Do You Feel a Draft in Here?

(Note: I originally uploaded this whole thing unedited from NotePad. I didn't have internet connection until 7:55 p.m. on Draft Day, so there's some weird spacing at points, but for the most part, it's cool.)

Ahh, the NFL Draft. My favorite sporting event of the year. At this stage of the draft, I'm usually excited about what the Pats will do and very, very nervous about what moves the Bears will make. This year, it's a little different.

Coming off the Super Bowl, I can't say the Bears have a lot of needs. I don't even know if I have a preference for offense or defense. I guess I'm looking for the Bears to draft a safety and a wide receiver.

As for the Pats? The Bill Simmons stance: a linebacker and safety. I really hope they address those two needs with the first round picks. People like Michael Griffin (S, Texas) and David Harris (LB, Michigan) would be absolutley perfect.But if I know the Patriots -- and I do -- they'll bust out a surprise in the first round. They always do. It's pretty much a fact.

Well, let's rock this...

NFL Draft Live Blog 2007 (all times Central)

11:19 - Well, no surprises yet. The Raiders took JaMarcus Russell, which is what they should have done all along.

11:30 - Calvin Johnson to the Lions! I love Millen. I'm not saying this is a bad or good move, I'm just saying it's funny. I suppose if Detroit snags a QB in the second round, they could end up salvaging the draft.

11:36 - Come on, Browns. Draft Quinn already and get it over with. I probably should mention that my buddy Ryan and I are doing head-to-head mock drafts for money. So far,we're tied 2-2. I think he has Quinn, too. So this pick doesn't really matter.

11:41 - Joe freaking Thomas! Ohhhh man. Quinn is falling falling falling. So who's going to pick the Irish QB? Minnesota, I suppose. Washington would be a hilarious wildcard, though. Nothing the Redskins ever do makes sense, to me.They draft Jason Campbell in the first round a few years ago, and now, with limited playing time, they're ready to ditch him. They need to settle down, get some patience,and maybe save their draft picks, for once.

11:45 - Wow, looking at the Bucs depth chart, they REALLY shouldn't be drafting a QB. Wasn't Jeff Garcia, like, thee coveted free agent of the off-season? My money's on Gaines Adams.

11:49 - Goodell seems like he's taking this whole process a lot less seriously than Tagliabue. I feel like he could burst out laughing while he's delivering some of these picks.

Also, I wonder if Joe Thomas heard he's been picked yet. I wish I had the NFL Network so I could see his reaction on that fishing boat of his.

11:54 - Little Gaines Adams action. I'm digging his hair.

Bobby: 3, Ryan: 2

11:55 - I kind of go in and out of being indifferent to Mel Kiper and being totally bothered by him. Here's a guy that can be totally wrong about everything, but just because he's been there for so long, nothing ever needs to be validated. It's like when a college professor gets tenure. He's practically invincible.

12:03 - Well, Michael Smith was right. The Cardinals took OT Levi Brown from Penn State. The surprising thing here was learning Brown was actually higher on the Cardinals' board than Joe Thomas. I guess it makes sense, especially if you think about things in terms of "nastiness," which apparently is an important quality for o-linemen.

12:05 - I'm thinking the Bears aren't going to pull off a trade with the 'Skins.The Bears are such trademark letdowns on draft day. It's hard to believe in them. I'd be kinda nice to see a straight up Lance Briggs for the 6th pick trade. The problem is, Redskins and Bears fans alike claim they wouldn't be getting enough. This makes no sense to me. The Redskins are getting a young, proven player, and the Bears are getting a high profile draft pick. Tell me, who is getting the short end of the stick, here?

12:12 - It's hard to believe that after just five picks, it's already been an hour. This is going to be quite the day.

12:13 - LaRon Landry reppin' the White Sox (hat). Always good to see. And is he wearing a hang down belt? If so, does that make hang down belts cool? I haven't thought of hang down belts as cool since sixth grade. It's a new era for them, I suppose.

12:27 - Adrian Peterson is a great choice for the Vikes. Everybody I'm watching the draft with is claiming Quinn was a better choice, but the Vikings took Jackson last year in what, the second round? Give the kid a shot before you bringin an overhyped Noter Dame quarterback as your 'savior'.

12:36 - Who cares where Quinn is going! I have a new debate: Is Quinn's girlfriend hot?

The Verdict...
Mike: "She's cute"
Ryan: "She looks like she's in high school."
Scott: "She's attractive, but I wouldn't call her hot. I mean, I would go out with her, but Brady Quinn shouldn't go out with her -- I'm not nearly as attractive. Put it to you this way, Brady Quinn must have been pretty drunk last night if he brought her to the draft."

Ouch.

I'm still on the fence. I'd think I'd have to hear her talk first to develop a better opinion.

12:39 - Do you think old runningback Jamal Anderson is upset that the Falcons drafted a player with the same name (but an extra A in the first name)? I mean, what if new Anderson becomes amazing in the A.T.L.? That's an overshadowed legacy, right there. Oh well, he'll never have the dirty bird.

12:41 - With Miami on the clock, Mike, a huge Dolphins fan, is pretty much going Quinn crazy right now: "What's taking so long?! Just pick! Just pick!"

He's presenting some theory about how the Dolphins should pick faster because it would put more pressure on the Texans to make a pick afterwards, but I'm not really sure why he has it out for the Texans. At least he makes sense to himself.

