Heckled by my own father!

I guess my posts on Michael Crabtree and Toyota drivers must have touched a nerve. yodaddy opines via email.

About a couple of your recent rants: Wasn't Jerry Rice - Fred Bilentnikoff etc 1st round picks?

And about Toyota's: the best sedan we have ever owned was a Camry. I still drive a ten year old Toyota Tacoma.....no problems. Don't know what xfloggingkylex's problem with Toyota is but it isn't the car...it's the loose nuts on the steering wheel.

If you want something really worth ranting about...how about the National Felon's League policy of blacking out telecasts of home games that are not sold out at the outrageous prices they demand? Who are they punishing? Morons like me that can't afford the tickets and still like to watch the Cardinals kick 49er ass. luv...

Wow. Heckled by my own father! Awesome! That's kind of the gold standard for blogging, isn't it?

Okay, pater, let me address your "issues", one-by-one.

Wasn't Jerry Rice - Fred Bilentnikoff etc 1st round picks?

They certainly were. So, in the past 40 years (see here), were Charles Rogers, Peter Warrick, Ashley Lelie, R. Jay Soward, Matt Jones, OJ McDuffie, Yatil Green, Troy Williamson, Hart Lee Dykes, Freddie Mitchell, Reidel Anthony, Kevin Dyson, Desmond Howard, Michael Westbrook, and Rod Gardner. All were colossal busts. And for the Niners, add busts J.J. Stokes, Terry Beasley, and Rashaun Woods. So the Niners are 1 for 4 picking WRs in the first round since 1970. Not great odds.

Furthermore, in my original post where I wrote on the Vulture's First Law of the NFL Draft, I specifically allowed for once-in-a-decade/once-in-a-lifetime players like Rice and Biletnikoff.

Vulture's First Law of the NFL draft: Unless the player in question is a Jerry Rice, a Randy Moss, or a Larry Fitzgerald - that is to say, a once-in-a-decade or once-in-a-lifetime kind of player - NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, N-E-V-E-R draft a Wide Receiver in the first round.

Can you honestly say that Michael Crabtree, a player whose college stats were inflated from playing in a gadget offense, is on a par with Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, Larry Fitzgerald, or Fred Biletnikoff? I can't.

Wide receivers aren't worth drafting in the first round not just because of the failure rate, but also because of the diva ego they bring along as baggage (see: Crabtree, Michael). It was an awful choice. Absolutely awful.

Now, about Toyotas. Neither xfloggingkylex nor I have anything untoward to say about the vehicles themselves. Toyota makes a quality, reliable, high-mileage line of vehicles. But the people who drive them.......well.........

I might have granted you an exception from that categorization, dear Father, except for that last bit of taunting you heaped upon your comments about NFL blackout rules.

Who are they punishing? Morons like me that can't afford the tickets and still like to watch the Cardinals kick 49er ass.

Really, now? Kick 49er ass.

How truly heartless! Please allow me the delusion (at least until kickoff) that the Niners have a chance tomorrow!!! Criminy!

Still, I love you, you old curmudgeon. Stay well.