Cities I've Never Visited

Nate’s 9: Cities I’ve Never Visited

         

 And of course, by that I mean cities that I would like to see.  Not just a list of cities I’ve never visited.  Because technically, Gary, Indiana could be at the top of the list.  It is culturally significant after all.

#9 – Paris, France.  I think deep down I don’t really want to go here, but I almost feel like I have to.  I feel like I might get short-changed in life if I don’t at least give a little of my time to the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and that cute little café shop from the Windows 7 commercial a few years back.  And now that PSG is a world power, I suppose a stop-in at the Parc des Princes wouldn’t hurt either. I mean if Kanye can’t stop talking about it...

#8 – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  Before I purchased Time Magazine’s most wonderful architectural magazine a few years ago, I didn’t even know that Kuala Lumpur existed.  I only knew Malaysia for being from the Far East and a place that I would probably never encounter.  But since I’ve seen those towers... one of my biggest fear is that of height, and I know that I would be very anxious if I were to ever tour the Petronas Towers. Yet, I feel that if I am ever able to visit this lovely city and walk across the tall beam however many stories high, that my fear would be absolutely gone.  That is worth a visit.

#7 – Beijing, China.  Nothing fascinates me more than that of our world history.  For the opportunity to be able to see and hear about the Ming and Qing dynasties would be simply incredible.  These are people that did so much to shape the history of that continent and you can still see pieces of their influence today.  On top of that, I have an attraction to cities that previously hosted Olympic Games, and Beijing was able to put on a show for the Summer Games back in 2008 (gasp!). I know that they kept most of the facilities used for the games, and I would love to be able to see how they progressed from the World’s greatest sporting get-together.

#6 – Kiev, Ukraine.  Ever since I lived in Germany, and spent a year learning about the after effects of the Second World War, I have had a fixation with the cultures of Eastern Europe.  Pretty much Russia, (and probably France, England and the US as well) created borders without any thought for cultural, religious and political differences and wham bam, we had resolution.  But it wasn’t really fair.  The Czech Republic is nothing like Slovakia, just as Serbia is nothing like Croatia.  Yet for years, people had to live under the same rule whether they wanted to or not.  Enough with the history lesson though.  I would like to see most of the former USSR, but my favorite cultural city was probably the capital of the Ukrainians which has a great history in Churches and the Arts.

#5 – Rio, Brazil.  In a different lifetime, it probably all would’ve come together beautifully.  In about a week, Rio will become host to what has become my favorite event, the World Cup.  FIFA has decided to make a bucket list goal very difficult for me, by putting the next two Cups in Russia and Qatar, respectively.  By the time 2026 rolls around, I will be 45 years old and without the young, springy legs that could take me around an event as exciting as this.  Beyond that, Rio has the Carnival, the Olympics and Oceanside beaches that would make any visit a must.  This would’ve been the year to do it, but Rio still awaits.

#4 – New Orleans, Louisiana.  Even beyond the Mardi Gras, I have always been interested in traveling to New Orleans.  Talk about a rich history that is nothing like the rest of the country.  Everyone that I have talked to that’s traveled to New Orleans has said that it’s like going to a different part of the world without having to leave the US.  I find the French Quarter very appealing, of course Canal St. that leads right up to the river with all of its bars and great eating, and I even want to see the Super Dome.  There must be a reason that the NFL has picked this city 10 times and I would like to find out why.

#3 – Istanbul, Turkey. Ever since I met the lovely people from Turkey that migrated to Germany while I was an exchange student have I wanted to visit their capital city.  Rich in history and architecture, there is so much to see and do there, that I don’t think it could be done on a single trip.  First, I have never experienced a Turkish bath, but I think as a father it would go down as one of the great wonders of the world.  It is described as reaching “full relaxation”. I haven’t been fully relaxed since March 7, 2010.  Second, the Grand Bazaar.  I imagine only London or Tokyo comes close to the amount of shops that Istanbul have along this stretch of land.  Third, the Blue Mosque which to me is kind of the iconic symbol for the city of Istanbul.  It’s the first image that I conjure up when I think about this diverse city.  Finally, the bridge that interlinks the Europe with Asia.  I think it’s pretty sweet that there are signs saying “Welcome to Asia” & “Welcome to Europe” like it’s no big deal.  A city that shares two significant cultures and geographical boundaries is awesome in my book!

#2 – Toronto, Canada.  I would have never considered this city in years past.  I just thought it was the “Minneapolis of the North”.  Our climates are similar, both communities are obsessed with hockey, and we each possess one of the World’s great Universities. (http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2013). Yet, when I heard that it’s the most polite city in the world, it had me curious.  I know Canada already has that reputation, but you think it’s more limited to the rural or suburban stretches of land.  I’m impressed that the most populated city is also thought of in such high regard.  The best part for me though is that it’s very family friendly with a large number of parks and places to take children to like the Toronto Islands.  Plus the Niagara Falls is only a two hour drive away, which I’ve always wanted to see.  Between the Toronto Zoo, the Casa Loma and CN Tower, Toronto seems like the place in Canada to see.

#1 – New York, New York.  So the saying goes, so great you gotta say it twice. It’s hard to believe that I’ve never been, but life hasn’t given me many opportunities to see the great city.  Anytime that I was in Pennsylvania, I was too young to understand the significance and value in seeing a city like New York.  Now that I can appreciate it more, life has kept me from traveling freely.  I know that it takes a month to do the entire city, but I have already made outlines for the times and places that I would like to go.  I need to be there during the NFL draft.  I have to have a day to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame. I have to see Yankee stadium, the Garden, the Rockefeller Center, the Statue of Liberty, Staten Island, Long Island, Central Park, Times Square, The Empire State building, the Museum of Modern Art, Coney Island, a Broadway show, Grand Central Station, the Guggenheim, the Brooklyn Bridge, Ellis Island, the Verrazano Bridge, and of course – Ground Zero.  Anything beyond that would be considered a bonus.  In all seriousness though, I think New York calls for multiple trips and I would definitely like to make it a family favorite for places that we want to go.  I haven’t even stepped foot on their soil yet, but I already know that it’s where I belong.

Celebrity Hotties

Nate’s 9: Female Celebrities

            Well, this year it’s going to be a little ridiculous.  In years past, I have always tempted a Hot 20, or the year that I went really nuts and drew up a Hot 101.  This year is going to be tough as I’m going to continue the idea of the Nate’s 9 blog.  Let’s just say that when I started this list, there were 108 people on it.  I kind of knew what my top 6 was, but those three final spots could’ve gone to anybody. (Hell, even Justin Timberlake was rolling through the first few rounds of cuts). 

