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Monday, June 11
Too busy to think about 'big day'
By Brendan Haywood
Special to ESPN.com
Editor's note: Brendan Haywood provides ESPN.com a first-person diary during the days leading up to the NBA draft on June 27
|  | | Brendan Haywood |
Greetings from Chicago! I was in town along with everyone else in the draft for the NBA's physicals, meetings and media interviews.
When I last left you I was on my way to visit Detroit and Boston, both of which I felt went very well. For the Pistons workout, I was joined by Georgetown's Ruben Boumtje Boumtje and Seton Hall's Samuel Dalembert. The three of us went at it pretty hard and I thought we all did pretty good. But who really knows what the Pistons thought. I wasn't in town long enough to find out as I was back on a plane for home.
I was home for a day, which is always nice, but also tough. I wanted to see my friends and family but at the same time I needed my rest and still had to workout so that I remained sharp. The day trips to visit teams is good because you're in and out. However, it's hard because I feel like I'm always on a plane. And being over 7-feet tall, planes are not always the most comfortable place for me to be.
The next stop for me was Boston to meet the Celtics. There were several of us in town for a two-day workout with the team. My workout group included Michigan State's Zach Randolph and Arizona's Loren Woods. The first day of workouts focused on various agility drills. I can tell you one thing, doing these drills with two other people is much easier then doing it by myself.
Later that night I went to dinner with two of the Celtics representatives, Randolph and my Carolina teammate Joseph Forte (who was also in town). Dinner was great, but it wasn't a late night as we were up early for the second part of our workout. This time we got to bang around with each other.
To be honest with you, I am finding these workouts comfortable because my personal trainer has really prepared me well for all of this.
At times, I can't believe the draft is so close. But at other times, it feels like it will never come. I guess because it's been a dream of mine for so long and now it is finally in front of me. But by no means is it here. I still have quite a few more teams to visit before the "big day".
The weird thing is that while I am preparing for the NBA, I am still playing against college players so it doesn?t always feel like this is for the NBA. I just keep reminding myself that I am fighting for a job with each workout. Each workout, individual or group, is my own interview with that team.
And with it being the middle of the NBA Finals right now, I just get more and more excited thinking that could be me one day.
Everyone thought going in that the Lakers would walk away with it. But the 76ers have been in every game. I would like to see them win it. After all, they do have Carolina alum's coach (Larry) Brown and "G" Lynch. I feel bad for George getting hurt, but hopefully he will be able to return for Game 4. I know, I can't forget about another Tar Heel -- Rick Fox, but I always like the underdog.
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