“Sprint to the podium” (player draft expression)

Professional sports clubs hold a player draft; they select players by submitting a draft card to the podium when it’s their turn to draft. It often happens that when a team’s draft time arrives, a player that they didn’t expect to be there drops down to the team. “If (great player) is there, the team should sprint to the podium and hand in the card” is a drafting cliché—in other words, the team should select the player without an additional moment’s thought.
 
“Phoenix will then sprint to the podium with Marvin Jones name on the card and dance for joy” was cited in print in 1993. “If Morgan(DE), Haden(CB) or Spiller(RB) are there, sprint to the podium” was cited in 2010.
   
Mike Mayock, a football analyst with NFL Network, has frequently used “sprint to the podium.”
     
   
Sports Illustrated
May 04, 1992
Under Construction
The Packers, who once again have new leadership, laid the cornerstone for a fresh foundation by drafting Florida State’s Terrell Buckley
Peter King
(...)
With half a minute remaining in the Cardinals’ draft period, Wolf grabbed another phone and told the Packer representative at draft central (a hotel ballroom in New York City) to sprint to the podium with the card bearing D’Onofrio’s name. If Phoenix exceeded its time limit, Green Bay could choose its player.
 
Google Groups: rec.sport.football.pro
Draft predictions
Russ Smith
4/21/93
(...)
Phoenix will then sprint to the podium with Marvin Jones name on the card and dance for joy.
 
Atlanta (GA) Journal-Constitution
Falcons part ways with longtime team trainer Ron Medlin
6:32 pm January 19, 2010, by D. Orlando Ledbetter
(...)
COMMENTS
JJ
January 20th, 2010 6:57 am
If Morgan(DE), Haden(CB) or Spiller(RB) are there, sprint to the podium. After them, their are no DE/CB worth the risk in the 1st rd.
     
Offsides with Fletcher Mackel
Thursday, April 15th, 2010 at 1:47 am
2010 Saints Mock Draft (Guest Version)
(...)
Weatherspoon probably won’t be available at #32 in the 1st round but if he is on the board the Saints should sprint to the podium to pick him!
 
24 February 2011, Joplin (MO) Globe, pg. 1B, col. 5:
Quotable
“If Julio’s there, I think they probably sprint to the podium with the card.”
Mike Mayock
NFL Network draft analyst on the possibility of the St. Louis Rams’ selecting Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones.
   
Chicago (IL) Tribune
Mayock: Bears should ‘sprint to podium’ if DT Jernigan available
February 18, 2014 | By Rich Campbell, Tribune reporter
Add NFL Network’s Mike Mayock to the list of draft analysts who consider Florida St. defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan to be a top candidate for the Chicago Bears to select with the 14th pick in May’s draft.
 
“I think Jernigan is a guy that if he was sitting there when the Bears were on the board at 14, I think you’d sprint to the podium,” Mayock said Tuesday during a teleconference.
   
Twitter
Joe Post
‏@Jpro717
@JaysonBraddock if Watkins is there and I am Cleveland I sprint to the podium with his name on the card. Gordon and him=lethal
3:35 PM - 5 Apr 2014
 
Twitter
Frank Frangie
‏@Frank_Frangie
Said all along if Clowney is there Jags should sprint to the podium, but dang I get more intrigued w the thought of Manziel here every day.
8:20 PM - 9 Apr 2014