I always wondered why anyone would want to attend the NFL draft. For a fan it seemed like the most fruitless endeavor you could embark on. It was often a long, tiring affair that was unnecessarily drawn out. A fan would only get to see his team in action for one or two fleeting moments when the commissioner announced their selections and then it would be on to the next pick. It was basically a reason to get plastered with fellow fans that you’ve never met and discuss what that player means to the future of your franchise.

But the next morning you’d only wake up with a hangover and the feeling you could have done the same thing at your local watering hole.

But I was wrong, dead wrong. In my first experience here covering the NFL draft, I realize why fans clamber to take part in these annual festivities. It only took me until pick No. 13 when the Eagles traded up to really feel the electricity in the building. The boos poured down at the mere mention of their name as Giants fans are the predominant faction in the building. E-A-G-L-E-S chants started in retaliation and then a two-minute back-and-forth between Giants and Eagles fans ensued, and it was like nothing I’ve ever seen or heard before. I’ve sat in the Linc as a Giants fan and been at the Meadowlands when Eagles fans infiltrated and nothing compared to this.

The acoustics inside Radio City are virtually unrivaled and with sound echoing from the rafters it was an unbelievable aural experience. Only the most diehard fans make the trek to this event since it costs a pretty penny to attend and many don’t see the worth, but it may very well be worth the steep price tag. For a true fan who really loves his team, there’s no better place to take in the draft than right here at the home of the Rockettes. I’m already looking forward to next year.

-- BRANDON KOPCEUCH
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