            I've based my criteria on many things.  First, and foremost, are they attractive?  I really enjoy the comedy sketches of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, but I think that we can all agree that neither one is making anybody’s hot list.  (Except for maybe Seth Meyers’ and Alec Baldwin’s).  These lists wouldn't be nearly as fun if we couldn't base it off of our own opinions and preferences.  Its one thing to do it based on what Hollywood expects, it’s another to actually have opinions of our own (Michelle Pfeiffer and Nicole Kidman are top 20). Second, they have to bit relevant to the cause.  In 2003, when I first started this, I had Lindsay Lohan, Christina Aguilera and Heidi Klum all on the list.  While they haven’t all entirely disappeared, their chances of appearing on the list just based off of their current opportunities have diminished since their crusades upon the top 10 a decade ago.  Finally, I would like them to be age relevant to the times.  It doesn’t do me any good to put Cindy Crawford on the list this year.  While she is still very attractive and successful, her time has probably come and gone.  In fairness, I also tend to shy away from the overnight teen successes as well, and for all the same reasons.  If they are truly beautiful, successful and relevant, they can maintain it in the years to come and get a shot at the list.  I.e. Zendaya Coleman. 

            Finally, as I always do a shout-out to the wife.  Thank you for your support and your securities with yourself for knowing that this is all just in good fun.  I encourage you to be my yang and attempt a hot 9 celebrity list that the ladies can enjoy!  As long, of course, as David Beckham and Cristiano are allowed to decorate the list. 

I – A quick recognition of the three that just missed the 9 spot: Carrie Underwood, Nina Dobrev, and Yvonne Strahovski.  I think with time both Dobrev and Strahovski will threaten the list.  I didn’t even know who Strahovski was until I began this year’s list and I was only vaguely familiar with Dobrev through magazine cover publications.  They both have the talent and beauty to continue on an upward assault towards the top.  Ms. Underwood has been on the list for many years, and I must say the only reason she slipped off this year is because of the Winter Olympic Games. 

#9 – Anna Kendrick.  She makes me laugh.  On top of that, she’s a pretty talented singer, actress and judge of talent.  Most of you probably know her from the Twilight series and it’s okay if you don’t want to admit that you do.  I know her from “Pitch Perfect” and SYTYCD as a guest judge and I’m okay with letting everyone know that.  In any case, not my typical type (a little on the smallish side), but still good enough to make it this high on the list.

#8 – Silje Norendal.  Exactly.  I had no clue who that was prior to the Winter Games in Sochi this past year.  I lucked into the whole situation really.  I had the games on as background noise while I was folding clothes, and it happened to be the Women’s slopestyle.  She must have just finished and they were giving an interview and our eyes locked.  Okay, maybe that last part was a lie, but to be honest, I didn’t hear a word of the interview.  She’s a total knockout, and Lord only knows where her star lands if she dominates in South Korea in 2018.

#7 – Hayden Panettiere.  This poor girl is like the Buffalo Bills of the 1990’s.  Forgive me for bringing this up, but we go all the way back to blitzes and quarterback play from “Remember the Titans”.  She was just a little thing, but you could see the star quality even then.  It really broke out for me in “Bring It On – All or Nothing”. I would have just changed the channel, but when it panned on Hayden... Nashville has really given her a chance to shine, and while I don’t think she’ll ever grace the #1 spot on any of my lists, she’s pretty much become a staple in the top 10.

#6 – Hunter Haley King.  As soon as they re-casted Summer on Y&R I was in.  King is a killer, and still has all the time in the world.  She really hasn’t ventured out much from Y&R, but a few weeks as a model on “The Price is Right” didn’t hurt either.  She debuted on my top 20 last year, and I’ve really become a fan since me and the boys watch daytime soaps periodically.  It started as a little tribute to my dad (he watched Y&R when we used to stay in PA as kids with him), and I think I know the reasons why he never quit.  And now I have my own Ashley (My dad loved Eileen Davidson). 

#5 – Penelope Cruz.  Dear Javier Bardem, well done. I have always been a huge fan, at least since I saw the movie “Blow” in the theater.  She portrayed an absolute nutjob in the film, but she was smoking hot while doing it!  I think it correlates to the fact that I am a sucker for accents, but among her Latina look-alikes, I have to admit that she’s a lot more personable than either Eva Longoria or Eva Mendes.  Maybe she starts to slip away now that she’s leaving the lime light a little bit, but for now I see no reason for her to not be in the top five.

#4 – Selena Gomez.  I wouldn’t say I have been a fan from the very beginning, and I still think there is a little bit of questionable decision making coming from her end, but she is on her way to becoming an absolute superstar.  I will be the first to admit that I think she should probably avoid the music industry, but her role in “Spring Breakers” as well as an amusing appearance on David Letterman with which she used to bust on the Biebs a little bit, and continuing with the fact that she’s got the total package just a few years after turning 21, I believe that she is another who will still be in this list for years to come.

#3 – Scarlett Johansson.  So, for the first time in five years, Johansson is no longer #2.  It’s not that she has done anything wrong; on the contrary, I think her acting prowess has improved, and she has done very well on selections over the past couple of years.  She has aged very nicely, and has the personality to match the beauty.  As many of you may already know, I think the thickness is beauty at its best.  Johansson characterizes what I require in the ultimate attractiveness of any woman.  It’s just too bad that someone else has taken those requirements to another extreme.

#2 – Keira Knightley.  In 2003, I went and saw “Love Actually”.  My life has never been the same since.  For the last ten years, I have had only one #1 celebrity crush.  For all the things that Keira has done in her career, her biggest accomplishment has probably been defining a part of my pop culture life.  All that know me well, know that Keira has been #1 for that long.  Our interests are pretty similar (soccer, historical novels, complex films) and than to smash it with a blonde/brunette combo plus an accent... yes it was always easy for me.  I can even look beyond the fact that I find nothing sexier than a healthy chest, and Keira had no chance to ever provide the highest value in that category. But besides that, she hits on all other factors, (Successful, multi-versed in acting & music, a passion for sport, relevant, and very good looking).  It was a great run.

