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REPORTING FROM ... THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE (WITH DRAFTEES!)

by Otto Strong and Ted Bauer
The Mag: 2008 NBA Draftees at NYSE

If the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange is any indication, the consensus is that the Knicks would do well to draft Joe Alexander, Kevin Love or Anthony Randolph. The three were met with applause and cheers ranging from "Lets Go Knicks!" to "Good luck in the NBA!" to people noting the alma maters of Alexander (West Virginia), Love (UCLA) and Randolph (LSU) as they took part in Tuesday's ceremonial ringing of The Opening Bell at the New York Stock Exchange.

As the three walked the floor to and from the opening bell perch, traders holding caps, photos, basketballs, magazines—even giant green hulk hands—approached seeking autographs. One trader flipped the script and handed Randolph a cap with the traders' own signature. "It kind of took me by surprise. I'm not sure what to do with it," he said of the cap.

So, Joe, what did you think of the day? "Pretty crazy. I didn't realize everybody on the floor was going to know who we were."

Earlier, before the ceremony, the trio received medallions from the Exchange as a momento of Tuesday's event. The medallion includes an image of a bull tussling with a bear. Love, a former Bruin, joked that he was sad to see that the bear was used as the symbol for a falling market.

The Opening Bell is just part of the festivities that have become NBA draft week, to be culminated by the actual selection Thursday evening.

"Draft week has come a long way," said Stan Love, Kevin's dad who played in the NBA and ABA for four seasons. "I was driving on I-5 and found out I had been drafted by Baltimore when I heard it on the radio."



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