12:47 - The new consensus here is that Suzy Kolber looks hotter with long hair. I always liked Suzy. Not enough to name a blog after her, but she really knows her football.

12:50 - And the Dolphins take Ted Ginn, Jr.

Mike: "No, No! No?! NOOOOO!!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?!"

Haha, it's kind of like he didn't believe it at first, then it really hit him.

12:54 - I'm still kind of coming to terms with Ted Ginn getting picked in the Top 10. So much for all those claims about his foot injury altering his draft stock. Good for him. Minor injuries shouldn't play a part, anyway. We're talking five, 10, and15 year careers, here. Why get over-concerned about an injury that will obviously heal.

1:04 - Nailed the Okoye pick. Ryan claims he's going to make a push later in the round.

Bobby: 5, Ryan: 3

1:18 - Patrick Willis rockin' a White Sox cap, too. Are the White Sox 'in' again? Are they the hang down belts of MLB teams? Quite possibly.

1:27 - Well, Packers fans everywhere just cringed. Every single cheesehead I know was positive they were gonna snag Lynch in the draft. Oh, well.

I'm debating if I feel bad for Quinn or not. I mean, as a society, should we really feel THAT bad if all of these players are going to be millionaires, anyway? Should the NFL be at fault for inviting him? I don't know. I don't think it's that big of a deal.

1:39 - Quite the picture of Adam Carriker; enough there to rattle a roomful of guys. I think each one of us gasped.

1:43 - TRADE! I love trades. Panthers swapping with the Jets. Are the J-E-T-S drafting Quinn?

Or are they making a push for Hall? Oh, man. I love the NFL Draft.

2:02 - Pittsburgh takes Lawrence Timmons from FSU. I got the pick right, but so did Ryan.

Boo.

Bobby: 6, Ryan: 4

2:02 - With the Packers on the clock, I have no idea who they've got in mind. I think I'll make a call to my friend Chris (big time Pack fan).

2:09 - He, uh, didn't pick up. Might be taking the Lynch loss pretty hard. That, or he's ignoring me. Either way.

2:13 - The Packers picked up DT Justin Harrell. I think it's a good move, despite the fact that some little white kid in a Packers jersey started booing the camera.

What does he know?

2:24 - TRADE! Broncos swap with the Jags to land Florida d-lineman Jarvis Moss....interesting.

2:33 - Sorry, I'm kind of slacking on the comments. But the Bengals are on the clock, so it's all getting interesting again. What if they drafted a shady character guy?

2:34 - Leon Hall to Cinci. Meh. I'm a huge Michigan fan, but Hall is the first guy from UM in a while that I really wasn't excited about being drafted. Him and Branch never really stood out to me. I mean, all season long, I was told that Hall was a lock to be a first round pick, but nothing he ever did on the field jumped out at me. There was never a time where I thought, "Wow, we're lucky to have this guy." Still, best of luck in Cinci, Leon. Stay out of trouble.

2:37 - We're planning a huge trip to Chick-Fil-A at the end of this round. I've never been before, but one just opened up in Iowa City. The real wrinkle here is that Ryan apparently won a year's supply of free Chick-Fil-A. Unfortunatley, Round 1 is at Pick 19, so we're far away.

2:47 - Damn. The Titans nabbed Michael Griffin. The Pats are going to have to re-think their draft strategy. I'm really thinking they're going to back out of this sensible S/LB policy. Is wide receiver a possiblity? I like Dwayne Bowe from LSU. Can't imagine he'll still be available when the Pats pick.

3:05 - Reggie Nelson to the Jags. Dan Shanoff's favorite player in the draft going to his 'favorite' team in the NFL. Gotta imagine he's pretty happy. I didn't even have Nelson going in the first round.

Oh, and just to update...Bobby: 6, Ryan: 4

We've both gone a little cold. Can we use these trades as an excuse?

3:09 - It offends me that ESPN is addressing the possiblity of Quinn going to the Cowboys. Tony Romo has to be at home thinking, "What the hell's going on?!"

I know that ESPN has to keep things interesting, but Quinn is NOT playing in Dallas next year. Is it possible that Quinn could fall to the second round? What a story that'd be.

3:14 - The Pats are so close to Harris. And with the Cowboys and Chiefs in front of them, there is no one standing in their way.

3:15 - TRADE! Browns swapped with Dallas. All signs point to Brady Quinn. Good for him...I guess.

3:17 - It's official. Quinn's a Brown. Ryan just put on "Hero" by Enrique Igleasis, and it's blasting. This, meshed with shots of Quinn dressed in a Browns uniforn as a kid makes this easily a Top 10 NFL Draft moment of my entire life. The chorus of the song started the second Quinn walked onto the stage in New York.

3:19 - I can be your hero, baby! I can kiss away the painnnnnn.

3:30 - The Chiefs used up all 15 minutes of the clock. Looks like their GM took a class or two in Herm Edwards Clock Management School. That joke doesn't even make that much sense. Whatever, Herm Edwards can't manage games...ha!

3:32 - Dwayne Bowe to KC! You know what this means? David Harris, David Harris, David Harris.

Come on, Pats.

3:33 - I have this hope that the Patriots won't take up as much clock as the other teams. You know, they're your team, you're hoping they act cooler than the other time wasting franchises that prolonged this first round.

