Gang, remember the mailbag. And the Alamo. And that we're 10 days from Mother's Day.
From the "Talks too much" studios,
Vegas baby
The overall lack of interest in the Derby is staggering.
It has been overshadowed by a convergence of the sports calendar that is over the top. (Side note: We have received only two entries for the First In/Last In contest, so that one has been cancelled.)
The Derby only matters in two cities - Louisville and Las Vegas.
Saturday could be the biggest day in sports books history in Vegas.
By modest accounts the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight is projecting to generate more than $70 million in bets to make it the most heavily wagered fight of all time.
Add to that the Derby, which last year drew $124 million in action, to a larger-than-normal Vegas crowd and $200 million in bets at Las Vegas sports books is entirely possible.
For perspective, last year's Super Bowl drew $116 million in bets, so in Vegas' eyes Saturday could get close to twice as big as Super Bowl Sunday.
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FILE - In this April 18, 1943, file photo, Fred Mandel, foreground, president of the Detroit Lions, and Charles "Chile" Walsh, assistant coach of the Cleveland Rams, look over prospects at the player draft of the NFL in Chicago. The NFL draft is back in the City of Big Shoulder Pads for a seventh time beginning Thursday, April 30, 2015, expecting a much warmer reception than it got nearly 80 years ago from the very first pick in its very first draft. (AP Photo/Harry L. Hall, File) NFL draft
(Side note: We got behind this morning and will post the picks for the Feeling the Draft Contest this afternoon. You still have time to enter. Send us who you think the Titans will pick first, who the Falcons will pick first, where Todd Gurley goes, where Davis Tull goes and how many SEC players are picked in the first round. You could win stuff.)
Here's our mock draft that appeared in today's TFP.
Here's our view of best-case scenario and worst-case scenario for the Titans and Falcons:
The Titans can add as many as three starters with two picks. The math is simple. Right now they have picks No. 2 and 33. There is strong interest in the second pick as teams eye a quarterback.
Yes, the Titans could use a quarterback and may take Marcus Mariota if he's there. The best move would be dealing that pick - the Chargers reportedly are offering Philip Rivers and the No. 17 pick; the Browns are offering 12 and 19 - and adding three starters.
How much better are the Titans come the weekend if they turn two picks into a top-10 quarterback (Rivers) and potentially a Todd Gurley and a top-10 talent with question marks such as pass rusher Shane Ray or wide out Dorial Green-Beckham?
Worst case for the Titans is keeping both picks and taking two linemen. This team needs to give its fans something to be excited about and adding a defensive tackle and an offensive tackle - even as good as Leonard Williams is - would address needs. But it would really feel like an opportunity lost for a faceless franchise.
For the Falcons, the worst thing that could happen is for Tradin' Thomas Dmitroff to feel like he needs to flex his muscles and start dealing. There are reports that the Falcons may offer a third-rounder to move up a couple of spots in the first round.
Step away from the phone Tommy. The Falcons have too many needs to be giving up third-round picks.
In fact, the best-case scenario for Atlanta would be sliding back a few spots. Yes, they need a difference-making pass rusher, but they have a lot of areas to improve.
Plus, pass rusher may be the deepest position in this first round, so moving back still puts someone like Shane Ray or Randy Gregory in play.
We love the draft. You know this.
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FILE - In this April 18, 1943, file photo, Fred Mandel, foreground, president of the Detroit Lions, and Charles "Chile" Walsh, assistant coach of the Cleveland Rams, look over prospects at the player draft of the NFL in Chicago. The NFL draft is back in the City of Big Shoulder Pads for a seventh time beginning Thursday, April 30, 2015, expecting a much warmer reception than it got nearly 80 years ago from the very first pick in its very first draft. (AP Photo/Harry L. Hall, File) Empty Yards
We're tired of the images of Baltimore.
It's not that we don't care. In fact it's just the opposite.
And we are nauseated that the Orioles and White Sox played in an empty Camden Yards on Wednesday.
We get it. Safety for those involved is paramount, and cautionary steps are wise.
But by clearing out Camden and letting the mob dictate the measure, it feels like we let the criminals win the moment.
And let's be clear and direct. Those are not protests. Those are criminal acts.
Martin Luther King Jr., Ghandi, et al., led protests that led to change.
Calling the hooligans in Baltimore protesters is a disservice to those that created discussion and generated meaningful change with strong will, persistence and passion.
The line between social activism and criminal activity, however, is a convenient cover for the excuse-makers.
And it makes us sad. And angry. It's mind-blowing to think that it still happens in America.
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This and that
- The Braves lost 13-4 to the Nationals on Wednesday and fell below .500 for the first this season at 10-11. It wrapped the series with the Nationals, meaning Danny Uggla leaves town. Uggla, who is the top listed line-item on the Braves payroll this year, went 5-for-11 with a homer, eight RBIs and five runs scored in the three games against his former (and current) employers in the A-T-L.
- The Atlanta Hawks beat New Jersey 107-97 in a must-have Game 5 Wednesday to take a 3-2 lead in their first-round series. Each Hawks starter scored in double figures.
- Forbes tells us the richest person in each state herehttp://www.forbes.com/richest-in-each-state/list/#tab:overall. Cool graphic.
- Speaking of the fight, Manny Pacquiaohttp://www.cbssports.com/general/eye-on-sports/25168296/pacquiao-spends-a-small-fortune-on-tickets-for-his-entourage reportedly is going to spend close to $4 million for 900 tickets for his entourage to his fight Saturday. Yes, $4 million
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Today's question
Happy 75th birthday to Burt Young, the guy you know better as Paulie in the Rocky movies.
It's a big day in our country's history. Today in 1492, Columbus was commissioned to sail to the New World.
The U.S. purchased Louisiana from France for $15 million (or about $2 million more than the Braves owe Dan Uggla this year) in 1803. Louisiana became the 18th state in our nation on this day in 1812. Hawaii became a U.S. territory on this day in 1900. The first resignations of the Watergate scandal happened on this day in 1973.
And finally, today in 1789, George Washington took the oath of office to become the first elected president of these United States.
So let's do a good old fashioned Rushmore of George. (And yes, Washington is far left.)
Remember the mailbag and there's still time for the Draft contest.