#1 – Kate Upton.  The comprehensive turn-around.  From her debut in Sports Illustrated where I wasn’t very impressed, to the number one spot in my 11^th edition of this list, however modified.  When Upton first hit the scene, I thought she was too tall and awkward. For as much as I could appreciate her “assets”, I thought that they were her only gift to the swimsuit world, and there wasn’t much else to go off of.  I can concede defeat.  She’s surprisingly warm, has an uncanny ability to play the stereotypical blonde but exude confidence at the same time, and can laugh at herself (Watch her Youtube video Cat Daddy).  That was actually the start of my turn around.  Now completing swimsuit modeling trips to Antarctica and outer space, she really has taken modeling to a whole new level.  She’s been on the cover of Sports Illustrated without bearing a swimsuit, and still knocked it out of the park (See Uptons’ Cover) And of course, the “Nate Prerequisites”. She’s even got a little bit of love handle growing around the hip region, and if we can’t appreciate that, then we may as well not create lists. Kate Upton is simply put, just killing it.

Thank you, readers for your input and judgments on this list.  While I don’t really go for the stereotypical greatness, I can appreciate the consensus of a more global top 9.  This might be what it looks like.

#9 - Sofia Vergara.  Very visible lately.

#8 – Mila Kunis. Some would say the total package.

#7 – Jennifer Aniston.  Still raking into her 40’s.

#6 – Nicole Scherzinger. A thoroughbred.

#5 – Beyonce. Men everywhere wishing they’d put a ring on it.

#4 – Emily Ratajkowski. The good girl you always wanted.

#3 – Jessica Alba. She’ll have to tell us where the fountain of youth is.

#2 – Scarlett Johansson. Even the world agrees with me.

#1 – Olivia Wilde. I like it, just not enough.  But America can’t get enough.

And finally, for the ladies out there.  I am very comfortable in my skin, and totally understand when you all swoon for the big arms, and rock solid abs and all that other crap.  In any case, a little fun for all of the ladies.

#9 – Johnny Depp.  Only because of Pirates.

#8 – David Beckham.  Way better looking than Victoria.

#7 – Chris Hemsworth.  I know nothing about 50 shades, but come on! Pick him!

#6 – George Clooney. Any old man that can pull Stacy Keibler...

#5 – Reggie Bush.  Kardashian had no where to go but down.

#4 – James Scott.  The male version of Keira Knightley, what with his accent and all.

#3 – Adrian Mutu.  I would do a line of coke, just to be near him.

#2 – Justin Timberlake. I imagine what the ladies might think is the total package.  Or Fallon.

#1 – Cristiano.  Just take the shirt off, bro.

Nate’s 9: Favorite Manchester United Players 1997-2014

Nate’s 9: Favorite Manchester United Players 1997-2014

            This is clearly an era that is getting close to its end this weekend.  Manchester United players that I have been following since soccer started airing here in the states are saying goodbye to the club for the last time.  It’s tough.  I too plan on saying goodbye, albeit in a different way.  The amount of passion and enthusiasm that I have given has been a big part of my life for almost 20 years now, and I have no regrets.  Hell, if I can’t take the fandom out of it, I’ll be cheering just as hard again and care just as much that 3^rd weekend in August. 

Sitting down and choosing my 9 favorite players is a next to impossible task, because there have been so many that I've been proud to see in my favorite kit.  But for the effort that they have given the great club of Manchester United, I’m about to sit down here and try.

X – Two players that were never going to make my nine, but I just want to give a quick shout-out to two of the most shrewd signings that Sir Alex ever made – Alan Smith and Michael Owen.  I enjoyed both of them for their careers prior to playing for Manchester United, and I will never forget Owen’s goal at the end of the Utd-City Derby that sent us into raptures that I haven’t experienced before or since.  It was one of the greatest games I've ever seen.  Alan Smith’s career essentially ended the day he broke his leg against Liverpool, but he was an all-effort guy and I really believe he would've had a great United career if he had been able to avoid such unfortunate circumstances.

XI – I saw Eric Cantona play one time.  Now I have no doubt he’d be at the top of my list if exposure had come to the U.S. sooner, but his style of play and temperament are of legendary status and I’m glad I was able to see him for that one game. I, of course have seen the chip since, and it’s definitely in my top nine goals...

#9 – Cristiano Ronaldo.  To be honest, I really didn't like him at first.  He had an arrogance (had?) problem, and I think he was more concerned with pulling off tricks then by scoring goals and winning games. But by the end, I was really sad to see him go.  He’s probably the only player on this list, or was even considered that really isn't United through and through, but we were such a nightmare to play against when he was in the line-up and on his day.  He single handedly carried United through some games and even some seasons, and he was able to rebound nicely from encouraging the referee to send off Rooney in the 2006 World Cup (He deserved it though).  I must like him enough though, a small part of me was excited that he scored twice against United in last year’s Champions League, but he did handle it with more humility than I ever thought he could muster. 

#8 – Ruud Van Nistelrooy.  To be honest, I probably loved him a little too much.  Seeing him go was still probably my least favorite feeling as a United fan, even though we replaced him with Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, eventually Tevez and won 5 of 7 Premier league seasons.  He was probably one of the best snipers that the current generation has ever seen.  He could make a goal out of just about absolutely nothing, and had the striker’s ego, which I believe is also a key component of a player that can be described as one of the world’s best.  Although it seems that most players have a fallen out with Sir Alex have to take most of the blame, this was one of the few situations where I sided with the player.  Alex wanted him out for the young guys.  I still miss him.

#7 – Paul Scholes. I loved it when his name was in the starting 11.  My favorite United style of play is that of high passing percentage and up the pitch possession.  I can’t think of another player to wear the shirt that partook in this particular style with the grace and elegance of one Paul Scholes.  Even Xavi and Andres Ineista expressed their joy at watching Scholes play, and they probably took that style to an entire new level.  Anyway, here is a player that just loved playing for United.  He retired from England at 30.  His name was literally never linked away with another world club.  He scored with his fist! (although subsequently got sent off). And he knew exactly what he was doing when he went in with all those clumsy hard challenges that got him sent off so frequently throughout his career.  He had that perfect balance between finesse and aggression. 

#6 – Peter Schmeichel. I will argue this to my death, but I think he’s far and away the greatest goalkeeper from my young generation.  With respect to Gianluigi Buffon, Oliver Kahn, and Jose Chilavert, he made every team he was a part of instantly better, and I think players feared rather than relished one-on-one situations when faced with Schmeichel.  Of course 1999 was his greatest year, and he led us out in the Champions League Final against Bayern Munich.  I only wish that I had seen him a little earlier during his peak years with both United and Denmark.

