“10 dollars that Auburn scores this drive,” says one patron.
“Make that a TD and we good,” says another.
“Bet!” confirms the first.
The drive ensues and eventually leads to a touchdown pass by Auburn quarterback Cameron Newton. Many in the barbershop erupt into cheers in response to the play while Calvin still works on that straight-edge hairline. Minutes after upon completing the task, he looks up at the high-definition television screen airing the game and nonchalantly notices the changed score of the game. 
This is the attention Calvin “Big Cal” Johnson has given his work for close to 2 years as the owner and head barber at Player’s Choice Barbershop off the I-95 northwest exit of Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd in Liberty City.
“A great haircut is like a great painting. The barber, like a painter, is constantly polishing his piece and making sure every minor detail is taken care of,” says Calvin.
For the past 22 years of his life, the 6-foot-3-inch, 340-pound “Big Cal” has been working to improve his talents as an artist of hairdos. While attending Miami Central Senior High School he enjoyed playing first base for the school’s baseball squad and right tackle for their power-house football team.
It was while participating in the school’s On-The-Job-Training program that Calvin was mentored by a Professor Lampkin, the person who helped him learn his craft and attain the feeling of satisfaction that comes with upgrading a person’s hairstyle.
“What makes me feel good is seeing someone who’s haircut I did and it made him look that much better. I’d like to think I do that consistently; which is important for a barber. It’s like a barber needs to be able to consistently cut his customer’s hair well or else he’s no good,” claims Johnson.
Customers coming to Player’s Choice can receive that essential, consistently good hair cut when they step foot in Calvin’s shop along with an experience to go with their newly-given fade. The shop's walls are adorned with mounted NFL jerseys of Randy Moss, Miami-native Mike McKenzie, and an autographed jersey of deceased Titan’s quarterback Steve McNair. If you’re lucky, you may end up waiting next in line to one of those NFL athletes themselves who from time-to-time cut their hair with Johnson. He’s had the opportunity to cut New York Jets player Litto Shepherd’s hair as well as working on pro-bowler Antrel Rolle’s scalp.
Upon first glance when walking into Player’s Choice you notice a large mural that spells out the shop’s name and is surrounded with the barbershop scenes from the Eddie Murphy classic “Coming to America” and also rapper/director Ice Cube’s “Barbershop”. Just like Ice Cube’s character in the movie (whom which he shares a name with), Calvin tries to create an amiable, “home away from home” environment in his shop.
“You got to be a people person in this line of work,” says Calvin. “People come in on Fridays with all their problems from throughout the week. You have to be able to talk to people, listen to them and their problems and you try to advise them as best you can. Sometimes I think I’m like a barber, psychiatrist, and counselor all in one.”
Big Cal knows his clients well and knows what works to provide an overall experience. On Saturdays and Sundays there isn’t much space available on the benches at Player’s Choice because of the clientele that choose to catch the day’s college and pro football action while they wait for their cut. Conversations go about on a daily basis and topics range from the trouble with Liberty City’s wayward youth to a massive debate as to who’s winning the monumental Central versus North Western high school football game.
Local elementary school students walk into the shop with their father to sell candy and raise funds for their school and quickly a story about something that happened last night at nearby King of Diamonds changes to a conversation about the Manny Pacquiao fight.
Half an hour later after the children leave, a middle-aged man walks in with a tray and a checkered chef’s hat and proclaims, “Conch! Who wants some good conch? It’s tasty food. If it don’t taste good, you don’t have to pay. But buy my conch, it’ll get you laid! Look at me, I’m nearly a 50-year-old man and get it FIVE TIMES A DAY! 'Cause of the conch!”
When making your way to sit down and wait for your mop to get chopped, be careful not to collide with the silver, metal pole that is in the middle of the room bolted to the ground and ceiling. Looking like a fireman’s pole, the shiny shaft is strategically placed next to a hanging smoke machine in the middle of the shop - reserved for after-hours use.
“Oh, that’s for certain nights after the shop closes. We like to give something different back to our customers; like a certain ‘Customer Appreciation Night,’” slyly states Calvin.
Amongst the assorted sports memorabilia on the walls at Player’s Choice, a small plaque is displayed in a corner off to the side of the shop. It’s a local youth cheerleading squad that Player's Choice Barbershop helped sponsor. Bellow that a framed picture of the City of North Miami youth basketball team – a team that Calvin coaches.
Despite managing his business on a daily basis the 36-year-old father of four, who states he’d be an English teacher if he wasn’t cutting hair, tries to fit time in his schedule to do what he can to make a difference in a community that he sees having a huge potential to thrive.
“The youth is easily influenced. It’s up to us older ones to help guide them and make them better people,” asserts Johnson.
Having been raised in the Little Ridge area by his older aunt, he considers the ability to run his own business a constant blessing. He describes his early childhood as a humbling experience that made him appreciative of things; saying that his family and him “weren’t spoiled but we got what we needed.”
He co-owns the shop with a fellow business partner and until a year ago he was the only barber for some time. He’s now joined by a fellow barber, Omar “Ant” Anthony, and is still actively searching for new talent to fill up a third barber station. Maurice, a mutual acquaintance met through a friend of his is the unofficial promoter/marketing man for the shop.
Calvin Johnson’s face lights up and the grills on his lower row of teeth gleam when asked about his barbershop.
“I’m very blessed. I’m very fortunate. I’m a big fan of Sinatra and I always feel a connection to that song “My Way” because doing things your own way and succeeding… it’s a wonderful feeling.”
