Bye bye Brad....

Greetings Rubes!

Well, unfortunately for Vikings-nation, my prognostications proved to be all too
prophetic with the Vikings getting spanked 31-3 by the hated Packers, at home no
less (I had predicted 36-13), and Head Coach Brad Childress was fired. 
Surprising?...eh?....no.  It was the same ol', same ol', with dropped passes,
turnovers, blown coverages, dumb penalties, in other words, the exact same thing
we've seen all year.  I believe that the Childress firing was apprpriate, and I
did get the sense that this team had quit on it's coach, but I'm not ready to
lay all of the blame on him.  He certainly deserves his share of the blame
however.  Poor game planning, poor play calling, poor clock management, and
really the defining problem with the Chilly-era, was a complete and total lack
of ability to connect with and communicate with and motivate his players. 
Again, it's a fine line....he doesn't have to be everybody's buddy, but he came
off as a very distant dictator, and like it or not, today's pro athletes are
necessarily thrilled to be lorded over.  Out of his control of course, is that
QB Brett Favre has been terrible, pretty much from the get-go, save an awesome
performance against the Cardinals in an overtime win.  I think stud RB Adrian
Peterson, while being 2nd in the league in rushing, has been underutilized.  The
pass rush had been non-existent while showing a modest comeback the last two
games.  The pass coverage has been poor.  And we're last in the league in
turnover differential.... (-13).  You're not going to win much with those things
happening.  Defensive Coordinator Leslie Frazier has been annointed as the
interim-head coach, and here's hoping he can at least bring this team back to
some kind of respectability and competitiveness in these last 6 games.

The Vikings 3-7 start is actually the 3rd worst start in TEAM HISTORY.  That's
pretty hard to swallow for a team and a fan base hoping for a Super Bowl run.

The fact is, this team will look a lot different next year.  Favre will be gone,
DT Pat William will be gone, LB Ben Leber, S Madieu Williams, WR Bernard
Berrian, DE Ray Edwards, and probably TE Jim Kleinsasser will all be gone.  That
doesn't necessarily gut the team, but that's a lot of holes to try and fill. 
The Vikings need to do several things, contractually speaking:  Re-sign K Ryan
Longwell, LB Chad Greenway, and WR Sidney Rice.  Then, they can look at signing
RB Adrain Peterson to a contract extension.  The cupboard isn't bare by any
means, assuming Peterson, Rice, and Harvin are all here and producing.

Let me throw something out here...

I'm also going to suggest something here, that hasn't been brought up in the
national media, or in the chat rooms,..but how about this:  In the offseason
trade DE Kevin Williams.  Now before vesuviusing on me for something so
ridiculous, think about it:  We're not going to be a Super Bowl team next year,
Kevin's trade value will never be higher, and we could probably get a 1st round
pick (if not more) for a perennial Pro-Bowler who could solidify an aspiring
teams' defensive line...(think Atlanta Falcons).  Look at this idea the same way
as New England trading DE Richard Seymour to the Raiders.  Stock-piling draft
picks for a solid vet still playing at a high level.  Hmmmm.......

As a Packer Hater...

Personally, as a Packer-hater, it's hard for me to look at this team as a force,
because I don't see them as anything special.  But take a close look at them: 
This years' squad actually, to me, resembles perennial powerhouses Indianapolis
and New England.  They're not dominant defensively, but can get to the
quarterback, and create turnovers.  They've got a crappy running game, but an
awesome quarterback and a nice group of recievers, with which they "throw to set
up the run".  The Patriots have been winning with that type of team for years
and the Pack have an uncanny resemblance to that formula.  I still think they
missed an opportunity to trade for a solid running back at the trade deadline
(Marshawn Lynch).  RB Brandon Jackson?....he's Scottie Graham,..nothing more. 
And I think I saw something called "Demitri Nance" running around with the
football on Sunday?  What the hell is that?  Anyway, with the NFC being as wide
open as it is, and I hate to admit this, but I have to call 'em the way I see
'em,.look for the Pack to be a serious contender for the NFC title.  (Note: 
Before the season, SI's Peter King picked a Packers/Steelers Super Bowl.....time
will tell.)

