I'm about to run out the door for a final exam, after which I will have my life back form the evil clutches of grad school for a few months, so this is going to be a quicker entry. I just had to comment on the stupidity of the Associated Press looking to re-vote on the Defensive Rookie of the Year award given to Brian Cushing of the Houston Texans.
For those of you who don't know, Mr. Cushing has been implicated in the use of some sort of performance-enhancing drug; due to the cryptic rules of NFL disclosure, we don't really know what, just that his body did something it shouldn't be doing...we think. The last thing I want to do is defend cheating, but taking away the guy's award is as meaningless as it is self-aggrandizing, I mean at the end of the day, who gives a rip about a stupid defensive ROY?
Obviously the AP thinks very highly of itself, but if they're going to hang this very minor recipient of this very minor award out to dry, why not all the frauds who won bigger ones before him? I'm talking Pete Rose and Alex Rodriguez MVP awards, Mark McGwire's AP Athlete of the Year, Roger Clemens' Cy Young, etc. In fact while we're at it, let's pull Lawrence Taylor's bust out of the Football Hall of Fame, because what he's been in the news for lately is FAR more egregious than anything Brian Cushing might or might not have done. I know I'm blurring the lines between cheating on the field and breaking the law off it, but you get my point, all or nothing.
Re-writing history may make a couple self-important blowhards feel better, but it changes nothing, even any incentive money Cushing received for winning would be protected from forfeiture, per the NFL's collective bargaining agreement. Dumb, dumb, dumb.
Be back with more thoughts tomorrow, and hopefully a lot more to say with my additional free time over the next few weeks. In the meantime, Go Blackhawks, Caltics and Twins.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Viking Stadium...take 7
With the Vikings stadium issue bubling up in the legislature once again, I asked for some opinions on the latest proposal from my buddy Derek, who follows the issues quite closely and was involved in the previous Anoka County stadium proposal. Here is what he sent back, obviously "a few thoughts" was a bit of an understatement:
First thought: is there any way we can convince Lester Bagley to just not say anything when asked? He hurts more than he helps, at least with his words. I thought I saw the worst stadium effort of my lifetime with the Twins, and then the Marlins came along…well…the Vikings are already well past them overall because they learned NOTHING from the Twins mistakes, as they are making the same ones all over again.
Bagley’s comments are that the Vikings can’t get behind this proposal as it stands because it costs them too much and the lease is too long? Are you flipping kidding me!?!? SHUT UP!!!! That only hurts the chances with the legislators if they see you aren’t even on board. WAIT FOR CONFERENCE COMMITTEE YOU STUPID IDIOT!!! If you are that focused on making sure your voice is heard, say something generic like, “We are hopeful that State leaders can find a way to listen to our proposal in the midst of dealing with the many more important matters they currently face.” This guy is bush league. I have no idea how he keeps his job.
My thoughts on the actual proposal, keep in mind that I am trying to be as brief as possible, could write a novel:
1) Less than two weeks left makes this all moot. ZERO chance this gets accomplished. Had they shown up with a bill in January (which means they needed to have their ducks in a row by Thanksgiving) this might have stood a 10% chance. I can’t tell you how many times the Twins thought they ‘really had a shot’ with two weeks left. Meanwhile, there were committee meetings canceled, or with a very light agenda, all session long, and they didn’t take advantage. Each side will have a minimum of five committees to endure unless there is a procedural maneuver to take the bill from the Ways and Means committee to the House or Senate floor, which is a political fireball and almost never happens unless it’s a bill to find a lost child or do something procedural that makes everyone look good.
2) Fixed roof option sucks, but I understand how it happened. Can’t afford retractable, gotta be able to host events year ‘round. They need to compromise since both the Vikings and MSFC are bull-headed and short-sighted. MSFC and State need political capital raised by hosting events besides Vikings football, Vikings don’t want to fund more than one-third of an open-air stadium. It’s amazing what happens when you get large groups of idiots together to make decisions. At the end of the day, if it keeps the Vikings, although I don’t like it, gimme the dome. Baseball belongs outside, college football does too, and while NFL should be also, at least a semi-reasonable argument can be made for the NFL to be indoors. Randy and I agreed that we all hope Zygi comes to his senses and ponies up the extra $100 or so it takes to make retractable. (Also, anyone find it funny that in a struggling economy where everyone is reducing the prices of homes/building materials/interest rates/etc…that this silly stadium seems to get $50M more expensive every single year?)
3) I like that the bill asks for 1/3 from the Vikings for total cost. I believe that the Vikings will ultimately agree if that is what it takes.
