We wake up about noon on Friday April 23rd. I kick on NFL Network to see the guys talking about the results of day 1. I ask my buddy if he’s still pissed about the Anthony Davis selection and he says, “Yeah, a little bit but maybe he’ll turn out ok.” I remind him the Niners brain trust obviously were worried (right or wrong) they wouldn’t get A. Davis at #13. He likes the Iupati pick. Chad Reuter thinks Davis is a head case.
We head to this Japanese place my buddy is dying to go back to for lunch. Get there about 2:30 and the place is closing for lunch. Damn, missed it. First his team picks a player he thinks sucks, then the place he was most looking forward to for lunch is closed.
So to cheer my buddy up, I make a suggestion & we head over to Lombardi’s Pizza for some pizza and a pitcher of beer. Their Pizza is so fantastic and goes great with the pitcher of lager. He doesn’t think we’ll finish the large pizza. We finish it plus a 2nd pitcher of beer.
We’re both smiling now, & my buddy suggests we take the subway back up to RCMH. This is my first time on the NY subway. $2.25 a person to get on. Not a bad deal. We zip up to Rockefeller Center and come out the stairs about 100 feet from the door to RCMH. That’s how public transportation is supposed to be!
We’re a little early today too & since there are no pass-outs, we don’t go inside yet. No, instead we head down 2 blocks to the new Magnolia bakery to mack on some cupcakes. I told you that I’m crazy for these cupcakes cousin. If you never heard about Magnolia bakery, people stand in line for 2-3 hours just to get some of these cupcakes. A bakers dozen runs about $40. Yes for cupcakes and it’s far & away the best cupcake I’ve ever had but I still wouldn’t stand in line for even 1 hour to get some. Fortunately we walked right in the bakery by Rockefeller and nobody was there. Possibly because it’s not the original bakery. I grab a couple Red Velvet cupcakes with buttery frosting. Unbelievable! They’re so good. Cake and frosting melts in your mouth. Never had anything like it.
Heading back towards RCMH, we arrive with about :30 minutes to spare for the start of day 2. Settle into our row 1 seats on the aisle of the first mezzanine. Commish comes to the podium again and the Rams are on the clock drafting Roger Saffold. Hmmm…. I liked him and am a little surprised he was taken this high but to the Rams credit, they now drafted a QB plus a LT (or possibly RT depending on what Jason Smith (2nd overall pick last year) does.
The Vikings are on the clock now and the last thing I want to see is them draft a QB. Of course if they do it creates high drama with Favre but we all know they won’t do that to his highness. Glad they didn’t take an OL or pass rusher either. Hopefully Chris Cook flames out as a CB.
As the picks start flying off the board I mention to my friend we don’t have to stay until the end of round 2. We could head over to that Japanese place for dinner to check it out. He thinks that’s a great idea. We plan on leaving after Green Bay’s pick.
Jimmy Clausen is selected just before the Niners pick to much fanfare by the crazies in the stands. I mention how I think Clausen is going to be starting by week #8. I don’t care what Matt Moore did in the last 5 games last season. I don’t think he is anything plus I think the panthers will be losing a lot this year. Clausen will play no matter what the reports out of Carolina are.
The Niners selection is on the clock and my buddy is screaming for Taylor Mays. It has me chuckling because I remember Singletary’s comments when he was drafted. “It’s not where you were drafted. It’s how well you play the game once you get drafted.” I can see Mike using this same tactic on Taylor Mays because I’m certain Taylor is mad about not being drafted in round 1. My buddy gets his wish and they select Taylor Mays. He’s not Earl Thomas but now they have a decent safety to plug the running lanes which will go well with my favorite Niner, Dashon Goldson. I would love to see Dashon in Green & Gold. He’s vastly underrated. I digress….
The Vikings pick Toby Gerheart. I feel bad for Toby because he has to play for that franchise, oh well.
The Packers pick is up and the selection is “Mike Neal”. Everyone around us is like….”WHO?!??!” Then the NFL N guys start talking about the only team to work this guy out was the Patriots & the Patriots really liked him. The Dolphins also really liked him. TT knows who he needs to beat in the draft. Patriots, Eagles, Colts, Dolphins yeah the teams with front offices that know how to draft. He took this guy because he knew there was no way he would last until late round 3. Let’s hope he turns into another round 2 gem from TT. He fills a need plus looks solidly built.
After the Packers pick we decide to take off for the Japanese restaurant. As I’m walking down the street I receive a text from Chad. He wants to know if I’d like to meet Aaron from cheeseheadtv.com. I politely decline as we are just entering the door of the restaurant. I refuse to eat the crap at RCMH. The hot dog I had last year was terrible. Right coach?
We sit down for dinner and my buddy is all excited. I’m just thinking about the 2 Packer draft picks & hoping they pan out. I do not want to see another Harrell situation on our hands. We look over the menu and order the same thing. A Salmon sashimi dish with Salmon roe. I’m not really a fan of roe but decide to give it a shot.
The waitress comes out with some miso soup to start our dinner. The bowl slips out of her hand and Miso spills all over the table, & my NFL draft bag plus some on me. I’m laughing and she is very apologetic. Not a big deal & I’m laughing it off. She cleans it up and replaces our soup. We are drinking our Sapporo’s & our food shows up in about 10 minutes. I also ordered some spicy tuna with mountain yam? Not quite sure what it is but it really didn’t have any flavor other than the tuna. The Salmon dish is ok, meaning the rice & sashimi is good but the rest of it sucks. Yes the restaurant my buddy wanted to take me to turns out to be a completely different place during dinner. Their lunch menu is completely different and it’s much better than dinner. I’m just cracking up because I haven’t had a meal this bad at a restaurant in a long long time. We finish our beers and get the hell out of there. He’s all disappointed again. I cheer him up with a few Chimays at the Perfect Pint. I remind him that Saturday (Day 3) starts at 10:00 AM and we can’t be late or lose our Diehard status. It’s 1:00 AM. I’m hungry, & so is he. We stop at our favorite Mediterranean street cart and have some Kati rolls plus some chicken & rice. I think this is the cart….
http://newyorkstreetfood.com/tag/biryani-cart/
…and believe me it is fantastic. We get this home, chow down and get some shut-eye. Can’t be late for Day 3 & wait till you hear about that day.
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