http://www.nba.com/blazers/features/Day_One_With_Darius-96958-41.html

Day One With Darius

January 22, 2004

Hours after landing at Portland International Airport, Darius Miles
met with local media and Blazers.com.
Learn what he had to say about his new team below:



Blazers.com: Where were you when you found out you were being traded?

Darius: I was at my mom's house playing ping-pong and hanging out
with my family.


Blazers.com: Were you surprised by the news?

Darius: Actually, yes. I had just come off of a really good game and
didn't think being traded was in the cards.


Blazers.com: What have the last 24 hours been like for you?

Darius: Just getting ready to come out here. My mom helped me get
things together, I said goodbye to my family and did everything
possible not to miss my flight to Portland.


Blazers.com: Everyone seems to want to know why you missed that last
practice in Cleveland

Darius: We had just come back after a seven game road trip and I
hadn't adjusted to the time zones. I slept in and didn't even know it
until the doorbell rang. The team sent someone to check on me.


Blazers.com: Was it as big of a deal as the media made it out to be?

Darius: Not really. I just made a human mistake. I apologized to my
coach and teammates. That was that.


Blazers.com: What do you think you bring to this team?

Darius: A love for the game. I'm quick and young and I can get in
some monster dunks.


Blazers.com: How old were you when you first dunked?

Darius: I think I was in the fifth grade. Seriously!


Blazers.com: The Perfect Score is coming out this month, what was it
like to act in it?

Darius: It's very different from basketball. The director and writer
were big Clippers fans when I was in L.A. and they approached my
agent and asked me to come audition for it. So I went and read for
it, but it was a really weird feeling.


Blazers.com: Do you think you'll continue acting?

Darius: I don't have any plans right now. It was fun, but I want to
play basketball for awhile.


Blazers.com: What do you think of Portland?

Darius: I only know it from what I've seen when we play here. I've
heard a little bit about it, but mostly I just know the fans are
really loud in the Rose Garden and that it's a great arena.


Blazers.com: Thanks for taking the time to talk to us and welcome to
Portland.