4) Last I heard, the bill is not site-specific, which will impede its progress. Twins finally had to get site-specific. If they choose the Metrodome site, they are going to hurt themselves, because the Governor and Legislature have demanded the Vikings to find a local partner for five years now, while the Vikings sit with their finger in their ear and do nothing on that front, other than alienate the only two groups willing to partner with them in Blaine and the U of M. The Vikings will tell you all day neither site worked, but I bet they would take it if they could get it now! (I can’t tell you how horrible of a job they are doing at this stadium project.) There is no local partner available for the Metrodome site. Minneapolis doesn’t have money, as it is in the red, requires a referendum to spend more than $10M on a facility, and has all it can handle with the Target Center remodel from a few years ago. Hennepin County has the Twins ballpark in their tax right now, so not sure they could afford more.
5) I like the idea of lottery game to raise $5.5M. I like the idea of the rental cars and hotels because it taxes mostly out-of-town businesses. Not a huge fan of the jersey tax because it hits specific businesses and specific consumers hard…and not necessarily those who go to games. But, it is creative. If I were the Vikings, I approach Ramsey County (St. Paul) and tell them I want to put our new facility on the State Fairgrounds. My favorite option has always been slot machines at Canterbury, but with the Indian lobby being so strong, probably won’t happen.
6) It isn’t gonna happen this year, but would have a chance next year if they follow my simple ideas. It isn’t rocket science, if they would set aside their arrogance for 10 minutes, like the Twins FINALLY did…oh man this could have a real shot.
Thanks for the perspective Derek, obviously a lot of things that still need to shake out here. For my part, I will just say that one way or another, the Vikings are getting a stadium, they are too popular not to. Frankly I don't see why it's necessary to spend this kind of money, when they could remodle the Dome for a fraction of the cost, but that probably has to do with the fact that I'm over the NFL as a in-person sport.
My fellow fans would probably want to tar and feather me for this, but it wouldn't kill me to see the Vikes leave town, at least not as much as it would with the Twins or Wild. As much as I love Vikings football, I just can't stand attending NFL games, it's hugely expensive, has way too much downtime, and takes up a huge amount of your Sunday. In this day and age, I prefer my couch or a barstool to a seat at the game, so having my team actually play in my town is a bit meaningless. If they moved them to LA and kept calling them the Vikings, I really don't see how that changes a thing for me personally, just more late games!
Yes, I know this makes me a traitor, but it's true.
First thought: is there any way we can convince Lester Bagley to just not say anything when asked? He hurts more than he helps, at least with his words. I thought I saw the worst stadium effort of my lifetime with the Twins, and then the Marlins came along…well…the Vikings are already well past them overall because they learned NOTHING from the Twins mistakes, as they are making the same ones all over again.
Bagley’s comments are that the Vikings can’t get behind this proposal as it stands because it costs them too much and the lease is too long? Are you flipping kidding me!?!? SHUT UP!!!! That only hurts the chances with the legislators if they see you aren’t even on board. WAIT FOR CONFERENCE COMMITTEE YOU STUPID IDIOT!!! If you are that focused on making sure your voice is heard, say something generic like, “We are hopeful that State leaders can find a way to listen to our proposal in the midst of dealing with the many more important matters they currently face.” This guy is bush league. I have no idea how he keeps his job.
My thoughts on the actual proposal, keep in mind that I am trying to be as brief as possible, could write a novel:
1) Less than two weeks left makes this all moot. ZERO chance this gets accomplished. Had they shown up with a bill in January (which means they needed to have their ducks in a row by Thanksgiving) this might have stood a 10% chance. I can’t tell you how many times the Twins thought they ‘really had a shot’ with two weeks left. Meanwhile, there were committee meetings canceled, or with a very light agenda, all session long, and they didn’t take advantage. Each side will have a minimum of five committees to endure unless there is a procedural maneuver to take the bill from the Ways and Means committee to the House or Senate floor, which is a political fireball and almost never happens unless it’s a bill to find a lost child or do something procedural that makes everyone look good.
