All set for the fake football game

The Purple and White rosters are now set for K-State's annual spring game. Josh Freeman was the number one pick. But should he have been? You can make the argument he is the team's number one pick, because when he played well later in the year (the Iowa State, Colorado and Texas, not to mention the Oklahoma State games), we won. When the offensive line gives him time to make good decisions, he can make all the throws, which in turn loosens up the defense for the running game.

All that said, I can't say I wouldn't have taken Marcus Watts, Ian Campbell or Rob Jackson first. Especially Watts and Campbell, who do a lot to change the game on defense. Of course, offensive coordinator James Franklin had the first pick, which might explain why he chose Freeman.

On a related note, I like the idea of holding a 'draft' to decide the teams. The spring game I went to while Bill Snyder was still coaching was 1s vs. 2s, which was about as boring as it gets. No matter how good your second-stringers are, they aren't as good as your first-stringers by definition. No better example than Nebraska's spring game last weekend, where the first-stringers won 38-0. Spring games are boring enough as it is without being blowouts, at least having the teams a little more evenly matched gives fans a little more value for their $5 (or whatever a donation to the library costs these days).

I also like the draft because, by making the teams more equal, it gives the players a better experience by making at least some of the 1s face off against their first-string counterparts on the other side of the ball. It has to help to face off with someone who will more closely resemble the players you'll see in the fall in a simulated game situation.

For those of you who will be watching the spring game, enjoy, but don't take it to seriously. I'm sure at some point, Freeman will make a beautiful throw or two and maybe James Johnson or Leon Patton will break some nice runs, but it's still spring ball. My only goal for the spring game is...no one gets injured.

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Breaking news!!! Royals win!!! The first of many losing streaks this summer is over, and KC has improved to a whopping 4-11. I can't wait to go to some Royals games this summer, and I think they will be improved over last year, but this is still an organization that has a long way to go.

On the bright side, KC's $55 million-dollar man has been well worth his $11 million per year salary thus far. Gil Meche started and went 8 innings today and only gave up three runs. If the Royals could ever get the bats and arms going at the same time, they might win a series or two. It doesn't get any easier with the Twins and the White Sox coming to the K for the next two series.

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For all Houstonians who read this, and all of you who want a little comedy about the Space City, check this out.



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On a concluding note, if Fred Phelps really does go to Virginia to protest at the funerals of those killed at Virginia Tech, I hope he and his inbred family drive their van off the side of a mountain.