Occasionally, somebody has to look at the direction in which the popular culture is moving and rebel

[dlgood]

How much do I enjoy reading Mike Wilbon in the morning? So very, very much. Especially if he's going to go off on how much he hates the NFL Draft.

For those who follow the sports world, this is the weekend of the NFL Draft - and the culmination of weeks of space-filling blather in too much detail on future pros. I used to care about things like this, but watching my own team have crapshoot pick after crapshoot pick, it got kind of pointless. Honestly, I'm hard pressed to name a credible NFL player drafted in the first round by Washington between Darrell Green (1983) and Champ Bailey (1999). The Draft is, as Wilbon says, "the most overrated, overhyped, obsessively overcovered non-event in sports" - and pretty much a made-for-TV event that gives ESPN something to fill hours with, and the NFL a chance to get back on the radar during the offseason.

While I'm at it, the only thing I hate nearly as much as the NFL draft is "American Idol." Actually, I don't hate "Idol" because I don't watch it. I hate it because people care so stinkin' much about it, because occasionally somebody has to look at the direction in which the popular culture is moving and simply rebel! I'm tired of Chris and Kellie and Elliott and even adorable little Paris . . . but not Katharine McPhee. (I swear I don't watch; I merely checked out the show's Web site today. I swear.) Did you see that moment when the button popped off her yellow dress? Do you think McPhee knows that she should never have selected "I Have Nothing" by Whitney Houston? Somebody should have told her that, yes, Houston has had her problems . . . but long before that she had maybe the greatest voice of all time. Whitney Houston, 20 years ago . . . now there was a can't-miss first-round draft choice, maybe a worthy No. 1 overall pick.

I almost wish I watched Idol, just so I could tell who these people were, and why folks get so worked up over them. Sadly, I don't. So, for those four of you who've made it to the end of this, give me something else to pay attention to.

Also - as a sidenote, tomorrow is the last day of the Tony Kornheiser Radio Show (Click to Listen 0900-1300 EST) as TK takes off to prepare for his Monday Night Football gig. TK currently predicts the over/under on him getting fired is four games. Anybody taking the Over, the Under. Anybody gonna watch?

Comments

[hjcallipygian.livejournal.com]

I can't help it -- I love the draft. It's by far the nerdiest thing in football, and that just appeals to me. And, yes, I'll likely watch even on the second day for a while. I'm that lame. =)

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

That's true - it is a very nerdy football thing. I just don't have the patience.

If the first round took an hour and a half, I could do it. As things go now, I just check every couple of hours to find out who the 'skins took, and if anybody from Maryland gets drafted. And since the Redskins only have one pick on the first day, there's no need for me to pay attention this year.

[hjcallipygian.livejournal.com]

Your boy Vernon Davis might go in the first ten. Man, I'd love to get him in Jacksonville, but there's no way he'll be on the board when we draft at #28. Still, I can dream.

One of my best friend's wife's sister's boyfriend (yeah, seriously) works at a radio station here in town, so we're going to a draft-day choose-the-next-pick thing at a restaurant here in town. If we win, we get two season tickets for this year -- and, dude, the Jags' home schedule this year is awesome. We have Indy, Tennessee, and Houston as in-conference, and out-of-conference is NYG, Dallas, Pittsburg, NYJ, and New England.

Actually, we play the 'Skins up in DC in week four.

[ladyoneill.livejournal.com]

A long, long time ago I used to watch the NFL draft...and watch it and watch it.

I have a life of sorts now, thank you very much. *g*

It's wayyyyyy too long!

And KC picks poorly every time, too. (well, most times, Larry Johnson has potential).

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

Well, I looked at the listing just now. It it too two hours instead of ten, I'd have watched.

The 'skins had their one pick which they made cost extra when they tossed next years #2 to move up a few spots this year. Eh. Wake me in August...

[ladystarlightsj.livejournal.com]

I don't care about football, or really about American (or Canadian, heh) Idol, but I feel the same damn way about Dan Brown.

I've had at least one person per shift come in and ask for "Da Vinci Code" and if I've read it and what other books has he written and it's driving me insane!

He's written four books since 199-whatever and people need to shut up about him already!

Um, sorry. Little rant there. (offers the chocolates o'penance)

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

Um, sorry. Little rant there.

Nah, that's okay. I was somewhat inviting such rants. They're fun.