I’m no gamer, but I do have an appreciation for video games. I like to think I was fortunate to grow up during a time frame that coincided with the start of what would be the golden ages of video games. I started with Nintendo and Sega and even had an Atari box with a joy stick for real old school games like asteroids and dig dug. Also had the joy stick set up on the old Gateway for games like Duke Nukem. I had a game boy original and moved on to gameboy color. When I got older I chose the Playstation route and have had playstations 1–4. When you also play sports along side of video games, you make friends, and with those friends came the opportunities to experience systems like N64, GameCube, Dreamcast, the Xbox; old and new. So while I pretty much stick to FIFA on PS4 in my current gaming life, I love the world of video games and was excited for this draft. MRags, Barstool newest Gametime hire, was on to draft fictional video game characters with the boys and it was a solid introduction to a new barstool face.
Draft Order: 1. M Rags 2. Carl 3. WSD 4. Chief 5. Eddie
Round 1
Pick 1: M Rags, Master Chief (Halo)
Grade: QB1
The M stands for Master. I do not know the names of many of the characters in shooting games. Could not tell you a COD character or a Fortnite character. You know Master Chief. I am a SONY guy and I knew Master Chief was still first round potential. Is he everyones 1.1? No but MRags taking Master Chief 1.1 makes sense and it will be interesting to see what he does with his wrap around.
Pick 2: Carl, Pablo Sanchez (Backyard Baseball)
Grade: 5-Tool Player
Pablo does not make it to the 9th pick of the draft so if Carl wanted the versatile utility player on his board he had to take him at 2. Pablo was alway one of the first off the bleachers in Backyard Baseball and it is no surprise he is in this draft as well. Pablo Sanchez can be a cornerstone for a winning team.
Pick 3: WSD, Link (Zelda)
Grade: Ocarina of Dave
Is it a common misconception that Link is Zelda? If yes, it also used to confuse me. If no, then I agree, those people are idiots. Either way, absolute first round character. I’ve always thought Link looked really cool. Pure athleticism. Big time flow. Quick hands. WSD got a QB you hope plays their career with your team.
Pick 4: Chief, James Bond (Goldeye)
Grade: Not as bad as Exchange Rates
Just because Goldeye is a first round video game, does not make the Bond character a draft worthy video game character. James Bond is a movie character who’s film was turned into a Hall of Fame video game. There is nothing in particular about the character in the video game that brings anything to table in this draft. James Bond has first round quality in many other drafts, not this one.
Pick 5: Eddie, Pac-Mac (Pac-Man)
Grade: You Know What You’re Getting
I consider PacMan an Arcade Game over a Video Game but that does not mean he is not an Iconic character. Pac Man is an OG. Can be both a north and south and east and west runner, but sometimes struggles to find that extra burst of speed. PacMan won’t say much, if anything, in the locker room, however he will lead by example. Ed should be happy with this pick but needs to back it up with a guy who can answer the bell when Pac’s ghosts get a hold of him.
Round 1: 5 completely different realms all come off the board in the first round. Chief dug himself an early whole. There are still characters who I had with first round value still on the board.
Round 2
Pick 6: Eddie, Mario (Super Mario)
Grade: Superstar
What a back to back from Ed. Is Mario a ‘me’ guy? For sure. So is Lebron. But that makes him the perfect compliment to PacMan. Mario happily takes the shine and the cameras, while Pac just stays in his lane. That does not mean when the action is on Mario won’t jump down the trenches for you.
Pick 7: Chief, Sonic (Sonic the Hedgehog)
Grade: Fast or Quick?
Chief needs four home runs to follow up Bond, and this is his first. Sonic was a favorite childhood game of mine and was high second round territory on my board. I would have liked to see Sonic paired with someone better but he can definitely get Chief some momentum
Pick 8: WSD, Donkey Kong (Donkey Kong)
Grade: Mr. Steal Your Princess
Logged ALOT of hours on the N64 yellow DK cartridge. I don’t think Donkey is that great in Mario Kart or Smash but I love him so much I will still say fuck it and pick him every no and then. I think he slots perfectly into this second round range. Mario is the super star name of the draft class but DK will have no problem throwing one high and fast when Mario steps in the box. Dave has back to back nintendo guys but you won’t hear me questioning someone getting two players from ‘Bama.
Pick 9: Carl, Kratos (God of War)
Grade: Carl, God of Draft
I have no God of War experience, but Playstation commercials promoting the game make Kratos look badass. Carl got an offensive weapon in round 1 and now he has a Chase Young type of talent who can anchor a defense on his own. Carl taped into two seperate sects of gamers with these picks and is off to a strong start.
Pick 10: MRags, Pikachu (Pokemon)
Grade: Electric
Could not be less of an intimidating presence, but Pikachu will go all 10 rounds if you need him too. A real innings eater. Real electric stuff to start his career, bounced around middle relief for a while, but now is a lock down closer in the back half of his career. Huge value after having to wait out 8 picks.
Round 2: Chief is the only one who didn’t nail both picks through 2 rounds. Ed’s 5 spot wrap around was a powerhouse 1–2. Carl and MRags have some diversity. WSD has two fan favorites.
Round 3
Pick 11: MRags, Crash Bandicoot (Crash Bandicoot)
Grade: Underrated
My number 1 playstation character. Crash was equally as fun a character as the game was fun. I feel like no one remembers Crash Bash or Crash Bandicoot Racing but both of those spin off games may have been better than the actual Crash series of games. Crash Bash was one of my all time favorite PS games.