#5 – Nemanja Vidic.  One half of the greatest CB partnership that I have ever seen.  I remember the gaping hole that was left in our defense when Jaap Stam had his fallen out with Sir Alex and was sent to Lazio.  We tried to fill it with Mikael Silvestre, Laurent Blanc, Gabriel Heinze, Wes Brown, John O’Shea and while they were all good, we still had a hard time competing for Premiership titles as well as in Europe without someone to partner Rio.  Then a January purchase for a Spartak Moscow centre back changed everything.  I didn’t know much about him at the time, other than that we had signed a player that had evidently already agreed to a contract with Fiorentina in Italy.  We had a huge hole in defense by that time, as Gabby when down for the season and Kieran Richardson and O’Shea were the left side of our defense.  Well Vidic and Patrice Evra came in, and we won titles.  Some of his best years with the club, I don’t believe any striker could better him.  He and Rio are pretty much the only reason that they had to sell Gerard Pique, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

#4 – Rio Ferdinand.  The other half.  That’s what makes this year so difficult.  Not only were United not challenging for trophies, but they were doing it in the last season of most of these great players careers with United.  I think Rio is one of the greatest CB’s the world has ever seen and along with Marcel Desailly the other central defender I would want in my World 11 squad.  He was so calm and composed and always in position to make a play during the prime of his career.  Then, in certain situations he could come forward and score a goal as well.  Two of my favorite United goals of all-time have come from this man.  To sum it up, I can say that I have been quite blessed as a United fan to have had Rio and Vidic partnering together for 8 years.  There weren’t any other players in the world that I would have preferred otherwise, and I think it’s fitting that their last season with United was also their last season together.

#3 – Ryan Giggs. Tearing you apart, definitely. For all of his personal issues, there has been a comfort in knowing that he has been in the line-up every single year from the time that I was in elementary school.  His pace, dribbling and crossing skills have probably been the best that United has seen, since the days of George Best.  For as good as Cristiano is, Giggs could deliver a ball too.  He has won so much along with these other guys, and I think that it’s his work ethic and desire to be great that has kept him going for so long.  I’m still 9 years younger than he is and my knees hurt, my back is sore, my feet swell and my joints kill, so I can’t imagine what it feels like for him.  There are always going to be the great moments:  The Arsenal goal, the Juventus goal, that penalty, and the goal against Everton which put him at 23 seasons in which he had scored a 1^st division goal.  And all that was great.  But the reason that I enjoyed him for so much more than that were the moments that he’ll never know.  Changing the #11(eleven) to renaming it Giggs. Naming one of my children “Giggs”.  Knowing people that have named their sons Ryan, in his honor.  Becoming my 2^nd favorite Manchester United manager of all-time.  Being the 1^st player I ever named on my infamous World 11.  All of that.

#2 – Roy Keane.  This was hard.  Sometimes I feel like Keane should be 3 and Giggs should be 2.  I only had about 7 of Keane’s years, because of another rift with the great Sir Alex.  I think that he could have continued excelling at Manchester United and I think that United could’ve won more, if they could have just moved past their differences.  For from the time he left, it took the luck of finding an Edwin van der Sar and the improvement of Wayne Rooney and Cristiano to really get this team back to the level that they used to be.  I still think they were a tad short at the end of the day.  And it pretty much correlates to the leadership and skill set of one Roy Keane.  He was an absolute monster in the mid-field.  And he could do everything. He could tackle, pass, score, run, jump, dribble, and connect defense to attack.  He is probably the only true box-to-box that I have ever seen in all the years of watching soccer.  (Andrea Pirlo and Daniele De Rossi are close though).  He was an asshole, and his tackle against Alf Haaland was unjustifiable, but United needed an asshole to help out David Beckham, Scholes, Giggs, Neville and the like.  We had great players.  But he was the one that brought out the best in them.  The real Captain Fantastic, and a true United legend.

#1 – Wayne Rooney.  Probably not what everyone expected, but there is a story behind it.  Growing up, I was a huge fan of the NFL.  Football was what I breathed, dreamed, ate, you name it.  I started playing Tecmo Bowl when I was 6 years old, and fantasy football when I turned 13.  It was my thing.  We actually used to make fun of soccer players whenever we came in contact with one.  Lawn fairies, entertainers, actors, the whole nine.  Then, one night.  Everton was playing Arsenal in late October and Arsenal was leading the Premier league.  My poor United just couldn’t seem to catch them, and they (Arsenal) had already won the title the year before.  They had Henry.  They had Bergkamp.  I was getting to the point where I was enjoying soccer, but I knew that it was still #2.  David Moyes (yep, same guy), sends on a 16 year old.  And the rest they say is history.  For all of his inconsistencies and foul language and motivational indifference, I still am enthralled by his style of play.  When he is on, he will harass you around the entire pitch.  He can score from anywhere on the field (right, West Ham?) He will bully you. He is tantalizing.  So he comes on as a 16 year old, gets himself right in the middle of the game, takes a touch and blasts it over the outstretched hands of one David Seaman.  In the 90^th minute.  Against a team that hadn’t lost in 30 games.  That were on top of the league.  That one moment made me fall in love with a sport that will be with me for the rest of my life, will never yield its position as my favorite sport, and I owe it all to this guy.   

Part 2: Famous Soccer Clubs

This is probably the easy part, but there are literally teams in every corner of the world.  I won’t get into the specifics for all of it, but it’s safe to say you can be a fan of more than 1 team, but generally Europeans will frown if it’s 2 teams from the same league.  I follow 2 religiously (Manchester United – cause I have forever & Borussia Dortmund – cause I lived there in Germany).  I follow two other teams rather closely – Galatasaray which is a team from Istanbul, Turkey and Fiorentina a team from Florence, Italy.  Plus SKC as my MLS team. (Kansas City)  I like Gala because most of my friends from Germany that were Turkey born were Gala fans, and put me on them, plus I got to see them play Dortmund live and it was unlike any sporting event I’ve ever experienced in my life.  I picked Fiorentina because their best player at the time was my favorite player, and the city is gorgeous.  In any case, here are the top teams from each major country, and then a section on wordly teams.  Peace.

