Mighty's Mailbag

Welcome the first edition of Mighty’s Mailbag. With the NFL season running down, MMBSD will go on hiatus and a new column will be added to respond to the potpourri of topics that our regular readers e-mail, mail or fax into Back Seat Drivers central office (which is now located in Davos, Switzerland). Without further ado, its mail time….

I have a little extra time on my hands; I’m divided on following the MLB or NFL off-season. Which do you prefer Countdown to the NFL Draft or the Hot Stove?

--Roger C, Houston

Well Roger I think ultimately it’s a question of whether you like football or baseball better but let me make a case for the NFL Draft. First, it’s nice to able to root for college players finding a place. Outside of how the Hot Stove affects your team it’s hard to root for an individual player. Secondly I like the NFL because a) every team is involved, b) every team is adding something and c) money (specifically revenue) is rarely the issue. Take my home teams of the Browns and the Indians. When the Browns make a bad move I chalk it up usually to incompetence or the fact that everyone used to be glue sniffers (thank goodness Butch Davis is gone). When the Indians make any move it’s motivated by Dolan’s avariciousness. With Coco Crisp trade, yeah maybe it’ll work out that Marte is the next Manny but everyone knows it’s because they wouldn’t pay for a real third baseman and they’re saving money by not paying Coco’s arbitration.

Is there anything going on in the NBA besides Kobe or Artest?

- Kevin M, Minneapolis

Well not if all you watch is ESPN’s sportstainment. Lots of things are going on in the NBA, Clippers still winning, emergence of Gasul as a superstar, Suns still in first place but I think the most under-reported story is Joe Dumars. Dumars has been the captain of the Pistons ship and turned the team into the dominating force it is today. Look through that roster and pick out the player that was the sure fire can’t miss player. Nearly every player Dumars has on that team had some question mark with a previous team. Yet he knew each of the player’s capabilities and knew how he would augment the team. When Larry Brown began to do his “Larry being Larry” routine, Dumars knew enough was enough. Flip Saunders at this moment has done as well of job as anyone could have done (that was available) and kudos for Dumars for knowing who to get.

Which ESPN Commentator do you currently dislike the most? Its not Mel Kiper Jr., is it?

--Tom J, Bristol

How could I hate Mel? Mel is a whirling dervish of perfect hair and factoids on players from North Dakota State. I swear he’s got a memory like Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man. I bet Mel doesn’t remember his address but he remembers the 40 time of Ashton Youbouty. The honor of commentator that I dislike most at the moment goes to Jay Bilas. Jay does college basketball and despite being a few years removed from attending Duke, still has his lips surgically attached to Coach K’s ass. Bilas is a one man colonoscopy for the Duke Basketball program. That’s bad enough but disparaging comments towards gays clinches him as worst ESPN commentator of the month. As reported by ESPN’s ombudsman, Bilas noted that the Kentucky basketball team should watch “Brokeback Mountain” and have a good cry. Making nationally televised jokes in such a manner is not only ignorant but inappropriate. Furthermore, shame on the ombudsman for excusing such behavior.

Would you care to comment on reports that you received money from Jack Abramoff ?

-Justice D., Washington DC

I do not know Jack Abramoff nor am I willing to release the pictures of us involved in illegal activities. Ah crap I shouldn't have said pictures. Ah crap I shouldn't have said illegal. Does anyone know how to use the delete key?