Many media outlets are conducting polls in search of what sports fans are most eager to watch this weekend. All over the country, the findings show that nearly 50 percent of the people are most looking forward to the NFL Draft, 30 percent are interested in the NBA playoffs, and 20 percent want to watch hockey.

Even the commissioner looks drowsy.

From the perspective of someone who loves football more than any other professional sport, I couldn’t disagree more. For one, the NFL Draft is bad television. Granted, I understand the build-up. Each team’s picks will impact the future of an organization more than any offseason trade or free agent signing. Still, I can’t muster up the excitement to watch a first round that will take roughly six hours and 20 minutes. That’s right. Each team has 1o minutes to make a selection. There are 32 teams in the NFL. You do the math.

So if you’re planning to wait for the Patriots’ first-round selection (No. 23), you’ll be waiting for nearly four hours. That’s the equivalent of almost two basketball games. And that time commitment isn’t guaranteed to provide an ample return on investment. What’s the probability the No. 23 pick will start next season? What’s the probability he’ll be on the team in three years? And what’s the probability Laurence Maroney is watching the draft with his bags packed for another city? I like the odds on the latter.

So my advice is to stick with the playoff games this weekend. Chris Berman won’t have anything to do with the NBA or NHL playoffs, and you can get all the information on the draft with a 10-minute crash session on the Internet. You’ll be able to read scouting reports with all of the draftees’ pertinent strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes it’s better to create your own image of what a player will bring to the table rather than being disappointed with Mel Kiper’s over-the-top breakdown.

Story of the week: This isn’t a sports story, but it’s an example of the most thorough reporting I’ve read in years. It rightfully won a Pulitzer, and it’s the type of story we rarely read any more due to the demise of the newspaper industry. What newspaper has the resources to allow one reporter to work a beat for months just to publish one story? Evidently, the St. Petersburg Times does. For the most part, the story is devastating with a few uplifting parts, but I’d recommend reading it if you have 15 minutes. You can’t stop once you start. Congratulations to the author, Lane DeGregory.

This doesn't appear to be going well.

Quote of the week: For some reason, Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy has been taking jabs at Dwight Howard for the past three weeks. He’s like the anti-Terry Francona. If his strategy is to draw attention to his superstar’s shortcomings and push negativity toward a player who thrives on positive vibes, he’s doing a great job. Isn’t Pat Riley looking for his next coaching job yet? Either way, following Orlando’s narrow victory over the Sixers in Game 2, Van Gundy had this to say about Courtney Lee, who scored scored a career-high 24 points compared to Howard’s 11.

“Some of our other guys look like they have the weight of the world on them,” Van Gundy said. “And (Courtney Lee’s) playing loose.”

Comment of the week: On Monday, I wrote a column comparing running the Boston Marathon to spectating. I concluded that spectating is the way to go.

L.B. Applebaum posted the comment of the week.

“Boston is in no way one of the most difficult marathons. The oldest in America?? Yes. More people run for charities?? Yes. More people get numbers that don’t have a clue?? Yes. I’ve run L.A. in ’94 and ’99. Ran the number one rated marathon in North America, The Big Sur International Marathon, in 2001. Boston pales in comparison to Big Sur and endless courses. Much to do about nothing, which is synonymous with Boston. Athens, Greece is where it all began. November 8th, 2009. Come and run that one, you Boston phony!!!!! I’ll be there at the starting line in Marathon, Greece where it all began 2,499 years ago. Now that is some real history.”

I’ll be there, L.P. Save a spot for me on the starting line.

E-mail of the week: My brother graduated from the University of Florida in 2006, and he’s getting tired of all the anti-Gator sentiment in the comments section. So he decided to go on an anti-Boston rant via e-mail. His rant in no way reflects the views of blah, blah, blah …

“Why does Boston hate Joakim Noah? He’s a champion, a guaranteed double-double, and he just injured Leon Powe for the season. And while he may be ugly, I’ve met two girls in my time at Florida who claimed the title ‘girlfriend of Joakim Noah’, and I’ve never met a girl in Boston who can go toe-to-toe with either of them. Lastly, congrats on going to a Tier 1 school, Bostonians. It’s not my problem you lacked the foresight and ingenuity to go south for college. I’m pretty sure your dad was going to hire you anyway. A Harvard degree and 50 cents make a phone call.”

My brother is dead-wrong. I can guarantee not one Harvard graduate reads my blog.

A champion in his own right

Conversation starter of the week: If you’re watching the Celtics game with family and friends this weekend, pull up a chair next to the closest grade-schooler. Wait until Comcast cuts to a close-up of Kevin Garnett dropping F-bombs on the bench. Right at that moment, turn to the grade-school student and loudly ask, “What did Garnett just say?”

Tip of the week: Exit the room after you ask the question. Just to be safe.

What would T.O. do? Look, I feel like this T.O. segment may have reached its expiration date. We all know the formula. I come up with a real-life situation. Then I explain how T.O. would carry on like a lunatic. I’m running out of options. So I’m taking suggestions on new ideas for a Friday segment. W.W.T.O.D. ran its course.

Video of the week: This seems like a business that can’t possibly fail in this economy. Thanks to Pat Reen for supplying the clip.

3 Comments for “Is the NFL Draft really must-watch TV?”

1. Bruce Says:
   April 24th, 2009 at 11:45 am

   Your Video of the week was ripped off of the barstoolsports.com site it’s a great boston Blog site you should keep an eye on it. But you also should give credit to them for this vid I’m sure Pat got it from that site

2. KD Says:
   April 24th, 2009 at 1:13 pm

   How about “What Would an injured K.G. Say?”.

   It’s easy, b/c the answer is always “F&*@#@#$ this @#$#)*)(#*@$ # $@*# $#* #@*$#@ stupid @(#)*$#@)($#@&^&#@*!@#^*&/. B&$#@. Stop crying Glen”.

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