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JaMarcus Russell, Draft, New Orleans Saints

Soon-to-be- multimillionaire JaMarcus Russell will have his own cheering section in New York City for Saturday's NFL draft.

The Russell family arrived in New York this week and will be seated on the front row of the Radio City Music Hall when the former LSU quarterback's name is called as the first pick of the Oakland Raiders not long after 11 a.m. central time,

The family is headquartered at the W Hotel in Times Square and a family dinner is scheduled for Friday night. The family is a long way from home, which is Mobile .

Russell, as expected, is facing the countdown somewhat nonchalantly.

"This has been a lot of fun," said the quarterback. "I feel good. I'm ready now. I'm not nervous. I'm just looking forward to this because it's what I've always dreamed about. I always wanted to to be a high draft choice, but maybe getting picked first? That's over my expectations."

Zina Russell-Anderson, who is JaMarcus' mother, said, "I want to see JaMarcus' dream fulfilled."

Zina had JaMarcus when she was 22 on Aug. 9, 1985. She wasn't married to the father. Bobby Lloyd, a 6-5 basketball player at Alabama A&M and a former high school quarterback. Bernice Russell, Zina's mother, helped with JaMarcus. So did her son Ray-Ray Russell, who is close to Zina in age, and became a father figure to JaMarcus.

Lloyd has always kept a strong relationship with his son.

"JaMarcus loves his daddy,: said Bernice. "They get along very well and see a lot of each other. We may not want them to, but they do."

"I'm very pleased for JaMarcus,": said his father. "It's a blessing to be the potential No. 1 pick. That's history." Lloyd is in New York this week, too.

"I want to see them call his name," said grandmother Bernice. "I want to see my grandson stand up on that podium. That will be it. And I'll know my work was not in vain."

"He's a little bit overwhelmed, but he's still the same, still as cool as a cucumber," said his mother.

Russell arrived in New York on Tuesday after spending a week in Mobile . He signed trading cards on Sunday and took part in a charity walk. Last week was JaMarcus Russell Day at a Mobile BayBears double A baseball game in Hank Aaron Stadium. I was in charge of ticket sales for the single A Mobile BaySharks years ago when that team played on the South Alabama campus at Eddie Stankey Field. Russell now has had three days in his honor. The other two were at his high and junior high schools during the week of the Senior Bowl.

Russell credits his family for never have been one to get into trouble.

"I had a lot of people looking after me and looking out for me,": said the quarterback. "My mom, my grandmother, my dad, Ray-Ray. I've always been watched. I learned to be respectful of people. My mother and grandmother have both worked very hard their whole lives. That had an impact on me."

His name never made the newspapers for anything but football while at LSU, except when his auto was stolen two nights before the Florida game last season.

JaMarcus may surprise himself he is the No. 1 pick in the draft, but not his grandmother.

"I always told him he was going places," said the grandmother. :We tried to raise him to go in the right direction. I always told him he was born to be a star."

The Russells hope their prayers will be answered on Saturday morning when commissioner Roger Goodelll goes to the podium with the identity of the first pick of the Raiders.

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