From One Draft to Another

The NFL Draft 2006 kicks off tomorrow and for many of us fanatic football fans it feels like Christmas Eve. How many of you have eagerly scouring over the various mock drafts for some glimpse of hope as to who your team will select? The only definite is there will be surprises, disappointments, complete busts, and late round gems. Most of all the true inexact science of the evaluation process rings perceptibly clear upon further review several months or even years down the line. While hindsight is 20/20, judging the heart, desire, and ability to adjust to a new level of speed is about as deceptive as reading one's prophecy from the Oracle at Delphi. Burning questions for this year's draft include who will be the best quarterback among Leinart, Young, and Cutler? My vote is Leinart. While game tape doesn't lie, how does one judge LenDale White after his offseason workout, or rather, lack of working out? My vote is Maroney will be the more productive back. Who will turn out to be the better defensive pick between A.J. Hawk and Mario Williams? My vote is Hawk. Williams was too inconsistent.

NC State - Lee Fowler, please pick up the phone and call Derek Whittenberg. You're making a mockery of the university. I am all in favor of reaching for the upper echelon of coaches, but after several rejections it is time to solidify the program and and "circle the wagons" (as we Seminoles say). The point is you need a coach and why not look within the Wolfpack family for your candidate? After the turmoil and seasons of discontent what better way to ignite the fan base than to hire Whittenberg. He connects the past with the present and most importantly generates excitement. Think of the headlines and good publicity you'll have for a change. I understand he does not have the experience you want, but he has a track record, albeit a short one, of turning around a program and recruiting excellent players. He will also receive a little more slack at the beginning of his tenure because of his Wolfpack history. That is something none of the other candidates will bring to the table. So step up to the plate Mr. Fowler and take a chance on Whittenberg. He may appear to come up a little short at first, but remember what happened in '83, it turned into a slam dunk!

Bare Knuckle Stout - My good friends at Anheuser Busch replied back to my query and scratch that idea of finding a six pack. Turns out it is only available on tap and only in select cities. The closest city for me is Charlotte. So that settles it then. Back to imported stout 'til an American brewery will deliver the goods. Either that or 'til my neighbor, a true brewmaster connoisseur, brews up another batch of porter. Then it'll be time for tankards of brew and cards amongst friends. Until then... Cheers!