OK so for those of you that care about sports, you must know that this weekend the NFL season officially begins. No, not games, but the draft. Then followed by weeks of mini-camps, the typical two week break in late June and then right into training camp come July.
Being someone that has an interest in the sport of football, each year I am amazed at how fast the NFL has grown to become America's true pastime. I was always one to believe that baseball was it - growing up in the Tri-State area, I was inundated with NY sports news - even had the the Mets on WWOR-9 with Ralph Kiner and Tim McCarver calling games and then the Yankees on WPIX-11 with Phil Rizzuto doing the call. That was it. And during the fall, you were lucky you got two NFL games during any given Sunday (and for me I was guaranteed a Giants or Jets game due to location...) But today, the NFL has its own network (that costs you money now - what a scam, but that's another topic), year-long weekly update shows on the sporting networks, combine coverage - and now even college football spring practices are being televised. So the sport of football has grown in interest - way past that of baseball or the other ones going on.
But this weekend, the NFL Draft takes place. This is where the agents and publicists make their money and where GM's and scouts get fired. There will be more busts than prizes in the draft and organizations will make million dollar(s) investments in 21-22 year old players that have been on their absolute best behavior for the past four months - as to not jeopardize their draft status. It is a credit to the NFL and all the marketing folks and executives that they've been able to build up the interest in this annual event. They'll once again sell out Radio City Music Hall, Jets fans will boo whoever they pick and the suits will be outrageous - that's for sure. So here's to the football junky in all of you. Good luck following along this weekend.
Oh - and for those of you interested, here is something that should stir up some level of emotion. A story about a West Point cadet who is considered an NFL prospect - but remember the five year commitment those at West Point must honor - or do they?