Joakim Noah: The "African Viking" Wins it for the Gators

Culled from USA Today

 
Big Boss: Joakim Noah (R) blocks the shot of Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (L)

INDIANAPOLIS: Every kid in America might want to toss away those oh-so-yesterday headbands, grow out the dreadlocks and tie their hair back in a large bun. Forget about Kobe, LeBron, A.I. and Nash.

Right now, Joakim Noah is cool — and a champion.

Noah, Florida's slithery smooth center who until recently was only known for having a famous father, emerged as the biggest star in the NCAA championship, leading the Gators to their first title with a 73-57 win over UCLA on Monday night.

Joakim Noah (13), left, goes up for a basket against Alfred Aboya (12)

He dunked and rebounded over the Bruins. He passed around them, intimidated them, even screamed at them. He was nearly unstoppable and was selected the most outstanding player of the Final Four.

Noah stared straight in the face of UCLA and all its history and made a little of his own. Although they were cheering hard for their alma mater, Bill Walton and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar also had to be proud of this big man.

With his father, former international tennis star Yannick Noah, cheering his every move, the 6-foot-11 Noah finished with 16 points, nine rebounds and six blocks. He ended the tournament with 29 blocks, breaking the previous tournament record of 24 set by Arizona's Loren Woods in 2001.

When the Gators had finally put away the Bruins in the final minutes, Noah skipped toward the section of seats where his father was standing and pounded his right fist into his hands.

In the stands, Yannick, now a reggae star in Europe, bounced up and down to a Gators' beat and raised both arms triumphantly like he had just won the French Open.

"Yeeeeaaaahhh," he screamed loud enough to be heard back in Gainesville.

At the final horn, his son laid back on the floor as if in shock as streamers fell from above. Then he bolted to the Florida band, climbed on a table and led the delirious Gators fans in their signature "Chomp."

The party was just getting started. Noah climbed over the railing and into the stands to hug his father, and at about the same moment it was announced he was the most outstanding player.

As if there was any doubt.

The kid did it all.

"It's unbelievable," he said. "It's the best I've ever felt in my life. You work so hard for these moments and they are so worth it. We worked so hard as a team, so much sweat, so many tears.

"Not only does this feel good, but it smells good and it tastes good."

Yannick Noah's senses were equally overwhelmed.

"He was ready," said the elder Noah, removing sunglasses to brush away tears. "It was a good thing he didn't play so good in the semifinals, I think. It pumped him up. I'm so happy. I'm so happy for him, but also for all of his friends. They deserve it. It's a beautiful story."

From the start, the young Noah was the difference for the Gators (33-6). When he wasn't swatting away UCLA shots like some of his dad's overhand smashes at the net, he was altering the Bruins' attempts.

In the first half, when Florida built a double-digit lead, Noah set up in the foul lane and made the Bruins quiver.

On one possession, Noah blocked a shot underneath, hurried a putback by the Bruins, grabbed the rebound and led the Gators' fast break up the floor, covering about 60 feet in five long strides.

Early in the second half, he dribbled down the left side and delivered a nasty dunk over UCLA's Lorenzo Mata.

By then, the Gators and their star had all but finished chomping on the Bruins.

"He's very good," UCLA guard Aaron Afflalo said. "On offense, he has the ability to go outside. He's not stiff at all. He's able to make plays from up high. Defensively, he's just long. He has the ability to change shots if he's not blocking 'em. He played with a lot of energy."

A day before the final, Florida coach Billy Donovan said Noah was the player most like him: emotional, selfless and caring.

"After practice, he'll thank me three or four times before we leave the gym," Donovan said.

Noah hasn't always been the Gator with the biggest bite. He wasn't as tough as Donovan wanted, but he has steadily improved and no player in the tournament had a bigger presence — inside the paint or on the perimeter.

Noah's athleticism allowed the Gators to spread their offense, making it tough for anyone to defend them. If it wasn't Noah doing the damage inside, it was Al Horford or Corey Brewer. And when it wasn't Taurean Green beating someone off the dribble, it was Lee Humphrey draining three-pointers.

