A geek is a geek is a geek. And even though we don’t talk much about sports here, I would be remiss without giving tribute to one of the all-time geeks after his big weekend just past.

Mel Kiper, Jr. should be an inspiration to all geeks. As a kid, he was obsessive about the NFL and specifically, the NFL draft. He had the guts to write to NFL teams about his draft analysis when he was a teenager, and at the tender age of 21 founded a publication (a fanzine for NFL draft-heads) solely devoted to the NFL draft.

As soon as the draft was over, Kiper would start projecting and analyzing college football players ready for the next year’s draft. Even though it was just two days a year, Kiper turned it into his year-round livelihood.

ESPN started to televise the draft in the early 80s. Then, the draft was held during the week and only a few Jets fans straggled in to see what it was all about. Basically, ESPN needed programming, and this was a good way to fill up two to three afternoons (then, the draft was 12 rounds).

By 1984, Kiper’s fanzine had enough of a following that he was invited to take part in ESPN’s draft coverage. When the NFL draft became more of an event, Kiper’s legacy grew. It grew even further when Kiper’s outspoken comments made waves, questioning picks right after they happened, most notably with the Jets‘ selection of Jeff Lagemann in 1989 and the Colts‘ pick of Trev Alberts in 1995.

For many years, a lot of people derided him by what he was known as, “Mel Kiper, Jr. Draft Expert,” as if that was something unimportant and unworthy of being an expert about. But now, Kiper (and his distinctive hairstyle) is an institution on ESPN, as you can see him, hear him, or read him all year long on all of the ESPN family of media intrusions, especially when college football season rolls around.

And his fame has not stopped him from being outspoken. At this weekend’s draft, he lambasted the Dolphins for selecting Ted Ginn, a wide receiver coming off of a serious leg injury, instead of a potential franchise quarterback in Brady Quinn. Kiper’s incredulous outburst bordered on out and out contempt for the Dolphins and their management, and that made for great television.

Today, he’s still as much of a geek as anyone, as he can rattle off strengths, weaknesses, and career highlights of Mike Otto, a Purdue offensive lineman who was picked in the seventh round. No doubt, he will be hard at work this week, breaking down coaches’ tape of the 2006 Savannah State/Charleston Southern game just in case there was a junior or sophomore that may be picked in the late rounds of the 2008 draft.

So here’s to you, Mel Kiper, Jr. You have taken a single obsession and created a media empire, all from starting a fanzine as a 21-year-old kid. That’s an inspiration for all of us geeks to follow our inner geekdom. The rewards may not be as material as Kiper’s, but they may be as satisfying.