Need something to believe in Vikings

Greetings Rubes!

Well, unfortunately for Viking-Nation, our local gang teased us all last week with a miracle 4th quarter comeback to beat Arizona and give us all, as Poison would put it, "Something To Believe In". But they knocked off that nonsense this week and got back to normal with yet another uninspired, stumblin', bumblin' loss to a very mediocre Bears team, essentially putting the nail into the coffin of the 2010 season. This team has suddenly gotten very old very fast. I don't think anyone expected QB Brett Favre to equal last years magic, but 10 TDs with 16 interceptions? That's terrible, although a few of those were clanks off of recievers hands. Last year we sent a dozen guys to the Pro Bowl. This year the possibilities max out at 3. (RB Adrian Peterson, WR Percy Harvin, and possibly P Chris Kluwe) The Packers come to the Dome next week and as much as I'd like to pound those posers into the dust, I have this sinking feeling a 36-13 spanking is coming our way. Here's hoping for the return of WR Sidney Rice and he ignites a once potent offense. However, it's obvious that we're a listless vessel drifting towards the rocks and I have zero confidence in Head Coach Brad Childress ability to right the ship. With his rather dopey handling of the Randy Moss situation, he's completely lost any credibility he had within the locker room, even if a few veterans meekly try and stick up for him. His "my way or the highway" approach isn't new, but requires a certain deft touch. Bill Parcells?...yes.....Bill Cower?...yes...Brad Childress?....eh?....not so much. I don't think there's any question that he's going to be fired, the only question is when?



There's plenty to blame for this years unraveling, but the sudden disappearance of the Vikings pass rush is the most surprising to me. That, and an uncanny ability to fail to get off the field on third downs is equally disturbing. And as much as I didn't want to single anyone out specifically on offense, RG Anthony Herrera has been just awful. Play after play I see this guy turning around running backwards to see who just torched him on his way to crushing a Vikings ball carrier. I bet I've seen that 50 times this year. I'd at least like to see rookie G Chris DeGeare get a shot. He's 6-5, 330, and I don't think it's possible to be any worse than Herrera at this point.

Sign of the Apocalypse...

This week's Sign of the Apocalypse: The Golden Gophers football team went TO Illinois and pulled out a 38-34 road victory. Seriously. And it was a good game! I'm happy for the kids, but I think I need someone to explain to my why the Gophers have had, basically, the worst defense in college football for, oh I don't know,...about 20 YEARS? What do you call that?? I mean, isn't it possible to get lucky with a couple of defensive studs sometime within the past TWO DECADES??

I got some toe tapping for the Wild

Through 16 games, the Minnesota Wild have skated the State of Hockey....into the State of Mediocrity. Win one here,...lose one there. It's been a little weird how they're playing however. Head Coach Todd Richards is still playing around with his line pairings way too much this far into the season, but I'm beginning to see why: His go-to-guys aren't producing. Our leading goal scorer is D Brent Burns with 5. C Mikko Koivu and C Matt Cullen have 3, and $30 million man RW Marty Havlat has 1. This is unacceptable, and if it weren't for a couple of Herculean efforts from G Niklas Backstrom, their record could be much worse. Let's pick it up a bit, eh boys?

Love is a bonus to the Timberwolves

My initial excitement over the 1-1 start to the Timberwolves season quickly dissipated during a 6-game losing streak, including a couple of 30-turnover "performances", and a franchise-worst 42-point blowout loss to Orlando. I was kind of hoping those types of nights were a thing of the past, but no such luck. However, they finally got back on track with a couple of clutch wins including an historic night for F Kevin Love who had a 31-point, 31-rebound effort in a win over the Knicks. A 30-30 hadn't been recorded since Moses Malone did it with the 76ers in 1982. Mass props Kevin.