Pick 12: Carl, Yoshi (Super Mario)
Grade: Workhorse
I don’t Carl wanted to get Nintendo on his board in some way and he got a very strong character still available in the 3rd round. Just because Mario and Lugi are brothers does not make them the real duo of the Super Mario world. Mario and Yoshi are the real tandem. Yoshi kind of has a Master Splinter Role in Marios. Yoshi is my second favorite Mario Kart character behind Shy Guy. Carl has a deep board through 3 rounds.
Pick 13: WSD, Bowser (Super Mario)
Grade: Just a Villain
Bowser is a top tier villain but does not belong in this draft. Dave has went 3 Nintendo character off the rip and it was 1 too many. There are still so many other ways to go and Dave somehow potentially tanks his board.
Pick 14: Chief, Sub Zero (Mortal Kombat)
Grade: Chiefs Chance of Winning
Very cool character, without a doubt a top 3 MK fighter. Just like Sonic in the 2nd, Sub Zero is a fine 3rd round pick, IF Chief hadn’t punted his first round pick. Chief is working his way back onto the poll but just won’t win with these 3.
Pick 15: Eddie, Glass Joe (Mike Tyson’s Punchout)
Grade: Too Cute
Glass Joe is a massive drop off from Eds first two picks. Joe is just not going win you a draft in the third round. You want to end the draft and make Joe your Mr. Irrelevant? Fine. But Ed let Carl and MRags separate from the pack with this pick.
Round 3: Very poor final 3 picks in this round. Carl and MRags had to be thrilled watching that round play out and I doubt they lost anyone on their board for their final 2 picks round pick.
Round 4
Pick 16: Eddie, Tommy Vercetti (GTA: Vice City)
Grade: Who?
I did not know this was the GTAVC characters name. In fact, I know zero GTA characters. When I played GTA, I was the guy stealing cars, banging hookers, robbing places and getting chased by helicopters. I never really associated a character with the persona of the game. For as good as Eds 1–2 was, his 3–4 was bad.
Pick 17: Chief, James Patterson (Medal of Honor)
Grade: WHO??
I did not know this was the MOH characters name. In fact, I know zero MOH characters. When I played MOH, I was the guy jumping out of planes, storming beaches and winning wars. I never associated a character with the persona of the game. Chief is back on poll watch.
Pick 18: WSD, Lara Croft (Tomb Raider)
Grade: NO BONK
Maybe first or second round Lara Croft I would have bonked, but 4th round Lara Croft is just great value. Lara is a Mt. Rushmore female video game character and an all around bad bitch. Usually it’s a movie that is so popular that it becomes a video game. Lara Croft made Tomb Raider so popular it went the other way and the video character earned a stand alone movie. An absolute animated rocket ship.
Pick 19: Carl, MegaMan (MegaMan)
Grade: Mega Draft
Carl is checking alot of boxes and has 4 big time names on his board. MegaMan is a throwback but I feel like the real gamers sweat MegaMan. MM had a serious glow up from his original pixelated days too. MegaMan could have gone higher than 19 and I would not have blinked.
Pick 20: MRags, Captain Price (Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare)
Grade: Confusion
This pick does not do it for me, but CoD is so massive that it very well could be a fine 4th round pick. I do recognize the guy MRags described from commercials but Price is no different than Vercetti or Patterson to me. This may not hurt Rags overall, but he does fall behind Carl a bit for my vote. I understand him wanted CoD on his board though.
Round 4: Eds wrap around this time around derailed his draft. Chief has had an overall underwhelming draft and I think it just steams from not being a big video game guy. WSD got some voluptuous 4th round value that really pops. Carl and MRags are duking it out going into round 5.
Round 5
Pick 21: MRags, Sora (Kingdom Hearts)
Grade: Nerd
And I say nerd in an endearing way. Kingdom Hearts is one of the most unique games I have ever played and a real gamer, like I would expect MRags to be, has dabbled with Kingdom Hearts. I could not have pulled this name out during a live trivia question but I knew exactly who MRags was talking about when he was building up his pick and I love this to close out the draft.
Pick 22: Carl, Ryu (Street Fighter)
Grade: Finish Him
This very well could be a win for Carl. Ryu is a big time video game name and you aren’t going to get better 5th round value. MegaMan and Kratos are different types of fighters. This gives Carl a tradition combat style fighting character to round out a diverse board.
Pick 24: Chief, Ox (Oregon Trail)
Grade: OTP
And that stands for off the poll. Chief said he was not a game guy. Parents made him read books, eat pretzels and drink water. This is a Chief pick through and through and I think he knew he was off the graphic so why not draft with your heart.
Pick 25(Mr. Irrelevant): Eddie, Player 23 (Kobe Bryant Courtside)
Grade: Desperation Heave
This was a desperate pick Ed had in the holster after a poor wrap around for rounds 3 and 4. Technically this is a fictional character specifically in a video game so it is a grey area that works. Will it help him win? No.
Chief had an all time bad draft and the Ox pick was a perfectly hilarious way to cap off what he knew was an L. White Sox Dave may earn a spot on the poll but he won’t be in contention for a victory this week. Ed had such a strong start out of the 5 spot but blacked out in rounds 3 and 4. This week will come down to Carl vs. MRags. They both went 5 for 5 on picks. Carls list scews more towards my liking so he is probably going to get my vote, but MRags boards tosses a massive net to the true gamers. I wish I had a system that gave me a rolodex with every game ever made and all the different controllers. Grab a fat sack of greens, some beers, some pizza and just game the night away with anything from PaperBoy to Red Dead Redemption. I may not play nearly as much as I used to, but I will never outgrow my love for video games.