England

Arsenal – London
Chelsea – London
Spurs – London
West Ham – London
Fulham – London
QPR - London
*London also has a number of other clubs like Milwall, Charlton Athletic and such, but I would say those 6 are the current major players.
Manchester United
Manchester City - Becoming a top football city.  After Sunday, the last 4 premier leagues have been held by these two squads most likely.
Bolton – currently in 2nd division also known as the championship
Blackburn – likewise
Aston Villa, West Bromwich, Birmingham City and Wolves are 4 huge rivals out of the Birmingham region and they call them Midland derbies any time they play...
Wigan – I follow them too, currently in the championship, but did win the FA cup last year for the first time in the club’s history.
Everton
Liverpool  – These two are fierce rivals from Liverpool who usually finish in the top 10.  Liverpool gets it from both Everton and Manchester United, but to be fair, they have a great history.  You’ll get a lot of Liverpool exposure working at Brits.  Probably the biggest reason why I wouldn’t want to work there as it’s very similar to Packers/Vikings although much more intense.
Newcastle – Great following
Sunderland – Newcastle’s biggest rival, a great derby.
Southampton – Kind of the hipster’s choice right now.  Solid team, very young, if they can keep their stars they could challenge for Europe.
Swansea City
Cardiff City – 2 teams that are from Wales, but play within the English system.  For another week they are both in the Premier League, but Cardiff will be going down as they finished 20th or thereabouts.
Leicester City – Promoted to the Premier League
Burnley – Promoted to the Premier League
Norwich City – Attractive style (sometimes), but on their way down, most likely.
Crystal Palace – Fun to watch, another London suburb club.
Stoke City – Ignore them, but they are always in the Premier League.  Our version would be the Buffalo Bills, maybe?


France:

PSG – Huge cash, on their way to being an elite world club.
Monaco – Mini-PSG
Marseille – Great fans, good football.
Lyon – Used to be a French powerhouse, still deliver the goods.





Germany:

Bayern Munich – World’s best, or really close.
Borussia Dortmund – New heights, really good last 3-4 years.
FC Schalke – Dortmund’s biggest rival, very similar to Packers/Vikings
VFL Wolfsburg – Sponsored by Volkswagen, starting to become serious players
HSV – (Hamburg) Big club, could be going down.
Stuttgart – Fun team to follow, you never know where they will end up.
Leverkusen – Has Bayer (The drug company) money, usually close to the top.
Borussia MG – The people’s club, fun place to watch a game.

Italy:

AC Milan
Inter Milan – Great world derby, dominated Europe during the last decade (both of them)
Juventus – Won last 3 Italian titles, really good.
Fiorentina – Went bankrupt recently, getting back to the top half of the league again.
Roma
Lazio – The Rome derby.  Intense.  Intense.
Parma – The Minnesota Twins of Europe
Napoli – Getting to be a really big player in Europe and Italy, ala Borussia Dortmund
Udinese – Such an exciting style of football.  Attack, attack, attack.

Spain:

#1 vs #2

Real Madrid – Powerhouse.  Makes the Yankees budget seem small and irrelevant.
Barcelona – Powerhouse.  Spend less, but pay higher wages than Madrid.
Atletico Madrid – The 3rd player in Spain. May win the title this year though.
Valencia – Used to be a European power.  Now struggles to make Europa league.
Sevilla – Becoming the new Valencia maybe?  Sold 2 top stars, still made Europa league final.
Athletic Bilbao
Real Sociedad – Two teams from the basque region that despise each other. Fun rivalry to watch.
Villarreal – The Yellow Submarines.  Imagine Maple Grove in the NFL.

Rest of Euorpe –
Galatasaray
Fenerbahce
Besiktas – The 3 Turkish giants.  Big fish in small pond, but great rivalries.  All are out of Istanbul.



FC Porto
Sporting Lisbon
Benfica – The 3 Portuguese giants.  Not sure, but I think they have like the last 30+ titles.  Maybe even 50.

Zenit St. Petersburg – The only Russian team that makes a European impact.

Boca Juniors
River Plate – The 2 biggest sides from Argentina.  Top 5 world rivalry.

Santos – Pele’s team.  Still solid today.

That’s about it.  If you can’t follow one of these teams... maybe stick with the NFL? ;)

Part 1: Explanation of Soccer Leagues

European Soccer:

Part 1: The Competitions

So it pretty much goes down like this: every single country has some form of their own league, and most if not all also have a 2^nd competition which is run similar to our playoff system.  I’ll use a European country as an example first then show you that although the MLS follows similar regulations, our end season is a little different so I will use them as a second example.

Germany Bundesliga – This is the top 18 teams in Germany.  Some leagues have 20, others a few more, some a few less.  England, Spain and Italy all use 20 which completes what many consider to be the 4 best country leagues in the world.  In the Bundesliga every team plays 34 games, or a home and away vs every single team.  One of the reasons I first fell in love with the sport is I like that no team has one advantage over any other as far as scheduling goes.  Like the Bills who have to play the Patriots every single year twice.  But some teams only have to face Brady once every 4 years (like Min & GB). So in any case, they all have to see each other the same amount of times at each facility.  First place obviously wins the title, and in the case of Germany – 2^nd,3^rd,4^th all slot into European Champions League spots.  I’ll do that (Champions League) later in this blog group.  Other leagues can also get a number of teams into Europe, and the number is determined by how well those teams play in Europe.  So Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are two of Germany’s best clubs and they met in the final of the ECL in 2013.  Because of that, Germany got an extra European slot, although it’s the 6^th spot which sends a team to the Europa League.  5^th & 6^th in Germany go to the Europa League which is kind of like a Champions League B.  Many countries 5^th-7^th place teams qualify for it, and by the end you get some really good teams playing in the final.  So, really quick, (1-Champion) (2,3,4- ECL) 5,6, (Europa). Then from 7^th to 15^th, those teams don’t play in Europe but they are safe to play in Germany for another season.  17^th & 18^th are relegated, and they play the following season in the 2^nd Bundesliga, which is a division lower.  They can come straight back up, but usually the best players leave, and sometimes the team gets stuck in the lower division for a while, i.e. MSV Duisburg who was one of the top teams in Germany when I lived there.  16^th in the Bundesliga plays 3^rd in the 2^nd liga for a shot to stay in the league.  It’s home/away so each team gets a home game.  The aggregate winner than stays/goes to the Bundesliga.  So for example, this year Hamburg SV is in 16^th place and they will play Gruether Furth (3^rd) for a chance to stay up.  HSV is really good, this would be the first time in their history to not be in the top league. 

German DFB Pokal (Cup) – So this is the cup.  It’s set up just like our March Madness or football playoffs.  However, most if not all leagues do a random draw.  It’s set up like a lottery with all the teams names on some lotto balls.  Then they may draw HSV first.  So they would host.  Then out comes Borussia Dortmund.  They draw all the way down to about the 3^rd division so occasionally you get a team from the 3^rd division beating a team from the 1^st.  Pretty exciting when that happens.  So this year, Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga, Dortmund will finish in 2^nd and they meet each other in the DFB final in about 2 weeks.  If the winner hasn’t already qualified for Europe, they would through winning this game.  In the case they already did, now 7^th in the Bundesliga will qualify for a Europa League place.

