Last week, Ryan Leaf was discussing plans to attend the event linked to his unofficial title: Biggest NFL Draft Bust Ever.
Yes, the retired quarterback will be at the NFL Draft on Thursday for the first time since the San Diego Chargers selected him in 1998 with the No. 2 overall pick -- right after the Indianapolis Colts had selected Peyton Manning with the No. 1 pick.
Leaf, 40, will be providing analysis for ESPN and figures to turn heads if he sticks to his usual script.
"I tell people I have the life of my dreams right now,'' he told USA Today. "And some of the snarky comments that come back are that, no, Peyton Manning has the life of Ryan's dreams."
In defense of the snarky: Manning has two Super Bowl rings, hundreds of millions of dollars and a spot in the Hall of Fame all but reserved.
Leaf, by contrast, has spent almost as much time in prison (32 months) as he did in the NFL (three seasons), battled a painkiller addiction that led to the prison sentence and, according to Leaf, left him virtually bankrupt.
So maybe Manning is living Leaf's dreams, after all?
"I had to think about it for a minute. But it's not true," Leaf said.
He may offer details of "dream life" during his appearance Thursday on ESPN, which next month is scheduled to air a "30 for 30" documentary about Leaf. But he will express no regrets about his NFL career, during which he threw 14 touchdowns, 36 interceptions and blame on just about anyone but himself.
"I don't believe I was meant to be a professional quarterback,'' he said. "I was meant to have these life experiences and be an impact on others who've struggled."
Making up
It's only fitting that Padraig Harrington and Sergio Garcia would make amends at a wedding.
Harrington beat Garcia in a playoff for his first major, in 2007 at the British Open, and he beat Garcia again in the PGA Championship a year later. Garcia finally captured his first major this year at the Masters in a playoff over Justin Rose.
Harrington was on an Irish radio program talking about Garcia's emotion on the 18th green at Augusta National when he referred to the Spaniard as a "sore loser" during their battles a decade ago.
Both were invited to Rory McIlroy's wedding over the weekend. They ran into each other almost immediately, and Harrington said both came out in a better place.
"Clearly, there was a bit of an elephant in the room with what I said, and we have decided that we look at our similarities and the good in each of us, rather than any other way," Harrington said at an R&A media conference Tuesday. "So we are in a great place. If anything, it's worked out so much for the better. Literally, the first person I met (at the wedding) was Sergio. It was something that needed to be done straightaway, and Sergio made it very easy."
Two for one
From Dwight Perry of The Seattle Times:
"Tennis star Serena Williams is expecting her first child this fall.
"Alert Wimbledon oddsmakers immediately installed her as the doubles favorite."
Sports quiz
Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf were the first two quarterbacks to be selected in the 1998 NFL Draft. Who was the third?
Answer
Charlie Batch (2nd round, 60th pick) by the Lions
Sports on 04/26/2017