Odds and Ends
I don't post as much. It's a fact. Most of my time is spent at Giants Gab. Scratch that. All my time is spent at Giants Gab. I don't post here because, well, I'm so busy over there that I don't have the time. Should I make time? Yeah, I should. And I will try.
In other news, NFL Draft was riveting! I watched pretty much every minute of it and I'm captivated by it. But coverage could be improved:
- More time spent on draft picks.
This is what the draft is all about, no? I want to hear Mel Kiper talk about this prospect, and that prospect. I don't want them to consistently miss picks. (of course, this is about ESPN coverage. If you've been following my twitter feed, you'll know that I don't have NFL Network). I really like when Kiper and Todd McShay argue about the picks. Focusing the draft on the actual draft is the way to go.
-No cheesy interviews
Did anybody watch those Bill Cosby interviews? He's hilarious, but this is football season, not Bill Cosby season. It was a big distraction.
-Shrink the analysts
I don't want 28 analysts. Give me Mel Kiper, Todd McShay, Ron Jaworski, Merril Hoge, and Tom Jackson and coverage will be 30 times better. Trust me.
- More stories on the players
I love hearing the backstories of players. So tell them.
I think this will improve coverage immensely. Hopefully they will implement it.
Thanks for returning to The Blog of Champions!
This Is Why Hockey Is So Great
Amazing finish to the Devils-'Canes game the other night:
Not many sports offer that kind of excitement.
Plummer Coaching High School
Jake Plummer is back. Well, not in the NFL, but in football. High School Football. Plummer signed on to be an assistant coach at Sandpoint High in Idaho. It's not the NFL, but you can't say he doesn't love football.
BTW, I just started watching How I Met Your Mother. Funniest show! Every episode, I'm cracking up. Definitely check it out.
RIP Nick Adenheart
As you all must know by now, Angels pitcher Nick Adenheart has tragically died at the age of 22. 22. 22. Too young for someone so promising to die. Too young at all. Adenheart had a great baseball career ahead of him, only to be ruined by an idiot drunk driver. It's not right. Adenheart pitched the best game of his career, only to be killed hours later. What kind of cruel world do we live in? Why is it that the best people die, the people who do things the right way, who play by the rules, why do they have to suffer, when others who play by their own rules and take life for granted get to live on. I refrained from writing this for awhile. I'm not sure why. Maybe because it's just so shocking. Maybe because I didn't want to believe it. Either way, it's not right. Adenheart, by all accounts, was a tremendous kid, with tremendous talent. He didn't throw it away. He's not one of those guys who can only get by on talent, character be damned. He did things the right way. And he gets punished. Why? For now, we're only left to cherish his life, ask for answers. But, if there is a lesson to be learned from this, you got to live life to the fullest. Because you never know when it can all be taken away. Rest in peace, Nick Adenheart. The world will miss you.
Awesome Wooden Commercial
Gatorade has been putting up some pretty good commercials lately. This one is with John Wooden:
Very well done. Not sure about the outfit, John.
Mock Draft 3
There's been a ton of movement on the draft board, what with the Cutler trade and all. Let's see what happens.
1. Lions
Matt Stafford, QB, Georgia
I don't know if Stafford will be an elite QB. No one can know. But after seeing Matt Ryan rejuvenate a lost franchise, this has to be the pick.
2. Rams
Jason Smith, OT, Baylor
Marc Bulger needs to actually be comfortable in the pocket.
3. Chiefs
Aaron Curry, ILB, Wake Forest
Might make a bigger impact than Jerod Mayo did a year ago.
4. Seahawks
Mark Sanchez, QB, USC
I know this may be surprising. But Matt Hasselback isn't getting any younger, and Sanchez could sit for a few years than star.
5. Browns
Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas
The Browns faltered with Kamerion Wimbley. I think Orakpo is safer
6. Bengals
Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia
Can probably start right away. Virginia should be called 'Offensive Tackle U'
7. Raiders
Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas
JaMarcus needs targets.
8. Jacksonville
Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri
So does David Garrard
9. Packers
BJ Raji, DT, Boston College
Should start right away as a run stopping force.
10. 49ers
Everette Brown, DE/OLB, Florida State
They need to get pressure on the QB
11. Bills
Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB, Penn State
So do the Bills
12. Broncos
Before I name the pick, The Broncos draft strategy has been completely changed due to the Cutler trade. Do they trade up for Sanchez or Stafford? Do they pick best player available? Should be interesting. The pick is Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU. Best pure 3-4 DE.
13. Redskins
Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss
If you haven't read The Blind Side, please do, you won't be sorry. Oher is a special talent.
14. Saints
Chris Wells, RB, Ohio St.
Will replace Deuce Mcallister.
15. Texans
Brian Cushing, OLB, USC
Should fit nicely with DeMeco Ryans
16. Chargers
Andre' Smith, OT, Alabama
Will probably start at right tackle from day 1.
17. Jets
Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State
They need a QB of the future.
18. Broncos
Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss
They should be loading up on defense after they were awful last year.
19. Buccaneers
Clay Matthews, OLB, USC
Need to replace Derrick Brooks.
20. Lions
William Beatty, OT, UCONN
Need to protect Stafford.
21. Eagles
Macolm Jenkins, S, Ohio State
They need to replace Brian Dawkins
22. Vikings
Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
They need impact players, and Davis can be that.
23. Patriots
Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
The rich get richer.
24. Falcons
Darius Butler, CB, UCONN
Seems to be rising up draft boards, and would fit nicely in Atlanta
25. Dolphins
Larry English, DE/OLB, Northern Illinois
Seems to be a Parcells guy.
26. Ravens
Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina
Gotta give Flacco some targets
27. Colts
Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia
More of a value pick, this gives the Colts a strong 1-2 punch in the running game.
28. Eagles
Eben Britton, OT, Arizona
Andy Reid likes offensive lineman, and he's the best one available.
29. Giants
Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers
They need wideouts, especially with the release of Plax.
30. Titans
Evander 'Ziggy' Hood, DT, Missouri
Need a replacement for Haynesworth.
31. Cardinals
LeSean McCoy, RB, Pitt
Edgerrin James isn't as good as he once was.
32. Steelers
Sean Smith, CB/S, Utah
They lost Bryant McFadden, so he could fill in.
Baseball’s Starting and Other News
Can you believe it? Baseball season is officially underway. It really is crazy. It's hard for me to explain my love of baseball. I mean, I can explain, but I won't feel that I'll give it justice. Baseball is life. You have winning streaks, losing streaks. But you always have a chance to redeem yourself, whether it's in life or at the plate. Anyway, I like the Yankees to win it all.
Friday and Saturday were probably the busiest days of my life. After all, when you are the site editor for a Giants Blog, and it's star player gets released, you're gonna be busy. I wrote the words 'Plax' so many times, I lost count. But man, it was fun. There was a thrill when I got the email that he was released, a thrill not for him, but for a great day of posting ahead. It was exhilarating.
I think Michigan State will win it all. Something about being in Detroit will really help them out.
I think Jay Cutler is an ignorant ass. He really rubs me the wrong way.
