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We liked the pick when the Bulls selected Joakin Noah with the ninth pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, but some were not sold on the center coming out of the University of Florida. We liked his championship team experience, pro athlete lineage and his size, but among the naysayers was the Tribune's Rick Morrissey, whose column was titled, "You must be Joakim." In the piece, the Tribune scribe said he'd eat his words doused in salsa if Noah amounted to anything in the NBA after three years.
With the fun-loving center averaging a double-double this season (11.4 ppg / 12.4 rpg through seven games), Morrissey made good on his pledge to eat his words, covered in spicy Mexican condiment, at the Berto Center on Monday. He even had the whole thing taped for posterity. In penning his mea culpa, Morrissey confesses, "I stand before you a humbled man, having been set straight by a Bull who possesses energy, heart and, yes, ability." Now, if only we could compel Jay Mariotti to eat something much fouler tasting than paper and hot sauce for all the crap he's written...[Via NQTC]
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That's pretty awesome. Joakim seems like that rare NBA player who isn't trying to come across as 50 cent's taller, meaner cousin.
I remember during the Final Four when they were interviewing him in his dorm room (or apartment bedroom, or whatever) and he picks up a container of Baby Wipes and he's like, "this is what everyone needs to have -- BABY WIPES!" Laughed my ass off.
I've heard the Cubs and the Bears described as sure-thing champions too often in my time in this city to ever believe anything local sports analysts have to say, though it's nice to see one of them admit he doesn't know anything. Personally, as an old SEC guy who just doesn't get all this Big 10 love, I was thrilled to see the Bulls pick Noah. And while I don't see it happening this year, I think that with a couple more good or lucky picks that build on the strengths of Noah and Rose, the Bulls can be a real contender.
Echoing all the sentiments here, especially Blue's. Plus how can you not love Joakim's draft night outfit? Guy is a monster on the boards for the Bulls - 21 rebounds last night! - love him.
I met joakim at a sox game once. He's a cool guy. Its nice to meet a pro athlete who doesn't treat people like dirt.
Rick Morrissey and anyone else can eat crow over Noah if they want, but I think it's a little premature. Fine, he's averaging 11 points and 12 rebounds per game so far this season, but that's after a relatively measly seven games. And he's eating his words just because Noah's had a few decent games so far? Really? So the other 154 games he's played in his pro career where he's averaged under 7 points a game and about 6.5 rebounds per game are wiped off the slate? Look, I think Noah comes off as a nice kid too, a breath of fresh air, but string together two or three season off double-digit stats and THEN maybe start with the reassessments.