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July 3, 2007
Bruce gets his athletic big
Since getting reamed by Nets fans for letting Kenyon Martin go in his first season as an owner, Bruce Ratner has been haunted by advisors telling him to "get an athletic big."
Yesterday, the Nets introduced their first-round draft pick, Sean Willams, proof that everyone, even Ratner, deserves a second chance.
NY Post, 'BIG' ARRIVAL
"We have our athletic big in Sean Williams," owner Bruce Ratner said.
Bergen Record, Nets see Williams as next K-Mart
"We have our athletic big in Sean Williams," Ratner said before clapping. "Everybody always says, 'Ratner, get an athletic big. Get an athletic big.' So ownership is very, very happy.
"In a sense, it's like getting Kenyon Martin back. Or since Kenyon, we haven't had that athletic big who is going to have impact down there."
Newark Star-Ledger, Nets' top pick gets backing from his Mom
"I asked, 'How much a part of his past was it, what was really involved, and is he going to stop?'" Ratner said. "That was enough. Not to diminish the severity of it, but we're not talking about hard drugs. We're talking about marijuana, and a lot of people have had that kind of past."
AP via, NY Daily News, Nets introduce draft pick Williams
"My troubles at Boston College have been well documented," said the 20-year-old Williams. "I knew my stock had fallen for what had happened, but I was confident that someone would pick me and give me a second chance. I'm looking forward to moving on and getting a clean start."
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Principal owner Bruce Ratner said the Nets "are all about giving people second chances and we believe Sean deserves a second chance."
Posted by lumi at July 3, 2007 7:35 AM