The Lottery

The lottery/draft is my favorite part of my favorite sport. The innocent world of college basketball clashes with the big bad NBA, and from there we not only look for our respective team needs, but also the future of our cinderella darlings we've seen nurtured since Dick Vitale first called them Diaper Dandies, (ACC only).

It all began for me when shooting baskets on a May evening, my father running out the door ecstatic that the warriors got the first pick of the '95 draft (then during the conference final half). "What's the lottery?" I asked. I would come to learn that the ping-pong balls signify a beautiful process of selection which unlike the NFL and NHL drafts, rely on rabbit foots and clovers, and not ultimate loser-dom.

The NBA Draft, head to toe, is a scroll of hope for any NBA fan. The Ginobili's, Monta's, and Boozer's will always stay fresh in our minds as to why the second round can be just as important as the first, but in all seriousness the draft is as much a franchise maker as it can be a breaker... Golden State '95 Joe Smith, Marvin Williams '05

To me however, this whole process begins with Big Monday, the Maui Open/Jimmy V Classic, Big East, Conference Tourney Brackets, roaring arenas, and of course, Jay Bilas, Andy Katz, Doug Gotlieb, and everyone's favorite, Steve Lavin. Here we begin our infatuation with all the college youngsters who tear up the hard-wood in winter, show us their true form in spring, and then dare to take their frat pool jumping/groupie loving/salary earning ego's to the temple of basketball hierarchy, where Sam Cassell posts you up, and Gary Payton calls you a white boy.

It is here, where the magic ends. Our little Rudys often get lost on the bench, are reduced to role-players, or go to see Harold and Kumar with Gilbert Arenas and lose game 7 to the Cavs (thank you Nick Young). Innocence is lost in the big leagues, and despite this well-known fact, many freshman are entering this merciless business.

So now, Jay Bilas, we are ready for your descriptions of player's "up-side" and incredible "length", and we will not be daunted by Stephen A. Smith's dwindling yet still obnoxious analysis on a league he doesn't follow. We are ready for the Lopez twins to set back 2 franchises, along with Mayo, Rose, Beasley, and Alexander to make a few... Yes, We are ready for the NBA Draft.

Ironically, as I am sitting here, watching Tim Legler and Stephen A. Smith, on a bootlegged feed, to my hair-pulling reaction, he has started changing his channel and decided on Sundance film. Hey, at least it's better than Chinese or Argentine broadcasting of a game.

This just in Chicago #1... I'll leave it to you Poot

We got a month to figure this out...