Say what you want about the sports gods, but they can be a vengeful, mean-spirited and temperamental lot.
This weekend they reminded us that they can also be ironic.
What else could explain what happened over the course of the three days that made up the 2014 NFL Draft, as the Longhorns failed to have a single player have his name called during the proceedings for the first time since 1937?
Not Jackson Jeffcoat, the former five-star prospect with NFL bloodlines who happened to also be the reigning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.
Not Mike Davis, the former national top 50 prospect and four-year starter, who also ranks in the top five of every major statistical receiving category in Texas history.
Not Trey Hopkins, the former national top 100 prospect and four-year-starter, who ranked among the Big 12's best linemen in each of the last two years.
Not Donald Hawkins. Not Chris Whaley. Not Carrington Byndom. Not Anthony Fera.
Not any of them.
If anyone needed a reminder of why Mack Brown no longer needed to be the head coach in Austin, this weekend had to serve as an unfriendly reminder, as the entire NFL sat back and judged the program that he left behind with the kind of indifference that reminded me a little of Joaquin Phoenix's character in Gladiator, which is to say that the league was not impressed at all.
Overall, 256 picks were made over the course of the three-day event and the likes of Marist, Coastal Carolina and Concordia (not the one in Austin, but the one in Minnesota) produced players that were invited to the party … just not Texas. Meanwhile, Texas found itself keeping company with Hogwarts and The University of Phoenix, two other schools that failed to produce a single player for the NFL's three-day event.
Of course, the real kick to the midsection for all things related to Mack Brown's former program occurred at the end of the sixth round when a ghost from the past emerged in the most ironic of fashions.
With the 214th pick of the draft, the St. Louis Rams select SMU quarterback Garrett Gilbert
OH. NO. THEY. DIDN'T!!!!!!!!!!!!
OH. YES. THEY. DID!!!!!!!!!!
Of course, at the end of the greatest NFL Draft failure in the history of all things burnt orange, the player viewed as the single-biggest recruiting bust in the history of the Mack Brown Era had his name called … associated with another school. That really happened. Honestly, by the end of Saturday all the Longhorn Nation could do was shrug its shoulders and accept the truth that the program had finally hit rock-bottom from a player develop standpoint.
With most of the Draft being constructed by players from the 2009-2011 recruiting classes, Mack and Co. were able to turn three different national top-five classes into an NFL-developing magic trick … now you see a future pro prospect … now you don't.
Presto!
The best news of all for the Texas program is that change was made following the season, even if it was forced and awkward and unflattering … change was still made and suddenly there's a new sheriff in town to help turn all of this player-development sadness into something that might simply represent a bad dream in a few years.
Charlie Strong is on the case and not a moment too soon.
No. 2 - Breaking down the Draft from a recruiting rankings standpoint …
A year ago following the draft, I put together a fairly comprehensive breakdown of the NFL Draft , analyzing the results in relation to the Rivals recruiting rankings for the players selected.
Surprise! I was back in the mode of a number-crunching nerd once again this weekend, except I changed things up a little this year by focusing on the results through each day of the draft, rather than through the first two, four and seven rounds.
As you've seen me write a million times over the course of the last 14 years on this site … recruiting matters. A lot.
Landing a five-star doesn't mean that you're landing a sure-fire, but in a process that's more of a Vegas card game than it is an exact science, the higher the ranking of the prospect, the higher probability you'll have of landing a difference-making player and a future NFL talent. The more highly-rated kids you have in your class, the more likely it will be that your team has multiple difference makers and NFL talents.
To put it plainly, a five-star prospect amounts to trying to win a coin-flip, while a two-star equates to trying to win five or six coin flips in a row … both can happen, but the former happens with much more regularity. If the goal is producing first round-level players, the math becomes much more extreme.
Now before we gets started, a couple of notes:
1. There are currently 120 FBS programs playing college football in 2013, which means that there are 10,200 scholarship players in college football if every school has maxed out its 85-man scholarship limit.