Keep dreaming, Bobby. (Yeah, we've reached third-person mode).

3:43 - Well, the Pats drafting early into the 15-minute clock was a pipe dream. 1:37 left. Come. On. Pats.

3:44 - I'm getting a bad feeling about this. I'm bracing myself for a letdown. Mort's suggesting a trade. Nahhh. Keyshawn suggested a WR as a choice. Nahhh.

3:46 - Announce it, already!

3:46 - Brandon Meriweather, Safety, Miami (Fla.). Well, I originally had Griffin going in this spot. So, I think I can say things are alright so far.

3:47 - They just showed the video of Meriweather stomping on some FIU player during the FIU-Miami brawl. I'm feeling good about this. The thing is, I never really saw a lot of Meriweather in college, so I associate him with the only other safety from The U that comes to mind: Sean Taylor.

So, although I know nothing about him, I'm stereotyping him as a heavy hitter, playmaker,and loose cannon. Seems OK.

Hopefully Harris is still good to go in the 28 spot.

3:49 - Michael Smith's brilliant breakdown of Meriweather's ability to replace Ellis Hobbs in some complicated nickel package has talked me into the pick, more so.

I love Michael Smith.

3:50 - Sean Salisbury called the stomp in the FIU game "bush league." You tell 'em, Sean.

3:51 - Another interesting thing to think about: this pick came from the Seahawks. So immediatley, the question becomes, is/was Meriweather worth Deion Branch?

With the kind of free agency the Patriots have had in terms of wide recievers, I'd like to think that thus far, the trade will come out with the Pats in an advantageous position.

3:55 - Whoooo. Dodged a huge bullet with the Panthers taking Beason. When ESPN cut backfrom the commercial, I overheard Mort say "They took a Linebacker." Man, was I scared

Harris on the board. Harris on the board.

3:57 - "Are they playing the Rocky song for Philly's pick?" Ryan asks as he looks over at me. "You should blog about that one, don't you think?

3:58 - TRADE! Dallas and Philly swap, with Dallas now on the clock. Who do the Cowboys have in mind, here? I knew Jerry Jones couldn't go without a first round pick.

4:00 - Man, that Chick-Fil-A is becoming increasingly appealing. Buuuut, the Bears and Pats still have first round picks. Gotta stick it out, can't quit now.

4:03 - Oof, I just realized we passed the five hour mark.

"Doesn't seem like it," Ryan says. "It's going pretty smoothly."

I've gotten a second wind, so I'd have to agree with him. Mike and Scott probably don't, though. They've been gone for hours.

4:06 - ...and the Cowboys pick DE Anthony Spencer from Purdue. The Cowboy fans don't look happy. On the plus side, I just clinched the first round head-to-head mock draft victory!

The current score...Bobby- 6, Ryan- 4

Yeah, we're not that good.

4:08 - A lot of people thought Keyshawn would be a disaster analyzing this draft, but he really hasn't bothered me at all. Although he has talked about the wide receiever position pretty excessively, it's what ke knows, so I understand. I look forward to his comments just as much -- if not more -- than most of the other guys.

4:12 - It feels like the Saints have been on the clock forever, and they still have seven minutes left. I think I'm starting to hit another wall.

4:19 - Muh-Muh-Muh-Meachem to the Saints. They just cut to Meachem and he looked more surprised and upset than anything else. You just got drafted, dude. And the Saints aren't bad anymore.

Pats back on the clock, and I'm getting a third wind.

4:27 - Oh man, Greg Olsen is still available. Are you listening, Bears???

4:28 - Four minutes left until the Pats make their second pick of the first round.

4:29 - It's gotta be Harris or Poz, but which one?

4:31 - TRADE! Pats swap with the 49ers. I'm assuming the Pats are going into the second round because they don't currently have a second round pick. Maybe Belichick and Pioli know they can get a 'backer for cheaper in Round 2. Kind of like when they traded into the second round and got Chad Jackson last year. As far as cap space goes, this makes sense.

4:34 - Details of the trade are still unannounced. Get on it, ESPN!

-

5:36 - Ryan and I ended up caving and leaving for Chick-Fil-A as soon as the Niners drafted Joe Staley. I caught the details of the trade on the radio, and they seem pretty solid (the major highlight being the Patriots getting the Niners first round pick next year). It'll be nice to root against a team all year like I got to do with the Seahawks last season. Get the voodoo curses on Frank Gore's ACL going, ASAP.

As for the rest of the first round, I'm glad the Bears finally got the tight end everybody wanted them to get...it just took a year longer. Olsen was a combine stud, and hopefully that translates into some success in the NFL.

It's also worth nothing that the Colts got Anthony Gonzalez with the last pick. Man, Ohio State, then the Colts. That's a recipe for some hating. I can't wait to start rooting against him.

Well, I think I'm going to take it easy for the second round. After (almost) making it through the longest first round in NFL history, I'm a little burned out. So if you'll excuse me, I've got some loungin', eatin', and hangin' out to do.

Here's to a stellar Rounds 2-7.

-

5:48 - Eh, it got boring not blogging. Plus, the Eagles picked QB Kevin Kolb! Now that's inexplicable. The Eagles fans look a bit upset. Too bad Kolb didn't get to walk on stage. He would've been McNabbed so hard. Philly fans are insane.

