The Front Row with MARK NELKE May 1, 2011

I have to admit, we did not have a viewing party in our office for the big event the other night, though we were definitely interested in how it went - after all, it doesn't happen all that often.

Sure, we might have been a little curious to know how the crowd was going to react, and how all the important people looked - but not enough to stay glued to the TV for the duration.

Besides, that's what the highlights are for.

Sure, it was interesting to hear catcalls hurled at one of the main characters. And, for the several hours the event was on television, there seemed to be an awful lot of pomp and circumstance for how little action there actually was.

But, once the well-dressed younger man became the first to make the long walk across the stage and shook hands with the well-dressed older man ... well, we knew it was worth the wait.

What, you think we were talking about that other big event the other night?

AS THE first round of the NFL draft unfolded Thursday, the ESPN cameras focused on the kid from Missouri, who was regarded as one of the best at his position coming into the draft.

And sure enough, the San Francisco 49ers picked a kid from Missouri.

Just not that one.

"With the seventh pick in the 2011 NFL draft," commissioner Roger Goodell said - when he wasn't getting roundly booed by the fans at Radio City Music Hall in New York City - "the San Francisco 49ers select Aldon Smith, defensive end from Missouri."

OK, admittedly my knowledge of Missouri football is a bit light. I knew who Blaine Gabbert was - and wouldn't have been disappointed if the 49ers had picked him as their quarterback of the future. And I knew who their previous quarterback, Chase Daniel was - and that was before the marketing folks at Mizzou sent me one of those little 3-D slide show gizmos of Daniel a few years back, trying to promote him for the Heisman Trophy.

And I’ve actually been through Columbia, Mo., home of the University of Missouri, once. They have a traffic circle there, too, and a Church’s Fried Chicken place.

Other than that ...

Thankfully, Jon Gruden set me straight on this Aldon Smith character. He’d heard of the guy. And he sounded real excited about his potential.

“He’s a puppy,” said Gruden, when he wasn’t getting agitated with Mel Kiper Jr.

OK, fine, I thought. I like puppies. I hope to have another one someday. Now as long as this one can get to the quarterback, and not just stop when they get to the blockers like our other pass rushers seem to ...

ON DAY 2, the 49ers attempted to upgrade from the ghost of Alex Smith by taking Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who is obviously a familiar name to WAC fans.

The 6-foot-5 Kaepernick was a running and passing threat out of the “Pistol” offense at Nevada — a modified version of the spread. His running ability should come in handy, given the 49ers’ inability to protect the quarterback in recent years. His accuracy, however, has been questioned — not a good thing on a team where the receivers don’t get open very often, and the quarterback can’t afford to miss them the few times that they do.

The third-round pick was cornerback Chris Culliver from South Carolina. Never heard of him, but if he can stand in front of the receiver every now and then when they’re trying to catch the ball, instead of standing behind them and waiting for them to catch the ball before tackling them, that will be a plus.

ON DAY 3, the 49ers picked a few more players without much hubbub.

(Of course, if the 49ers had decided to take that Kate Middleton person from England with their first-round pick, that would have been OK as well. We can always look for a pass rusher later in the draft.)

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via e-mail at [email protected].