41.   But many financial analysts have recently begun to view GM as the pick of the Big Three.

42.   But Stefan has had injury problems, and making him the first pick of a new franchise could be risky.

43.   But the Diamondbacks made him the second pick of the expansion draft and made him a starter after Joel Adamson went down two months into the season.

44.   But the first six picks of the draft were Tim Duncan, Keith Van Horn, Chauncey Billups, Antonio Daniels, Battie, and Mercer.

45.   But the unconfirmed pick of Card, a former deputy White House chief of staff and long-time friend of Gov. Paul Cellucci, also may shake up Massachusetts politics.

46.   Certainly, New York museums have their pick of most traveling shows.

47.   Charter members will have first pick of the tickets to the grand-opening concerts when they go on sale sometime this spring.

48.   Canty was the personal pick of Bobby Grier.

49.   Carr is a college graduate, a first-round draft pick of the NBA champion Chicago Bulls, no less.

50.   Cliff Williams normally waits half an hour to be seated at the Dixie Crossroads but had his pick of tables Thursday.