The NFL Draft In Pittsburgh Was Psychotic (Positive)

…The fate of the future Houston Comets (currently the Connecticut Sun) is in the hands of… Travis Scott. The Comets’ trademark (one of the eight original WNBA teams) is owned by TSTM Holdings, LLC, a company which Travis and friends are part-owners of. Sentences are being said that have never been said before.

How’s life going for you? Definitely better if you play tennis. Or longer, at the very least, says GQ’s Olivia Vaile. No doubt for reasons of balance, mobility and cardio, but also because it’s a sport you can play with your homies consistently and at a moment’s notice. 

NFL Network’s Good Morning Football is now officially part of the Disney umbrella, and in yesterday morning’s episode, Kyle Brandt seemingly got in a real throwdown with WWE star Seth Rollins (over Aaron Rodgers?!). I watched it and it was a pretty uncomfortable situation. Let me know if you find the video because no one knows what’s going on. Including me.  

April has been 100 days and also somehow 10 days. That’s especially true if you’re a WNBA fan. If you couldn’t keep track of all the WNBA signings, Madailein Olin, writer of the Cherry Pick Substack, has got you.

A new Knicks villain just dropped, and Howard Beck from The Ringer says he’s not the same as all the old Knicks villains. I’ve always known the greatness of CJ McCollum (brag), and I’m glad others are enjoying it now. Well, everyone except New Yorkers — sorry about that loss, Ben Stiller.

“A lot of people want to leave because they live here they whole life, but I come back and it’s the best feeling yet! I should have never left!” Le’Veon Bell gushed about the city of Pittsburgh to me at the NFL draft. We chatted briefly (and by chatted I mean I very non-discretely made a 200-foot beeline to the former Steelers legend while he was trying to enjoy the vibes). 

It’s a sentiment I already feel like I understand after only being here for a few days. It’s only punctuated by a sporting event as peerless as the NFL Draft. 

And not unlike how NFL fans stand on their own in the pantheon of insane sports fans, the sights and sounds of the Draft feel totally unlike any other sporting event I’d been to. So perhaps hosting it here was a no-brainer. Especially given how psychotic (positive) Steelers fans are. 

This week, thanks to DICK’s Sporting Goods, I was treated to an NFL player-produced film premiere (which I’m keeping to myself until I have a link and can give it the flowers it deserves), the equivalent of a courtside seat at the main event, and a day at the ‘House of Sport’, which is 120,000 square feet of batting cages, rock climbing, and enough sports merch that will put yinz in paralysis (positive). Most notable was the Mac Miller/Steelers line. 

Not to brag — I really only disclosed all that to show yinz how sporty and special my weekend has been. And also to brag. 

Anyway, back to the Draft, the outfits were psychotic (again positive) as always. Spiked steel shoulder pads, colorful wigs, fedoras, and the ever present iridescent team-colored oversized plastic chains. Those elements are always at the draft, but they’re a sight to behold in real life, because they — and the bodies that fill them out — create an atmosphere yinz really can’t write about. So I guess I’m done. Just kidding. 

Anyway, back to my chat with Le’Veon, whom I asked what song best encapsulated Draft Night in Pittsburgh and he said this one, for what it’s worth. 

I didn’t see Mike Vrabel (sorry for that joke, we should all relax on the dogpile) but I did see Pittsburgh’s own blues singer-songwriter Kels, and yinz should, too. 

I also didn’t see top pick Fernando Mendoza because he stayed home in South Florida to be with his mom, Elsa, who was unable to travel, and who cried when he heard his name. And I won’t lie, when now-Titans wide receiver Carnell Tate said his late mother’s name was inscribed on his jacket, there was some lacrimation. I also cried at now-Cardinal Jeremiyah Love walking out to “Love Me” by JSMN. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house for now-Saints WR Jordyn Tyson’s showing. And— you know what, let’s just all assume I cried a lot. 

Does this Oregon State alum even bother bringing up that the first two picks were Pac-12 transfers? Or that the first 10 picks came from four former Pac-12 schools? No, you’re right. I won’t. 

The draft continues today. Can’t wait for the 57th pick!

Moses Anoh is the brain behind Blitzfits, a content team that describes themselves as the place where football meets fashion. They’re on all the socials, like YouTube (where they most recently traveled with Jeremiyah Love to NYC), and Instagram (where they were just at the draft), and it goes without saying that they are very cool. But I don’t care, I’ll still say it. Because Moses is the foremost expert on fits, we asked him to rank the best-dressed draftees.   

#5 (Tie): Jeremiyah Love and Makai Lemon

#4 Mansoor Delane

#3 Caleb Downs

#2 Carnell Tate

#1 Jordyn Tyson

Buy this sporty Calia jacket because I saw it on our tour at DICK’s and I want it. We can match. 

Celebrate the launch of Coco Cultr’s new soccer launch in NYC.

Watch Suni Lee in season two of Beef.