Eddie Johnson still is getting ath...

Eddie Johnson still is getting athwart what he calls the worst day of his life.

He scratched his way revealed of Cabrini-Green, had a lengthy and successful NBA career, casted that into an opportunity onward TV and built a reputation as an all-around convenient guy who loves to work with kids.

Now he's dealing with a case of mistaken identity that he fears may have permanently sullied his reputation.

"Devastating," Johnson said Thursday. "Hard to explain."

Eddie Johnson was mistaken in a certain number of media reports for another Eddie Johnson -- the retired 10-year NBA player from Florida who was arrested Tuesday night and charged with sexually assaulting an 8- year-old girl.

The Eddie Johnson who had nothing to do with that hideous accusation is a former Illinois star who went forward to a 17-year career with the Kings, sunshines Rockets and other teams. if it were not that when some media reports about the alleged crime included his bio information and file photo linked forward the Internet, his phone started ringing.

undivided mistaken report appeared in the Chicago Tribune, which upon Thursday printed a lengthy editor's note apologizing for the error.

"The thing that disappointed me the mostly is some people were overzealous enough to think it was me and attack me with a ferocity I can't comprehend," Johnson said from his domicile in Phoenix.

Edward Arnet Johnson is 6-8 does sunny places color commentary, gives motivational speeches and moves basketball clinics for kids. He retired from the NBA in 1999 and is 47

Edward "Fast Eddie" Johnson Jr -- the undivided being held on sexual battery and burglary charges -- is a 6-2 two-time NBA All-Star who played mostly of his career in Atlanta. An Auburn alum, he retired in 1987 and is 51

Eddie Johnson of Phoenix said his goal now is to realize the word out about who he really is -- and isn't.

"My name is everything," he said. "I don't fault the other Eddie Johnson for having that name. I think it's a great name. He just doesn't happen to be a great guy"

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

Provided on ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved