| Gargamel |
12-21-11 12:43 AM |
Many question Herb Tompkin's ability to drink nog at a professional level. For more on this, we turn to Greg Hutch. Greg?
Thanks Tom. There's no doubt that UCLA's Herb Tompkin has made a splash in the world of competitive college nog drinking. But can he go pro? That's a topic of much debate. On the one hand, you've got those who claim he's the second coming of Gerald Ramsey, who, as we all know, led the Milwaukee Mud to seven straight titles in the late eighties and early nineties. Everyone was certainly reminded of Ramsey's performance in Game 7 of the Finals against the Davenport Iowans while watching Tompkin in last week's NCAA Tournament Championship game. The sophomore from Bakersfield managed to drain three straight glasses of nog in the contest's final fourteen seconds, barely edging out the Indiana Hoosiers for the win.
On the other hand, there are a number of skeptics who feel his style of play may not translate to the big stage. These nay-sayers cite his unorthodox cup-grabbing technique as the main area for concern. Tompkin doesn't grab a cup in the traditional, full-fisted manner; instead, he uses his thumb and index finger to snatch the cup up by its lip, a technique Tompkin refers to as "the tweezer." While the move's quickness has helped him overcome opponents in the NCAA, many fear it may lead to costly turnovers against the larger, tougher defenses of the National Nog Association.
However, if he can overcome this and elevate his game to the level that is required of a NNA star, there is no doubt that he will become not just the face of the franchise that drafts him but the entire league. It's no secret that Commissioner Bradford has high hopes that Tompkin can thrive at the pro level. With his competitive demeanor and moral integrity, he could be just what the league needs to revive its reputation after all of the Skim-Milk-Cutting controversies of the early 2000s.
Back to you, Tom.
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