Lou Pickney's Online Commentary
Sleep Spent
Thursday
February 27, 2003
Today is my Granddaddy Blaylock's 82nd birthday. So happy birthday to him. I've been blessed to have had the opportunity to get to know all of my grandparents, and to have three of the four still alive today. I am very fortunate.
Of course, that's one aspect of being in Tampa that's tough, being away from family. Thank goodness for telephones and e-mails and IMs and what not.
I really should be asleep right now, but the Kings and Mavericks are playing on TNT. That's like when I flip the channel on the movie channels and Swingers is on. There's just no turning away. Kings vs. Mavericks reminds me of the NBA from its 1980's heyday, wide open, with an up-and-down the court style. I'd choose to watch those two teams in a game any day, and this coming from a Spurs fan.
I'm wondering if I might've spoken too soon in calling the Big XII better than the SEC in men's basketball this year. Cause the SEC is loaded with talent and strong teams. Maybe they're closer to even. But I still contend that the Big XII has an advantage.
Time has been a bit more limited this week. I need to update my Mock Draft page; traffic on it is spurred on with an update (since it thus jumps to the top of the sites that are kind enough to include it in their links sections). But the past couple of days the hits have skewed up without an update, no doubt thanks to growing anticipation about the upcoming draft.
There's no way the Redskins are taking Hawaii OG Vince Manuwai at pick 13. No way. But my draft board still has him listed there, even though it's looking now like the Skins could possibly get him at that spot in the second round. Perhaps Spurrier will take Taylor Jacobs at #13, though the Redskins seem anxious to trade up. Word has it that they're shopping former Mississippi State CB Fred Smoot in trade talks. What are they thinking? Smoot has played very well and makes for an excellent tandum with fellow CB Champ Bailey.
I wish the Colts could end up with Smoot (like they did when I traded for him in Madden 2002 -- ah, the joys of no signing bonus ramifications). Though the Colts would be insane to not take one of the DTs that will be available when they pick in Round 1. Smoot on the Titans would be nice, but the Titans lack a Top 12 pick. Such is life.
Work is going strong. My hand is tired from filling out all of those Airborne Express forms, and there are plenty more to go tomorrow. This is all very exciting for me. I mean, I love the show and want to see it succeed and expand. Compound that with the fact that the success of the syndication will play a key role in my finances... and the stakes are high. But you know what, I'll take it. This might sound odd, but I really enjoy the work, even the paperwork. Plotting which markets are most likely to be receptive, following trends, keeping the facts straight on all the different stations with "Rock" in their name, etc.
Meanwhile, WZJO in Charleston, WV flipped from Hot AC to alternative rock today. You have no idea how bad I want that market. Bubba would destroy John Boy & Billy and Bob & Tom there -- I'm confident of that. We'll see if he'll get that opportunity.
Midnight approaches... I must turn the cable to ABC and turn off the television. Gotta tape Jimmy Kimmel Live, which is night-in and night-out the funniest show on TV. Kimmel leaves no topic untouched. ABC better give that show every chance to succeed... that network has killed off several excellent shows before their time (My So-Called Life, a show which my sister Mary Beth would've loved if it were on today; Sports Night; Who Wants To Be A Millionaire; etc.) C'mon Disney, don't break my heart again.
103-102 Sacramento leads with less than 8 minutes to play... Ouch, it hurts to change the channel. Maybe I'll give it a few more minutes... Nightline is doing a special on Fred Rogers. Wow, this is really good... Okay they went to commercial, back to the game for now. Two riveting choices on TV at 11:50 on a Thursday night.
The death of Fred Rogers is a sad thing for America. Rogers represented all that is good in people and in television. Not condescending, but also not brash or confrontational or mean-spirited. Genuine, caring and soft-spoken. And an influence on several generations of American children -- and probably several more to come...
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