbfounded as I watched myself on television sitting there in awe of how God has blessed me with this beautiful situation. This was huge. We were watching NBA TV that is broadcasted around the world.
All this started with a vision from Mr. Skolnik and William O'Neal of prison ball. Can you imagine what has transcended through of all this started by a letter from Mr. Skolnik and a fifteen minute phone call, then it turned into a vision of my life, and who would have imagined that it would take Team Hooked to the NBA All-Star weekend then to the NBA Finals. Who could have imagined this? I haven't been out of being a ward of the state for seventy day and now I am staying at a four-star hotel and flying around the country kickin' it with the bigwigs of the NBA. After watching the commercial we went and hooped and all had fun as Mr. Stone lit me up from the outside in the first game and Damien controlled the middle in our two on two match-up. My east coast family got game. After we hooped again I had to go shower up and get prepared to have a host of interviews with a few of the media at the Finals. But before I met with the media I met a beautiful woman, Ms. Leah Wilcox, one of the most influential people in sports. I love her energy and support. She is a dynamic individual.
After performing two interviews in the lobby area we headed toward the Palace with the NBA representative Mr. Cooper who had set everything up for the weekend. I had to perform a couple interviews at the Palace. As I walked through the Palace Mr. Skolnik heard some of the media from other countries saying to each other hey there's Hook Mitchell. Some of them I had seen on the palace the night before as well as some saw my commercial on NBA TV. We were all walking around the facility like we owned the joint with our day passes strapped around our necks. Walking around the Palace I was searching out for a lifelong friend, Gary Payton. We didn't get a chance to see him until the game started. He didn't come out for the shoot around. Coop even had us in the locker room waiting to see if someone from the Lakers organization would stick their head out so I could transfer a message to Gary. I met John Sally in the back of the Palace as I waited for GP to come out. He said he loved my story and wanted to me to come on the Best Darn Sports Show. He asked me how long I had been out and how was I doing. I was in the back where all the behind the screen things are taking place. As the game started I had the pleasure off sitting with one of the NBA representatives, JP, and with a couple of beautiful ladies. One of the women, one from the NBA, one from Coca Cola, two beautiful people, and Mr. Rob Stone (yes I am living a dream that has turned into reality). Then JP, Jonathan Press, asked me do I want to meet David Stern and my mouth dropped. I said sure. So we went to where Mr. Stern was seated, a couple rows ahead of us, as Mr. Press introduced us. Mr. Stern said hello Demetrius (They did a private screening of the film with the head honchos in the NBA.) After JP introduced us Mr. Stern said "I love your story" and I humbly replied thank you and complimented him on his success in the League. Then I said to him I would love to play in this League one day. And his reply was "what shape are you in?" I said, in somewhat good shape. Then he asked how old I was. I mentioned my age, 35. Then he asked me to come a little closer and the fans were getting a little louder. He looked me in my eye and said, "Son, it's never too late." I looked at him with a great big smile and said thank you. The day ended with yet another victory for Detroit and another big step in a big direction towards my future as I was networking and promoting myself and meeting the commission of the NBA. This was another huge day for me personally.
June 14
This morning was short as it was a very busy trip for me. I was around four beautiful individuals from my New York family that had the pleasure of meeting Baron Davis, Leah Wilcox, Mr. Cooper and a host of new individual just to name a few. And Ms. Wendy Kula an associate did a beautiful job in orchestrating everything from RBK. As Damien Sara, Mr. Skolnik and myself traveled to the airport I reflected on the weekend and how much they supported me in these times. Plus I was sensing how much this situation could impact many lives and how much this situation meant to the world. Out trip to the airport was very quiet. When we arrived at the airport I had to split up with them as they were headed to a different terminal from myself. It was quite odd as I didn't want to leave their company. I mentioned to them I didn't want to leave you all then I had to quickly snap out of it and said I love you all after hugging them. I could have cried from the separation.
As I travel back to the Town I was venting my heart and soul attempting to find solutions to the struggles of the youth of today based on my experiences and my trip to Detroit. This past weekend has been somewhat of a fairytale.
I am back. I turned my phone on as we landed because my phone had no service in Detroit. It immediately vibrated and said that I had 22 messages. Now I am back to business in the Town.