I think I'll post some updates sparatically.

6:08 - GET OFF OF TED GINN! These NFL Live guys won't quit. I don't even like Ted Ginn that much, but these guys refuse to let go of the fact that he hurt his foot in the National Championship game in January. What did they want? For him to go undrafted? This injury isn't a big deal! Maybe it will effect the start of his season this year. Maybe. But that's about it. They act like he's recovering from paralysis or something.

6:10 - Meanwhile, the Dolphins redeem themselves (at least in the eyes of their fans) by taking the Brigham Young QB, John Beck. The fans were mad because they didn't get Quinn, but if Beck is as good as Quinn -- which some of the analysts are saying -- then maybe Miami ended up saving a lot of money and gained wide receiver/punt returner in Ginn.

I don't know a lot about Beck, but I kind of get the feeling Miami is doing the right thing. Not like that basketball team of theirs! ... Zing! ... Sorry, I had to.

3-0!!!

6:36 - Dwayne Jarrett to the Carolina Panthers. The ironic thing is, Keyshawn Johnson, his future teammate, was one of the more prominent people saying Jarrett should have stayed at USC for his senior season.

This whole selection led Keyshawn to say something like, "I can TEACH him to be physical, I can TEACH him to be agressive..." Ohhhh, man. Keyshawn is regeretting that call.

Keyshawn eventually interviewed a very emotional Jarrett, who is barely able to speak after being selected. Understandable, but we haven't seen a lot of that today.

Also, after re-watching highlights of Jarrett, how the hell did he slip to the second round?! He just dominated in college, and even if his speed is a problem, his hands and size pretty much ensure a certain level of success in the NFL. I really am rooting for him this season.

6:44 - David Harris to the J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS. Mangini strikes again. Bummer. Well,I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have been available when the Pats pick in the THIRD round.They better get a solid linebacker.

7:10 - And the Titans draft Arizona RB Chris Henry. Ouch to LenDale White. Thankfully, former Trojan Keyshawn Johnson backs up his boy White. Everything is right in the world.

7:30 - Well, Ryan is kicking me out of his place. Says he has to go to work or something. Weak. So, I guess this ends my live blog. In better news, he just offered me a free ticket and ride to the Cards-Cubs Sunday Night Baseball game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis tomorrow, and I'm in. So, say 'goodbye' to a live blog for Day 2, and say 'hello' to a probable post on my experience at Busch.

Bulls-Heat: !!!

Even with my head swollen from the buzz that is the NFL Draft, I owe it to the Bulls to write about last night's tremendous game.

There really is a lot to say, but I don't know if I have the words. It was probably one of the most complete games the Bulls have played all season. And it was on the freaking road! They just kept scrapping, and digging, and giving their best effort -- basically being the antithesis of what Miami Heat basketball is all about -- and although the Heat looked unbeatable during stretches, the Bulls were able to overcome Miami's scoring binges and put the game away with slightly more ease than I expected.

Deng was a little streakier than usual, but he got the job done. Hinrich and Gordon played the way they needed to play, especially on defense. And it can't be overstated how important to this team Ben Wallace is. There's a lot of people at ESPN who seem to think that keeping Tyson Chandler (who I pretty much only refer to as T-Chan...because I hate him) would have been a better move for Chicago, but being someone who watches the Bulls regularly, they're wrong.

Sure, T-Chan averaged more points and more rebounds playing with a great point guard on a non-playoff team, and maybe the Bulls did overpay a little bit, but with someone like Ben Wallace, stats kind of go out the window. Last year's playoffs spawned what I liked to call the "Two-Two" rule for T-Chan. Two fouls, two minutes. He was so glaringly ineffective at guarding Shaq that he basically fouled his way off the court every single time Skiles put him in. The Chicago Bulls picked up Wallace for these situations, and you say what you want about T-Chan's stats, but right now, Big Ben and his amazing defense/playmaking are likely headed to the second round, while Two-Two-T-Chan is sitting at home.

Sounds like a decent deal to me.

The question now is, when do the Bulls close out the series? Game 4? Game 5?

I said before if the Heat went down three games, they'd probably end up giving up, and you know what? I'm gonna stick by that.

Bust out the brooms, Bulls in 4.

We'll see.

Bulls-Heat: So Far, So Great

Wow, what an impressive win for the Grown Up Bulls. (Up 2-0 on the Heat, heading into tomorrow' game in Miami).

Favorite highlights from Game 2:

• Noc's sick seven straight points to close out the first quarter. The look on Ty Thomas' face when he first passed the ball to Noc was amazing, but it got even better after Noc hit the three at the buzzer. Watching those two interact is absolutely amazing.
• Speaking of Ty Thomas, how about Alonzo Mourning obliterating Thomas when he tried to sky over him for an attempted dunk. The veteran really put the rookie in his place -- I'm just glad Thomas didn't get hurt.
• Thabo being able to shoot the ball a little bit -- always nice to see.
• Hinrich getting things going a little bit. He wasn't dominant, but he was a lot more impressive than his dud Game 1. Dude still needs to work on staying out of foul trouble, though. Always happy to see him get his assists.
• The Bulls literally running the Heat ragged with screens and motion. I really think Miami is fading into the dreaded 'not-care' zone.
• Luol Deng: The surge continues.