Saturday morning cartoons are manure...

One last note:  Has anyone but me noticed how crappy the Saturday morning cartoons have gotten??  It's brutal.   The lack of the Buggs Bunny/Road Runner Show is stunting the growth of children everywhere.  SCOOBY-DOO.......WHERE ARE YOU......??

 
*Related subject reading: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturday_morning_cartoon

Vikings ego is bruised as well as Favre's chin...

Greetings (again) Rubes!

Well, with the Vikings having literally and figuratively gimped their way to a
2-5 record, I think it's fair to say:  Stick a fork in the Vikes....they're
done.  Having said that, I'll reiterate that these are my guys, and I'm sticking
with them for the duration.  And don't get me wrong, I'd love to see this team
catch lightning in a bottle and rattle off 9 straight and soar into the
playoffs, but....eh?.....I doubt it.  There's still a ton of talent here, and
we'll win some games and have some highlight worthy moments, but I'm just not
seeing a dominant stretch run on the horizon.  Failures in multiple areas are
the culprit:  dumb penalties, dropped passes, inconsistent o-line play, poor
Favre play, zero pass rush, failure to create turnovers,...it all adds up to a
2-5 team, and that's just where we should be. 
 I think we're seeing the aging process affecting former studs like G Steve Hutchinson and the Williams Wall, and for some reason, DE Jared Allen has reaffirmed my hatred of haircuts: He cuts his mullet and becomes a horseshit player in one offseason.  That's incredible.  If he has any credibility whatsoever, he'd be giving back game checks on a weekly basis.  I'm honestly thinking that maybe it's time to pull the plug on the Favre-era and give QB Tarvaris Jackson a 9 game audition to see what we have there, if anything. 
Thinking ahead to next year, I'd like to see WR Randy Moss re-signed to a 3-year deal while cutting WR Bernard Berrian's ridiculous contract from the books, and also dicing S Madieu Williams, who isn't a bad football player, but who's play doesn't nearly equate to the (also)ridiculous contract that he's getting.  I know there's a ton of support for getting rid of Head Coach Brad Childress, but I'm not comfortable with that idea unless I know that Bill Cowher or someone of that ilk is willing to come in.  There is still of lot of football to be played yet, so we will see how this all plays out, and with the rather surprising mediocrity of the NFC conference,
anything can happen, but I'm seeing a Packers division title well within their grasp. Oh, and the Bears?....no,...their frauds.  Stay tuned....

and on a lighter note....

In cheerier news, the Wild have started the year 4-4-2, which is a notch better
than last years 5-9 start.  They haven't been great, but they've been
competitive, and have played watchable hockey.  G Nicklas Backstrom mirrors this
statement:   He's not elite, but if he has decent defensive play in front of
him, he's a very good positional goalie that we can win with, provided we can
get some goals of our own.  I also wish Head Coach Todd Richards would quit messing around with his line pairings, (a criticism I also had of former Head Coach Jaques Lemaire).  Last year RW Marty Havlat and LW Guillaume Latandresse were excellent together and I was hoping that adding C Matt Cullen to this line would really add some zip, but Havlat hasn't played much and Cullen has been used with everybody, so I'm not seeing how ANY of these lines can develop the continuity that is so crucial to melding a top-flight line together when it's just a nightly mish-mash.  Here's hoping Richards settles on some lines and these guys get used to playing with each other!

Timberwolves got game...so far!

Also, just out of the gate, the new look Timberwolves have started out 1-1, and
could have been 2-0.  If you haven't seen them play yet, they're WAY beyond last
years snooze-fest of "dump it in to Al......and wait".  These guys are active,
athletic, and are at least TRYING to play defense.  I mean, let's face it,..F
Kevin Love is never going to be confused with Dennis Rodman, but he's trying,
and if the team plays good team defense, we're going to surprise some people
because we can PLAY!

