Experts and Clowns: Discussing Sean Taylor, the NFL and More

Welcome back, one and all, to the only series here on Associated Content that offers free gift wrapping for every purchase of 50 dollars or more. This is Experts and Clowns. For those of you who haven't been following this series (and judging by the page views, that almost everybody), a group of four of the best (more bored) sportswriters here on Associated Content decided to (blatantly) rip off ESPN's Around the Horn, except without that annoying Stat Boy. I miss I, Max.

I'm going to forgo any and all introductions because, well, I feel like it. If you have never read any of these columns before, simply search for any previous editions. Our distinguished panelists include Brian Joura, Nick Meyer, Jake Emen and everybody's favorite AC content producer, me. Let's get on with the show.

1. NFL star Sean Taylor just passed away. Which death of an athlete, past or present, most affected you and why?

Brian: I got to see Lenny Bias play a lot of games when he was at Maryland and he was just a phenomenal basketball player. He was 6'8 with a body that looked like it was chiseled out of stone. He was a great scorer and rebounder, but he was every bit as good on the defensive end. His performance in the final minutes of the game against UNC in 1986, in which Maryland became the first visiting team to win at the Smith Center, was the stuff of legend.

The Celtics looked like they were going to continue being the best basketball franchise in the country when they picked him in the draft. I can remember like it was yesterday when the news of his passing hit. I was in my apartment and my roommate Wally ran in and said he just heard on the radio that someone from the Celtics died. He wasn't sure but he thought it was Larry Bird. It turned out to be Bias but it might have been better for the Celtics if it had been Bird. Bias was that good.