Before the contest MJD at the AOL FanHouse predicted a Bulls victory, but he also followed it up something that really stuck with me: "And in Game 3, the Heat will still feel like 20-point favorites."

You know what? They kind of do feel like favorites. As confident as I felt about the Bulls winning Game 3, Alonzo Mourning said this, and again, It got me thinking:

"You guys [the media] can write what you want to write, and that's fantastic. You've got to do what you've got to do, and that's appease the public. But the bottom line is we're the world champions, and the first team that wins four games moves on. And that has not happened."

You know what? Mourning's right. The Miami Heat are the defending NBA Champions, and as dreadful as they've looked at times during this series, there's no reason to write them off, especially going into consecutive home games. That's not to say I'm forecasting some type of Bulls collapse -- I'm not -- but let's just say I'll be singing a much, much happier tune if the Bulls somehow go up 3-0.

But the way the NBA works, and homecourt works, and champions work, the task is daunting, to say the least.

Bulls-Heat: So Far, So Good

I really had to force myself out of writing a headline that said something using a play on of the word "heat," but I guess I was able to manage. I couldn't imagine being a headline writer for a Miami newspaper. Those hilarious/goofy headlines are just too easy not to use.

Anyways, I look at the series score, and I see:
Bulls- 1
Heat- 0

To me, that doesn't give a lot space to complain -- and I don't plan on it.........yet.

There have been a few things about this series that I've really enjoyed.

• Luol freaking Deng: The man from The Sudan has lived up to my always sky-high expectations of him. He's been my favorite player in the NBA for a full season now, and I think the rest of the league is finally starting to take notice (What took so long?!). He's finishing when he takes it to the basket, he's exploiting his match-up against D-Wade, and most importantly, he's leading the team in scoring. I really hope Deng can keep things going throughout this series. Seeing him in an All-Star uni next year would be stellar.
• Thabo Sefalosha: I've always been high on Thabo since his first game of the regular season against Miami on opening night. I thought he'd have a chance to contend for Rookie of the Year if he got the minutes. Obviously he didn't play well enough to deserve those minutes, but he's really coming into his own of late. He's always been great at defense, and apparently Scott Skiles is taking notice. What stood out to me was when Kirk Hinrich picked up his fourth foul in the 3rd quarter, and Skiles put in Thabo over Chris Duhon. It showed trust in the rook, and we're going to need him if we wanna take down the defending champs. Did you know Thabo's wingspan is 7'0''? Yeah, crazy!
• Shaq: The big fella's upset, and after fouling out in Game 1, he's already calling out the refs in his post-game interviews. It's the same every year. It's tough to officiate someone so big, powerful, and dominant. I feel for him, but at the same time, the question remains: is this whining going to turn into more motivation or a series-losing excuse fest?
• Mi-apathy: Do these guys care? Shaq and D-Wade seem to be invested, but after Game 1, Pat "The Devil" Riley told reporters that he instructed Wade to bank in a three for the last second attempt to tie the game. To me, Riley is too loose -- he just doesn't take these Bulls seriously. I know it worked last year, but I don't think this year's team has the same "it" that this current team does. They can't continuously treat the regular season like a joke and just expect to turn it on for the playoffs. I really think if they hit a two or three game deficit, the roof might just cave in on the team and they'll fully give up. They just seem like quitters, to me. (Again, excluding Shaq and Wade.)
• The Chicago crowd: This is the homer in me, but the good folks at the UC really turned it on for Game 1. From resurrecting the "No-ci-oni" free throw cheer from 2004, to shamelessly riding James "Public Enemy No. 1" Posey with a chorus of constant boos that culminated in Posey getting a technical while sitting on the bench, to cheering at all the right moments (like Ty Thomas' blocks and alley-oop), that was, in my opinion, the best crowd for an NBA game I have ever seen in a long, long time.

That's all I gots for now.

Tune in Tuesday for Game 2. I don't expect a let down. That is, I think the Bulls will continue to turn up the ... heat?

Haha, I knew I couldn't go a whole post.

Va Tech

Instead of making a feeble attempt at shedding perspective on the Virginia Tech massacre, I'm going to post a take from Michael David Smith at the AOL FanHouse entitled, "The Virginia Tech Tragedy and Why Sports Matter":

When I hear the words "Virginia Tech," sports immediately come to mind. I think of Michael Vick nearly leading the Hokies to the national championship and Marcus Vick falling far short of the expectations that came with his famous name. I think of the breakout season for Seth Greenberg's basketball team and the way they knocked my Illini out of the Big Dance this year.

I think of things that don't really matter, not compared to the tragic loss of life that happened on the Virginia Tech campus yesterday.

And then I see what other sports fans have to say about yesterday's events, and I'm reminded that sports do matter. They give us a sense of community with our fellow sports fans. None of us can imagine what my colleague Nick Dallamora, who's a student at Virginia Tech, went through yesterday. But I've been struck by how many sports bloggers have shown that sense of a community of fans today.

Dan Shanoff began today's column with the headline, "Today We Are All Hokie Fans." Every Day Should Be Saturday had a poignant post simply titled, "Moment of Silence," with a Hokie flag at half staff. We Are The Postmen reflected what I think a lot of people were thinking, which is that we want to say something but don't know what. With Leather noted the difficulty of being funny and The Big Picture said "no jokes today." Larry Brown Sports and Chris' Sports Blog and My Sports Talk all set sports aside.

