April 29--The first NFL draft to take place in Chicago since 1964 will be without three of its biggest names: Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota and Amari Cooper. It's a blow to the NFL's efforts to amp up the draft celebration, which will include a fan festival for the first time.
Luckily, the draft will have Wisconsin star and Heisman Trophy runner-up Melvin Gordon in attendance Thursday at the Auditorium Theatre -- but even that was a close call.
"I've been going back and forth whether to do it at home or come here," Gordon said Tuesday at Nike+ Chicago Studio on Michigan Avenue, where he spoke with students from Simeon Career Academy. "I didn't want to look back when I got older and regret not walking on stage. You'll see this on TV. This will always continue. I didn't want to be like 'Why didn't I do that? I had the chance.' I want to say I did it. That was a big reason. It's an experience of a lifetime."
Don't expect any major fashion statements from Gordon when he walks the stage. He's not all that into fashion and plans to keep it simple with a black suit and black shoes.
"I like to keep it clean," Gordon said.
The 22-year-old running back is from Kenosha, Wis., which is a little over an hour from the Auditorium Theatre. He said he has 50-60 friends and family coming to Chicago, most of whom will view the draft from a rented out location nearby. His plan is to join them after he gets selected and then celebrate with Michigan State's Trae Waynes, a projected first rounder and Gordon's teammate at Mary D. Bradford High School in Kenosha, later that night.
Gordon guesses his mom will be the emotional one when his name gets called, but not for sure. He doesn't rule out shedding a few tears himself.
"You never know how you're going to react," Gordon said. "I've been telling myself to keep it together. We'll see."
Heads up: The pre-taped Shoot the Puck segment featuring "Chicago P.D." actors Sophia Bush and Jon Seda will play during Friday's Blackhawks-Minnesota Wild playoff game at the United Center. ... Former Bear Brian Urlacher will appear Friday at the Microsoft store at The Shops at North Bridge. ... Duke men's basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski is expected to serve as the honorary grand marshal at Saturday's Polish Constitution Day Parade. ... "Home" singer and former "American Idol" winner Phillip Phillips is scheduled to perform Saturday at the NFL's Draft Town in Grant Park.
Turn it up: If you're one of those people who pays attention to walk-up songs at baseball games like me, dnainfo.com listed the songs Cubs and White Sox players selected this season. The Cubs' Kris Bryant chose 2 Chainz's "We Own It". Me? I'd go with DJ Khaled's "Go Hard," Rick Ross's "Stay Schemin'," or DMX's "X Gon' Give It To Ya," not that I've given it much thought...
By the numbers:
107. Miles per hour NFL Hall of Famer Richard Dent was driving in a 55 miles per hour zone in the early hours of Tuesday, according to Northfield police.
$500,000. Price former Bull Andres Nocioni sold his three-bedroom town home in Northbrook for. Nocioni paid $650,000 for the town home in 2004.
On the record: "That trailer looks better than 'The Phantom Menace.' It looks exciting. It looks cool. ... And, I mean, Harrison Ford -- next to Duncan Keith, he's like the dreamiest man on Earth." -- WWE Champion-turned-MMA fighter CM Punk discussing the "Star Wars: Episode VII" trailer Sunday at C2E2 at McCormick Place.
Speaking of former WWE Champions: John Bradshaw Layfield, now a WWE commentator, attended the Fire's fifth annual Practice in the Community at Gary and Ortiz Elementary School Saturday. A Fire spokesperson told me Layfield, who was in town for WWE's Extreme Rules event Sunday at the Allstate Arena, is friends with Robert Castaneda, executive director of Beyond the Ball and the head of our Premier Skills program in Little Village. "Great to witness the @ChicagoFire giving back in HUGE ways to the community through Rob, @BeyondtheBall #Legend," Layfield tweeted.
Sightings: My friend and Wifey Kitchen web series host Kelli Zink hung out with NFL Network's Rich Eisen and Steve Mariucci and actor Eric Stonestreet ("Modern Family") Tuesday at RPM Steak and Bub City. She said the three men sang Garth Brooks' "Friends in Low Places" during karaoke at Bub City. ... Fox NFL analyst Terry Bradshaw and ESPN insider Adam Schefter had dinner together Monday at Chicago Cut Steakhouse. Comedian and ESPN Frank Caliendo dined Tuesday at Chicago Cut. The Blackhawks' Patrick Kane had dinner at Chicago Cut after Saturday's playoff win over the Nashville Predators. ... Bears coach John Fox and the Predators' Viktor Stalberg dined, separately, Friday at RPM Italian. Fox hung out Saturday at Parliament. ... The Fire's Shaun Maloney attended Monday's Bulls game at the United Center. ... Wisconsin basketball start Sam Dekker dined Friday at Gibson's Bar Steakhouse-Chicago. Dent was spotted there April 22. ... Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona dined April 22 at Hugo's Frog Bar Fish House. ... NFL free agent Pierre Thomas watched the Bears and Blackhawks games Thursday at Roots Handmade Pizza.
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