But the biggest weapon was the kid with the high cheekbones and high hops. The one who was raised in France by a former Miss Sweden, played high school ball in New York and dominated on a big stage in the heart of Indiana.

Comments

[Njoya]

(USA TODAY):Noah lived in New York until he was 3, then lived for 10 years in France, all the while developing a fondness for his family connection to Cameroon.

"It's my roots," he said. " It's a completely different culture. The people are just so positive over there, so happy. There's a lot of poverty over there, but it's crazy how it doesn't affect the people. Just happy people."

Amen to that!!!

[Sietta Murray]

joakim Noah is soooooooooooooooooooo SEXY!!!!Regardless to what anybody else says, i think he is the sexiest man playing college basketball! he seems to have such a positive outlook on life, I wish i knew him.

[Chela Welch]

I like joakim noah. He is a very down to earth kind of man. He also is the best player on the florida team, i think. He is also so so fine. I LOVE his hair. I would kill for stuff like that.

[Shakira]

i am deeply in love with joakim. i am only 13 but still. he is so fine. i know there is a big age difference but i would do anything to marry him. i wish i could acquaint my self with him. i would really love to meet him. his hair is so beautiful. its long and just so.. so.. lovely. if i could meet him i would tell him that he is probably the cutest guy i have ever seen. if you get a chance to read this joakim I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!! come see me in north carolina some time. parkton to be exact.

[Ambe Johnson]

NOAH JOINS THE CHICAGO BULLS

By DAN MARTIN

June 29, 2007 -- Joakim Noah spent part of his youth growing up in Hell's Kitchen, practically in the shadow of Madison Square Garden. And he remained a Knicks fan - until last night.

"The Bulls used to make me cry as a kid," Noah said after he was selected by Chicago ninth overall in last night's NBA Draft - the pick the Knicks traded to the Bulls in exchange for Eddy Curry. "And how ironic is it? Now I'm wearing a Bulls hat and I've never been so happy in my life."

Despite his previous loyalties, a giddy Noah said he was nothing but ecstatic about joining his new team.

"I'm playing for an organization that I really wanted to play for," said the 6-11 center, who helped lead Florida to a pair of national championships in the last two years. "I look at the Top 10 and I feel like Chicago definitely is one of the only teams that really has a chance to be a contender to win a championship."

If that's the case, it's probably just as well he's not playing for the Knicks.

Though Noah's selection as a lottery pick did not come as a shock, to those who followed him throughout his scholastic career, his development was.

As a lanky, 3-point shooting guard at Poly Prep in Brooklyn, Noah, the son of former French Open champion Yannick Noah, did not strike the casual observer as a player who would eventually become one of the best in the nation.

"When he first came to us about six years ago, I thought he had a chance to play professionally somewhere someday," said Poly Prep head coach Bill McNally, who was with Joakim at the WaMu Theater at MSG last night. "But somebody told me recently that he's the most improved player, ever. He might be right."

Now Noah, who last night was dressed in a flamboyant white striped suit with an enormous bow tie, gets a chance to show off his skills in Chicago.

"The Chicago Bulls have a lot of tradition," Noah said. "They are a team that isn't satisfied unless they win a championship, because I think that's what the city expects."

Perhaps, but he still knows this city better. After spending a year at UNIS, a school for international students, after moving to New York from Paris, Noah moved on to Poly. Yesterday, he spent much of the afternoon wandering around midtown and partied last night in his adopted hometown.

And without the trade made by Isiah Thomas two years ago, Noah might have been able to return. That didn't happen, and he didn't mind.

"It's all sweet," Noah said. "I couldn't be happier. The situation that was just handed to me is just. . . . Thank you [Bulls GM] Mr. [John] Paxson. I used to really not like you as a player, because you used to make me cry. But thank you so much."

[Leon]

Noah is a fuckin cutie and me and him will be dating in the future when im famous just rememer that