2. From 2009-2011 (the three classes that made up almost exclusively the 2014 NFL Draft Class), Rivals.com rated on the average 3,902 players per year (including JUCO and prep schools), with the average star distribution breakdown looking like this:
Five stars (6.1): 29.33
Four stars (6.0): 39
Four stars (5.9): 83.67
Four stars (5.8): 245
Three stars (5.7) 325
Three stars (5.6) 524.67
Three stars (5.5) 658.67
Two stars (5.4) 653
Two stars (5.3) 437
Two stars (5.2) 575
Two stars (5.1) 80
Two stars (5.0/4.9) 170
With those numbers serving as the foundation of the average Rivals.com recruiting class numbers over a four-year window, let's break down what the numbers look like over the course of all seven rounds of the NFL Draft this year, beginning with a look at the numbers in the first round:
Five stars (6.1): 4
Four stars (6.0): 2
Four stars (5.9): 4
Four stars (5.8): 7
Three stars (5.7) 6
Three stars (5.6) 4
Three stars (5.5) 2
Two stars (5.4) 2
Two stars (5.3) 0
Two stars (5.2) 0
Two stars (5.1) 0
Two stars (5.0/4.9) 1
Unranked: 0
Here's what the translates to when you crunch the numbers
a. One out of every 7.33 five-star prospects was drafted in the first round.
b. One out of every 19.50 top-tier (6.0) four-star prospects was drafted in the first round.
c. One out of every 20.92 mid-tier (5.9) four-star prospects was drafted in the first round.
d. One out of every 35.00 low-tier (5.8) four-star prospects was drafted in the first round.
e. One out of every 54.17 top-tier (5.7) three-star prospects was drafted in the first round.
f. One out of every 131.17 mid-tier (5.6) three-star prospects was drafted in the first round.
g. One out of every 329.34 low-tier (5.5) three-star prospects was drafted in the first round.
h. One out of every 545.00 top-tier (5.4/5.3) two-star prospects was drafted in the first round.
i. Zero out of every 655.00 mid-tier (5.2/5.1) two-star prospects was drafted in the first round.
j. One out of every 250.00 low-tier (5.0/4.9) two-star prospects was drafted in the first round
In a more generic sense, the numbers look like this:
a. One out of every 7.33 five-star prospects was drafted in the first round.
b. One out of every 28.28 four-star prospects was drafted in the first round.
c. One out of every 125.70 three-star prospects was drafted in the first round.
d. One out of every 638.33 two-star prospects was drafted in the first round.
Here's what the numbers look like when we expand the sample-size out to the first three rounds of the draft (100 picks):
Five stars (6.1): 8
Four stars (6.0): 9
Four stars (5.9): 7
Four stars (5.8): 23
Three stars (5.7) 13
Three stars (5.6) 12
Three stars (5.5) 11
Two stars (5.4) 5
Two stars (5.3) 5
Two stars (5.2) 0
Two stars (5.1) 1
Two stars (5.0/4.9) 2
Unranked: 4
Here's what the translates to when you crunch the numbers
a. One out of every 3.67 five-star prospects was drafted in the first three rounds.
b. One out of every 4.33 top-tier (6.0) four-star prospects was drafted in the first three rounds.
c. One out of every 11.95 mid-tier (5.9) four-star prospects was drafted in the first three rounds.
d. One out of every 10.65 low-tier (5.8) four-star prospects was drafted in the first three rounds.
e. One out of every 25.00 top-tier (5.7) three-star prospects was drafted in the first three rounds.
f. One out of every 43.72 mid-tier (5.6) three-star prospects was drafted in the first three rounds.
g. One out of every 59.88 low-tier (5.5) three-star prospects was drafted in the first three rounds.
h. One out of every 109.00 top-tier (5.4/5.3) two-star prospects was drafted in the first three rounds.
i. One out of every 655.00 mid-tier (5.2/5.1) two-star prospects was drafted in the first three rounds.
j. One out of every 83.33 low-tier (5.0/4.9) two-star prospects was drafted in the first three rounds
Broken down by star groupings alone, the numbers look like this:
a. One out of every 3.67 five-star prospects was drafted in the first three rounds.
b. One out of every 9.43 four-star prospects was drafted in the first three rounds.
c. One out of every 41.90 three-star prospects was drafted in the first three rounds.
d. One out of every 147.31 two-star prospects was drafted in the first three rounds.