That's the immediate reaction, but in five months we'll be watching the Hokies on the football field again. When we do, we'll no doubt see black stickers on the players' helmets, and our first response might be to think a football game doesn't mean a damn thing. But then we'll get a look at the student section, and the young people that game is bringing together, and we'll be reminded that sports matter.

Couldn't have said it better.

Also, I'm not one to be overzealous in the moment of tragedy with outrageous claims about courage and stuff like that (especially when my only means of being there is via television), but in all honesty, I can't believe how united the students in Blacksburg seem to be. Every take on the incident and every interview I've seen has featured intelligent, well spoken kids who -- even in the face of major tragedy -- have maintained a certain poise. I envy their ability to hold together like that. To me, it's remarkable.

He Gone of the Moment: Wilson Chandler

I'm a pretty superstitious guy, so when Friday the 13th comes around, I like to be as careful as I can. Fortunately, from a sporting sense, I'm not sure what else could go wrong. Wednesday, Drew Bledsoe retired, and now, I find out that Thursday, DePaul forward Wilson Chandler declared for the NBA Draft.

(via AP): CHICAGO -- DePaul sophomore Wilson Chandler said Thursday that he intends to declare for the NBA draft.

Chandler said he studied his options with his family and coach Jerry Wainwright, and he decided that going into the NBA was the best decision.

The 6-foot-8 forward led DePaul in scoring and rebounding last season, averaging 14.6 points and 6.9 rebounds. Chandler also led the Blue Demons with 47 blocks last season.

DePaul had a 20-win season and made the quarterfinals
of the NIT.

If it's a family/money thing, you can't really fault Chandler for his decision, but obviously this is a near fatal shot to DePaul's 2007-2008 campaign. I'm not sure if Chandler has hired an agent or not, but I'm assuming he's as good as gone.

If Chandler was already the man this year, he was going to be theee man next year after the departure of senior guard Sammy Mejia.

A great athlete, dunker, defender, and occasional three-point shooter, Chandler's brand of basketball was a hell of a lot of fun to watch. He always sucked me into DePaul games. I always thought he was good enough to go to the NBA after this season, but I hoped the lack of media attention on the Blue Demons combined with Jerry Wainwright's Top 25 recruiting class (currently ranked #12 at rivals.com) would be enough to keep Chandler in Chicago.

Guess not.

Looking onto a Chandler-less '07-'08 season, there are a few positives, including incoming five-star shooting guard (Darquavius Tucker), four-star power forward (Nayal Koshwal), and a few three-star guys as well. Also, I'm not totally sure on this, but I think Wainwright is bringing in a JuCo player or two, and from what I heard, he/they are supposed to be pretty talented. But aren't they all?

With Mejia and Chandler gone, this squad turns into Draelon Burns' team. Burns, heading into his senior year, will have enough talent to at least make a run at DePaul's first NCAA Tournament birth since 2004. Would I fault them if they came up short? Not after losing Chandler. His versatility will be missed.

RIP Wilson Chandler's Collegiate Career (2005-2007) ... He Gone.

He Gone of the Moment: Drew Bledsoe

Well, Drew Bledsoe, my second favorite NFL quarterback of all-time, retired yesterday. I honestly think -- based on his style of pocket passing which relies very little on mobility -- he could have lasted another four to six years in the league. Would he have been mediocre to sub-par? Probably, and I think Drew knew that.

He walked away from the game at the right time, and all of his quotes were squeaky clean, feel good, and for me, provided some closure.

Here were my favorites (quotes via ESPN, specifically Michael Smith) :

"Nobody ever had to come and get me off the field," he said. "Even in New England [in '01 after Mo Lewis of the Jets leveled him with a hit that sheered a blood vessel] I went back out there and they had to tell me to stay out. I never once stayed down."

***

"I'm not leaving the game with any hard feelings," he said. "I had a great career and I enjoyed all of it, with the
exception of losing. I enjoyed the time I had with all the teams I played for. I played with a ton of great players and a ton of great people.

"[Last season] was hard, very hard. Nobody said life was fair but that was a tough pill to swallow. I'm happy for
Tony, who's a good guy and a good player. It was sad for him the way the season ended. It's just that I felt like that team had a chance to do some things and I wanted to be on the field with those guys. It didn't work out. But there's no bitterness toward anyone over anything that
happened."

I disagreed with him being benched for Tony Romo last season, but I think, in the end, it was the right move. But that's why Bill Parcells has rings and I don't.

Also, after that Mo Lewis hit, he really could have died. But he didn't, and he came back weeks later, and I have all the respect in the world for him because of that. Even though Brady had taken over his original job.

I also think that Bledsoe was Pro Bowl worthy in 2005; just look at the numbers. He ended up losing the last NFC Pro Bowl QB spot to Michael Vick, who, predictably underachieved, but got in on name recognition. But I swear I'm not bitter.

I'll remember Drew for a few things...

