Excellent Article on Joel Buchsbaum and Mel Kiper

[FuzzyLumpkins]

What is now a national obsession and one of the biggest days on the sports calendar was once mocked as a trivial obsession for two devoted — and very different — NFL draft analysts of yore. You can’t tell the story of the draft’s incredible rise from afterthought to prominence without giving the original NFL draftniks their proper due: Mel Kiper Jr. and Joel Buchsbaum.

One became and remains a TV star. The other was a behind-the-scenes shut-in who now is largely forgotten. Both were brilliant in their field in their own ways. Each deserve their due for helping the NFL draft become the theatre it has.

https://sports.yahoo.com/news/today...nk-mel-kiper-jr-joel-buchsbaum-181351478.html

 

[Risen Star]

Great read. The Godfathers of the Draft.

 

[Alexander]

Buchsbaum's story is sad to read.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Buchsbaum's story is sad to read.

Yeah and no.

Yep he lived one odd and somewhat short life. Never (apparently) found love. Never had kids. Never reached old age.

But boy how many of us end up miserably "average" in our vocations? Joel reached a level of renown in his chosen profession that very few ever achieve. And because of that he'll be remembered a very long time. And if someone could ask him today if he would have changed anything while alive I doubt he would want to change anything.

 

[RS12]

Buchsbaum was the man. Used to get the PFW Draft edition the day it came out without fail.

 

[Trouty]

That was amazing. Gonna listen to Eleanor Rigby now.

 

[lkelly]

American icons.

 

[Rogerthat12]

That was excellent indeed!

 

[Risen Star]

Yeah and no.

Yep he lived one odd and somewhat short life. Never (apparently) found love. Never had kids. Never reached old age.

But boy how many of us end up miserably "average" in our vocations? Joel reached a level of renown in his chosen profession that very few ever achieve. And because of that he'll be remembered a very long time. And if someone could ask him today if he would have changed anything while alive I doubt he would want to change anything.

He lived the life he wanted to live. Regardless of what anyone thought about it.

I think he had some Rain Man in him. Not able to function normally in society but brilliant in one area. Even Mel is supposedly a really odd dude.

But who is to say he lived a sad life if it's the one he chose? He just should have had a sandwich once in awhile.

 

[Pants]

I want to shave Mel's plastic hair and somehow remove his pompousness (is that a word?); but, he has certainly been a guy that helped to make the draft more watchable and become mainstream...I daresay that indirectly, these two probably got the NBA to start thinking that they could have their draft on TV....

Here's to Mel and all of the jobs he helped to create (Pants hold up adult beverage)

 

[remdak]

He lived the life he wanted to live. Regardless of what anyone thought about it.

I think he had some Rain Man in him. Not able to function normally in society but brilliant in one area. Even Mel is supposedly a really odd dude.

But who is to say he lived a sad life if it's the one he chose? He just should have had a sandwich once in awhile.

I used to listen to him in Houston when he would appear on John McClain's radio show. He was extremely knowledgeable, but his nasally thick Brooklyn accent was almost unbearable to listen to.

 

[waving monkey]

Thanks for sharing this story. It connects me with the rest of us nuts.

 

[Longboysfan]

Buchsbaum started earlier, first covering the 1978 NFL draft for Pro Football Weekly before anyone there had ever met him in person. (That would be a recurring theme.) Before long, he had established himself as a fixture in the business and had fans, not to mention coaches and general managers, hanging on his every NFL-related word in two annual draft-related publications (filed to editors in longhand, by the way) and in the pages of PFW (with his words often transcribed over the phone on deadline).

Joel is the Godfather.
Del is Frado.

 

[Alexander]

Yeah and no.

Yep he lived one odd and somewhat short life. Never (apparently) found love. Never had kids. Never reached old age.

But boy how many of us end up miserably "average" in our vocations? Joel reached a level of renown in his chosen profession that very few ever achieve. And because of that he'll be remembered a very long time. And if someone could ask him today if he would have changed anything while alive I doubt he would want to change anything.

He sounds like he would have made an episode of Hoarders. A lot of those people are hurting deep down.

 

[Alexander]

I used to listen to him in Houston when he would appear on John McClain's radio show. He was extremely knowledgeable, but his nasally thick Brooklyn accent was almost unbearable to listen to.

I used to pay for a phone call.

"Dallas will take quataback Twoy Aikman."

 

[xwalker]

Buchsbaum's story is sad to read.

Yeah and no.

Yep he lived one odd and somewhat short life. Never (apparently) found love. Never had kids. Never reached old age.

But boy how many of us end up miserably "average" in our vocations? Joel reached a level of renown in his chosen profession that very few ever achieve. And because of that he'll be remembered a very long time. And if someone could ask him today if he would have changed anything while alive I doubt he would want to change anything.

He lived the life he wanted to live. Regardless of what anyone thought about it.

I think he had some Rain Man in him. Not able to function normally in society but brilliant in one area. Even Mel is supposedly a really odd dude.

But who is to say he lived a sad life if it's the one he chose? He just should have had a sandwich once in awhile.

It seems that he was happy doing what he did. Depressed people don't accomplish all the things that he did, IMO.

For some people their obsession is all that matters to them.

It is interesting that he could have worked for Belichick. He was probably like some musicians that don't want the purity of their work diluted by working for "the man".

I have a little more respect for Belichick after reading that article. He took time to show up for the funeral.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

He sounds like he would have made an episode of Hoarders. A lot of those people are hurting deep down.

That's a valid point.

I watch those shows too.

Most of them seem to feature folks that go through life aimlessly, except for collecting more "stuff".

This guy was laser-focused on one thing... And basically to hell with everything else! Including personal hygiene.

I admire his focus... Obviously carried to far we see what can happen.

 

[Alexander]

It seems that he was happy doing what he did. Depressed people don't accomplish all the things that he did, IMO.

For some people their obsession is all that matters to them.

It is interesting that he could have worked for Belichick. He was probably like some musicians that don't want the purity of their work diluted by working for "the man".

I have a little more respect for Belichick after reading that article. He took time to show up for the funeral.

I would like to think he was happy. Makes the tragic aspect of it easier to take.

I wonder what he would think of today's draft. He would probably be amazed and appalled at the same time. Especially the moving it to prime time thing and making it like a soap opera.

 

[xwalker]

I would like to think he was happy. Makes the tragic aspect of it easier to take.

I wonder what he would think of today's draft. He would probably be amazed and appalled at the same time. Especially the moving it to prime time thing and making it like a soap opera.

At least he lived through the big jump in draft interest that occurred around the time that Jimmy and Jerry elevated it's visibility.

He would likely be irritated with all the hacks that put out draft info these days.

 

[Alexander]

At least he lived through the big jump in draft interest that occurred around the time that Jimmy and Jerry elevated it's visibility.

He would likely be irritated with all the hacks that put out draft info these days.

And I guarantee he would not have a Twitter account.