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Draft tunes
We're a week from the draft.
It's like Christmas. But not as important because of Jesus' birthday party and all.
Still, I'm giddy. I love the draft. You know this.
In the mood of the holidays — Merry Draftmas is a thing Vader, I swear it — let's do the "12 Days of Draftmas" and feel free to sing along wherever you may be.
One the first day of Draftmas, my true love gave to me "a perfect fit in round 1"
On the second day of Draftmas, my true love gave to me, "two traded picks and a perfect fit in round 1."
On the third day of Draftmas, my true love gave to me, "three future starters, two traded picks and a perfect fit in round 1."
On the fourth day of Draftmas, my true love gave to me, "four calling agents, three future starters, two traded picks and a perfect fit in round 1."
On the fifth day of Draftmas, my true love gave to me "FIIIVVVVEE future rings, four calling agents, three future starters, two traded picks and a perfect fit in round 1."
On the sixth day of Draftmas, my true love gave to me "six-round a-tradin', FIIIVVVVEE future rings, four calling agents, three future starters, two traded picks and a perfect fit in round 1."
On the seventh day of Draftmas, my true love gave to me "seven rookies a-signin', six-round a-tradin', FIIIVVVVEE future rings, four calling agents, three future starters, two traded picks and a perfect fit in round 1."
On the eighth day of Draftmas, my true love gave to me "eight McShays a-moanin', seven rookies a-signin', six-round a-tradin', FIIIVVVVEE future rings, four calling agents, three future starters, two traded picks and a perfect fit in round 1."
On the ninth day of Draftmas, my true love gave to me "nine Lions fans dancin', eight McShays a-moanin', seven rookies a-signin', six-round a-tradin', FIIIVVVVEE future rings, four calling agents, three future starters, two traded picks and a perfect fit in round 1."
On the 10th day of Draftmas, my true love gave to me "10 poured CoColas, nine Lions fans dancin', eight McShays a-moanin', seven rookies a-signin', six-round a-tradin', FIIIVVVVEE future rings, four calling agents, three future starters, two traded picks and a perfect fit in round 1."
On the 11th day of Draftmas, my true love gave to me "11 Kipers Kipping, 10 poured CoColas, nine Lions fans dancin', eight McShays a-moanin', seven rookies a-signin', six-round a-tradin', FIIIVVVVEE future rings, four calling agents, three future starters, two traded picks and a perfect fit in round 1."
On the 12th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me "12 dummies to trade with, 11 Kipers Kipping, 10 poured CoColas, nine Lions fans dancin', eight McShays a-moanin', seven rookies a-signin', six-round a-tradin', FIIIVVVVEE future rings, four calling agents, three future starters, two traded picks and a perfect fit in round 1."
Good night.
Trade winds
We love the draft. You know this.
And this could be the craziest top-half of the first round in quite sometime. Maybe since the infamous 1983 draft when John Elway's desire not to play with the Colts created chaos and massive movement.
All reports I have seen point to the Panthers making Bryce Young the top pick. OK. I can see that. Concerns about his slight frame aside, I think Young was the best player at the most important position in college football last year.
But from there, buckle up.
There is talk that Houston is now in the market about moving picks 2 and 13 to Baltimore for Lamar Jackson. If the Texans can't make that deal work, here's betting the Colts (with 4) will also be making calls to the Ravens.
The Cardinals are married to Kyler Murray, so the No. 3 pick will almost assuredly be Will Anderson or dealt to a QB-needy team.
The Titans are among the teams in that conversation.
Then there is the QB-flushed San Francisco 49ers, who hit the lottery with Brock Purdy at the end of round 7 this time last year, and also have Trey Lance and Sam Darnold in the mix.
Would you give up a second-rounder for Lance? Would you make that offer for Purdy? If you are the 49ers and you are a Super Bowl contender, would you part with one of those QB prospects for 2? Which one would you deal?
NBA playoff rules
So, we can put it in the books that home teams that lose Game 1 are going to role in Game 2 right?
