At the time, they had a dedicated phone line at the arena leading to the draft venue, and Pat Williams had to call ahead and announce the team's pick in front of all the screaming fans.
But somehow, there was a malfunction with the phone connection, and the call couldn't go through.
The draft was getting closer, and time was running short. The management was sweating in anxiety.
In the end, it was the public relations director, Alex Martins, who used his cellphone to call Stern, stating that they chose Shaquille O'Neal.
When Stern announced the result, all of Orlando went wild. That's the charm of being the first overall pick.
When I flew from Portland to Orlando, the scene was absolutely crazy.
I could hardly believe I was greeted with such a warm welcome as soon as I got off the plane.
The airport terminal was packed with people, and the Magic mascot was present.
There was a Dixie band playing, and on both sides were the most beautiful cheerleaders I've ever seen.
