By Andrew Krumme

This weekend marks quite possibly my favorite two days out of the year. Sure, holidays are fun, but people, let’s get real here. Christmas is vastly overrated. The food is great at Thanksgiving, but having to deal with my entire family just ruins it for me. My birthday is the worst of them all (the countless happy birthday phone calls, unneeded conversation from people I hardly know wishing me a happy birthday and of course having to write thank you notes for all the gifts). But the two days this weekend when all of the National Football League comes together for the draft is the pinnacle of my life.

First and foremost, I can never get enough of ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper, Jr. This guy is a god among men. He works virtually year-round going to games, watching film and evaluating talent, and the draft is his day to shine. He will be up there in ESPN’s on-site draft day studio yapping away, and I’m going to love every second of it.

There was a rumor (one that I actually started) that he does not speak at all for the two weeks before the draft, sort of like a singer who rests his vocal cords before a big show, because he literally talks all weekend long. All you have to do is listen amazed while he reels off his thoughts on some guy that you’ve never heard of – he just never stops. Mel has his hair all slicked back, and you can just see the excitement in his face, like he is ready to jump out of his seat and yell, “I love the draft. It’s the only reason I get up in the morning!”

The draft also marks a weekend when sports fans can just sit on their couches, pop open a beer and be entertained for 10 hours a day. I mean, come on, does it get any better than this? You have the constant tension of who your team is going to pick next; are they going to trade up or down? Are they going to take a leap of faith and snag that guy you’ve watched all year on Saturdays and have been dying to see one day in your squad’s colors?

And who doesn’t love the sound of the New York crowd every year when the Jets or Giants make a stupid pick? You think the fans there are going to start a riot. Sure, I may hype the draft a little too much, but if you are a sports fan and have never dedicated your whole weekend to sitting on the couch and watching it, I highly encourage trying it this Saturday and Sunday. I don’t know what you guys have planned for this weekend, but I will be gearing up all week to see NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue come out on stage about 15 minutes after noon to announce the first pick in the draft and start the insanity.