• Getting me into Washington State and New England Patriots football...hell, getting me into football, period. He was my favorite player for a very, very long time.
• Altering the course of NFL history after taking the Mo Lewis hit.
• Being a class act all the way, in every city, for every team he played for.
• Always taking responsibility for good AND bad things that happened to his teams.
• My bandwagon-ish Dallas Cowboys fandom (2005-2006), solely because he was playing for them.
• Bledsoe's cannon arm in its prime, that -- assuming he had sound blocking during the play -- could make any throw, any where with surgical precision

But now, that's all over. So the question presents itself: Is Bledsoe Hall of Fame worthy?

On the New England Patriots message board I post on at over football's future, user "cordovagolfer" and I came up with a pro-HOF argument.

I wrote, "...I think his numbers alone garner at least some HOF consideration. 4 Pro Bowls. 2 AFC Championships. (1 Super Bowl, if we're counting that.) Top 10 in a few major QB statistical categories. I don't know, we'll see."

cordovagolfer wrote, "First it's 2 Super Bowls - 96 and 01 [he seemed to favor appearances alone as an accomplishment]. Let's not forget without him we don't beat Pittsburgh and then never get there.

Top 10 in Yardage and Completions. #13 in TD's. Everyone (who's retired) in that range is in the HOF. Whenever this man had an offensive line in front of him he performed better than anyone else. You can't call what Buffalo and Dallas put in front of him offensive lines, just offensive. He was one of the best pocket passers ever to play. His problem was always mobility. That shouldn't get him discarded from consideration. He will be every bit a serious candidate, just like Tippett."

To counter, user "Tzimisce" (a Patriots fan, who I consider to be the most intelligent poster in the whole forum) made his anti-HOF argument.

Tzimisce wrote, "He's one of those stat-padder types. Like Vinny Testaverde, but without the longevity.

As far as I'm concerned, the HOF should only be for truly dominant players. And Bledsoe was never in that category - not even close. He never really developed great football fundamentals. He was always trying to make the big play, rather than taking what the defense gave him, and that's why he was run out of New England. After the '00 season, I knew that he wasn't long for this town, even if Mo Lewis hadn't nearly killed him in week 2 of '01. Brady would've become our starting QB at some point during that season, regardless.

Bledsoe will forever belong in that second or third tier of QBs - guys who were good when placed in the right situation, with the right talent around them, but were never good enough to carry a team. He's in the same league as Kenny Anderson, Vinny T, Dave Krieg and Steve DeBerg - none of whom were Canton-worthy, even though they certainly had some very good years. If you want to see why Bledsoe was never a great QB, watch a tape of him performing when the defense got pressure from the outside, and then watch one of Brady in the same situation.

Brady would either dump it off to the running back in the flat, or step up into the pocket and throw it at someone's feet, where it couldn't get picked off.

Bledsoe, on the other hand, would continue to stand there like a statue until he was sacked, or he would wing it into coverage downfield, where it could've easily gotten picked off. The dude simply didn't have the pocket presence and intangibles that seperate [sic] the decent QBs from the great ones."

--

Whether you agree or disagree with Bledsoe being in the Hall of Fame, Tzimisce certainly makes a better argument.

But the numbers (padded or not) are up there with the best QBs of all-time, and maybe for some voters, that will be enough to push him in.

RIP Drew Bledsoe's NFL Career (1993-2007) ... He Gone.

Imus vs. Rutgers: Everybody Loses

Please don't allow me to be the millionth person to rag on Don Imus and his "nappy headed hos" comment. I'm so burnt out on it, that at this point, it means nothing to me.

What did rile me up, however, was the Rutgers women's basketball's cryfest-press conference. I'll admit I only saw highlights of the players speaking, but I did watch the Rutgers President and head coach C. Vivian Stringer in their entirety (live, during one of my classes here at the University of Iowa), and I must say, come. on.

The thing that really upset me about this press conference was the fact that it happened. I can't believe they got away with it. Could you ever see Bob Huggins, Bobby Knight, Roy Williams, or even Coach K scheduling a press conference to defend his players from comments few people even agreed with in the first place? I'll answer that question, N-O.

Rutgers' problem was thinking the majority of America sided with Imus, and my problem is, most people didn't to begin with, and after Imus apologized, there was no reason for them to go on live TV to feel sorry for themselves. This press conference was free publicity for Rutgers and blatantly stole Tennessee basketball's thunder. Instead of an off-season of Candace Parker and Pat Summitt, the casual women's basketball fan will probably think Rutgers won the title, based on the way they were acting.

That self gratifying, pointless press conference did nothing but bump Imus' words from inconsequential to relevant -- is that what Rugters wanted? The dude got suspended and dropped from MSNBC, and remember, he apologized!

Again, to Stringer and Co., everybody agreed with you in the first place. There was and is no reason to treat the situation like it was Rutgers women's basketball vs. America. You weren't setting the record straight, you were simply pushing your own agenda. Seriously, what was the point of dragging the media into your school? To cry? To feel sorry for yourselves? That's not news.

Acting like they had their backs against the wall was a shame, and while America ate out of the palm of their hand, I cringed.

News & Notes: 4/3/07, Chicago Baseball Edition + CBB

- Well, the folks at the Tribune are selling the Chicago Cubs after this season. This move intrigues me for a few reasons.

