Twas The Night Before Draft Day

 A Visit from St. Nicholas

BY CLEMENT CLARKE MOORE

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds;

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,

Gave a lustre of midday to objects below,

When what to my wondering eyes did appear,

But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer,

With a little old driver so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

Football fans will tell you; NFL Draft-Eve can be the most exciting anticipation since waiting on Santa Claus to deliver Christmas Eve gifts when you were a kid. Questions swarm around in your head about what impressive new toys will be left under the Christmas tree for you. Will you get Tonka, GI Joe, Rock'em Sock'em robots, or what. Perhaps a Hot Wheel racing car track.

Mind you I'm a child of the 60's-70's era. Tonight is the night that grown men like me become as children, hoping and praying for that special gifted football player. For tonight is the eve of the NFL Draft, and if I don't get a top prospect added to my teams' roster, it'll feel like a Charlie Brown Christmas or Halloween, choose your pick.

The difference between Christmas and the NFL Draft is the drawn-out anticipation. Because you don't get to play your new toys on Draft Day. You see, after the draft, the gifts your team acquires will not play in a meaningful NFL game for another six months. So, you are left waiting to see if the toy you got can actually satisfy and fulfill you and your teams' needs. Can it take the bruising playing of NFL football, or will it break easy and be useless after one or two games. Or worse, will it not make the cut.

Whether he be a lineman, running back, wide receiver, quarterback or defensive player, your gifted player is all hype and speculation until he suits up and participates in live game action. Until then, all you can do is talk about what Santa delivered on Draft Day. Until then, you are back to hoping and praying that your gift will be as good or better than predicted. And unfortunately, like Christmas, there's always a mean Grinch in the equation just begging to trade away or steal your joy.  

So, for now, enjoy the hype, the promise, the anticipation, the dream. For tomorrow is "the day the lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." Tomorrow is Draft Day!

April 25 - 27