I have stated numerous times that I believe that ESPN is the worst thing to ever happen to sports! They currently operate 8-10 different channels, and I am quite sure you can find some irrelevant sporting event on at least 6 of them but I will digress today over what I believe is the dumbest event of the year on ESPN, the NFL Draft.
For months after the Superbowl, all the draft experts and football analysist tell us endlessly who the next superstars are coming into the NFL. For most sporting events, there is an assumption of some sort of action of 20-30 seconds, you know, something worth watching in person.
The NFL Draft provides none of this!
Instead, we’re “treated” to a three day-long press conference, stretched out beyond all possible justification in order to get television ratings. The NFL Commissioner comes out announces the players name, the players come out with that same smug look on their face, usually is dark sunglasses, even though the event is inside and at night to hug Roger Goodell. The fact that people pay money to stand around for four hours, or more, to watch a press conference is a remarkable testament to sports fans’ willingness to be bored as long as football is tangentially involved.
What makes this event even more absurd is the endless analysts repeating themselves with every player. 40-yard dash speed, jumping ability, wingspan, blah, blah, blah, it is mind numbing that millions of people watch this and still complain other sports are boring.
I understand that gambling plays a huge part in this business. The prediction markets and widespread sports betting apps have made anything “exciting” because there’s money involved. The NFL Draft is the best example of how the league has weaponized the importance of gambling to become the country’s most popular sport.
We don’t have to pretend the draft is worth watching. We just don’t. You can follow along on a website while watching actual sports. Or doing literally anything else. And you’ll have the same experience, while avoiding the boredom and repetition of the worst “sporting event” of the year.