I love music just about as much as I love sports, and I have often fantasized about having my own CD with a booklet full of random pictures of old gas stations and farm equipment overgrown with weeds, and super-special liner notes. Problem is, I have all the musical chops of Carl Lewis and I don't think being able to play Iron Man on the "Hard" setting on Guitar Hero really counts. But with so many people to thank after NGS 2, I thought this might be my only chance, so here we go...without the annoying tiny font that's supposed to look like handwriting and huge lists separated only by commas...

THANKS...

--the bloggers of FoxSports.com. I am amazed every day by the depth and scope of the work produced by moonlighting sportswriters. Working the 9-5 and then coming up with remarkably detailed NFL rankings or hilarious lists or running a mock draft is, in my mind, a heroic achievement. I've received a lot of email and comments along the lines of "represent us well" and I am truly honored to have the opportunity to do so.

--MooreSports. As everyone here can attest, it's tough to find someone with as much class as Bri. It was a privilege to read your work and even more of a privilege getting to know you outside of the "blogosphere." You're on your way.

--Mom, Dad, bro and sis (you've all contributed, knowingly or not, and you can't have liner notes without the family).

--my girlfriend who dutifully watched the NBA Finals because it was "my job" and who is immensely more talented than I.

--the Judges. Your comments throughout both NGS competitions have been invaluable and I look forward to working closely with you in the coming weeks and months.

--Fruit Punch Kool-Aid, David Sunflower Seeds, Vault, Redbones BBQ, Hemingford, Hastings, and Emerson College (because I've always wanted to thank products and places.)

--my "research assistant," the Yun' Ball Coach, an expert fact-checker, great sounding board and obsessive reader of anything sports.

--any one I've forgotten...sorry if I missed you. I have to borrow Internet access from cafes and bars for the next few days as I wait for a certain cable provider to hook me up and liner notes are contractually bound to include such a disclaimer.

Once again, thank you. It still hasn't set in that I'm actually going to be writing for a major sports website and probably won't until that first column appears. I'm more anxious than a G'n'R fan waiting for Chinese Democracy.

BV