While the world was focused on Rich Eisen’s rising hairline and Matt Leinart’s falling stock, here’s what the cameras didn’t show at Radio City Music Hall.
One
Super Mario bothers
NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue makes the Texans’ No. 1 selection of N.C. State defensive end Mario Williams official. Jets fans–and, by the way, there’s always Jets fans here–respond: “O-ver-rated. O-ver-rated.”
Two
Anger management
Forget what you’ve heard about Eagles fans booing that certain jolly old elf. Jets fans booed Doug Jolley. Who? The Jets’ starting tight end, who was on hand Saturday. “Thanks for the reception today, Jets fans,” Jolley said, sounding sarcastic. “Good to be here.”
Three
Bad year at the top
OK, just about done with Jets fans. They’re always mugging for the camera; it’s not just your imagination. Here’s how seating works: Sunday, you pick up a form between 10-11 a.m. Eastern time. If you stay until Mr. Irrelevant is known and hand in that form, you get a ticket to next year’s draft. That ticket gets you close. Standing in line for 12 hours the night before will get in, too, but it won’t get you close.
Four
From the top
The hat of choice for the 2006 draft is white with the team’s logo embroidered on the front. While the white does make it easier to track a pick through the throngs, the downside is that the pick’s entourage gets the same hat. You can easily tell who grandma is, but the standout athlete can get mixed up among his crew.
Five
Villlllll-ma!
The most popular jersey in the Hall seemed to be (ahem) a Jet: Jonathan Vilma’s 51. But there were others, many in better condition than their namesakes: A Browns 2 (Tim Couch), a Niners 11 (Alex Smith), a Chargers 16 (Ryan Leaf). The best “They Actually Made Those Back Then” entry: Bill Kraklow’s Packers 64 (John Jurkovic).
Six
Thread Bear
Sorry to report: Less than a handful of Bears jerseys. But there was a good one: Robert Padilla from El Paso, Texas, and his Bears 54 (Brian Urlacher). He’d always been a Bears fan, he said. He said Bears would go D. Chicago took Danieal Manning, a defensive back from Abilene Christian in, where else: Texas.
Seven
Sleeper pick
For an event that a security guard called “tedious,” the draft can run a little slow when you’re there and can’t change the channel. Less than an hour and a half in, the first fan is spotted sawing logs on a couch in a lobby. The smartest guy there? The one who popped in a “Dawson’s Creek” DVD in his laptop. Oh, Joey, how you’ve changed.
Eight
Larger than life
In a made-for-TV production like the draft (where the “flashbulbs” washing over players come not from cameras but strobe lights around the stage), it’s not surprising Greg Kinnear and Marky Mark were on hand to promote their August release, “Invincible.” It’s inspired by the true story of Vince Papale, a 30-year-old part-time bartender who made the Eagles after an open tryout.