2) Fixed roof option sucks, but I understand how it happened. Can’t afford retractable, gotta be able to host events year ‘round. They need to compromise since both the Vikings and MSFC are bull-headed and short-sighted. MSFC and State need political capital raised by hosting events besides Vikings football, Vikings don’t want to fund more than one-third of an open-air stadium. It’s amazing what happens when you get large groups of idiots together to make decisions. At the end of the day, if it keeps the Vikings, although I don’t like it, gimme the dome. Baseball belongs outside, college football does too, and while NFL should be also, at least a semi-reasonable argument can be made for the NFL to be indoors. Randy and I agreed that we all hope Zygi comes to his senses and ponies up the extra $100 or so it takes to make retractable. (Also, anyone find it funny that in a struggling economy where everyone is reducing the prices of homes/building materials/interest rates/etc…that this silly stadium seems to get $50M more expensive every single year?)
3) I like that the bill asks for 1/3 from the Vikings for total cost. I believe that the Vikings will ultimately agree if that is what it takes.
4) Last I heard, the bill is not site-specific, which will impede its progress. Twins finally had to get site-specific. If they choose the Metrodome site, they are going to hurt themselves, because the Governor and Legislature have demanded the Vikings to find a local partner for five years now, while the Vikings sit with their finger in their ear and do nothing on that front, other than alienate the only two groups willing to partner with them in Blaine and the U of M. The Vikings will tell you all day neither site worked, but I bet they would take it if they could get it now! (I can’t tell you how horrible of a job they are doing at this stadium project.) There is no local partner available for the Metrodome site. Minneapolis doesn’t have money, as it is in the red, requires a referendum to spend more than $10M on a facility, and has all it can handle with the Target Center remodel from a few years ago. Hennepin County has the Twins ballpark in their tax right now, so not sure they could afford more.
5) I like the idea of lottery game to raise $5.5M. I like the idea of the rental cars and hotels because it taxes mostly out-of-town businesses. Not a huge fan of the jersey tax because it hits specific businesses and specific consumers hard…and not necessarily those who go to games. But, it is creative. If I were the Vikings, I approach Ramsey County (St. Paul) and tell them I want to put our new facility on the State Fairgrounds. My favorite option has always been slot machines at Canterbury, but with the Indian lobby being so strong, probably won’t happen.
6) It isn’t gonna happen this year, but would have a chance next year if they follow my simple ideas. It isn’t rocket science, if they would set aside their arrogance for 10 minutes, like the Twins FINALLY did…oh man this could have a real shot.
Thanks for the perspective Derek, obviously a lot of things that still need to shake out here. For my part, I will just say that one way or another, the Vikings are getting a stadium, they are too popular not to. Frankly I don't see why it's necessary to spend this kind of money, when they could remodle the Dome for a fraction of the cost, but that probably has to do with the fact that I'm over the NFL as a in-person sport.
My fellow fans would probably want to tar and feather me for this, but it wouldn't kill me to see the Vikes leave town, at least not as much as it would with the Twins or Wild. As much as I love Vikings football, I just can't stand attending NFL games, it's hugely expensive, has way too much downtime, and takes up a huge amount of your Sunday. In this day and age, I prefer my couch or a barstool to a seat at the game, so having my team actually play in my town is a bit meaningless. If they moved them to LA and kept calling them the Vikings, I really don't see how that changes a thing for me personally, just more late games!
Yes, I know this makes me a traitor, but it's true.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
On the outside looking in
The first of May is typically when it hits me every year that the baseball season is going to have many ups and downs that can kill a guy if he overreacts to every one. Is that going to keep me from flying off the handle on an almost daily basis when things go wrong? Probably not, but I can at least take a break from chronicling every step of the journey here to chew over some other issues.
With that in mind, I've spent a lot of time this week watching something we're not very familiar with here in Loserville: Spring playoffs. The NBA and NHL are both leagues with ridiculously drawn-out seasons that grow tedious toward the end, fortunately they more than make up for it by delivering stellar (albeit also ridiculously drawn-out) playoff action that answers the question "What would it be like if these guys tried hard all the time?" The only thing better than catching a great playoff series this time of year is catching a great playoff series involving one of your teams, and that's where the trouble starts, at least around these parts. Sure our teams show up once in awhile, a few years ago it was actually pretty frequent, but even when it happens, the trips are short lived. My question is, which one of our winter teams will make the return first, and when, for the love of God, is that going to be?
The Timberwolves have made 8 playoff appearances in their 21 years of existence, advancing past the first round only once and compiling an overall record of 17-30. The Wild have batted at a slightly higher clip, managing a postseason appearance in 3 out of their 9 seasons and also one trip out of the first round on their way to a 11-18 overall record. The bad news? That was the good news, it all goes downhill from here.
