The NBA Draft: I See White People
Bullets Wizards 0 - 0
Tomorrow night is the NBA Draft and I hadnโt planned on writing about it because most of you would rather read about wrestling, soccer, mustaches, hockey, and midgets.ย But then I saw a piece in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (thatโs a โnewspaperโ) by the joyless Bryan Burwell (seriously, have you ever seen the dude smile?). His column was about University of North Carolina white guy Tyler Hansbrough and how there is in essence a double-standard applied to him.
Iโve got to give it to Happy Burwell in that his point is valid. People often question Hansbroughโs ability to excel in the pros based on his color, and not ability. Think about reading this scouting report: โplayed on a national champion, 6โฒ9 power forward, well put together, averaged 20 points and 9 rebounds over four years.โ
If heโs black, an analysis would likely read, โpolished and ready for play in the NBAโ a la Shane Battier. If heโs white, well, he just might be another Adam Morrison, Adam Keefe, Mark Alarie, or the man Burwell quotes often in his column, Jay Bilas, who was a star at Duke but couldnโt find the toilet in the NBA.
The reality is, however, that while Hansbrough might be a good fella, a solid college player, and a Candyland enthusiast โ heโll probably end up a 12-year pro who averages 13 points and 7 rebounds throughout an undistinguished career. Of course, heโll also make $6 million annually over his career, which is about $6 million more than the fine staff of JSF is compensated.
Regardless, this is an interesting draft, as Blake Griffin looks like the only sure-fire stud among the prospects. Yes, there will be some surprises, but if you look at this preview from ESPN, thereโs the potential for a lot of flops, and not in a Vlade Divac or Manu Ginoboli way.
I watched Spainโs Ricky Rubio play in the Olympics. He looked like the 12-year-old girl I dated when I was 23.ย How about James Harden from Arizona State? Seems like a chubby small forward a la Glen Robinson without the jump shot. Syracuseโs Jonny Flynn is listed at 6โฒ1. Thatโs amusing, as he was Gary Colemanโs stunt double in โDifferent Strokesโ for three seasons. And Ty Lawson from UNC? King Rice anyoneโฆ..
Oye.
Sure, some of these guys will bust out of the gate and surprise us all. Stephen Curry will be interesting to watch but I have concerns about his hair. In reality though, itโs Griffin โ photographedย above with a Bullets fan courtesy of a shameless pitch from my new friend Chris Ward from Catalyst Public Relations which provides โThinkable Results.โ
But sadly, Griffin is most worth watching because heโs going to play for the Clippers, who organizationally are somewhere between Sarah Jessica Parkerโs horse-like looks and a slice of thick, rich, delicious bacon.
And while even I have no idea what that means, I simply hope they wonโt screw him up.
Carry on.
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