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Show ^ V ™ SUMMER UTAH CHRONICLE SPORTS www.dailyulahchronicle.com Wednesday, J u n e 29, 2005 Who will hoist the Gold Cup? Breaking down the World Cup warm-up tournament Jazz.fans at the Delta Center react to the team selecting Deron Williams with the third pick in the NBA Draft on Tuesday night. Jazz trade up, pick Williams over Paul Chris Bellamy Chronicle Asst. Sports Editor The No. 3 pick of the NBA Draft was up for auction Tuesday, and the Utah Jazz came out the winners. The Jazz acquired the pick from Portland . yesterday afternoon and, in dire need of an ; answer at point guard, used it to pick Illinois' Deron Williams Tuesday night. "He's a winner. He's a pass-first point guard. And I think he's a kid that anybody • you've ever talked to about him wants to i play with him," said Kevin O'Connor, the | Jazz' vice president for basketball opera- tions. "You recognize guys that when they , go for the basketball, they go and get it with a purpose. And that's what he is." ', Williams had a great showing in the NCAA Tournament this spring, which vastly improved his draft stock. He obviously impressed the Jazz front office enough to '. pick him ahead of Wake Forest AH-Ameri- can Chris Paul, who was regarded by most as the best point-guard prospect available. Paul, who left Wake Forest after his sophomore season, was taken by New Orleans with the very next pick. Since John Stockton's retirement in 2003, the Jazz have not been able to find a reliable replacement at point guard. Last year alone, four different players started at the position. Of the four, only Keith McLeod is expected to be back next year. Carlos Arroyo was traded to Detroit last season and Raul Lopez is heading back overseas to play in Spain. Utah gave up both of itsfirst-roundselections—No. 6 and No. 27 overall—to acquire the third choice, and also gave Portland a 2006first-roundpick that the Jazz acquired from the Detroit Pistons earlier this year. "We gave away a whole lot, but we had a lot to give," O'Connor said. While the U boasted the top overall pick with the Milwaukee Bucks' Andrew Bogut, the national champion North Carolina Tar Heels saw four of their players go in the first 14 picks Tuesday night, most notably Marvin Williams, who was picked No. 2 by the Atlanta Hawks. Point guard Raymond Felton and forward Sean May will remain teammates and won't have to travel far to their new home. Both were picked by the Charlotte Bobcats in the first round. With Paul and Deron Williams off the board, Charlotte used the No. 5 overall pick on Felton, despite the fact that current Bobcats point guard Brevin Knight led the Eastern Conference in assists last season, averaging 9.0 per game. The second-year Bobcats picked May with the 13th pick. The fourth Tar Heel to go, guard Rashad McCants, went to the Minnesota Timberwolves with the very next selection. Draft-day surprises included former See J A Z Z Page 8 BOGUT PICKED NO. 1 ':']':': : \ continued from Page I battle questions about everythingfromathleticism to problems with his optical health. Tormer Ute head coach Rick Majerus—who recruited Bogut and coached him for most of hisfreshmanyear—advised the Bucks against selecting Bogut, reportedly saying that the Ute may have a hereditary degenerative eye condition. Bogut and current Ute coach Ray Giacoletti vehemently denied the claims, while Bogut subjected himself to rjurnerous eye exams and doctor visits to prove otherwise. SyThe incident will add intrigue to Bogut's arrival in Milwaukee, as Majerus lives in the city and consults the Bucks <xn personnel issues. In a recent on-campus interview sessiorh Bogut refused to speak about his former coach, furtjiering a rift that reportedly developed over playing style during Bogut's first year at the U. * IJven though Bogut is set to be a millionaire in the NBA, thjeUtes will not be left with a bare cupboard in the Australian big-man category. Redshirt freshman Luke Nevill, a 7fooM-inch Perth native, will be trying tofillBogut's shoes. When asked about Nevill, Bogut said, "Even though it was Former Ute center Andrew Bogut is congratulated by hts father Michael Bogut cqjly practice, he was the best center I faced all season." after he was chosen by the Milwaukee Bucks as the first overall pick of the ^" ; jbeatty@chronicle.utah.edu 2005 NBA Draft Tuesday in New York. Tf ifi f.;- »^» if;* «-"• - ^ K& , 41 2005 NBA Draft Picks LLJII ' J • 1 • courtesyof www.nba.com -1 1 £t =' E; jPW( Team ' ^Irst Rounds ^ " Player F•osltlon School rond Round Pldt Turn •*&».Milwaukee Bucks ^ 2 . " Atlanta Hawks ? ?3. Utah*Jazz • 4. New Orleans Hornets K5. J-CBarlbtte 'Bobcats. "1 „ 6. Portland Trailblazers £7.. 