1. Who will be the new owner? Although I've never addressed it here, I am a pretty big Cubs-hater. I'm sure I can get into specifics later, but for right now, I'm just putting that out there. Anyway, as a Sox fan, I sure as hell hope Mark Cuban doesn't purchase the team. I think if he did, the likability of the Cubs would increase. Heck, I'm a casual Dallas Mavericks fan, and most of that has to do with everything he's brought to the team. He's a blue-collar billionaire, if that's possible. I think Cuban could easily spin the Sox to be the villainous team from the South Side, and as far as national attention goes, it would only hurt a team that could certainly use some. My current stance on Cubs ownership: anyone but Cuban.
2. Will this new owner posssssibly, mayyyybe think about a new stadium? One of the biggest reasons I dislike the Cubs is Wrigley Field. I know, I know, it's the "best stadium in baseball" and it's full of "history," but I really don't buy into that (like I said, that discussion is for another day). But if a new face stepped in and thought about getting the Cubs a new stadium, I'd say there's a serious chance I could get (slightly) into the team again.

- I'm not a big predictions guy, but just because this pick is so out there and bold, I'd like to go on record saying I believe Ted Lilly will win the NL Cy Young Award. It's a mixture of his natural talent, playing in the NL, and leaving the stacked AL East that gives him a solid chance, I think. Of course, this bold pick could just as easily be wrong and I'd look like an idiot, but hey, it's a lot more interesting to read than someone ranting about Chris Carpenter. I mean, anyone could do that.

For some reason, I've really gotten behind Lilly since he signed with the stupid Cubs. I can't really explain why, but I'm hoping he does well this year. It pains me to say I'll probably end up rooting for the Cubs -- well, not the Cubs, just Lilly -- in 20% of the games they play this season.

- I really think it's possible I jinxed the Chicago White Sox 2007 season. Let me explain...

I'm a firm believer in making sure I watch the first pitch of Opening Day for my favorite team. I just feel like it has a lot of meaning, and it's an important part of the season. It's the team's launch pad, if you will. Any success (or failure) the team experiences started from that exact point.

Unfortunately, I made the mistake of confusing Eastern time with Central time when I looked at the MLB game schedules, so instead of catching Jose Contreras' first throw, I spent time watching/making fun of the Cubs as they took on the Cincinnati Reds.

It wasn't until I got a text from my buddy Gahgs that read "Well, better luck next year, Sox" that I realized I'd been missing the game. As I rapidly flipped from WGN to Comcast, I was horrified to see the Sox already down to the Indians, 5-0. I was hoping I wouldn't have to hear Hawk Harrelson say "The Tribe put a crooked number up on that board" until much later in the season. Unfortunately, that happened twice in the first two innings of the '07 campaign.

Well -- as the Sox's new slogan says -- back to the grind.

- Being a blog that supposedly covers Washington State, Michigan, and Iowa basketball, I probably should comment on the coaching situation of the three schools.

• Wazzu extends Tony Bennett: I was delighted to hear this, and I think he's the best fit for the program, albeit it's a little boring to watch those grinders in action from time to time. I can't wait to see what Papa Tony has up his sleeve for next season. I mean, they're getting most everyone back, so is a Final 4 run too crazy to think about? Oh, and I know I forgot to mention it earlier, but congrats on the award, coach. I'm 10 out of 10 excited. Hearing that he resigned was such a relief. He had every right to bolt to a bigger and better program, and I can't respect him enough for staying.
• Michigan hires West Virginia coach John Beilen: Michigan simply needs new everything. A new look, a new attitude, a new style -- maybe even some new players. Beilen seems like a real X's and O's kind of guy, which is a welcome change from Tommy Amaker. I can't wait to see this 1-3-1 zone I keep hearing about. As far as negatives go, I'm most concerned with what he'll be able to bring to the table in terms of recruiting, but I've gotta give the guy a chance before I hound him for something like that. All in all, I'm 8 out of 10 excited.
• Iowa hires Butler coach Todd Lickliter: To me, this isn't as much about Lickliter coming as it is about Steve Alford going. Lickliter took Butler -- a mid-major -- to multiple Sweet Sixteens, but I don't understand how that makes him any different from Alford when Iowa hired him eight years ago. Here in Iowa City, the campus seems to have a slight buzz about the Lickliter hire, but nothing too huge. I just don't think anybody (myself included) knows enough about Lickliter to be for or against him. Again, I was completely against Alford leaving, and Lickliter's hiring (no matter how good or bad he is) is going to really set Iowa's program back. I'm 5 out of 10 'excited', if you'd even call it that.

Saying Goodbye to the Madness

So, March Madness has come to an end. While Ohio State got mega-owned in the finals (haha), the tournament was rather dud-ish. From a gambling standpoint, I won:

• $6 on a UNLV-Wisconsin bet

But lost:

• $1 in an NIT pool
• $5 in an Iowa tournament pool (22 total people)
• $5 in a three-way pool with two buddies (3 total people)
• $1 in a play-in game bet ... damn you, Niagara!
• $1 on a Washington State-Vanderbilt bet ... I thought the Cougs could make it to the Sweet 16 ... bummer)
• $1 on a Final 4 bet ... once the field was set, I bet that both 2-seeds would make the finals...oops

That brings me to -8 overall. Not too shabby.

Reflecting, I probably still would have picked Kansas to win. So, no real regrets, but I obviously discounted how talented Florida was. They looked unbeatable in the finals. Very few lineups in college basketball feature five legitimate scorers on the floor at once, but unfortunately for the Buckeyes, Florida's does.