Top Leagues Europe Tables:

England 1,2,3,4 -  Champions League:  5, 2 Cup winners - Europa League (England has two cup competitions, the FA Cup and the League Cup.  League is only for the top 4 divisions, FA goes about 8-9 divisions deep)

Germany 1,2,3,4, - Champions League:  5,6, Cup winner – Europa League

Italy 1,2,3, - Champions League: 4,5, Cup winner – Europa League

Spain 1,2,3,4, - Champions League:  5, 6, Cup winner – Europa League.

France 1,2,3 - Champions League: 4, 2 Cup winners - Europa League

Portugal 1,2 - Champions League: 3,4, Cup winner - Europa League

Not important really, but some 3rd & 4^th place teams in these leagues along with many other non-champions from smaller countries have to play each other in a qualification round before they can make the main round of champions league.  So an example would be Arsenal who finished 4^th in England may have to play Marseille who finished 3^rd in France.  The winner in 2 games (home/away) would make the final 32.

Our league: Just in case you want to know about the homeland leagues, here’s a little info.  I’m personally not a fan, but I do get caught up in it around the end of the season.  I’d honestly prefer a system like Europe where we have relegation and a title and such so the little teams like Minnesota United could play in the MLS since we are currently the best team in the “2nd division”.

MLS Cup – Major League Soccer's regular season runs from March to October with its 19 teams playing 34 games in an unbalanced schedule. Teams are divided into the Eastern and Western Conferences. Midway through the season, teams break for the annual All-Star Game, a friendly game between the league's finest players and a major club from a different league. Usually it’s someone like Chelsea or Manchester United or Roma, a quality team like that. At the end of the regular season, the team with the highest point total is awarded the Supporters' Shield.  (Similar to every other league’s main trophy)

We then have playoffs.  (I’m using wikipedia’s description of it, because even I don’t understand it completely.  J  Since 2012, the top five teams in each conference will qualify for the playoffs, in which the two brackets are entirely separate. The First Round of each conference is a one-off match between the 4th- and 5th-place teams, with the 4th-place team hosting. The First Round winner advances to play the conference's top seed in the Conference Semifinals.

The Conference Semifinals and Conference Finals are conducted in a home-and-away, aggregate-goal format. The team that scores the most goals in the home-and-away series advances to the two-game, total-goals Conference Finals. The away goals rule was adopted for the 2014 season. In both rounds the lower-seeded team hosts Game One and the higher-seeded team Game Two. If the teams are tied after two games (180 minutes) in the Conference Semifinals or Finals, the team which scored more goals away from home advances. If there is still a tie after the away goals rule is applied, a 30-minute overtime period (divided into two 15-minute periods) will be played followed by a penalty kick shootout, if necessary. The away goals rule does not apply to goals scored in the overtime period.

In the case of ties after 90 minutes of regulation in the First Round and MLS Cup final, 30 minutes of overtime (divided into two 15-minute periods) would be played followed by penalty kicks, if necessary, to determine the winners.

MLS Open Cup – Even though it says MLS, it is open to all three divisions in the United States: The MLS, the NASL (which is Minnesota United’s league) and the USL Pro league which replaced a broken league, so they technically are the 3^rd division.  It’s also a random draw like Europe and is set up the same way.  It’s really fun when an MLS team comes to town.  The attendance is high, and we’ve actually beaten a few MLS teams recently.  But of course we’ve never won a title… (The Rochester Rhinos did win it in 1999, and they are considered a 3^rd division team, which is awesome.)

Before I finish:

Away goals is kind of confusing, but I’ll use a real life example that just happened to make it easier.  Sevilla (Spain) and Valencia (Spain) just played each other in the Europa League semi-finals last week.  Sevilla won the first game at home 2-0.  Then Valencia went up 3-0 in the second game, but gave up a goal late so they “won” 3-1.  But Sevilla scored more away goals (1) and so it finished 3-3.  But Sevilla will play in the final, because they scored that away goal.

That’s pretty much it for competitions.  There are a ton of them, and they seem to always be going, but once you get the structure of everything, it makes a lot of sense.  Cup Finals are usually the last game of the season in the specific countries.  (Some do theirs earlier though). The Champions League final is almost always the last game of the European season.  Our Champions league in North America works a little differently, and I still don’t even get their rules completely.  But more often than not, the final 8 are all MLS and Mexican teams. 

Champps Goodbye

Nate’s 9: Champps MG

Far and away, this will be the most difficult blog I’ve ever written.  Not really writing it for the exposure in any case.  But I’m not much one for taking pictures, and the hugging isn’t my cup of tea either.  But Champps really was my second family, and I’m going to miss it in more than just these words that I’m typing on this computer.  I was going to actually do the 9, but thought that wouldn’t be fair to all the memories and experiences that wouldn’t make the list.  So, it’s going to be a little bit of a freestyle, a big thank you, and a see you later, as opposed to a goodbye.  I love you guys!!!

2001 – Going into it, I was never really interested in the restaurant industry and a little intimidated by talking to strangers.  It didn’t really suit to my strengths, but my mom knew the manager and we hit it off instantly.  I started at the host stand, and enjoyed doing it, but sometimes the 2 p.m. until the 4 o’clock replacement took forever!  (Other daytime hosts will know exactly what I mean.)  I officially became a part of the first self-proclaimed Champps “Dream Team”.  Working Sunday brunches at the host stand with Dan N, Kristi C and Tracy C.  I enjoyed every Sunday with you guys, and pretty much my only complaint was that dang Bears fan with the football helmet.  But at least I never had to serve him!  The management team was a blast to work with (although when wasn’t it a blast), and I want to do an official shout-out to Niece for letting me know that I was doing a good job!  Those Renaissance festival tickets and NHL all-star tickets were pretty sweet!

Elite 8 with Steve K. – The first time that I really felt like Champps employees were my friends instead of my co-workers.  I was to shy when I started to ask and sit at 91 with all the servers while I worked at the host stand, so I never really got that shot to make great friends.  Well Steve and I hit it off instantly because of our love for sports.  When he mentioned that he had a way to get tickets to go to the sweet 16 and elite 8, I was pretty pumped!  I never got to do that kind of stuff!  In any case, Steve and I had a blast, got an up close seat to the monster of the March Madness – Dwayne Wade – and I even blew a kiss to Ashley Judd when her Kentucky Wildcats lost.  Needless to say, I didn’t get one back.