1 Toronto Raptors ~ ! . ^8. New York Knicks^ 1-9.". Golden State Warriors Player Position School 1 Rights traded to Portland LL. AndrevvJ^gut-^ i£&?iQta&,;.: Salim Stoudamire G Arizona ; ; 31. Atlanta Hawks* Marvin Williams F UNC G Duke _ 3 ^ { L A Clippers • . ; - r r ^ t Daniel Ewing G HUhoJS. . . . ...:. ; DerbniWjIJiaSft 33. New Orleans Hornets Brandon Bass LSU Chris Paul G W a k e Forest 1/ ' 'SlfflL Utah Jazz "_ _ 1 .'_ GJ. Miles \__\ i G Skyline H.S: RaymobSFF. elton \_ G U N E " " ' 35. Portland Trailblazers Ricky Sanchez3 IMG Academy (H.S.) Martell Webster G Seattle Prep (H.S.) 3 ^ Milvvaukee Bucks ^ ErsarjlJIyasova :. -" ' F'.Turkey "_,'"''. -" ChadH YlUariUey? VF UC6^.n_;_ 37. LA. Lakers Ronnyfuriaf Gonzaga r Travis Dlener^ - - G Marquette_ . _ / Channing Frye C Arizona 36. Orlando Maigic/ IkeffiHogu, F Arl^jna State . 39. L A Lakers Von Wafer G Florida State Andrew Bynum C St. Joseph's H.S. £40. Golden State Warriors MontaEUJs. / _ 1 G Lanier H.S, _ ; M 10.__LA. Lakers 8.11. -Orlando Magic '. HJBhVazquez 41. Toronto Raptors F .Spain, . Roko Ukic G Croatia 12. L A Clippers Yaroslav Korolev F Russia | 42- r Golden State Warriors Chris Taftil F Pitt , , . _ . . . ; : Sean May Mile Hie C Yugoslavia ^ii'IXharibtte Bobcats F.."ustT:: " . . :.. :i 43. NewJersey Nets ,14-_ Minnesota T-Wolves Rashad McCants G UNC 44. Orlando-Magic M. AndriusEevicius F Lithuania \ ^ ! . " . . " £15. .NewJersey Nets-' '..' &otoine Wright __ -G.^rESk^SjA'&M . - . M 45. Philadelphia 76ers Louis Williams G S.Gwinnett H.S. F Oklahorrxa State 16. Toronto Raptors Joey Graham _46. . Indian spacers "_'" ~ Erazem Loi$eku Tv'F-l Slovenia Indiana . ; C u Indiana Pacers.. _:__.!&.Jyanny ur^nyerJIJcVJaEjtpJew Mexico ' a 47. Minnesota T-Wolves Bracey Wright G 18. Boston Celtics Gerald Green "F Gulf Shores (H,si) Mickael Ge/abale F France "3Q.. SeattleTSohics . #*"• 49. Washington Wizards Andray Blatche F S.Kent Prep (H.S.) r3j£'J0eriiphlsjGdsdies..J!*I "EikimV^arrIcJ<:"~ FXSyracuse G N.C State 20. Denver Nuggets Julius Hodge 50-' Boston Celtics " ' ~ " Ryan Goryfes v • F 1 Providence Robert Whaley F Walsh ''::JfL'.T?fi6en& Suns. I *l__fV JJ&Rpblnsbh \ j ^ • Washington" 1 J 51. Utah Jazz G Georgia Tech 22. Denver Nuggets __ Jarrett Jack1 52. Denvfr Nuggets, A^etHeJvelle "^ '5pa1ff [_ _ 1 . . ." .."."" ' .":23*ZSacrSfnento,KingsL2:i"'_ _ G JLoufsyilfe \JL~ I 53. Boston Celtics Orien Green F La.-Lafayette G Illinois U C L A ; ".;.• - - - - 24. Houston Rockets LutherHead 54. New tork Knicks Dijon|Thornpsor "..'25. .SeattleSonics " C _France ~'~'% .. _ 55. Seattle Sonics Johan R e t r o d Lawrence Roberts F Mississippi St. 26. Detroit Pistons Jason Maxiell F Cincinnati Ajfilr Johnson F Westche5ter.HS. 5(5,: DetroS Pistons •'[JZ^1 Portland Trailblazers LinasKleizSki" _ F. Missouri.. J " . 57. Phoenix Suns Marcin Gortat C Germany 28. San Antonio Spurs Ian Mahinmi F France " " F Italy ; ••; ;; L"58.1".Toroh&_RaptbR." \.j? Uros Slokar 59. Atlanta Hawks F Turkey Cenk Akyol L 'J2&JMlamLfleat.' - - ^ ' -. Wayne SlmJen5^•^EidilCansas ,• ^ £ • f Florida 30. New York Knicks David Lee , 60. Detroit E i s t o j ^ ' Alex Acker G: .-Pe7pp.ftrdine! c 'Rights traded to Denver In what may be the last good chance for World Cup Qualifying teams in this region to feel each other out prior to the stretch run to Germany, the Brian 2006 Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Gold Cup soccer tournament opens today in Miami. Every couple of years, 14 CONCACAF national men's soccer teams and two invitees from other regions (South Africa and Colombia round out this year's list) meet, often one year before the World Cup is set to begin. This year the Gold Cup will be played in Miami, Seattle, Los Angeles, Boston and Houston with the semifinals and finals to be played at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. In all, six U.S. cities and seven stadiums will host the event, which runs through July 24. Of course, not all of the teams in the Gold Cup are here for World Cup tune-ups. Some, like Cuba and Canada, have already been eliminated and are hoping to regain some dignity lost after both were eliminated in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. For them (and others like them) the Gold Cup will be a chance to exact revenge on the opponents still in the competition, particularly the United States and Costa Rica, both of which are