'Bogey Man' is working hard, waiting for Shaq

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Aug 19, 2005 | by Linda Hamilton Deseret Morning News

Andrew Bogut is now "The Bogey Man," according to his new $5 million contract with Nike.

The former University of Utah star who was the No. 1 choice in the June 28 NBA Draft, going to the Milwaukee Bucks, has been on display this week in his home area of Melbourne, Australia, and the new nickname was prominent during his news conference at the Nike store there, according to several Australian news sources.

A Fox sports Web site from Australia allowed as how it wasn't convinced Bogut was truly happy over Nike's choice of monikers for him. "I'll probably get a lot of crap for it, but it will be well worth it," the site quoted Bogut as saying.

Bogut vacationed recently with his parents in Croatia, and he has been putting in about four hours a day with a personal trainer, trying to get NBA ready.

He talked about having a lot to learn before he'll be comfortable in the league. "I think all aspects of my game need improvement. There's not one part of my game that's perfect, and I think that's the challenge of playing basketball or being a professional athlete. Michael Jordan was the closest to perfect, and even he had bad games," he said to One Sport.

"I don't care about numbers, man, I just want to win basketball games," Bogut added. "I just want to get Milwaukee back in the playoffs, and if we do that I'll be happy."

Bogut also talked about having to face Miami's Shaquille O'Neal. "It's not going to be a coming-out party against Shaq for me," he said. "He's going to give it to me. I already know that."

"I'll get a lot of help from my teammates and just play hard, (but) he's probably going to get 30 (points) or something like that. He's the best center in the world. He is a (future) Hall of Famer and someone that's going to be very hard to stop."

RAUL OFFICIAL: Former Jazzman Raul Lopez, whose rights were traded to Memphis last month after he had asked the Jazz to allow him to play this season in his native Spain, is now officially part of the Akasvayu Girona, according to the FIBA.com site. The often- injured Lopez agreed to a four-year deal.

KRIS AND KOBE: Carlos Boozer isn't the only Jazz forward working out with other NBA players like the Lakers' Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles-area gyms. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports Kris Humphries is also there, preparing for his second year in the NBA.

UNDERAPPRECIATED: A poll of MSNBC.com readers chose former Jazz guard John Stockton as the most unappreciated NBA talent. Scottie Pippen of the Chicago Bulls, Walter Payton of the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Phillies' outfielder Bobby Abreu were next on the fans' list.

E-mail: lham@desnews.com