World Cup at Hunter J’s house – The host got an invite to hang out with the cool people!!!  I figured it was for my love of soccer, but that still was one of my favorite times with all the “old” crew.  We stayed up until about 8 in the morning and put away some alkie!  My first experience watching a Champps hook up followed by the walk of shame. (Taking that to the grave though)  It was a blast though, and really made me feel like I was part of the group after that.

Burt – With no bad feelings toward anyone else, the friendship/work relationship that I have had with Jason B was priceless.  Not sure if even he knows this, but at first I was seconds away from packing up my stuff and heading over to PF Chang’s.  A good friend/employee convinced me that maybe it wasn’t a good idea, and Jason’s style was different, not worse.  Anyway, I stuck it out and I am so delighted it worked out the way it did.  Every morning that we opened together, he would always bend the rules and we’d talk sports 10-15 minutes into every shift, before I got the wrath of the other servers.  His opinion I trusted more than most when it came to fantasy sports, and I believe it paid off well. (At one point I won 3 of 5 Champps fantasy football leagues and made another final before getting destroyed by Dan D).  I’m happy to call him a friend, and it brings me joy to know that he’s going strong and doing well.

Wedding – It really came together in a beautiful way for Champps and that special day in my life.  Although it was tough not having any of the managers there because they were all working, so many valued friends came and celebrated that special day between Sara and I.  

Powerhouse – Once upon a time, I couldn’t get a closing section to save my life.  It didn’t hurt my feelings; I knew we had a ton of superstars.  But during the years of 2006-2008, we had the most incredible serving staff.  I don’t really want to just start throwing out names, but every and anyone that was a part of that special group knows that they always have a place in my heart and for keeping me in section 6 for the better length of almost 3 years.  

Bowling – Blubbering like a baby... this team... not sure I can do this one.  Thanks Dan, Charlie, Joel, Jon, Larry and all our other teammates that made Tuesday nights so special to me for 10+ years.  And this MF’er right here not only threw a 299, but also finished my Champps bowling career with an average of 202.  I’ll take that.  

The Final Stretch – Our last group was so special.  I remember a time when Champps did have a feel of day v night there.  But from about the point of 2010 and on, it seriously was just one big happy family.  Front of the house, back of the house, behind the bar, seriously everywhere.  Devlin’s imitations of Tom, Patio parties, The Christianson dynasty, $4 calls was the greatest idea ever, some really interesting Christmas parties, the year of the twins, wah-wah, Friday breakfast, and all the other special moments.  

Crushes, Blogs & Top 5 lists – Literally since day one, I’ve been running some form of what’s your favorite ____?  We had some of our best conversations bringing up some of the stuff.  Best servers, drinks, women, teams, managers, pretty much nothing hasn’t been rated at one time or another.  Anyway, I just want to say how happy I am to have a wife that isn’t insecure about a husband who’s had a crush list since the day we met.  In the words of one great Miley Cyrus, “That’s pretty cool”.  A thank you to everyone for not taking it too seriously, and having fun with me.  

Regulars – The other best part.  I’ve made so many friends through the years just by meeting people that came and sat in my section.  I by no way can name every single one, but if I can just categorize it, I’m sure you’ll know which one you fall into.  My sports regulars, naturally.  My not quite, many, many years away from senior citizenship regulars.  My lunch time regulars.  The bar table regulars.  The window (70’s) regulars.  All of Julie’s daytime regulars.  My friends that came to visit of course, and former employees that came back to sit in my section.  There was a time, probably around 2010, when Champps became more about the relationship than it was about the money.  I can thank all of you for that.  

The Big Ones – Only a few moments did I receive a financial gift that was greater than or equal to that of an entire shift.  5 of them stand out the most, and I hope that each of you know who you are.  Thank you for that.  Most of it went to my children and I wouldn’t have it any other way.  For the San Francisco 49er fan that came in the day before Thanksgiving and gave me $100 on a $50 tab, I’ll take it to the grave.  Since I know there is no shot of him and I ever reconnecting, I just want you all to know how awesome that was.  Sorry you haven’t gotten your super bowl yet... Lastly to the Boston Scientific group of X-mas 2012, that was going to sit in my section the week before Christmas.  There was supposed to be 40-50 of you, and Boston had pre-ordered food.  Needless to say, 8 people showed up and the tab was over $800.  He still gave me over 20%, and said it wasn’t my fault.  That’s the spirit of giving right there.  I’ll pay that back again some day.  

My Best Friends – I truly hope you know who you are.  Thanks for being a part of my life.  For talking soccer with me (most of the amigos), for sticking by me during difficult times, for taking me to Sharks’ night club and doing cocaine while I sat by myself at the bar (that happened), for open gym at the Maple Grove Community Center, for celebrating my birthdays every year, for putting up with me busting balls and cracking jokes, for the nice carries, and getting me out of the weeds (I still remember the time Tom gave me back to back parties of 30 – deepest weeds I’ve ever been in), Caribou coffee runs, Caribou coffee mornings, wedding receptions, standing in your weddings, table 95, table 15, upper wait, the multiple fantasy football leagues, and everything else.  Huge part of my life.

Finally – 4 people deserve so much of the credit.  Scott W. First and foremost.  Thanks for the opportunity to work at Champps, for getting to know your family, serving your extended family at Jewish traditions and holidays, and just being good to me for so long.  I still wanted that S class though.  You probably thought I was joking... To Deb and Jim for turning me into one of the “superstar” servers that I really never thought I was going to be.  You both were so fun to work for, and changed the culture from a place where I collect a check, to a place that I couldn’t wait to be.  I still remember when we went to a Wild game in the pre-season with the Swanson family and Sara Jake may have been like 8 and AJ just a toddler (a big one). You were the coolest parents on the block, and I’m working hard to get to that same level.  And maybe a premature thank you for selling me the Acura back as soon as these boys get out of their car seats!  I can be hopeful anyway!...  Lastly, to Carol K for the hire.  I thought I’d get chewed up and spit out when I first started there, but you made it so easy for me, and I’m just now cleaning up the spit.  It’s been fun.  

Draft Thoughts

                                                     Nate’s 9: Draft Thoughts

          In past years, I would be really late with this, but thanks to Roger Goodell, this will be coming out just in time for me to be wrong about everything.  I will say that this draft is unlike most.  There is no consensus #1 pick.  There are 50-60 first round talents, which mean that each team could come away from this draft with 2-3 guys ready to step in immediately.  There is also equal depth among many positions, which means that teams aren’t going to have to reach to make risky picks.  Teams can fill needs elsewhere.  I am looking forward to it, and for the first time as a fan of the NFL as a whole, as opposed to separate entities.

