From Orlando Sentinel http://tinyurl.com/229ll 附帶一提，目前Orlando Sentinel上面有投票，目前多數網友對於我 們狀元的人選都是持正面看法的(62.4%) ------------------------------------------------------------ Magic go for youth movement Orlando gambles on a high schooler's potential rather than taking UConn star center Emeka Okafor. By Tim Povtak | Sentinel Staff Writer Posted June 25, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------ Dwight Howard wore a dark blue suit, blue shirt and a tie speckled in shades of blue. Magic colors. Howard was trying to will his way to Orlando. "I was," he said. Howard was taken by the Magic with the first pick in the NBA draft Thursday night, but he had no clue if he'd end up in Orlando or Charlotte until Commissioner David Stern announced his name. "I had no indication," Howard said. "I was surprised." The Magic had kept it a secret after finally deciding to pick Howard over Emeka Okafor around 1 a.m. Thursday, ending a drawn-out debate with a unanimous vote, gambling that the Atlanta high school player will become a superstar power forward. He'll lead a major rebuilding plan that also features College Player of the year Jameer Nelson, whom the Magic acquired in a trade with the Denver Nuggets by giving up a future first- round pick. Only 5-11, Nelson didn't get selected until the 20th pick and says he has something to prove. "I have a little chip on my shoulder -- make that a big chip," he said. The Magic called Aaron Goodwin, Howard's agent, around 4 p.m. to tell him the good news. But Goodwin wanted the first of many surprises in Howard's NBA career to feel natural, to be unforgettable. Goodwin kept it himself. "I couldn't sleep. I couldn't think. I couldn't eat," Howard said. "I think the only thing I ate all day was two pieces of pineapple. "[Goodwin] was telling me it was 50-50. I don't know Dwight, I don't know.' I said, 'Oh, man.' He was like, 'Let's just wait for tonight.' " Then Stern said Howard's name, and Goodwin got the desired effect: Howard stood, raised his arms and was overcome with emotion. The Georgia kid who decided in ninth grade he wanted to be an NBA player and later the top draft pick, got his night in the sun. Howard, 6-foot-10 1/4 and 240 pounds, won out over Okafor, 6-10, 257. Okafor had more experience, playing three years at Connecticut. He was named the defensive player of the year in college basketball as a junior last season, and seemed to answer Orlando's largest need. "I'm not in their shoes," Okafor said. "They were looking for certain things." But Magic General Weisbrod said when you have the No. 1 pick, "It's your responsibility to take the best player. Our guys had the conviction to take the best player. We didn't want to be short-sighted." Okafor was bothered by a stress fracture in his back, and also had a knee problem last season. Weisbrod admitted that Okafor's health was an issue, adding, "Obviously the medical situation had to factor into it in some degree. But it was more about Dwight's skill." Howard starred at Atlanta Southwest Christian Academy, a school with just 300 students. He knows the eyes are on him, but he says, "I don't feel any pressure. I'm willing to take the hits. I'll overcome it. "I'm glad to be in the league. I was just waiting for that magical moment." A magical surprise. Brian Schmitz can be reached at [email protected]. --

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