Gophers receive blackeyes from the Buckeyes...

Anyone happen to catch that Gophers-Ohio State (yawn) "football game" this past
weekend?  If you did.........shame on you.  You must get some perverse enjoyment
of watching executions or something too......eh?

Twins repeated meek demise

And lastly, I originally wanted to ignore this subject totally, but I suppose I
should say something about the Twins repeated meek demise from the MLB playoffs,
getting swept, yet again, by the Yankees 3 games to none.  I think it's become
crystal clear that this is a good team, not a great team, and it's a team of
players incapable of stepping up in the big moment and delivering.  It's very
frustrating, but big-time teams have big-time players who step up and get a
clutch hit, or make a diving stop, or get a key double-play, and it's very
obvious that this team has zero players capable of doing that.  They've been in
the playoffs most of this decade and I believe we've lost a dozen playoff games
in a row.  12 IN A ROW.  That's not exactly going down fighting is it.  That's
just an embarrassment.  And there has been some clamoring for Manager Ron
Gardenhire's dismissal as a result of this.  This is understandable, but he can
only work with what he has.  I don't recall Gardenhire hitting a two-hopper to
2nd with the bases loaded for the fortieth time in this past series?  Hmm...and
don't forget, this team will look different next year with RHP Carl Pavano, DH
Jim Thome, 2B Orlando Hudson, RHP Matt Guerrier, RHP Jon Rauch, RHP Jesse Crain,
LHP Brian Fuentes, LHP Randy Flores, LHP Ron Mahay, and INF Nick Punto all up
with contracts due.

It ain't over until the Evil Empire sings...of defeat!

Regarding the Twins ALDS Game 1 loss last night:  Ah crap.  And we had our
chances too.  Better luck tonight....and don't have double-digit guys left on
base tonight either.
The San Diego Charges have signed former Golden Gopher safety Tyrone Carter.

The Minnesota Wild lost their season opener in Helsinki, Finland today, 4-3.

Also, don't look now,..but the Minnesota Timberwolves won their 1st two
pre-season games.  WE'RE COMIN'!!  WE'RE COMIN'!!

The Prodigal Son returns Edition!

Greetings Rubes!

Well, as unlikely as it would have seemed a week ago, WR Randy Moss will be back
in a Vikings jersey for at least the forseeable future.  OH YES!!  Fantastic
move.  Then again, there's no secret to what happened here.  Obviously the
Vikings brass received word of my recent scathing indictment of the handling of
the Sidney Rice absence, knew I was making them look bad, and decided to rectify
the situation by going out and getting Randy Moss.  Therefore,.....I am taking
full credit.....and gratuities will be accepted.  Moss is still one of the most dangerous deep threats in the league and knowing
that he plays biggest when he's motivated, this could be a lot of fun.  (Picture
Brett Favre,... sitting on his mower......giggling to himself)  But really,
think of it this way:  Even if he doesn't come busting out with a 9 catch, 172
yard, 3 touchdown game Monday night against the Jets, just having him standing
out there immediately improves the running game by getting those safeties to
step further back from the line of scrimmage.  Hell, the fade pattern might be
brought out of mothballs?  Percy in the slot may wind up facing nothing but
safeties and linebackers....HA!  Now let's see what Brad "The Mad Scientist"
Childress and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell can come up with to get the
hitch out of the offense's giddy-up.
There's no question the Vikes are in "all-in" mode this season, and with good
reason.  Decisions will have to be made in the offseason regarding a bunch of
free agents:  K Ryan Longwell, LB Chad Greenway, DE Ray Edwards, WR Sidney Rice,
and LB Ben Leber to name a few.  Not to mention that it's entirely possible that
next years starting QB is not on the current Vikings roster, so that's one more
thing to consider.  Let's just re-focus and take this season a game at a time
and start building some momentum.