Finally, here's the final breakdown of numbers once you include all seven rounds of the draft:
Five stars (6.1): 14
Four stars (6.0): 17
Four stars (5.9): 20
Four stars (5.8): 41
Three stars (5.7) 40
Three stars (5.6) 30
Three stars (5.5) 23
Two stars (5.4) 16
Two stars (5.3) 12
Two stars (5.2) 7
Two stars (5.1) 4
Two stars (5.0/4.9) 6
Unranked: 26
Here's what the translates to when you crunch the numbers
a. One out of every 2.10 five-star prospects was drafted in seven rounds.
b. One out of every 2.29 top-tier (6.0) four-star prospects was drafted in seven rounds.
c. One out of every 4.18 mid-tier (5.9) four-star prospects was drafted in seven rounds.
d. One out of every 5.98 low-tier (5.8) four-star prospects was drafted in seven rounds.
e. One out of every 8.13 top-tier (5.7) three-star prospects was drafted in seven rounds.
f. One out of every 17.49 mid-tier (5.6) three-star prospects was drafted in seven rounds.
g. One out of every 28.64 low-tier (5.5) three-star prospects was drafted in seven rounds.
h. One out of every 38.93 top-tier (5.4/5.3) two-star prospects was drafted in seven rounds.
i. One out of every 59.55 mid-tier (5.2/5.1) two-star prospects was drafted in seven rounds.
j. One out of every 28.33 low-tier (5.0/4.9) two-star prospects was drafted in seven rounds
Broken down by star groupings alone, the numbers look like this:
a. One out of every 2.10 five-star prospects was drafted in seven rounds.
b. One out of every 4.71 four-star prospects was drafted in seven rounds.
c. One out of every 16.22 three-star prospects was drafted in seven rounds.
d. One out of every 42.56 two-star prospects was drafted in seven rounds.
A few thoughts before we move along…
1. Overall, the numbers are absolutely in the neighborhood that last year's study of the draft produced, even if I did use slightly different parameters this year, as every star ranking from 5.5-6.1 on the Rivals evaluation scale was +/- 2 from the same results a year ago over seven sounds.
2. I will continue to maintain until I am blue in the face that the high-three star prospect (5.7) is the most undervalued thing going in recruiting. In terms of developing NFL-level talent, the 5.7-rated players basically serve as an extra four-star that develop at two- and three-times the rate of other three star prospects.
3. A five-star prospect was 87 times more likely to be drafted in the first round than a two star prospect..
No.3 - I hope you didn't think I'd leave the state of Texas out of the party …
Although the sample-size is considerably smaller, which means the results need to be taken with an extra grain of salt (or five), the results are still rather fascinating. Here's the breakdown, starting with the average star distribution in the state of Texas in the 2009-11 recruiting classes:
Five stars (6.1): 4.00
Four stars (6.0): 4.33
Four stars (5.9): 8.00
Four stars (5.8): 34.00
Three stars (5.7) 49.67
Three stars (5.6) 80.33
Three stars (5.5) 103.33
Two stars (5.4) 78.67
Two stars (5.3) 52.33
Two stars (5.2) 63.33
Two stars (5.1) 17
Two stars (5.0/4.9) 10.33
With those numbers serving as the foundation of the average Rivals.com recruiting class in the state of Texas over a three-year window, let's break down what the numbers look like over the course of all seven rounds of the NFL Draft this year, beginning with a look at the numbers in the first round:
Five stars (6.1): 0
Four stars (6.0): 1
Four stars (5.9): 0
Four stars (5.8): 1
Three stars (5.7) 1
Three stars (5.6) 0
Three stars (5.5) 1
Two stars (5.4) 0
Two stars (5.3) 0
Two stars (5.2) 0
Two stars (5.1) 0
Two stars (5.0/4.9) 0
Unranked: 0
Here's what the translates to when you crunch the numbers
a. Zero out of every 4.00 five-star prospects was drafted in the first round.
