NFL Draft Ramblings

Has technology ruined the NFL Draft?

Do you remember watching the NFL Draft with anticipation? If you were like me, you would be parked on the couch, with beer in hand, and watch as though you were related to the players involved. When the Cowboys’ pick drew near, and as the commissioner walked toward the podium, a thousand thoughts crossed your mind:

Would they take the running back or go with the dominant outside linebacker?
Should they take advantage of the highly-rated cornerback falling into their lap or did his off-the-field problems scare them away?
Could they trade down and acquire additional picks for next year?

You were on the edge of your seat as the commissioner proclaimed, “With the 13th pick in the 200_ draft, the Dallas Cowboys select…” A wave of emotions accompanied the announcement – usually leading to the three W’s:

“What?...Who?...Why?”

For me, this entire process has changed – and I blame technology. ESPN has surrounded every player with cameras and microphones to provide fans with an “inside look” into the goings on at the draft. I don’t like it.

I don’t like seeing Mark Sanchez celebrating with his family and throwing a Jets cap on before the pick is announced. It is simply anticlimactic. There is no more anticipation. There is no more “shhhhing” your buddies as the commissioner begins to speak. Instead, fans see guys like Sanchez put a Jets hat on minutes before the pick is announced. It’s not good television. It’s not exciting. It’s a buzzkill.

ESPN has been so focused on finding new ways to provide a behind-the-scenes perspective that they have forgotten that fans enjoy the mystery of the draft. The former mystique of each team’s thought process created an energetic anticipation surrounding each pick. Fans enjoyed not knowing what was going to happen next.

Showing the result of the pick before the announcement is like seeing the secrets of a magic trick before the magician performs. It is like announcing the winner of American Idol before the contestants sing (did I just drop an American Idol reference into an NFL Draft piece? That’s either very cool…or very sad).

OK, my soapbox just crumbled – but you get my point. Behind-the-scenes at the draft sucks.

Draft Quickies
#1: Who attends the NFL Draft? Seriously…I need to know. Unless you are: 1) a player; 2) a family member of a player; 3) an agent…what are you doing at the draft? I mean, from what I can tell, there is nothing to do. You just sit in your seat, drink a beer or twelve and await the one moment that is actually relevant to your team.

I’m not saying that it’s boring – it’s just that if I had a choice between attending 8 hours of an NFL Draft and watching women’s bowling with my grandmother – it would be a tough decision. Spending eight hours of boredom awaiting a 10-second payoff is too reminiscent of college dating for my blood.

#2: After the Jets ingeniously moved up to take Mark Sanchez, the camera panned to a section of Jets’ fans shaking their head while yelling, “NO! STUPID PICK!”

Seriously? I understand: they were Jets’ fans, so that has to be taken into account. They had probably been drinking since 7 that morning, but protesting…vehemently protesting that pick? Really? I would think that, even a sloshed New Yorker would have trouble disagreeing with that move.

I Take It All Back...

Well, not really - but today, Michael Young did what most thought that he should do: come through in the clutch.

For today, I revoke my thoughts expressed here.

Brandon McCarthy is Alive!

I was at the game yesterday and had an opportunity to watch BMac up close. He was obviously a little inconsistent, but don't we have to be pretty excited about what we saw?

Here are my observations from the game and things that might have slipped through the cracks:

* McCarthy's fastball started around the 88-89 mark...and progressively jumped up into the 92-93 range. It was opening day, so I would think that his velocity will continue to improve as the season continues.

* McCarthy struck out 7 in just 5 innings - when was the last time that a Ranger pitcher had the stuff to rack up Ks like that...especially without a dominating fastball?

* McCarthy's slurve was absolutely dominating at times. I can't remember any Indian that was able to do much with his offspeed stuff...and guys like Mark DeRosa looked absolutely helpless against it.

Yes, the walks were problematic and his fastball location was off at times, but I was ecstatic to see some of the "potential" that we have heard about actually put into action. If he stays healthy and his fastball velocity improves to the 93-95 mark, he could have a big year, IMO.

I don't know, I just thought that there would be more excitement around his start and the fact that he appears to have regained some of his dominating stuff. To me, it was a very encouraging start.

Mavs Remain Resiliant

Dallas beat the Miami Heat yesterday, 98-96. Dirk stepped up, Kidd hit a key shot and Josh Howard - yes that Josh Howard - made a huge impact in the 4th quarter.

Howard was the story - playing only his second game in the last month - scored 18 and made several big plays down the stretch (including taking the game-winning charge with two seconds remaining).

But to me, the more important take away from last night lies within one number: 5.

By winning last night, the Mavericks improved to 17-4 in games decided by five points or less. That has to be significant, right?

Think about playoff basketball: aren't post-season series often decided in the last few minutes of each game? Isn't that what playoff basketball is all about?

I am not completely drunk on Maverick kool-aid, but I am excited to see that this team continues to play resilient basketball. Do they have giant letdowns about once each month? Sure. But for the most part - in big, meaningful games - this team plays hard:

And despite the negative connotation surrounding the prospect of fielding an "old" team, there is something to be said for experience. Jason Kidd appears to have no problem taking - and making - big shots in clutch-time. Dirk is a stud. Terry consistently hits big shots. This team simply presents some very difficult end-game matchup scenarios for their opponents.

The team isn't great - but they have piqued my interest. If they can avoid having a giant letdown in the playoffs, an opening-series showdown with Los Angeles could be interesting.