Compounding this historic futility at the moment is the fact that both teams are coming off seasons of historic ineptitude. The Wolves limped home with a 15-67 record, tying the mark they had in the 1991-92 season (their third in existence), while the Wild finished with 84 points, their lowest total since the rule change that began awarding points for shootouts five years ago. I suppose this means there's nowhere to go but up, unfortunately it also means there's a long climb ahead for both squads.
Consensus opinon seems to be that the Wild are in a much better situation than the Wolves, given both their current level of talent and the league they play in. This is not to say that either is a threat to reach "contender" status any time soon, in fact it would seem ludicrous to aim that high at the moment. This is Remedial Sports 101, if they knew anything they wouldn't be in attendance, we're simply shooting for one notch above abject failure here. First round exits don't sound like much, but when you're face-down in shit, having it washed off with urine doesn't seem so bad...or something like that. Anyway, back to the Wild before I get too far off track.
As stated previously, the NHL is a league where teams can (and do) rise and fall with great speed. Minnesota finished 11 points out of a playoff spot this season, and could've been right in the mix had the team not stumbled out of the gate with a 2-9 record that put them behind the 8-ball for the rest of the year. Only problem is that there were 4 other teams falling within that 11-point gap, meaning the team not only needs to beat more teams, they need to beat the right teams and hope those teams don't start beating better ones.
An overarching theme with both of the puck and hoops squads is that they play in the wrong conference and division if you're a mediocre team, and that's not going to change in the immediate future. The Wild faces a slew of opponents that are either on the rise or well established, most have more depth in their development pipelines, as well as higher ceilings for their current teams. So how, you might ask, is this the better of the two situations? Short answer: Because the NHL is wacky.
This season the NHL saw 4 playoff teams from the Western Conference who weren't participants in last year's tourney, including the bottom 3 in the conference standings. Goaltenders get hot, lines begin to click, good scheduling, good energy, staying healthy, any number of things can be enough to tilt the scale. While the Wild may lack big time impact players who are ready to make the leap, they do have a solid (if unspectacular) squad that will not have the burden of adjusting to a new coach and system, as they did last year. Unfortunately they have a huge amount of their payroll tied up in an 18-goal scorer, a goaltender who got increasingly shaky as the year wore on and a bunch of good-not-great defensemen. On top of this is the fact that little help is available in the minors, with the small amount that is there being redundant to the spots that are already well-manned in the pros. All of this adds up to the fact that, barring some moves to shed salary, the guys we've got are the guys we're going to have for quite some time.
In my opinion, it may be a bit much to expect a playoff appearance in the coming season, but seeing the team grab a 7 or 8 seed would certainly not be surprising. Maybe Latandresse isn't a flash in the pan (likely), Backstrom stands on his head (possible), Havlat finds his scoring touch (plausible)and the defensive corps finds a way to contribute more offense (cough, Schultz, cough), but betting on ALL that stuff to happen? Those are some long odds. Official prediction is a return to relevance during 2010-11 and a fight down to the wire, falling just short of a playoff spot. At least we'll have some intrigue, and a return to the best tourney in sports should be on the horizon for two seasons from now...then we can lament how long it will take to actually contend for a championship.
The Wolves are in a wholly different situation on a lot of levels, I'd rank their problems as follows:
1) It's a players league, and we have no players - In the NBA, systems can't save you, talent can't be masked and your team is as good as your 2-3 star players make it. By my count, we have exactly zero guys who could be one of the top 2 guys on a playoff team, and one (Jefferson) who could be a capable 3rd, as long as you have the personnel to hide him defensively. At the risk of beating a dead horse, the failure of the 2009 Draft grows by the day, and unless Ricky Rubio shows up with all the game he was credited with having in the Olympics, that's not going to change any time soon.
2) Nobody wants to play here - I love my hometown teams first and foremost, and a big part of why I have trouble getting into the NBA is because the Wolves can't seem to convincing players to play here. Whether it's the cold, the nightlife, or just the fact the team is crap, no help is coming from free agency and even draft picks need to be regarded with skepticism. The aforementioned Rubio situation is the latest example, as I believe he would be an NBAer currently had he went to New York or Miami, but there are others as well.
OJ Mayo should be knocking down threes and playing lockdown D (think we could use some of that?), which would solve our perimeter problems and the Love/Jefferson redundancy. Heck, Stephon Marbury might've had a productive career alongside KG if we'd been a more cosmoplitan destination...on second thought, scratch that, I don't want to speculate on the motives of the insane. But however you spin it, it's obvious this franchise is operating with a degree of difficulty, which is understandable for free agents, but really a drag when you consider having to pass on the most talented players in the draft because they don't like your city. The GM made a serious blunder by thinking he could overcome this with the Rubio pick, he should've taken a cue from other NBA wastelands like Memphis, Oklahoma City and Sacramento, who passed on a guy they knew wouldn't suit up for them, maybe the first clue was when he wouldn;t come here for a workout? Oops.
