The NFL Draft is one of my favorite times of the year. I listen to draft coverage all of April. I make my own mock draft. I’m even wearing a suit and Chicago Bears hat to work today (don’t judge me). Even if you aren’t as extreme as me, there are still plenty of reasons to watch the NFL Draft on Thursday night. Here’s a list of the top 5 reason to watch:

5. Draft “Experts”

Unlike other league’s drafts, the NFL Draft is extremely unpredictable outside of the top couple picks. Teams do a great job of disguising who they are targeting, and the draft is full of trades. This recipe makes it almost impossible for the best draft experts to get even 50% of their mock draft correct. Want to feel better about your last place March Madness bracket? Print off a few mock drafts from several experts and get your red marker ready.

4. Mispronounced names

Just like last year, the 2^nd round of the 2012 NFL Draft will have former NFL Players announcing their team’s selection. With NFL alumni like Terrell Davis, Barry Sanders and Eddie George reading off their past team’s pick, there are sure to be some brutal pronunciations. Early favorites to have their name butchered on Friday night are Kelechi Osemele, Amini Silatolu, and Alameda Ta’amu.

3. Fashion Nightmares

Bow ties and draft hats are an amazing combination. Unfortunately the only events that these two are an acceptable combo are drafts. The NFL Draft always has its fair share of questionable fashion choices. The NFL draft will make everyone feel better about their wardrobe.

2. Watching the Last Player Left in the Green Room

I like to refer to this as the “train wreck pick”. You can’t help but feel bad for the player that is left starring at his phone waiting for it to ring. Aaron Rodgers is the most memorable individual to go through this painful experience. With 26 players invited to this year’s green room, there’s sure to be a few players left at the end of the first round.

1. Watching Dreams Come True

This is by far the best part of the draft. The real emotion that is displayed when these young men embrace their family members when they get that phone call saying they’ve been selected. The countless hours of training and sacrifice made by each player, and their supporting cast, culminates in this one moment. In my opinion the NFL Draft is the best reality television in existence.

The Dodgers ownership regime of the past eight seasons has been seen as a black eye on a very historic and legendary franchise. Owner Frank McCourt and his wife Jamie had purchased the team in 2004 and although the team has made the playoffs four times out of the eight seasons, the McCourt’s messy divorce in 2010 has left the Dodgers organization in disarray.

But all is not lost for this historic franchise, as a cavalcade of celebrities have lined up to become potential owners of the team. Such names as former Dodgers manager Joe Torre, Magic Johnson, Larry King, Mark Cuban and former Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser are all trying to purchase the team.
This turn of events has led Dodgers fan to become hopeful for the direction of the organization, as their on the field future looks just as bright. The Dodgers have re-signed superstar outfielder Matt Kemp to an eight year contract, and have additionally signed free agent pitchers Aaron Harang, Chris Capuano and utility man Jerry Hairston Jr. to help build for the upcoming season. The McCourt era of the Dodgers is coming to a close and a promising future is on the horizon.

Shop all Los Angeles Dodgers merchandise and look forward to the future, as spring training is less than two months away!

The stalemate between David Stern and the New Orleans Hornets has finally ceased as the Los Angeles Clippers have acquired guard Chris Paul from the league-owned New Orleans Hornets.

It has been a crazy offseason so far, but no other story has enticed the masses more than the Chris Paul drama. The hubbub started last year as the Hornets were on the verge of contraction, until the NBA purchased the Hornets from previous owners George Shinn and Gary Chouest. Leagues have owned franchises before this wasn’t anything special and business was going to be as usual. But the NBA lockout this past year has vastly changed the landscape of the NBA and the way it does business.

Paul was originally set to go to LA’s other team, the Lakers in a massive three team deal, but since the league owned the team, Commissioner David Stern vetoed the original trade. Not too long after, the Clippers threw their hat into the Chris Paul sweepstakes and offered a package New Orleans General Manager Dell Demps found enticing. But unfortunately for them, Stern once again vetoed the trade. Sports reporters were in a uproar as writers were calling Stern a bully and felt the commissioner was laying down to the will of the owners, something Stern has never done as commissioner.

But the trade has successfully went through with Paul and two future second-round picks going to the Clippers for center Chris Kaman, forward Al-Farouq Aminu, guard Eric Gordon and a future first-round pick. This trade and the lockout has definitely changed the way business will be done in the NBA from now on. A trade of this caliber would not have made such waves in the past, but since the Hornets are technically owned by all 30 owners, they have cause for alarm. Paul is now going from a bottom league market to perhaps the biggest market in the league, Los Angeles. Lower level teams are afraid superstars, like the caliber of Paul, will ask for trades out of their small markets to larger markets. It is a legitimate concern for the owners as they don’t want the biggest markets to be built with top-level players, something that has happened in Miami.

But the league tended to overreact over all this Paul drama. Paul is set to become a free agent after this season and was not going to stay with the Hornets. It was in the Hornets best interest to trade them and get some good compensation for him. But let’s not be all solemn about the trade, with the addition of Paul the Clippers look to make some noise in the Western Conference. With Paul, Blake Griffin and Chauncey Billups teaming up, look for the Clippers to make some waves this year.

Everyone is so focused on finding the right gifts for the holiday season, that we seldom stop to take in the beauty of the holiday season.  Moods seem to improve, and people even forgive a little bad weather once the holiday season is upon us.  One of the things that brightens the mood is the holiday decor that we see on homes, at restaurants and stores, and inside people’s houses.  According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), consumers will spend over $6 billion on holiday decor this year.  Many people have found holiday decor to be an easy present to give, since so many people put up some sort of decorations around this time of year.

We want to do our best to help you find great gifts, and the holiday decor category is no exception.  Quite simply, is the recipient a sports fan?  If so, you can find great holiday decor gifts from $6.99!  We even have some sale products starting at just $.99!  Whether you are shopping for holiday ornaments or festive stockings, you’ll find it all in our holiday decor department.  Hurry in to our holiday decor department for some great ideas to spruce up your own home, or give the gift of cheer to someone special.