Draft NY '08
Sports Commentary
By: Joseph Russell
Issue date: 7/10/08 Section: Sports
s I sat down and turned on the NBA Draft, I had a good feeling in my stomach. As a lifetime Tigers fan and most-time Grizzlies fan, I had my hopes up high for what would happen that night.
I knew Rose would be taken first overall - any team would be crazy to pass him up. I knew Chris Douglas-Roberts would go in the top 20. A consensus All-American who led the national champion runners-up in scoring? No-brainer. And then Joey Dorsey, who all Memphians will remember for his infectious smile and almost-savage attempts to rip the rims off the goals at FedEx Forum with his monsterous dunks, would be picked. As possibly the only person to ever willingly say they wanted to play for the Grizzlies, I knew Joey would end up staying in Memphis. I usually don't like to admit my mistakes, but most of my predictions were wrong.
The main story leading up to this year's draft was the decision the Chicago Bulls had to make with the No. 1 overall pick - Rose or fellow freshman phenom Michael Beasley? Do you take the 6-3 point guard with lightning-fast speed, proven leadership and a hometown connection, or do you take the 6-8 combo forward who can score from anywhere on the floor and led the nation in rebounding at 12.4 boards per game?
When ESPN announced the Bulls decided to select Rose first overall, I was ecstatic for him but not necessarily surprised. Rose had been urging the Bulls to take him for weeks leading up to the draft, and I was happy to see him return to Chicago as the hometown hero.
While Rose can't wear the #23 jersey he sported at Memphis (it was retired for famous Bulls player), he didn't mind. He'll now wear #1, symbolizing the spot Chicago picked him. The number doesn't matter to Rose - it's the team on the front that he cares about.
For Bulls general manager John Paxson, it wasn't just Rose's desire to wear the uniform that made him so appealing. Rose had enough qualities to warrant the first pick over Beasley, proven during the Tigers' run through last season.
I knew Rose would be taken first overall - any team would be crazy to pass him up. I knew Chris Douglas-Roberts would go in the top 20. A consensus All-American who led the national champion runners-up in scoring? No-brainer. And then Joey Dorsey, who all Memphians will remember for his infectious smile and almost-savage attempts to rip the rims off the goals at FedEx Forum with his monsterous dunks, would be picked. As possibly the only person to ever willingly say they wanted to play for the Grizzlies, I knew Joey would end up staying in Memphis. I usually don't like to admit my mistakes, but most of my predictions were wrong.
The main story leading up to this year's draft was the decision the Chicago Bulls had to make with the No. 1 overall pick - Rose or fellow freshman phenom Michael Beasley? Do you take the 6-3 point guard with lightning-fast speed, proven leadership and a hometown connection, or do you take the 6-8 combo forward who can score from anywhere on the floor and led the nation in rebounding at 12.4 boards per game?
When ESPN announced the Bulls decided to select Rose first overall, I was ecstatic for him but not necessarily surprised. Rose had been urging the Bulls to take him for weeks leading up to the draft, and I was happy to see him return to Chicago as the hometown hero.
While Rose can't wear the #23 jersey he sported at Memphis (it was retired for famous Bulls player), he didn't mind. He'll now wear #1, symbolizing the spot Chicago picked him. The number doesn't matter to Rose - it's the team on the front that he cares about.
For Bulls general manager John Paxson, it wasn't just Rose's desire to wear the uniform that made him so appealing. Rose had enough qualities to warrant the first pick over Beasley, proven during the Tigers' run through last season.