3) Lousy draft/Lotto hex - First off, I don't want to get into a lot of jinx talk, as that is the Vikings exclusive domain, but just once can we get some luck in the damn lottery? By all accounts there are two players in this year's draft, John Wall and Evan Turner; the Wolves can select no lower than 5th and statistically are most likely to select 4th. You know where we're picking? 3rd, bank on it. Not only will this allow us to miss out on the two "can't miss" guys, but it will put our GM, Mr. Kahn, staring smack dab into the unplesant possibility of DeMarcus Cousins, who is not only a bit crazy and a terrible fit for a team with two undersized power forward/center types, he also seems like he would take a season or two on Team Rubio before he ever showed up here. We're not tops on his list, just a hunch, and this draft isn't deep either, so the 4 picks = 4 starters scenario some people seem to have in their minds is a pipe dream.
It's very depressing when you lay it all out, all things considered, I don't see the Timberwolves knocking on the playoff door for at least a couple of seasons and it's probably a couple more before they actually kick it in. As with the Wild, a lot can change, but for that to happen, this franchise would need something that has been in short supply throughout it's history: Good luck.
All in all, we'll probably be right back here next spring having this same conversation, which would truly be a shame. Playoffs are fun in general, but become exponentially more so when you add in a rooting interest, and it does not look like that is on the horizon. For the moment I will pick surrogate teams to live through vicariously, celebrating when they win, bumming when they lose, but not truly internalizing as I would if it were "my" team. A lot of teams make the postseason in both leagues, so playoff droughts should theoretically be short lived. Unfortunately when a franchise is run as far into the ground as these two have been, just getting back to the surface is quite a climb, nevermind soaring to new heights.
What time does the Twins game start again?
With that in mind, I've spent a lot of time this week watching something we're not very familiar with here in Loserville: Spring playoffs. The NBA and NHL are both leagues with ridiculously drawn-out seasons that grow tedious toward the end, fortunately they more than make up for it by delivering stellar (albeit also ridiculously drawn-out) playoff action that answers the question "What would it be like if these guys tried hard all the time?" The only thing better than catching a great playoff series this time of year is catching a great playoff series involving one of your teams, and that's where the trouble starts, at least around these parts. Sure our teams show up once in awhile, a few years ago it was actually pretty frequent, but even when it happens, the trips are short lived. My question is, which one of our winter teams will make the return first, and when, for the love of God, is that going to be?
The Timberwolves have made 8 playoff appearances in their 21 years of existence, advancing past the first round only once and compiling an overall record of 17-30. The Wild have batted at a slightly higher clip, managing a postseason appearance in 3 out of their 9 seasons and also one trip out of the first round on their way to a 11-18 overall record. The bad news? That was the good news, it all goes downhill from here.
Compounding this historic futility at the moment is the fact that both teams are coming off seasons of historic ineptitude. The Wolves limped home with a 15-67 record, tying the mark they had in the 1991-92 season (their third in existence), while the Wild finished with 84 points, their lowest total since the rule change that began awarding points for shootouts five years ago. I suppose this means there's nowhere to go but up, unfortunately it also means there's a long climb ahead for both squads.
Consensus opinon seems to be that the Wild are in a much better situation than the Wolves, given both their current level of talent and the league they play in. This is not to say that either is a threat to reach "contender" status any time soon, in fact it would seem ludicrous to aim that high at the moment. This is Remedial Sports 101, if they knew anything they wouldn't be in attendance, we're simply shooting for one notch above abject failure here. First round exits don't sound like much, but when you're face-down in shit, having it washed off with urine doesn't seem so bad...or something like that. Anyway, back to the Wild before I get too far off track.
As stated previously, the NHL is a league where teams can (and do) rise and fall with great speed. Minnesota finished 11 points out of a playoff spot this season, and could've been right in the mix had the team not stumbled out of the gate with a 2-9 record that put them behind the 8-ball for the rest of the year. Only problem is that there were 4 other teams falling within that 11-point gap, meaning the team not only needs to beat more teams, they need to beat the right teams and hope those teams don't start beating better ones.
