News-Record.com

Loved the brief Jalen Rose interview on ESPN. The host actually referred to "Draft Fashion Analysts," implying there are such people. The scariest thing is that it's actually true. There are such people, and I'm sure they'll be ready to offer input as soon as possible.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm writing from my home and not from the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden. In light of its name, I can't say I'd rather be at the WaMu (short for Washington Mutual) Theatre.
But I have covered the draft before, and unless things have changed, I can make a couple of guesses about the scene and environment"
1) It's really hot in there. The A/C isn't the best.
2) The Green Room is neither green nor a room. It's nothing more than a section of the floor.
3) While the NBA draft has several advantages over other player-selection processes -- relative brevity chief among them -- it lacks the local flavor of the NFL Draft.
The curious thing about the NFL Draft is that the site is dominated by Jets fans. It's their moment. Deep down, they know they're outnumbered about two to one by Giants supporters. The Giants, like the Yankees, rule the tabloids. But the draft provides the opportunity for Jets fanatics to get airtime on ESPN and to put forth the appearance of profound knowledge. If you can express outrage at the fifth-round selection -- surely the J-E-T-S should have taken that tackle out of Youngstown State rather than the cornerback from Rice -- you have clearly done your homework and are worthy of the attention thrust your way.
Or something like that.
Knicks fans will boo the choice because, at 19th, it probably won't deliver a household name. But it won't be the same.

Other great thing about the draft: The venue that hosts tonight's proceedings will be the home of a series of MeatLoaf concerts next month. How might that marquee look?

TONIGHT: NBA DRAFT
JULY 18-20: MEAT LOAF

You can't beat that.