Column: Aaron Worm, Behind the Mic

The word “lockout” is echoed in the sports world a lot these days.

Football Lockout. NBA Lockout. All you hear in the NFL lockout is the owners and the players can’t split a SURPLUS of money. (What a tough problem to have — too bad the Minnesota State government doesn’t have that problem). When it comes to the NBA lockout, I have no idea what the deal is, I haven’t paid that much attention. I am excited about the young and talented Timberwolves — but I need my football fix and fantasy football fix — so please let there be NFL football, please.

I started to care a little bit about the NBA lockout, when I ran into Ben Woodside on Friday night at the Albert Lea High School Athletic Hall of Fame banquet. I know most everyone in town knows who Ben is, but for the few that don’t, Woodside, 26, is Albert Lea’s all-time leading scorer in boys’ basketball. He led North Dakota State to their first NCAA tournament appearance, and has played professional basketball the last two years in France where he was named to the league’s All-First Team this season averaging 18.5 points a game and 5.5 assists.

So how is the NBA lockout affecting Woodside? The last two seasons Woodside has played for NBA summer league teams — last year with Golden State, and 2009 with Minnesota. Woodside said “I am looking to probably go back to Europe. With the whole NBA lockout it hurts my chances as far as playing in a summer league and getting exposure to NBA teams when they don’t have a summer league.”

Now if Woodside will ever play in the NBA is still a wait and see process. I know a lot of us in Albert Lea are hoping someday to watch Woody play professional ball here in the USA. (Note to David Kahn: Woody would be a perfect backup to Ricky Rubio).

Whatever Woodside decides to do next year, Ben will not be alone in the decision making.

“It’s not about me individually,” Woodside said. “If it was just myself, I could go anywhere and do whatever I wanted. I am getting married this summer. I’ve got my wife; I’ve got to look into her perspective as well.”

Woodside’s finance, Amanda Durick, spent the season with Ben over in France. I send an early congratulations to the couple and wish them the best in the future.

Back to basketball, wherever Woodside plays next year, and whatever team he plays for they are going to be lucky to have him. The guy can play the game and is a standup individual off the court. Woodside was a 2010 inductee to the ALHS Athletic Hall of Fame, but wasn’t able to get back for the event, so he made sure he came this year to thank everyone for the honor. Good guys don’t always finish last. A lot of times they end up in first and Woody is a prime example.

KATE Radio Sports Director Aarom Worm’s column appears each Monday in the Tribune. Listen to him from 6 to 11 a.m. weekdays on the Breeze.