b. One out of every 4.33 top-tier (6.0) four-star prospects was drafted in the first round.
c. Zero out of every 8.00 mid-tier (5.9) four-star prospects was drafted in the first round.
d. One out of every 34.00 low-tier (5.8) four-star prospects was drafted in the first round.
e. One out of every 49.67 top-tier (5.7) three-star prospects was drafted in the first round.
f. Zero out of every 80.33 mid-tier (5.6) three-star prospects was drafted in the first round.
g. One out of every 103.33 low-tier (5.5) three-star prospects was drafted in the first round.
h. Zero out of every 131.00 top-tier (5.4/5.3) two-star prospects was drafted in the first round.
i. Zero out of every 80.33 mid-tier (5.2/5.1) two-star prospects was drafted in the first round.
j. Zero out of every 10.33 low-tier (5.0/4.9) two-star prospects was drafted in the first round
In a more generic sense, the numbers look like this:
e. Zero out of every 4.00 five-star prospects was drafted in the first round.
f. One out of every 23.17 four-star prospects was drafted in the first round.
g. One out of every 116.67 three-star prospects was drafted in the first round.
h. Zero out of every 90.66 two-star prospects was drafted in the first round.
Here's what the numbers look like when we expand the sample-size out to the first three rounds of the draft (100 picks):
Five stars (6.1): 0
Four stars (6.0): 1
Four stars (5.9): 1
Four stars (5.8): 2
Three stars (5.7): 1
Three stars (5.6)
Three stars (5.5) 3
Two stars (5.4): 1
Two stars (5.3) 0
Two stars (5.2): 0
Two stars (5.1): 1
Two stars (5.0/4.9) 0
Unranked: 0
Here's what the translates to when you crunch the numbers
a. Zero out of every 4.00 five-star prospects was drafted in the first three rounds.
b. One out of every 4.89 top-tier (6.0) four-star prospects was drafted in the first three rounds.
c. One out of every 13.00 mid-tier (5.9) four-star prospects was drafted in the first three rounds.
d. One out of every 17.00 low-tier (5.8) four-star prospects was drafted in the first three rounds.
e. One out of every 49.67 top-tier (5.7) three-star prospects was drafted in the first three rounds.
f. Zero out of every 80.33 mid-tier (5.6) three-star prospects was drafted in the first three rounds.
g. One out of every 51.67 low-tier (5.5) three-star prospects was drafted in the first three rounds.
h. One out of every 131.00 top-tier (5.4/5.3) two-star prospects was drafted in the first three rounds.
i. One out of every 80.33 mid-tier (5.2/5.1) two-star prospects was drafted in the first three rounds.
j. Zero out of every 10.33 low-tier (5.0/4.9) two-star prospects was drafted in the first three rounds
Broken down by star groupings alone, the numbers look like this:
e. Zero out of every 4.00 five-star prospects was drafted in the first three rounds.
f. One out of every 11.58 four-star prospects was drafted in the first three rounds.
g. One out of every 77.78 three-star prospects was drafted in the first three rounds.
h. One out of every 110.80 two-star prospects was drafted in the first three rounds.
Finally, here's the final breakdown of numbers once you include all seven rounds of the draft:
Five stars (6.1): 2
Four stars (6.0): 1
Four stars (5.9): 3
Four stars (5.8): 3
Three stars (5.7): 2
Three stars (5.6): 0
Three stars (5.5) 5
Two stars (5.4): 3
Two stars (5.3) 1
Two stars (5.2): 0
Two stars (5.1): 1
Two stars (5.0/4.9) 0
Unranked: 1
Here's what the numbers translate to when you crunch the numbers
a. One out of every 2.00 five-star prospects was drafted in seven rounds.
b. One out of every 4.33 top-tier (6.0) four-star prospects was drafted in seven rounds.
c. One out of every 2.67 mid-tier (5.9) four-star prospects was drafted in seven rounds.
d. One out of every 11.33 low-tier (5.8) four-star prospects was drafted in seven rounds.
e. One out of every 24.84 top-tier (5.7) three-star prospects was drafted in seven rounds.
