Let's take Patrick Patterson for instance: a) "Patrick Patterson is the first round selection by the Rockets." or b) "Patrick Patterson was the Rockets' number one choice from the draft, and I'm Bill Worrell"
If your goal is get attention, shorter is always better, and I do mean always, never say in 15 words what you can in 10
My point is that Worrell consistently calls first round draft picks, for any team, as "#1 picks" and it makes it sound like he's talking about first overall picks in a first round. I'm not angry, I just want a monetary reimbursement.
Technically he's right, but I can see how this would bug people, and how a casual listener might misinterpret what is being said.
It definitely bothers me when Bill refers to someone (let's say, J.J. Hickson) as "the #1 draft choice of the Cleveland Cavaliers". While I certainly know what he's trying to say, and I know that Hickson was not selected #1 overall, it must be confusing for the casual or young fan. Seems like someone in production would point it out to him, but I guess they haven't.
I was watching an old NBA draft this summer (80s or something) and noticed that a lot of the commentators were using the same terminology. I think it's more of an old-school reference and Bill Worrell is obviously old school. In general, I'm not much of a fan of Worrell. I just don't like his style but I'm sure there's much worse out there.
I have never had any problems with this. I guess I don't pay too much attention to the commentators. All 3 of our commentators get annoying once you listen to them enough.
How could you not love Worrell? The dude is classic. Now you put a combo of Bill Worrell and Calvin Murphy together...... its ........ well its Spoiler
Worrell does it to Courtney Lee too: "The Magic's NUMBER 1 PICK two years ago who CARRIED HIS TEAM TO THE FINALS AS A ROOKIE!" Thanks Bill. You and your hyperbole can go take that outside, no need for us to see it.
Eh, it bothered me the first couple times, but I know what he means. ..and if you can't respect Bill Worrell, you have no respect for anything. 'Old-fogeyish'? I'd rather have that any day than what passes for NBA commentary these days. Stephen A. Smith? Gary Payton and Chris Webber? Give me old-fogeyish any day over that nonsense.
If a team doesn't have a first round draft pick, can their first pick from the second round be referred to as a #1 draft pick?
