A notorious fast driver, Jayson Williams was not taking any chances yesterday. At least not on his way to sign a $100.1 million contract yesterday at the Nets’ practice facility in East Rutherford.
“On the way over here I drove about 35 miles per hour on the Turnpike,” said the 30-year old Williams, who inked his seven-year deal, six of whichare guaranteed. “All my life I’ve always been coming behind the 8-ball, and I thought for sure something wouldn’t go right today.”
Actually something did go wrong. Williams, a Queens native and an all-star last season, was going to sign his contract with a pen given to him last year by Rocky Allen, a disc jockey on WPLJ. However, before signing, Williams tested the pen to find that it had no ink, so he sent someone to get a filler.
But the rest of the day went rather smoothly. In a press conference before the Nets had their first practice of the season, Williams was flanked by the team’s new owners, Finn Wentworth and Lewis Katz, coach John Calipari and team president Michael Rowe.
All spoke about how important it was to sign Williams, not just for his talent, but for his extensive community work.
“When we approached the Nets we looked upon one of the greatest assets to be Jayson Williams,” Wentworth said.
Katz, meanwhile, said he has never seen Williams play but was assured by Calipari and others a deal had to be made.
“Last Thursday when the news leaked out that we had made a deal with Jayson, coach Calipari visited me in New York City to bring the news. [Calipari’s] cell phone rang and it was Jayson Williams. I was a bit nervous because I’d never met him or talked to him, never even saw him play. [Calipari] said, ‘He wants to talk to you.’ [Jayson] said, ‘Mr. Katz?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘Need a loan?’ That’s Jayson Williams. What it says is he’s real. This was a time when the good guy won out.”
One of the most popular area athletes, Williams said he’s going to give some of his money to charities. In fact, he sounded almost embarrassed at his new income.
“I think school teachers and firemen and police officers are the ones supposed to be making this kind of money,” he said. “I just had dinner the other night with Jerry Seinfeld, and we were both talking about that. You know, Jerry made a lot of money and we’re both saying the best that we can do about it is try and brighten up other peoples’ lives and try and donate some of this money back, which I intend on doing into Newark and into Camden. Substantial amount. And to St. John’s [his alma mater]. I’m also going to take care of the people in the [Continental Arena] concession stands.”
Williams made sure to thank his former St. John’s coach Lou Carnesecca for “making me be a man.” And he also thanked Willis Reed, who as the Nets’ general manager traded for Williams in 1992 from Philadelphia.
“If it wasn’t for you,” Williams said to Reed, “I’d be stuck in Philadelphia serving Charles Barkley drinks.”
Calling him the “heart and soul” of the Nets, Calipari said Williams (12.9 points, 13.6 rebounds last year) will get even better this season.
“He better,” Calipari said. “We paid him a lot more money.”
Williams expects more of himself, too.
“I’m Charles Oakley in his prime,” Williams said. “I’m a guy who tries to outwork everybody.”