Memphis beat Los Angeles by double-digits and Milwaukee beat Miami by close to 20 in that scenario last night.
And, oh, by the way, Memphis was without Ja Morant and Milwaukee was without Giannis. And still cruised.
Part of the Memphis storyline was the forever trash-talking play of Dillon Brooks, who has decided to "poke the bear" — his words — that is LeBron James.
Brooks on James after last night's Grizzlies win: "I don't care. He's old."
Brooks with more on James. "I don't respect someone until he gives me 40." As in scoring 40 points against Brooks.
Hmmmmmm. OK, first, love the brashness, especially for a player on a team that will need as much real or faux confidence it can muster in its first postseason with real expectations as a 2-seed.
Second, uh, LeBron is a different cat through that filter though, right? LeBron went 28-12-3 last night with the rest of the Lakers starters looking like they couldn't play dead in a Western.
Third, how does any right-thinking person view the Grizzlies' overwhelming success when Ja is out of the lineup? Because Ja is a dude with extreme athletic gifts. But Memphis is now 32-15 since the start of last season without Morant.
Is there another superstar on any team in the league that would have his team close to a .700 winning percentage in his absence?
This and that
— And now for the worst example of sportsmanship you will see on the internet today (and yes, that's a lofty prediction, and yes, the day's just getting started, but egad). A middle school wrestler fakes the handshake and sucker punches the kid who beat him. On an anything goes Thursday, if you were the puncher's parents, what would the punishment be? If you were the school principal, what would the punishment be? If you were the state chairman of the athletic association, what would the punishment be?
— Braves played. Braves lost. So it goes. The 1-0 loss was the Braves first this season in a day game. Ronald Acuña got one of Atlanta's four hits — all singles by the way — and stole his eighth base of the season. Acuña's pace is staggering. Through 19 games, he's on pace to score 153 runs, get 247 hits, hit close to 30 homers and drive in 100 and steal 65-plus bases. Wowser.
— Tiger had another surgery, this one the ankle that was clearly giving him trouble the weekend at Augusta. What kind of odds would you need to bet on Tiger ever winning any kind of non-Champions Tour event? Plus-1500? Higher?
— The As signed a deal with Las Vegas to buy dozens of acres for what would be a new ballpark. Yeah, that's not a good precursor for the last 48 As fans in Oakland. And man, if you're an Oakland sports fan, you gotta hate some Vegas right about now, no?
— Love Stephen A. Smith or loathe him, it's hard to find anything but respect and fairness in this mini-rant about folks complaining about Smith having controversial commentator Clay Travis on Smith's podcast "Know Mercy." I could not agree more with Smith's premise that we should look for ways to have meaningful and peaceful conversations with those we disagree with. They may not change my mind, or vice versa, but the conversation is a critical and forever important first step for better understanding.
— Speaking of Twitter, I saw online that blue checks are going away today unless you sign up to pay for them. I do not have plans to sign up to pay to keep mine. Thoughts?
— A fat This and that today, but this story also caught my eye this morning — especially on 4/20. Pot growers in states where it's legal are facing a dire situation in their business model. One, excess product can't be shipped out of state because of federal legalities. Another one: State tax rates as high as 37% in some places.
— You know the rules. Here's Paschall on a couple of SEC draft prospects you may have heard of and how they have connected through the process.
Today's questions
We have a slew up there on an Anything Goes Thursday, or AGT as the world likes to call it.
We also have a mailbag spot or three open. So fire away.
You keeping your blue check? Thoughts on the fair punishment for the sucker-punching wrestler? Interest in a draft contest next week?
As for today, let's review.
The Columbine massacre happened on this day in 1999. More things change, the more they stay the same, huh?
"Annie Hall" was released on this day in 1977.
First known performance of "Macbeth" happened on this day in 1611.
Rushmore of "plays" and know that "the picket fence" will definitely have a spot. And remember the mailbag.
And don't get caught watching the paint dry.