f. Zero out of every 80.33 mid-tier (5.6) three-star prospects was drafted in seven rounds.
g. One out of every 20.66 low-tier (5.5) three-star prospects was drafted in seven rounds.
h. One out of every 46.00 top-tier (5.4/5.3) two-star prospects was drafted in seven rounds.
i. One out of every 80.33 mid-tier (5.2/5.1) two-star prospects was drafted in seven rounds.
j. One out of every 10.33 low-tier (5.0/4.9) two-star prospects was drafted in seven rounds
Broken down by star groupings alone, the numbers look like this:
a. One out of every 2.00 five-star prospects was drafted in seven rounds.
b. One out of every 6.62 four-star prospects was drafted in seven rounds.
c. One out of every 33.33 three-star prospects was drafted in seven rounds.
d. One out of every 44.33 two-star prospects was drafted in seven rounds.
A few thoughts…
1. The final numbers are a little deceiving because even though the seven-round numbers are fairly even to those produced by the national results, it is impossible to ignore how little impact the highest-rated players in the state had at the top of the draft. Outside of Jake Matthews, there wasn't a single national top 100 prospect from the state of Texas that cracked the first five rounds of the draft. A lot of that has to do with the failures of the Texas program in terms of development, but it would be a fallacy to suggest this was just about the Longhorns when every other school that recruited and landed big-time prospects had similar failures. More than anything, this simply serves as a reminder that when you load up on only in-state prospects to build your program, you leave yourself open to danger if there is a year or two when the state underperforms in terms of producing top-end talent.
2. The state of Texas produced four first-round picks and only eight more picks over the course of the next three rounds.
No. 4 - The good and the bad of Mack's 2010 recruiting class…
WARNING; THE FOLLOWING SECTION CONTAINS INFORMATION THAT IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART. COULD CAUSE BLEEDING, DIZZYNESS, HEADACHES, CRYING AND FLATOUT ANGER.
Oh boy.
One month after losing to Alabama in the national title game in Pasadena, which happened to follow one of the greatest two-year stretches in the history of one of college football's most prestigious programs, Mack Brown signed a 25-man recruiting class that ranked third nationally that featured two five-stars and an astounding 19 four-star prospects.
It should have ranked as one of the great recruiting classes in the history of the school when you consider the heights the program had reached the previous two seasons.
Should.
Taking a gander at both the results and the remains shows a class that has failed to develop a single NFL-drafted player and might need Jordan Hicks to save the day next year if it wants to avoid becoming the first recruiting class I've ever seen produced by the school that failed to deliver at least one drafted played.
It's not that the class didn't deliver some very good players, it's that it didn't produce much beyond pretty good and the development of the entire class seemed to stagnate following the early years on the field for this group.
Let's take a look at the star-studded class by tiers.
The Five Stars: Jackson Jeffcoat and Jordan Hicks
One was the 2013 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and the other has showed signs of becoming a big-time player when he's been healthy, which hasn't been often. Injuries have ultimately been a major issue for both.
The other Rivals 100 selections: Reggie Wilson, Mike Davis, Tevin Jackson, Darius White, Trey Hopkins, Chris Jones and Taylor Bible
Only two (Hopkins and Davis) of the seven emerged as quality starters, while one was a decent reserve (Wilson) and another has dealt with a lot of injuries (Jackson), but the other three were flat out disasters.
The Other Four Stars Ashton Dorsey, Dominic Espinosa, Connor Wood, Darius Terrell, Aaron Benson, Carrington Byndom, Greg Daniels, DeMarco Cobbs, Adrian Phillips, John Harris, Traylon Shead and Bryant Jackson
Of this group of 12, only three (Byndom, Phillips and Espinosa) emerged as starting-level players, although you'd be inclined to include Dorsey if he hadn't left the team last year and disappeared off the face of the earth. The other eight represent a lot of on-field failure. The national numbers suggest that at least two from that final group of eight should have been NFL draft picks, but none have even developed into consistent contributors at best.
