With the number one pick in the 2007 NBA draft, the Portland Trail Blazers select…Sam Bowie.
Just kidding.
Thought I’d issue a gentle reminder that with either Greg Oden or Kevin Durant available, no Blazer fan will rest easy until we’ve heard one of those names announced. And, yes, I do once again count myself among the fan base. Right now I’m a bigger fan of Brandon Roy (rookie of the year) than of the team, but they’ve got a good group of youngsters to build around.
I continue to be less enthused about the NBA game in general, and even the number one pick is unlikely to make me tune into more than a handful of Blazer games next year. But my marginal interest is a big improvement over open loathing which is how I’ve felt for the last several years. I doubt I’ll ever return to full-throated fervor as a fan—there are too many other sports (like NHL Stanley Cup playoffs) that deserve it more. Still, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel great about the Blazers getting the number one pick. Good for them.