By this morning's opening of the NFL Draft, Calvin Johnson's 40-yard dash time at Georgia Tech will be better known than the national debt.

JaMarcus Russell's "upside" will be more speculated upon than Mideast peace or the attorney general's fate.

But the enduring stars of the NFL's annual show at the Radio City Musical Hall in New York will be the folks bringing you the 18 hours — 18 hours! — of live coverage over two days.

For those who can't tell the figures without a program, here's a thumbnail look at some of the other key personalities of the draft who will still be there after the first round picks are out buying limos.

Chris Berman — 6-2, 230, Brown. The one they call "Boomer" is the quarterback in ESPN's draft day offense and adept at the shovel pass. He is a constant threat to, as someone likes to put it, "go ... all ... the ... way. "

Roger Goodell — 6-1, 225, Washington & Jefferson. Talk about rookies with big shoes to fill. His predecessor, Paul "The Commish" Tagliabue, was a staid, straight-laced draft day institution for 16 years. During which he hardly veered from along the lines of "the Dallas Cowboys select Will E. Dropitt with the 21st pick." Draftniks eagerly await what this new "commish" and son of a former U.S. Senator and husband of a television writer might bring to the event.

Mel Kiper Jr. — 6-1, 220, Essex (Md.) Community College. After a quarter-century, still the go-to guy at the draft. It is a little known fact that he "came out" early, too, beginning his career as a draft analysis guru while still in high school. Teams may not like what he has to say (remember Bill Tobin's tirade?) but they all listen to him even if nobody is taking hair tips from him. Introduced words such as "signability" lexicon.

Suzy Kolber — 5-7, 110, Miami (Fla.). They wouldn't let her play in an all-boys football league as a youngster but she's earned her way onto NFL sidelines and locker rooms as a knowledgeable, quick-thinking reporter and analyst not afraid to ask the tough questions.

Tony Kornheiser — 6-0, 195, Binghamton (N.Y.) University. A sportswriter — and after Monday Night Football — what could they be thinking? Possibly that here's somebody who can add a little levity to the proceedings when things get too obsessive.

Chris Mortensen — 5-9, 180, El Camino (Calif.) College. Veteran who still has all the moves covered. This former sports writer is good enough as an analyst that some NFL teams have attempted to hire him over the years.

Mike Tirico — 5-8, 170, Syracuse. A lot of good running backs came out of Syracuse, but he wasn't one of them.

Trey Wingo — 6-2, 215, Baylor. Turns out maybe Madden Bowl XII wasn't his career highlight after all.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.