Wild , Wild, Wild !

Also, don't forget that the Wild open the regular season this week in Finland
against the Carolina Hurricanes.  They haven't looked particularly sharp in
preseason play, but we'll just have to see how our new guys acclimate to Todd
Richards system.  Nice move also, by signing G Jose Theodore after back-up
goalie Josh Harding was lost for the year with a torn ACL.

Psyched !!!!!

Call me crazy, call me kooky, but I'm actually fired up over the upcoming
Timberwolves season.  Yes,..I said fired up,....and Timberwolves,......in the
same sentence.  Hard to believe.  But I just like the fact that we're younger,
bigger, stronger, faster, and can shoot better than last year's squad. 
That HAS to initiate some positive results doesn't it?? 
 I honestly think that with hungry, motivated guys like F Michael Beasley, C Darko Milicic, F Kevin Love, G/F Martell Webster, F Anthony Tolliver, and rookie G/F Wesley Johnson, I think we can compete. Playoffs?....playoffs??  I don't know about that.  I'm not going to map out my championship parade route for next summer just yet, but I expect to see much growth and energy from this years' team, and next year I expect to see PG Ricky Rubio running the whole she-bang towards the post-season.

Target Field Karma Time!

Mass props to the A.L. Central Division Champion Minnesota Twins on winning
their 6th Division Title in the past 9 years.  And we did secure home-field
advantage in the first round match-up vs. the dreaded Yankees, so if there was a
series where home-field was needed, it was this one.  All you will hear in the
next day or so hours is how the Twins have been spanked repeatedly in the past
playoff series by the Yankees and how we have no chance against them and blah,
blah, blah.  We'll they're right.  We've been terrible against NY both in the
regular season as well as the playoffs.   The loss of 1b Justin Morneau for the
rest of the season should be looked at two separate ways: 
 1.)  I fell awful for him.  This has to be killing him to not be out there enjoying this with his
teammates. 
And 2.)  From a Twins perspective, they should be used to this.  Morneau has been either miserable or missing the past 3 Septembers anyway, so
this isn't anything new.  The Yankees are the far more storied franchise, and
have all the rings to show for it, but we're a good ballclub too, and I don't
think that right now they're any better than we are.  Postseason baseball is
about who steps up in crunch time, and who doesn't.  Who pitches a gem, and who
has a meltdown.  Maybe this is our year and maybe we get some Target Field karma
going and finally knock these guys off. 
The drama begins tomorrow night.....stay tuned...

Norton.......get out!!!

Okay folks, with regards to the Minnesota Golden Gopher football program, I will
say this:..........EEAAAAGGGHH!!!  Enough of the Tim Brewster Head Coaching
Experiment.  Losing 4 consecutive home games to USC (understandable), but also
to such leafy-greens as South Dakota, Northern Illinois, and Northwestern is
just not acceptable.  We're going nowhere and before we take glittering TFC Bank
Stadium and turn it into a dustbowl, let's remove this guy and PLEAD with Tony
Dungy or Marc Trestman to come up here and run the football program!

Greetings Rubes!

Well, after having stumbled out of the gate the vaunted Vikings come back from
an early bye week and stand at 1-2, and with a LOT of questions.  The offense
has been a sporadic mess, with poor play from QB Brett Favre, an inconsistent
offensive line, and getting absolutely nothing out of any wide receivers not
named Percy Harvin.  It's been ugly and if not for the efforts of RB Adrian
Peterson, and TE Visanthe Shiancoe, it would resemble the feeble unit Chilly
stuck on the field in 2006.  The defense has been excellent and I expect
improvement with the return from injuries of CBs Cedric Griffin and rookie Chris
Cook.  Not to mention that DE Jared Allen has been largely invisible and it
would be nice if he began making regular appearances once again.  The loss of WR
Sidney Rice has been HUGE, and I absolutely fault the coaching staff for failing
to 1.) make more than a marginal effort to replace him and 2.) for not being
able to come up with a way to circumvent this loss and come up with other ways
to move the football.  Very shabbily done, and to be perfectly honest,
unprofessional.  Here's a hint Chilly:  Can't stretch the defense?...how about
some slants and crossing routes?  Screen passes?  Reverses and/or flea flickers.  
I don't dislike Brad Childress, and last year we got to see what his "vision" of
this thing could ascend to.  And it was awesome.  However, the inability to
adjust on the fly and react to the now equals poor coaching, and the fish stinks
from the head down. 
 'Nuff said.