#9 – All three quarterbacks will be solid NFL players.  By three I mean, Teddy Bridgewater, Johnny Manziel, and Blake Bortles.  All three of them have gifts that will translate to the NFL game, and all three has deficiencies that will probably keep them from the NFL elite.

Teddy makes good reads, moves in the pocket well, and hasn’t missed a game.  He probably lacks the leadership required to truly be a great player, but could do well on a team full of them.  I liken him to a Doug Williams or Brad Johnson, both guys that have rings, and both guys that had other players lead.

Manziel is the most polarizing of the three.  On one note, he is very exciting.  He uses his athleticism well, and can keep the play alive for receivers to get open, unlike the other two.  He has no fear in or out of the pocket, at least on Saturdays.  But just like Cam Newton, he can be distracted easily.  He enjoys the celebrity that comes with being a quarterback, and even though the Panthers won a lot of games with Newton, they never posed a serious threat as a Super Bowl contender, at least in my opinion.  I think a Manziel led team would suffer from the same consequences.  A few 11-5 seasons, but that fear of not being as hungry as a Manning, Brady or Wilson.

Bortles is intriguing.  In the few games I saw him; he made it very difficult for the opposing defense to beat him.  He gets the ball out quickly, doesn’t really force throws, and has a quiet air and confidence about getting the job done.  He made my Penn State defense look rather silly and in Happy Valley.  My only concerns are whether it was a one year masterpiece or if this is the start of something special.  So many quarterbacks have come into the NFL on the tail end of a great season, only to show an average skill set at the highest level (V.Young, Couch, Boller). I’d hate for Bortles to end up in that category, but a few of the signs point to similarities between careers.  Young was confident once too.

#8 – Jadeveon Clowney is the real deal.  This always happens around this time of year, and it can be easy to get caught up in the hype.  He’s too lazy. He takes plays off. He doesn’t care enough.  In any case, they said the same things about Randy Moss.  He’s a top 5 WR of all-time.  I’d hate to see some 20 teams make the same mistake.  But I don’t think he’ll get past #6. Thomas Dimitroff is too smart, and I think he will do everything in his power to get Clowney on the Falcons.  Watch this space.

#7 – I’m obsessed with Sammy Watkins.  Those that know me well already knew that.  Those that don’t will get to know Sammy real soon.  I heard that he is the best wide receiver prospect to come out of college since Calvin Johnson.  I believe that to be true.  Beyond that though, I think he could be the guy to challenge for the Jerry Rice throne.  I believe he is that good.  He’s quick, strong, has a great first couple of steps, and the way he separates himself from the defender is unmatched.  Rice had those same qualities too, and that’s why Jerry and Montana were so successful.  I only wish that he would fall through the cracks of the really bad teams at the top and end up in a similar situation that happened to Rice, Marvin Harrison, Torry Holt, etc… don ‘t think it’ll happen though, and he’ll either be a Ram, Buccaneer, Raider or Lion.  Too bad.

#6 – I am not a fan of Justin Gilbert.  I really don’t like combine guys.  With the exception of a few like Brian Cushing, Mario Williams, and Calvin, it really shouldn’t affect a guy’s draft stock more than a couple of picks.  But for some reason, scouts get excited even though they saw them many Saturdays in the months prior.  Justin Gilbert is my guy this year.  I watched a few Oklahoma State games, and while he was their best secondary player, he never made the big plays that scouts believe he will at the highest level.  He’s quick, no doubt, but just like many other speed guys in draft history (Troy Williamson, Pac Man Jones, Darren McFadden) there’s more to it than that.

#5 – Ra’Shede Hageman would look great in a Patriots jersey.  Peyton Manning had ALL DAY to throw against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game.  Then he got destroyed in the super bowl.  Hmm, could it have been the pass rush?  For as many holes as we’re led to believe New England have, getting a pass rushing defensive lineman is an absolute must.  Hageman disrupted so many Big Ten(?) offenses this past season, and a casual Gopher fan could see that he was primed to play on Sundays.  If he was a little quicker, he could have been top 10-15.

#4 – There are about 6-8 WR’s that could make an impact in this draft class.  I think that’s why Carolina was so quick to let Brandon LaFell and Steve Smith hit the market and the same can be said for Chip Kelly and the Philadelphia Eagles.  I don’t expect all 8 WR’s to go in the first round, but they will all likely be gone by the time Seattle picks for the 2nd time at the end of the 2nd round.  Here’s how I would rank them based on how I think they will do on Sundays. (Quarterbacks obviously change things, but I think most teams needing a WR this year, have capable signal-callers)
1. Sammy Watkins
2. Mike Evans – Huge body, huge talent.
3. Brandin Cooks – The new DeSean Jackson.  An Eagle?
4. Marqise Lee – I’ve been obsessed with him too.
5. Kelvin Benjamin – Monster size.  A punk, but with high rewards.
6. Odell Beckham – Lots of big plays, a match-up nightmare.
7. Jarvis Landry – Not afraid to go over middle. I love that.
8. Allen Robinson – I saw a lot of him.  Makes great, tough catches.

#3 – Chris Borland will start the minute he shakes Roger Goodell’s hand.  Or thereabouts.  When Zach Thomas retired, I thought that would be the end of the great, under-sized, middle linebacker.  Boy was I wrong.  Borland isn’t as small as Thomas, but the instincts are pretty close.  Like Thomas, he will fall from the top because of his “lack of speed” and the NFL belief that Mike backers are easy to come by.  But he will start day 1, and he will be great.  I can promise you.

#2 – There are going to be a lot of trades.  Because of the ridiculous amount of depth in this draft, and the lack of a truly bad team in the NFL (Come on, the Texans tanked on purpose after about week 8),means people are going to be on the phone at all times come May 8th.  I think if you see any prospect fall even 5-6 picks past their slotted draft pick, teams will be making moves in order to get them.  This might be the first draft where the first night goes beyond mid-night.  For those of you that are fans of chess, you understand.  For those that aren’t… just about any team can win a super bowl in this league in any given season.  But you have to know when to move your rooks and when to move your queen.

#1 – Seattle will end up with a good player, and maintain their status as Super Bowl favorites.  I don’t know who it’s going to be, and besides running back and quarterback I have no idea what part of the field that they are going to come from, but their front office has been unequivocally flawless when it comes to drafting over these past few seasons.  I’m betting that they don’t get it wrong; fundamentally, they’ve probably already gotten it right.