Excellent Article on Joel Buchsbaum and Mel Kiper

[Kaiser]

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.

Exactly, Buschbaum did what he loved and was amazing at it. In many, many ways that is a life well lived.

One complaint on that article, saying that Buschbaum and Mel Kiper were the original draftnicks is kind of like saying that Albert Schweitzer and Dr Dre are both doctors.

 

[Alexander]

Exactly, Buschbaum did what he loved and was amazing at it. In many, many ways that is a life well lived.

One complaint on that article, saying that Buschbaum and Mel Kiper were the original draftnicks is kind of like saying that Albert Schweitzer and Dr Dre are both doctors.

You are being a little unfair to Kiper.

Buchsbaum handled the scouting end of the business, the first person to put it on the map as an amateur industry on its' own.

Kiper helped build the idea of tabbing a "draft personality". Without Kiper, you would still see the people like Paul Zimmerman doing the draft telecasts.

Kiper made it a TV medium.

It is all in the head nod. And the hair of course.

 

[Longboysfan]

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

He had a room full of VHS tapes.

 

[Longboysfan]

You are being a little unfair to Kiper.

Buchsbaum handled the scouting end of the business, the first person to put it on the map as an amateur industry on its' own.

Kiper helped build the idea of tabbing a "draft personality". Without Kiper, you would still see the people like Paul Zimmerman doing the draft telecasts.

Kiper made it a TV medium.

It is all in the head nod. And the hair of course.

I could do without Del Kupper.

And Joel was the one who led the way on getting Draft information published.

When I went to the Draft and we met with the assistant GM of the Bengals - my friend had a connection - he told us that no one talked to Del Kupper.
Joel they all talked to.

 

[Alexander]

I could do without Del Kupper.

And Joel was the one who led the way on getting Draft information published.

When I went to the Draft and we met with the assistant GM of the Bengals - my friend had a connection - he told us that no one talked to Del Kupper.
Joel they all talked to.

Kiper was not able to get respected by everyone, especially the old school GMs, but Accorsi liked him.

Besides, Kiper was a different animal. A lot more isolated from the league, which is weird that Buchsbaum was so "connected" as the man barely got out of the house.

 

[Alexander]

He had a room full of VHS tapes.

My mother in law was like that. After she passed, we found a spare bedroom in the house that you could have opened a Blockbuster video store with its contents.

 

[Longboysfan]

Kiper was not able to get respected by everyone, especially the old school GMs, but Accorsi liked him.

Besides, Kiper was a different animal. A lot more isolated from the league, which is weird that Buchsbaum was so "connected" as the man barely got out of the house.

I would say 95% of NFL front office people - including the scouting departments - did not like or respect him at all.

Kupper is just a self promoting bottle of hair spray.

 

[Longboysfan]

Ask yourself this question.

What draft expert would you trust.

The one who was allowed on the floor where the team tables were during the draft or the talking head self promoting himself.

Joel was allowed on the floor.

 

[punchnjudy]

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.

If he'd eaten more, he probably would have had more of a drive for company. I can't imagine the hormonal effects of following a diet like that for so long.

My guess would be that he was content most of the time, with the occasional OMG moment that anyone can have when they follow a singular focus for an extended period of time. Holidays might have been rough.