I have a feeling the people of Seattle will love Brandon Rush almost as much as the people of Oklahoma City will love Russell Westbrook, once this whole Kabuki finally ends.

I clicked on the link you provide for that...you were absolutely right about Bogut...but there was also this:

"Dick Vitale just got done saying the Hawks will regret not taking Chris Paul of Wake Forest rather than Marvin Williams. I presume he thinks the same about the Jazz, since Deron Williams plays Paul's position. The Hawks need a point guard, but Williams vs. Paul is kind of a toss-up. Either one could end up being better. They're both very good. But I think Vitale's wrong about Paul vs. Marvin Williams."

Have you seen the Xcelerator? It's the one which has the jet engine on it. You put your hands under - and Katrina shows up. I'm cool with it. But I imagine a 95 year old woman with her hands under there, skin flapping to the floor.

Something I've picked up: when you wave your hand the first time, grab that stinking piece of paper and start pulling. Pull until it's offering as much paper as you need. This saves you the indignity of waving your hands around multiple times.

With Rodriguez coming in, there really wasn't room for Jack on the roster and for him we got: another Point. But I think it will be okay as Bayless has some nice potential. McRoberts wasn't doing anything, so no real loss there. And somehow... we got Diogu!? That's a steal.

Reading that 2005 column, I had to cry a little over passing up Chris Paul and getting Webster. And later Channing Frye. Not that there's anything wrong with those two, but damn... Chris Paul was there for the taking.

The more I read about the draft today and ponder the fact that I too was disappointed that the Blazers got the 13th pick - instead of moving up in the lottery where they could get someone who could really contribute - I have to wonder, why are we still bothering with a second round?

And what is the fundamental change that happened to reduce the yearly numbers of people who could come in and contribute? Is it the addition of International players in numbers we didn't see before? (I'm thinking back to say, the 80's.)

It's just amazing that there aren't 15 players, worldwide, who look like slam-dunk locks.

Really? They are essentially kids. And I would argue (like others have, and possibly you) that these guys are more like kids than your average 18 year old. Second, the first 15 picks in any draft of any sport aren't a lock. Not baseball, not basketball, and certainly not my sport, hockey. Maybe somebody can talk about football, because I don't know squat about that.

Amen, amen and AMEN! to your comments about paper towel dispensers. I have long expressed similar sentiments to anyone dumb enough to listen to me. The last place we needed technological advances was in the dispensing of paper towels.

I knew there was a reason I liked you so much.

Have you ever met a fan that has gone to an NBA draft? Do you honestly believe that any Knicks fan in attendence last night had, as you say, "never heard of Gallinari"? A guy who was constantly talked about in every pre-draft report. A guy the NY papers wrote about as a real possibility for the Knicks. The whole new coach played with his dad thing.

Since the Knicks will undoubtedly be horrenous and a lottery team again next year, you should go and sit among those Knicks fans at the 2009 draft. May be that collectively they can't boil water, but they know their Gallinari's.

let the football season begin, I don't know how much more of this I can take...

of fans booing draft choices: In 1993 Houston Rockets fans got all twisted up because the brass didn't choose Harold Miner with the 10th pick in the first round. Who'd they choose? Robert Horry. Last time we looked Miner was washing Horry's car.

King - 2 ways to save yourself on the Rondo comment:

1. You said "in a couple of years"...it's still early, your prediction could still come true.

2. You were saying that it was ridiculous that Rondo was chosen so low, since he was obviously going to be great.

Re: Paper towels - far be it from me to opine on bathroom technology, but I actually like the push to have better towel dispensors. This comes from too many times trying to grab one sheet out of the old style wall unit and having 100 pour out after it. Or none seeming to be in there at all, except they are jammed way up inside.

The new tech isn't great, but I think it helps to limit waste...which the people buying the towels and the environment probably appreciate. (although I wonder how much carbon emissions those electronic ones are responsible for...to the greenocalibatrixisor!)

Please, I thought basketball was finally over.

Cann we talk about baseball? great sport. Or how about football?

Or UFC? Or shot putt? Lawn tennis? Anything but basketball, please!!!

1) Push Button

2) Rub hands under warm air blower

3) Wipe hands on pants

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YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST-->>TRAILBLAZERS 2008-2009 NBA CHAMPS!

RIP CITY BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gotta say I'm scratching my head at all the Rondo worship in King's columns. Rondo's a fringe starter on most teams.

Props to my man Sean Singletary, who would've been a lottery pick if he played on Duke or UNC. For some reason, he had a hard time even getting on some mock drafts (whatever that's worth), but ended up getting the call at #43 last night.

I guess I see Love as a little too undersized and unathletic to flourish at the power forward position in the NBA; not a bust, but nothing to write home about either, unless you were writing home to tell your parents how you couldn't believe the Wolves traded away a bona fide superstar talent like OJ Mayo for the likes of Love.

I think it's entirely possible Minnesota has once again traded away the future Rookie of the Year.