Draft time?

[Jersey Girl]

What's the deal? It starts later this year? Why wasn't I informed?

 

[O]

What's the deal? It starts later this year? Why wasn't I informed?

What?
You didn't get the memo?


























BTW.
We're going tp pick a lot later in the day than we usually do. So pace yourself.

 

[Jersey Girl]

What?
You didn't get the memo?


























BTW.
We're going tp pick a lot later in the day than we usually do. So pace yourself.

AND ....















if THAT weren't tough enough ....

















I'm watching the draft back east.

 

[Stout]

Yeah, 4pm? REALLY inconvenient. I might not get to watch

 

[stewdog1]

They are trying to make it a more primetime event.

 

[JeffGollin]

Confessions of a Draft Junkie...

As soon as I get that queasy "get the taxes done" feeling in the pit of my stomach, I know Draft Day is growing near.

I use the draft as a motivator (i.e. get the taxes done and, as a reward, I can then focus 100% my emotional energy on the draft).

May I reminisce?

Back in the day (I'm talking mid-1970's), I commuted to midtown NYC and used to attend the draft in person each year. Back then, the draft was held on 2 weekdays, and those of us who tried to "sneak" in were treated with suspicion. Sometimes I'd amble on over to whatever hotel they were holding the draft on an extended lunch hour. As I grew older and had latitude in my business environment, I'd play hooky or use up a vacation day. We'd be herded to a balcony location, where we'd spread out our notebooks, draft books and other material and "talk draft" with our fellow draft-junkies. When the draft was moved to weekends, I'd drive to NYC at the crack of dawn and get on line around 6 a.m.

I kept running into the same people - Henry Hertz and Charlie Ziebelski to name 2. Our draft-guru heros were the late Joel Buchsbaum, Palmer Hughes, Bill Werndl and Phil Helpler (Ourlads) and later on, Melvin the Kipe and David Te Thomas. (And who remembers the Jerry Jones Drug Store Book)? Naturally, to all of my cronies, I was considered "the Cardinal guy."

I became a casual friend of Hepler and used to attend his annual Fan's Mock Draft in South Jersey. (One year, I had to draft for the Jets and selected Pierce Holt - Who?) And I remember one year when David Te gave us the (alleged) lowdown on how we were able to "steal" WR Ernest Jones in the 3rd round. (Answer: "Weed").

Later on, as I grew older and better connected, I managed to wangle press credentials for a couple of drafts, which in turn, got me floor-level seats, free food and better access.

More recently - with the emergence of the Internet and the full-court press by NFL Network and ESPN along with age, laziness and the self-imposed obligation to post instant-info on the BRS - I found it easier (and almost as much fun) to stay home, with laptops and TV sets ablazing - perpetually tuned in to the nfl.com draft-tracker board.

And now, we hear the League plans to take what is now the biggest football spectator sport besides the Super Bowl "on the road."

How far we've come from the days when Henry, Charley and I used to "sneak in."

 

[Skkorpion]

Cool story, Jeff.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Good stuff Jeff...it's amazing, remember when the NFL and sports in general were more of a niche thing? I'm still pretty young, but the explosion of sports coverage and interest has been interesting to follow.

 

[DemsMyBoys]

Enjoyed the story Jeff!

 

[Zeno]

The past few years the NFL draft has been getting better ratings than the NBA playoffs(no shock there) on the same weekend with the draft starting later maybe they want to get even better ratings by getting more of the west coast TV viewers as well.

 

[Jersey Girl]

Cool story, Jeff.

I am looking forward to going back to tradition and watching it with my brother and sister only, something we have done since, I believe, the Andre Wadsworth pick. I remember debating who was the better QB, Peyton Manning or Ryan Leaf. Fun times.

Four o'clock is gonna be weird though, kinda like 10 a.m. was weird when I first moved to AZ.

 

[blindseyed]

Well...I guesss I'll be up and have had my 2bd cup of cofee by then...but then again I may not be able to see the Cards 1st pick until I get to the club....grrr...I will kepp checking back with good ole ASFN thoughout to see our picks tho woohoo

 

[Ryanwb]

I used to have to set my alarm to watch our draft pick, now I'll be eating dinner.

 

[Carddan]

What's the deal? It starts later this year? Why wasn't I informed?

Girl, it's your fault for not being in AZ...then it would start three hours earlier, right? Now do our state a favor, change your name to "Arizona Girl" and stay here where you belong!

 

[Jersey Girl]

Girl, it's your fault for not being in AZ...then it would start three hours earlier, right? Now do our state a favor, change your name to "Arizona Girl" and stay here where you belong!

LOL. I will see what I can do about next year. The golf tourney we have in memory of my uncle is always the Thursday before the draft. It is a good time for me to go back east and see everyone since they'll all be together in one place.

 

[lauraw]

mr. Gollin, I love reading your posts!

 

[Jersey Girl]

mr. Gollin, I love reading your posts!

He is, indeed, one of the greats. Must be because he is from Jersey.