Although I don't much care for the ownership, although I live in Indiana, although they've never won a title, although big NBA stars seem to run from the team faster than water flows down a hill, I've always been a fan of the Orlando Magic.
And when I say always, I mean always: Since the team was created in 1989, since I first laid eyes on the gorgeous, black-and-blue-and-white pinstriped uniforms, since Indiana boy Scott Skiles was among the first members of the team.
These days, due to political disagreements with the ownership, having grown tired of the organization's inability to hang onto any star players and due to my inability to actually watch the team play very often, I've more or less dissolved my fandom of the team (I'm sure they're all heartbroken) and become something of a hoops agnostic. I love the Dallas Mavericks (for Dirk and Cuban, mostly) and will root for them in most cases. I live very close to Chicago so it's easy to follow and root for the Chicago Bulls. The Indiana Pacers are a fun, young team and are entertaining to watch.
But old habits die hard. I still gravitate toward news about my old team, follow player movements, wonder how the GM who's about my age will work out, etc. When I heard those wily Magic drafted Indiana University SG/SF/hoops wizard Victor Oladipo last night, a smile crept across my face.
You see, even though I'm a Purdue grad, Oladipo is one of my favorite college players of the last several years. The last player I latched onto with this level of adoration was Kevin Durant. Before him, it was Carmelo Anthony. I think Oladipo is a tremendous athlete, has amazing court sense and has the ability to throw a switch and shut down whomever he's defending. If he had the killer instinct of a Michael Jordan, he'd be unstoppable. As it is, I think he'll be very, very, very good in the NBA. I believe he'll be the best player of this draft class.
And apparently the kid showed up to last night's draft proceedings wearing some Google Glass and sang some John Legend backstage. A cocky, intelligent technophile with a golden voice and a killer vertical? How is he NOT going to be a star?
And when I say always, I mean always: Since the team was created in 1989, since I first laid eyes on the gorgeous, black-and-blue-and-white pinstriped uniforms, since Indiana boy Scott Skiles was among the first members of the team.
These days, due to political disagreements with the ownership, having grown tired of the organization's inability to hang onto any star players and due to my inability to actually watch the team play very often, I've more or less dissolved my fandom of the team (I'm sure they're all heartbroken) and become something of a hoops agnostic. I love the Dallas Mavericks (for Dirk and Cuban, mostly) and will root for them in most cases. I live very close to Chicago so it's easy to follow and root for the Chicago Bulls. The Indiana Pacers are a fun, young team and are entertaining to watch.
But old habits die hard. I still gravitate toward news about my old team, follow player movements, wonder how the GM who's about my age will work out, etc. When I heard those wily Magic drafted Indiana University SG/SF/hoops wizard Victor Oladipo last night, a smile crept across my face.
You see, even though I'm a Purdue grad, Oladipo is one of my favorite college players of the last several years. The last player I latched onto with this level of adoration was Kevin Durant. Before him, it was Carmelo Anthony. I think Oladipo is a tremendous athlete, has amazing court sense and has the ability to throw a switch and shut down whomever he's defending. If he had the killer instinct of a Michael Jordan, he'd be unstoppable. As it is, I think he'll be very, very, very good in the NBA. I believe he'll be the best player of this draft class.
And apparently the kid showed up to last night's draft proceedings wearing some Google Glass and sang some John Legend backstage. A cocky, intelligent technophile with a golden voice and a killer vertical? How is he NOT going to be a star?
