I'm back from my self imposed exile because I could not stand the idea of one of my favorite days of the year going by without commenting on it. Babies' mamas of the world rejoice, it is NBA Draft day. Some thoughts on the draft:
I missed the TNT crew...Kenny Smith, Hubie Brown, Ernie Johnson, some random college coach, Craig Sager's wardrobe and the incomparable Charles Barkley...ESPN just couldn't compete.
Favorite moment of the first 5 minutes - Jim Gray's interview with Cavs' owner Gordon Gund. Gray asked Gund to describe LeBron's style of play using his "mind's eye". This would be normal if Gund wasn't blind! Gund later said that he wouldn't trade the number one pick for anyone's whole team!! Kobe and Shaq for LeBron...you think he might not consider that.
"Fire Layden, Fire Layden" - It starts before Stern even graces the stage.
Vitale should never be allowed back on the NBA draft telecast. He should stick to college ball, his limited area of expertise.
Absolutely loved those retro NBA Live ads...The Rookies!
It took Cleveland 3 minutes for Cleveland to select LeBron James...Why?
Best thing about the Darko Milicic pick? The remarkable number of guy on guy kisses that ensued.
5-20-03 - Thoughts
5-14-03 - Blake, On Googling Oneself
5-8-03 - Fidelity Optional
5-5-03 - Anniversary Thoughts
5-4-03 - Susan's Column
4-29-03 - Movie Reviews
4-26-03 - Blake's Column
4-23-03 - Reality Television
4-22-03 - Theme Column
4-20-03 - NBA Preview/Review
Archives
1) "Brighter" - Sara Radle
2) "A Duel Will Settle This" - Mates of State
3) "Getting By"- The Rentals
4) "Nothing'severgonnastandinmyway (again)" - Wilco
5) "Spit on a Stranger" - Pavement
6) "Ten Minutes" - The Get Up Kids
7) "Say Yes" - Elliot Smith
8) "Keep Fishin'" - Weezer
9) "Tangled up in Blue" - Bob Dylan
10) "Fool in the Rain"-Led Zeppelin
"With the sixth pick in the 2003 draft, the Los Angeles Clippers select Chris Kaman, Central Michigan University." You could see all of his already minimal color draining from his face with the announcement. At least now Piatkowski has someone to hang out with.
Somewhere, Jamal Crawford is pissed. He just got rid of Jay Williams, now here comes Kirk Hinrich.
Did anyone else see the black teen in the Yao Ming jersey? Wow, we really are coming together as a society. There were even 24 white guys taken out of the 58 picks...that's nearly 40 percent!! Four years ago, that's unfathomable.
The Knicks are on the clock....you can feel the crowd energy building, ready to erupt in a chorus of boos the moment the pick is announced....but then, nothing. Some actual applause for the pick of Mike Sweetney. I didn't think I'd ever see the day.
Seattle took 2 white American ballplayers...a sure bet that they aren't going back to the playoffs anytime soon.
Bilas on Luke Ridnour, "He can't guard the chair I'm sitting in."
Vitale to Greg Anthony who had been raving about UNLV's Marcus Banks, "I'm not surprised you like him, Banks is just like you. He can defend, he's physical, and just like you, he doesn't have a jumper."
Later the Knicks fans topped themselves. The best moment of the night occurred when the Knicks picked the last member of the green room, Marceij Lampe. The crowd just erupts, showing an incredible amount of love for a European that they were ready to boo just 90 minutes earlier. Sometimes New York does something right.