Kourt-ing...

And now for a non-sports comment:

Don't ask me why, but for some reason I'm can't get enough

of the Kardashians and can someone explain to me why Kourtney continues to date

Scott?...possibly the biggest douche ever seen on "reality tv"???

New Timberwolves join the pack ...but is it enough?

The Minnesota Timberwolves have got me intrigued for the upcoming season, as opposed to last years season of discontent. After another roster overhaul, I like the additions of F Michael Beasley, F Martell Webster, PG Luke Ridnour, the drafting of F/G Wesley Johnson, and the re-signing of C Darko Milicic. Are we going to the playoffs this year? I doubt it. Not to mention that there are 4 50-win teams in our division as it is. But I think we've gotten more athletic and maybe found some better pieces to fit in Kurt Rambis' offense than we did a year ago. I say let's throw this group into the hopper and see how it comes out! That, and I hope to God somebody can teach these guys how to play a little defense. I can't understand the, almost, willing-ness to get roasted play after play. Move your feet and get your hands up for cripes sake!

Twins: Lets get it together

Several times this summer I've felt like Vesuvius-ing all over our Minnesota

Twins as they've staggered and stumbled along. But since the All-Star break,

they seem to have, at least temporarily, righted the ship, so I'll be gentle.
But alas,...a few thoughts:
What is wrong with CF Denard Span? His avg. and OBP are crappy and it's time to wake up. Within the last month or so, C Joe Mauer has raised his average about 40 pts to around .335-ish. Atta-boy....and about time!
 I'm getting a little worried with this continued Justin Morneau concussion thing. He's been out about 6 weeks with no sign of returning any time soon. Beginning to remind me of what happened to former Twins 3 Corey Koskie, who had to retire due to continued problems post-concussion. Scary. With him out of the lineup and Mauer having a bad first half, could you imagine where this team might be if it wasn't for (and I can't believe I'm saying this) LF Delmon Young? Scarier.
All-in-all this is a good ball club, and there's no reason we shouldn't win this division by 10 games. The big thing will be to try and win the division with a better record than Texas, or whoever else comes out of the West. That way the Twins won't have to get pounded by the Yankees (again) in the Divisional Playoffs.

Positive changes in the Wild

Greetings Rubes...it's good to be back!

(Note: This period of Obser-Vay-tion-less-ness had nothing to do with residual bitterness. This was just a summer vacation.)


But back to the important matters at hand!

The Minnesota Wild did a nice job in free agency by bringing in a couple of

veteran Centers in Matt Cullen and John Madden. Madden should help on the 3rd

or 4th lines while Cullen gives us a nice 2nd line Center, centering Guillaume

Latandresse and either Antti Miettinen or Marty Havlat.

With that said, I think we still may struggle scoring goals and it would be a major, major bonus to get W Pierre Marc-Bouchard back on ANY level to help out with some playmaking ability. Losing goons like John Scott and Derek Boogaard really don't bother me that much. I mean, I don't mind watching Boogey pummel some other sloth into submission now and then, but that's really only a regular season deal. There's no fighting in the playoffs anyway, so eating a roster spot just for a goon with very little hockey skill is just a big waste.
However, now I'm stuck with a useless Boogaard jersey. ...Ah crap!