The Three Stars: Adrian White, Case McCoy, DeAires Cotton and William Russ
By my count, you'd have to list McCoy as the seventh best player from the entire class behind Jeffcoat, Hicks, Davis, Hopkins, Espinosa and Byndom. On some level, isn't that all you need to really now about this recruiting class?
No. 5 - About the former Texas quarterback that was drafted this weekend …
Nothing that Garrett Gilbert ever does as a player moving forward will ever change the fact that he ultimately failed in his quest to become the next great quarterback at the University of Texas, as the next guy up in a series of players that went from James Brown to Major Applewhite to Chris Simms to Vince Young and then finally to Colt McCoy.
Nothing is ever going to change the fact that the pressure-cooker of the losing situation he was in with a head coach that had mentally checked out on his program chewed him up and spit him out.
Those things happened, as did many others, while Gilbert was on the 40 Acres. Yet, through it all the former five-star prospect did something that no other quarterback from the Lone Star State that hailed from the Class of 2009 has been able to do … he emerged as an NFL drafted player.
Amazing, huh? A state that is currently in its golden age of developing quarterbacks with the likes of Drew Brees, Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Matt Stafford, Nick Foles, Andy Dalton, Christian Ponder, Ryan Tannehill and soon-to-be Johnny Manziel starting at the position in the NFL somehow experienced a wildly disappointing year of college prospects from Gilbert's class.
What makes it even more amazing is that the Class of 2009 was actually considered to be one of the strongest quarterback classes in the last decade, as it produced two five-stars and five four-star prospects among the 28 that signed to play quarterback that year.
Let's take a look at the collateral damage …
Russell Shepard (Five-star/6.1-rated/No. 7 player in the country): The nation's No. 1 dual-threat quarterback didn't make it through 15 minutes at LSU before they moved him to wide receiver.
Tyrik Rollison (Four-star/6.0-rated/No. 60 player in the country): My issue with Rollison wasn't his talent as much as the fact that I didn't think he would be able to handle the rigors of major university academics, which pretty much proved to be true because he only lasted a semester at Auburn.
Cody Green (Four-star/5.9-rated/No. 173 player in the country): Was given a chance at Nebraska to win the job, but eventually he transferred to Tulsa and never emerged as a difference maker.
Shavodrick Beaver (Four-star/5.9-rated/No. 206 player in the country): Once was a Michigan commitment and ended up as a bench-warmer for Tulsa.
Casey Pachall (Four-star/5.9-rated/No. 241 player in the country): Incredibly talented kid that has seen his career marred by poor off-field decisions.
Ryan Mossakowski: (Four-star/5.9-rated): Has bounced around all over the place after signing with Kentucky and is currently with Lamar University.
For those keeping score, that's a wideout, a drop-out, two busts, a drug addict and a gypsy in the group of players that joined Gilbert as the best prospects from the best quarterback-producing state in the union.
The rest of the quarterbacks from the state include Drew Allen, Jacob Karam, Bryce Petty, Kolby Gray, Richard Morrison, Taylor McGargue, Will Second, Christian Matthews, Kenny Guiton, Drew Hollingshead, Doak Raulston, Andy McCloud, Denarius McGhee, Zach Williams, Kyle Padron, Octavius Hypolite, Kolton Browning, Brady Attawaty, Christian Louis, Charlie Moore and Derek Thompson.
Of that group, only Petty still has a chance of being drafted or emerging as anything close to a potential pro and the jury is still kind of out of him because there's a sense that he's not as much of a pro prospect as much as he's a product of Art Biles' wizardry. Regardless, the bottom line on this drat class of quarterbacks is a disaster.
Perhaps it's nothing close to vindication, but at least I had the right guy ranked No. 1 way back in the day … even if he never became what I thought he would.
Scoreboard … kind of.