in Group B along with Cuba and Canada. There is some pretty serious potential drama with the political implications of a US. blowout over Cuba (not to mention possible defections). Add the Nats vs. the Ticos, a replay of a historic match last month in Rice-Eccles, and it should make for some quality soccer (though some teams may be resting their best players). The following are brief rundowns of each participant, in order of their grouping: CONCACAF World Cup Q_u a l i f i e r s (WCQ), this is a dangerous team with the attacking Nunez duo, Edgar and Milton. The Chicago Fire Shaw is well represented on the side as Jorge Caballeros and Ivan Guerrero have starting roles here. Panama—The major surprise of CONCACAF thus far, the team has not been up to its previous qualifying round form after five final round World Cup Qualifying matches, notching only two points. As usual, MLS vet Julio Cesar Dely Valdes is their primary attacker. But the team does have some youth and talent. Panama could be a quarterfinalist. They have a solid back line. T & T—Trinidad is currently sitting last in the final round of WCQ for our region, but the team is loaded with players who ply their wares in big leagues, like MLS but also the English Premier League. They'll be ready for the tournament and are not a team to count out. (RSL's own "Tiger" Fitzpatrick, among others, is on the roster.) Colombia—The odds-on favorite to win the Gold Cup. Led by midfielder Elkin Soto and a potent attacking force, Colombia sits in fifth in the final WCQ for their region, which includes Brazil and Argentina. Enough said. Group B (Seattle) Group A (Miami) Costa Rica—The Ticos sit in a very favorable spot in final round WCQ, tied with Guatemala for third. As evidenced in Salt Lake City, Costa Rica is in the midst of a personnel change. Led by Andy Herron and Paulo Wanchope, this is a veteran team capable of making the quarterfinals and possibly the final round of play. USA—This just in: Eddie Johnson has been replaced by D.C;. United's Santino Quaranta. The United States may also be using the tournament to play lessused players. Considering Honduras—Also booted out during the last round of See GOLD C U P Page 0 Steinbrenner chooses his successor NEW YORK-With his 75th birthday approaching next week, Yankees owner George Steinbrenner made it official Tuesday: Son-in-law Steve Swindal will follow him as head of baseball's most storied team. Steinbrenner did not say when Swindal would take over. At a news conference on June 15, Steinbrenner mentioned in passing that Swindal was "going to carry on." "Yes, Steve will be my successor," Steinbrenner said through spokesman Howard Rubenstein in an e-mail response to questions from The Associated Press. "I also have other sons, daughters, sonsin-law and daughters-in-law coming along and they will remain involved. As I have said many times, 'You must let the young elephants into the tent.'" Swindal, 50, is married to Steinbrenner's daughter, Jennifer. He said there was no way he would be as hands-on as his father-in-law. "I think that's impossible. My inherent style is more delegation," Swindal said Tuesday during a telephone interview from Tampa, Fla. "I don't think there could ever be another George Steinbrenner. He is Mr. Yankee and has represented them for 32 years. I could only hope to surround myself with the best, brightest baseball minds and do a lot of listening." Swindal said Steinbrenner had told him he would be the successor. "We've discussed that all the kids would be involved at some point in running the team and everybody would contribute," Swindal said. "It just happens at this point in time my kids are further along, and I can spend more time in New York. The other boys have younger children, and they have to stay closer to home." Swindal and Jennifer Steinbrenner have a daughter who just completed her freshman year in college and a son who is at the Culver Military Academy, where George Steinbrenner went to school. Swindal was chairman of Bay Transportation Corp., a towing company, from 1987-97 and became a Yankees general partner in 1998. Harold Steinbrenner, one of George Steinbrenner's sons, also is a general partner. Steinbrenner's other son, Henry, has the title of senior executive. Steinbrenner also has another daughter, Jessica. In his e-mail responses, George Steinbrenner wouldn't say how long he will remain in charge of the Yankees. He headed a group that bought the team in 1973. "I love what I am doing, so I will not speculate," he said. The Associated Press |