Vikings Draft Speculation Is On The Wrong Course

For the last month, the NFL draft has dominated talk radio, newspapers, even SportsCenter. That's the first thing I don't understand. The hype isn't as drastic for the NBA draft and no one even knows when the MLB draft is. So why is the NFL draft so different?

I digress. After all, the most frustrating thing about all the pre-draft conversation hasn't been its overabundance, but rather its misguided nature, particularly by Vikings fans.

It seems everyone has developed a case of The-Experts-Are-Always-Right-Syndrome. A while back, "experts" started saying teams should pick "the best player on the board" regardless of his position. I couldn't disagree more emphatically, especially in the case of the Vikings.

Sure, if you're team has been dismantled by trades, free agency and injuries and you need to start from scratch, then taking the best player is a good move. But the Vikings? No way.

Minnesota has four above average running backs who aren't getting enough credit. Michael Bennett is an All-Pro. I know he's been hurt, but I have a hard time drafting on the assumption someone is going to get hurt again. Many people think Onterrio Smith is better than Bennett. Again, I don't think you can draft on the assumption a player will get another suspension. Moe Williams is old faithful and for a three week span last year, Mewelde Moore was said to be better than all of them. Draft Ronnie Brown, Cadillac Williams or Cedric Benson? I don't think so.

What about Mike Williams or Brayland Edwards? Nope. That doesn't make sense either. When Randy Moss was hurt last year, Nate Burleson proved that he can fill the shoes. He can stretch the field (although not as well as Moss), make the catches and break tackles (something Moss was overrated at doing). We also have Marcus Robinson, who is good for 8-10 touchdowns and Jermaine Wiggins, who became one of the best receiving tight ends in the NFL last year. Mix in the most dangerous screen play in the NFL with Michael Bennett and the last thing we need is a receiver.

In the off-season, the Vikings have addressed their defensive problems with free agency. Fred Smoot and Darren Sharper will join Antoine Winfield for a much-improved defensive secondary. Pat Williams will join All-Pro Kevin Williams on the defensive line, and look for Kenechi Udeze to play a bigger role this year.

The one position still to be addressed (other than a kicker) is the one that caused Joe Sensor so much pain and suffering in the broadcasting booth last year. He was beside himself with the terrible play of our linebackers. They were the root of all our defensive problems according to Vikings experts. But now that the team has addressed every issue except linebacker (Napoleon Harris could help, but he's no panacea) these same experts are talking about whether we should draft a wide receiver or running back.

Here what the Vikings should do. Go into the draft with a list of their favorite linebackers, 1-7. When they get to their first pick at number 7, they pick their favorite lineback who is still on the list.

That's all there is to it. An offensive selection should be out of the question. Can't we learn from our mistakes of the past decade?

Another Chinese Giant

And you thought Yao Ming was tall.

If you get a chance while twiddling your thumbs at work today, I recommend going to foxsports.com and checking out the article about the newest giant to head West from China. His name is Sun Ming Ming, and the kid is huge. At 21 years of age, Sun is 7-foot-8 3/4. That's almost 7'9''. And get this...he has great touch on his jump shot. The picture of a basketball in his hands makes Shaq's hands look like those of a todler.

It will be interesting to see if Sun can match Yao's success in the NBA. They say Sun is a raw talent. Physically he is obviously gifted with size, but he needs work on getting up and down the court as well as getting stronger. They are currently treating him like "a high school senior lifting weights" according to his trainer, James Wilson.

If and when Sun gets drafted this June, he will have huge shoes to fill. Yao Ming has been an immediate impact player in the league, something very few players of any age, from anywhere are able to do. That will most likely translate into nearly impossible expectations of Sun. It will be interesting to see if he can handle it.

Personally, I just want to see him stand next to Shaq.

Wolves Post-Season Hopes End

It's about time. After a season that began painfully and remained painful for the whole year, the Minnesota Timberwolves are finally done. They'll go through the motions for the few remaining regular seasons games--just like they have all year--and then go home and lick their wounds.

I remember early in the season when the Wolves started a little slow. They were around the .500 mark and everyone was panicking. "Settle down," I said. "They'll bounce back. It's still early."

The Wolves proceeded to prove me wrong time after time. They flirted with the .500 mark for too long. By the time they put a run together, it was too late. They couldn't sustain it anyway.

How does a team go from one of the top four in the NBA to a bottom-half club in one year? How do they do that with virtually the same players? Even more baffling, how does a team have a must-win game on their home court and lose by 15 points? They didn't even put up a real fight.

The Timberwolves lackluster play in a game that had everything on the line backs up my claim that the NBA is a lost cause. Compared to college basketball, it's not even a sport.