No. 6 - Six Scattershots on the Draft …
1. Of all the Longhorns that signed free agent contracts after the draft passed this weekend, I think I like Chris Whaley's chances of making a team and sticking around for a while more than anyone else's. Because he's injured and really not expected to play at all this season, Whaley will probably take what amounts to a paid redshirt season in Dallas and after a year-plus of rehab/development, he'll have every chance to make the Cowboys 2015 roster as a contributing player. Outside of him, I'm not sure what to think of the others, although perhaps making the practice squad is a realistic goal for each player if he can't make the roster. Meanwhile, I'm fascinated by Jackson Jeffcoat's signing with Seahawks because he was recruited by Pete Carroll and probably would have signed with the Trojans in a different lifetime. If Jeffcoat could build up his upper-body strength with a real strength and conditioning program, he could end up being a steal in a few years.
2. I wish I had some positivity for the draft that the Cowboys put together, but outside of Zach Martin, I don't know that the Cowboys solved a lot of core issues by drafting guys that will emerge as starting-level players. While I love the athleticism of Demarcus Lawrence, I hated giving up a third round pick to get him. Nothing else from the three-day festivities had me jumping for joy. I guess Devin Street and Ben Gardner have a chance to be solid players, but this looks like a one-player draft that might become two if the Cowboys are right about Lawrence and he can fit into their 4-3 scheme. Pretty much a C- Draft in my eyes, but I'd love to be wrong.
3. Also, I didn't love the Texans draft haul, even if it happens to be much better than anything the Cowboys pulled in, at least to the naked eye. Jadeveon Clowney has a chance to be a star, but it feels like the success of this entire draft hinges on the development of Tom Savage, who I believe is a JAG if there ever was one. His career path suggests he's a little like the Garrett Gilbert of the East Coast.
4. The San Francisco 49ers are awesome at this drafting thing. Man, it pains me to write that and it pains me even more to write that it seems impossible that they won't win at least one championship before the end of the decade.
5. I thought the Rams might have had the second-best draft outside of the 49ers, as I think they landed at least six players that will contribute significantly for them in the short- and long-term.
6. Speaking of the Rams, right on for Michael Sam. Honestly, I thought the images from his home as he was being selected were one of the most touching emotional scenes I've ever seen while watching the draft. If the only thing you saw during all of that was a couple of dudes kissing … well … we just witnessed different things.
No. 7 - Eternal Randomness of the Spotty Sports Mind …
… What an absolute disaster of an ending to game four for the Thunder against the Clippers on Sunday. That's a game you have to win … you just have to. To have a chance to go up 3-1 heading back home and to blow the lead like they did in the fourth quarter is the stuff that long off-seasons are made of. In the end, the Crayon Man himself … Scotty Brooks … can take this L and wear the scarlet letter on his chest because he might have pulled off the single worst performance of a career that is full of them. Let's count the ways the Crayon Man did in his team ...
a. Had a match-up with his MVP that featured him being guarded by a man seven inches shorter than him and yet there wasn't one thing done to really take advantage of that fact. Not a pick and roll with Russell Westbrook. Not any motion. Just KD posting up from 15-feet out or more.
b. Provided nothing of substance in terms of dialing up specific offensive plays for his players coming out of timeouts.
c. Didn't have his team prepared for the final end-game scene, which almost allowed the Clippers to run the clock out without the Thunder having more than a second or two to go the length of the court.
d. SOMEHOW HE FOUND A WAY TO USE UP ALL OF HIS TEAM'S TIME OUTS IN A GAME THEY LED BY DOUBLE DIGITS FOR MOST OF THE CONTEST.
The Thunder doesn't lose that game if they have a legitimate top of the line coach on the sideline instead of the Crayon Man. It doesn't lose that game with Doc Rivers as its coach.
… I'm having a hard time getting worked up about any of the other three playoff series taking place, which means I'm pretty sure I jinxed the NBA.
… Kind of wishing that Houston would have beaten Portland, but maybe the Spurs are just playing at too high of a level for these mid-level West teams. This feels like Miami/Charlotte all over again.
… The Sterling family is going to be one gigantic pain in the ass on this Clippers sale and I can't say that I blame them. Mrs. Sterling is willing to become Miss Sterling in order to keep the franchise and I don't know how they tell her no.
… Yu Darvish is the Maxwell Smart of no-hitters.
No. 8 - Game of Thrones Recap: Season Four, Episode Six
Four more episodes. Damn, damn, damn...
