Career in Bloom

The future is now for Olympic skiier and onetime college football star Jeremy Bloom, who was drafted in the fifth round of the NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Bloom finished ninth at the Olympics in 2002. He finished sixth this year.

"I wouldn't trade the last two years for being a first-round draft pick," Bloom said. "The disappointing thing came when the NCAA wouldn't allow me to do both and showed me the door. But I think it's a tremendous blessing to be drafted in the fifth round, and more importantly, to a team that I think is a perfect fit for me."

Read: Bloom's next career blossoms with Eagles

Sporting Wood: Jeff Francoeur

Was watching the Mets play the Braves yesterday and couldn't help but notice a guy on the other team, one Jeff Francoeur, who went 4-for-5 with a homer and five RBIs to avoid a sweep by the Mets at Turner Field. New York may have lost, but this Jeff kid won my heart. Sports Illustrated dubbed the 6-4, 220-pound right fielder "The Natural" last summer, and with a smile like his, I'd have to agree ...

Page 1 News (05/01)

Jew It Yourself: While those oh-so-dedicated true-believer Muslims were busy killing people over cartoons, a nice Jewish boy from Maine was actually doing something about the slaughter of innocent Muslims in Africa. (NYT)

Her Face Lit Up: The French woman who received the world's first partial face transplant told a Sunday paper that she has complete feeling five months after the operation -- and she feels like having another cigarette, toute de suite! (AP)

Kanab, Utah: The town's slogan is "Everyone Welcome Here," but it depends what you mean by everyone. (NYT)

Birthday Building: The Empire State Building has survived a plane crash, a fire and, in the movies, a love-enflamed ape scaling its peak. Now, as it turns 75 years old on Monday, the iconic building has fallen on hard times -- especially since the Sept. 11 attacks, when it regained the double-edged boast of being the tallest building in Manhattan. But proponents say it is also poised for a comeback. Keep reading (Reuters)

Randy, Indeed: The Duke-Stir not only likes the yacht, the jewelry, the Persian rugs, the Rolls-Royce, and the bribes -- but he likes the hookers, too. (WP)

Missin' My Lar

My friend Larry Brickman's mom has put together an online memorial for him that has lots of photos, music he loved and a place to leave tributes and light "online candles." As awful as his passing has been for all of his friends who miss him dearly, not a day goes by that I don't think about how especially devastating this is for his sweet mother, who I had the pleasure of getting to know earlier this year. Check out the beautiful tribute she's made as I'm sure it would mean a lot to her to hear from others who loved Larry too.

Visit the memorial here.

Watch Larry's appearance on CNNfn to your computer here.

Man of the Year

Former Morning Wood pick Derrick Davenport is now Playgirl's Man of the Year for 2006. Can't say I didn't see that coming ...

Previously: Morning Wood: Derrick Davenport

V for Video Vixen

 

 There's a lot you don't know about Natalie Portman.