>> DOMINIC: THE NARRATIVE OF SPORT IS CONSTRUCTED IN SUCH A WAY AS TO KINDLE HOPES AND TICKLE IMAGINATIONS.

AND THE LAST FEW WEEKS HAVE SEEN A LOT OF IMAGINATION-TICKLING.

THERE WAS THE STORY OF CAITLIN CLARK, WHOSE BASKETBALL SUPERPOWERS WEREN'T QUITE ENOUGH TO EARN IOWA A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

THERE'S THE ONGOING SCUFFLE OVER THE MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES OWNERSHIP.

THERE WAS THE DEATH OF O.J.

SIMPSON, THE END OF A CAUTIONARY TALE ABOUT THE PERILS OF ATHLETIC FAME.

BUT THERE'S BEEN NO BIGGER HOG OF NEWS HOLE, AIRTIME, AND DIGITAL REAL ESTATE THAN THE UPCOMING NFL DRAFT WHICH IS -- AND LET'S BE CLEAR ABOUT THIS -- STILL TWO WEEKS AWAY.

FOR WEEKS, DAILY -- HOURLY IT SEEMS SOMETIMES -- VARIOUS PUNDITS AND MOCK-DRAFTERS HAVE BEEN PREDICTING WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE DEATHLESS MINUTES BETWEEN EACH TEAM'S SELECTION OF A PLAYER.

HERE IN MINNESOTA, THE DRAMA IS HIGHER.

WILL THE VIKINGS BE ABLE TO GET THEIR NEXT QUARTERBACK OF THE FUTURE?

AND HOW MUCH OF THAT FUTURE ARE WE WILLING TO MORTGAGE TO ACQUIRE DRAKE MAYE OR J.J. MCCARTHY OR WHOEVER?

SEE WHAT I SAID THERE?

"WE?"

I HAVE ABOUT AS MUCH CONTROL OVER THE VIKINGS DRAFT AS SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON DOES OVER THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

AND YET I CAN'T HELP BUT FEEL INVESTED IN IT.

AS ARE MANY OF US.

WHY?

I WISH I KNEW.

PERHAPS INFORMATION OVERLOAD GIVES THE ILLUSION OF CONTROL.

MAYBE WE'VE ALL PLAYED TOO MUCH FANTASY FOOTBALL SO THAT WE'VE CONVINCED OURSELVES WE KNOW HOW TO SPEND 255 MILLION SALARY-CAP DOLLARS.

MAYBE IT'S JUST A DISTRACTION FROM WHAT WILL BE THE LONGEST AND DREARIEST PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN OF ALL TIME.

OR MAYBE -- JUST MAYBE -- WE REALLY DON'T WANT ANOTHER CHRISTIAN PONDER.