HAROLD LLOYD IS ON THE CLOCK

You think I'm kidding?

http://www.filmforum.org/films/lloyd/safetylast.jpg

11:54 a.m. Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer is onstage along with former Hokie players Bruce Smith, DeAngele Hll and Ron Mexico (Marcus Vick). It was a very classy gesture by the NFL to have Beamer speak and to take a moment to honor the 32 victims.

And I doubt Vick is going to be available to speak with the media about hsi canine contretemps. Here's all I have to say about that if he IS in fact guilty: What an A-hole.

It's my first NFL Draft in person. I don't think the organist will play music to accompany a team's pick, but it would be cool if when the Raiders had the pick, the organist played "Crazy" again. Listen, everything you've read about the Silver & Black? It's all true. That's a franchise in lockdown. There's nothing like it in professional sports, in terms of how they deal with the media and everyone else in general.

It's funny when you consider that one of the most personable dudes in NFL history, and one of its most successful broadcasters, is John Madden, their former coach.

First Overall Pick, my odds:

JaMarcus Russell: 2 to 1
Brady Quinn (whom Al Davis may just think is Daryl Lamonica all over again...he was a big Notre Dame tosser who was the Raider QB in their AFL days): 3 to 1
Calvin Johnson: 3 to 1
Ned, the crutch-wielding Florida International player from last fall's Miami-FIU brawl: 9 to 1
Mitch Cozad (Northern Colorado punter): 110,000 to 1
William H. Macy (I don't know; why not?): 3 million to 1