**************SPOILER ALERT!!!! SPOILER ALERT!!!! SPOILER ALERT!!!!**************
I'M SERIOUS.
I REPEAT, I'M SERIOUS
**************SPOILER ALERT!!!! SPOILER ALERT!!!!**************
a. Stannis getting turned down by the Iron Bank like he was some chump with bad credit was an awesome way of starting the show. That'll humble a fella.
b. Davos just earned his keep with that speech.
c. No way Ramsey takes it on the chin from Theon's sister. No way. She's not that much of a bad-ass.
d. Damn, that was quick. Sorry Theon… I mean Reek.
e. Danny is finding out that ruling isn't nearly as much fun as she thought it might.
f. Well, the deck is certainly stacked against Tyrion. I don't know how the hell he's getting out of this.
g. Damn, did Tywin set all of this up because he knew Jaime wouldn't let Tyrion did? He sure jumped on Jaime's offer like a stink on you now what.
h. Oh damn, Shea is on the stand! Nooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i. Drop the damn mic, Tyrion!
**************END OF SPOILER ALERT!!!! END OF SPOILER ALERT!!!!**************
No. 9 - Pop goes the culture because the culture goes pop …
… Hottie of the Weekend (possibly NSFW): 2014 Polaroids of Marisa Miller Testing Bikinis for SI
… Candice is back: Hot in Victoria's Secret May 2014
… I'm rich, b*&ch: Dr. Dre is the first billionaire rapper
… Cancelled: No More Community on NBC
… Family Feud Fail: This girl might be disowned after this final round.
… Replacing Colbert.: Comedy Central finds its man
… Spring Breakers 2: Extreme Militant Christian Sequel? Lame.
… May The Force Be With You: Episode VII' Says Han Solo Is a 'Co-Lead'
… Miley Link of the Weekend: Licks Giant Inflatable Penis Onstage at G.A.Y. Club.
No. 10 - The List: Billy Joel (Listen Via Spotify)
Completely random thought of the weekend: How different might the history of music been had Billy Joel released We Didn't Start the Fire as a rap song back in 1989 instead of rock song?
Seriously.
The song is nothing but Joel rapping about the historic events of his life with a very catchy hook. How different might the history of hip-hop looked had Joel released the song and paid homage to the budding genre as he has so many others genres in his lifetime.
In my mind, he probably wins a Grammy for Best Rap Performance over Young M.C. (Bust a Move) and the genre would have never been the same with the infusion of such a mainstream voice claiming a big piece of the genre.
Honestly, his flow isn't that bad. Let's get on with the list.
Last five songs out: Just The Way You Are
10. This is The Time
I might be the only person that will include this song in his top 10, but after listening to it 1,000 times on my old NBA Superstars VHS tape, I couldn't leave it out.
9. Uptown Girl
The first song from Billy I ever loved at the age of six.
8. It's Still Rock and Roll To Me
One of my personal favorites. Had to be on the list.
7. My Life
The best song off of the 52nd Street album.
6. Vienna
A completely underrated song by the masses, but one of his favorite two songs.
5. Tell Her About It
Billy's work in the 1980s cannot be overlooked. The man was a superstar.
4. Scenes From an Italian Restaurant
The song that has been described as his Stairway to Heaven.
3. New York State of Mind
Mr. New York singing about New York.
2. Captain Jack
You can make a strong case that Joel's live performance of this song in the early 70s saved his career.
1. Piano Man
Choices 2-10 ere incredibly difficult to sort out, but the top spot was as easy as it gets.
Archives List
Blues/Jazz: Listen via Spotify )
Classical: Listen via Spotify)
Country: Listen via Spotify )
Electronic: Listen Via Spotify
Funk: Listen Via Spotify (Part II ? After Hours))
Metal: Listen Via Spotify
Pop: Listen via Spotify )
Punk: Listen via Spotify)
Random: My Number 1's on Spotify
Rap: Listen via Spotify),
R&B: Listen via Spotify)
Reggae: Listen via Spotify)
Rock: Listen via Spotify )
and Listen via Spotify )
This post was edited on 5/11 10:16 PM by Ketchum
