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Draft superlatives Wilcox dresses for occasion; fans speak their mindPosted: Thursday June 27, 2002 12:24 AM
By Jimmy Traina, CNNSI.com NEW YORK -- The NBA Draft came and went, and while the actual picks were quite uneventful, there was still plenty going on inside The Theatre at Madison Square Garden. Here's a look at some things you might not read in your other draft recaps -- some of the highlights and lowlights of Draft Night 2002. Best suit by a draftee: Chris Wilcox, drafted eighth by the Clippers. The Maryland big man was dressed in a sharp, custom-made, navy-blue pinstripe suit. Questionable fashion choice: Stanford's Casey Jacobsen, taken 22nd by the Suns, who wore a pair of white-and-black leather shoes that looked like they came from an '80s fashion staple: Capezio's. All-American Couple: Curtis Borchardt (selected 18th by the Orlando Magic) and girlfriend Susan King. Not only did they resemble a prom king and queen, they either had their arms around one another or held each other's hand for practically the entire draft. Best Charles Barkley pre-draft quote: "The Knicks are like a fat woman at a buffet. They need a little bit of everything." Second-best Charles Barkley pre-draft quote: "I don't kiss and tell." (After being asked by a television crew if there are any gay players in the NBA.) Unwarranted reaction: The New York crowd booed loudly when Yao Ming was announced as the first pick. Unwarranted reaction No. 2: Several members of the Chinese media clapped and cheered after Yao's interview on TNT. Loudest ovation: Jay Williams, drafted second by the Bulls, grew up in nearby Plainfield, N.J. Does he ever stay home? Spike Lee sat in the front row and offered his draft expertise to any and all cameras throughout the night. Worst suck up: David Stern, who called the New York audience "boisterous," just to get a cheap cheer. Quickest way to turn the crowd against you: After being asked by Craig Sager how he could wear a Bulls hat, Jay Williams responded, "It's gonna be easy, real easy," which prompted a chorus of loud boos from the Knicks faithful in attendance. No DNA test needed: The Dunleavy family. The third overall pick and his two younger brothers could not look more alike. Player with the most passionate fans in the building: Dajuan Wagner. The 19-year-old was born and raised in Camden, N.J., just one hour away from New York City. Not surprisingly, he had a group of loyalists chanting his name and waving towels as he approached the podium after being selected sixth by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Loudest chant of the night: "Fire Layden!" after the Knicks chose Brazilian center Nene Hilario with the seventh pick. Make yourself at home: Hilario got a taste of the Big Apple right way as the New York crowd loudly booed him. Luckily for him, he was later traded to Denver. Maybe they should have used a phone: Kareem Rush told Sager to say hi to his coach at Missouri, Quin Snyder, even though Rush was seated about 20 feet away from Snyder. Most awkward scene: Denver GM Kiki Vandeweghe announced a trade between the Nuggets and Knicks at a restaurant/bar, looking like he was about to do a standup routine or sing karaoke. Most riveting interview exchange: Sager to Wagner: "Are you happy?" Wagner: "Yes." Best late-round pick-me-up: After a few selections that didn't generate much buzz, the Suns selected Casey Jacobsen and the Theatre came to life. Not because of the guard from Stanford, but because of his attractive girlfriend who was shown on the monitors, causing the crowd to wildly howl and whistle. Player who struggled the most with his interview: Sixers pick Jiri Welsch (who was later traded to the Warriors). The Czech had trouble hearing Sager and stuttered throughout his Q&A. Needs to take a lesson: The NFL. The NBA Draft moved at a steady pace, the lulls were few and far between, and the event was completed in less than four hours, unlike the NFL draft, which takes 18 days. If they're so good, why weren't they at the Theatre? Fred Jones, taken 14th by the Pacers, and Ryan Humphrey, selected 19th by the Jazz. Barkley said the pair were the two most explosive players he saw in college last year.
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