An overarching theme with both of the puck and hoops squads is that they play in the wrong conference and division if you're a mediocre team, and that's not going to change in the immediate future. The Wild faces a slew of opponents that are either on the rise or well established, most have more depth in their development pipelines, as well as higher ceilings for their current teams. So how, you might ask, is this the better of the two situations? Short answer: Because the NHL is wacky.
This season the NHL saw 4 playoff teams from the Western Conference who weren't participants in last year's tourney, including the bottom 3 in the conference standings. Goaltenders get hot, lines begin to click, good scheduling, good energy, staying healthy, any number of things can be enough to tilt the scale. While the Wild may lack big time impact players who are ready to make the leap, they do have a solid (if unspectacular) squad that will not have the burden of adjusting to a new coach and system, as they did last year. Unfortunately they have a huge amount of their payroll tied up in an 18-goal scorer, a goaltender who got increasingly shaky as the year wore on and a bunch of good-not-great defensemen. On top of this is the fact that little help is available in the minors, with the small amount that is there being redundant to the spots that are already well-manned in the pros. All of this adds up to the fact that, barring some moves to shed salary, the guys we've got are the guys we're going to have for quite some time.
In my opinion, it may be a bit much to expect a playoff appearance in the coming season, but seeing the team grab a 7 or 8 seed would certainly not be surprising. Maybe Latandresse isn't a flash in the pan (likely), Backstrom stands on his head (possible), Havlat finds his scoring touch (plausible)and the defensive corps finds a way to contribute more offense (cough, Schultz, cough), but betting on ALL that stuff to happen? Those are some long odds. Official prediction is a return to relevance during 2010-11 and a fight down to the wire, falling just short of a playoff spot. At least we'll have some intrigue, and a return to the best tourney in sports should be on the horizon for two seasons from now...then we can lament how long it will take to actually contend for a championship.
The Wolves are in a wholly different situation on a lot of levels, I'd rank their problems as follows:
1) It's a players league, and we have no players - In the NBA, systems can't save you, talent can't be masked and your team is as good as your 2-3 star players make it. By my count, we have exactly zero guys who could be one of the top 2 guys on a playoff team, and one (Jefferson) who could be a capable 3rd, as long as you have the personnel to hide him defensively. At the risk of beating a dead horse, the failure of the 2009 Draft grows by the day, and unless Ricky Rubio shows up with all the game he was credited with having in the Olympics, that's not going to change any time soon.
2) Nobody wants to play here - I love my hometown teams first and foremost, and a big part of why I have trouble getting into the NBA is because the Wolves can't seem to convincing players to play here. Whether it's the cold, the nightlife, or just the fact the team is crap, no help is coming from free agency and even draft picks need to be regarded with skepticism. The aforementioned Rubio situation is the latest example, as I believe he would be an NBAer currently had he went to New York or Miami, but there are others as well.
OJ Mayo should be knocking down threes and playing lockdown D (think we could use some of that?), which would solve our perimeter problems and the Love/Jefferson redundancy. Heck, Stephon Marbury might've had a productive career alongside KG if we'd been a more cosmoplitan destination...on second thought, scratch that, I don't want to speculate on the motives of the insane. But however you spin it, it's obvious this franchise is operating with a degree of difficulty, which is understandable for free agents, but really a drag when you consider having to pass on the most talented players in the draft because they don't like your city. The GM made a serious blunder by thinking he could overcome this with the Rubio pick, he should've taken a cue from other NBA wastelands like Memphis, Oklahoma City and Sacramento, who passed on a guy they knew wouldn't suit up for them, maybe the first clue was when he wouldn;t come here for a workout? Oops.
3) Lousy draft/Lotto hex - First off, I don't want to get into a lot of jinx talk, as that is the Vikings exclusive domain, but just once can we get some luck in the damn lottery? By all accounts there are two players in this year's draft, John Wall and Evan Turner; the Wolves can select no lower than 5th and statistically are most likely to select 4th. You know where we're picking? 3rd, bank on it. Not only will this allow us to miss out on the two "can't miss" guys, but it will put our GM, Mr. Kahn, staring smack dab into the unplesant possibility of DeMarcus Cousins, who is not only a bit crazy and a terrible fit for a team with two undersized power forward/center types, he also seems like he would take a season or two on Team Rubio before he ever showed up here. We're not tops on his list, just a hunch, and this draft isn't deep either, so the 4 picks = 4 starters scenario some people seem to have in their minds is a pipe dream.
It's very depressing when you lay it all out, all things considered, I don't see the Timberwolves knocking on the playoff door for at least a couple of seasons and it's probably a couple more before they actually kick it in. As with the Wild, a lot can change, but for that to happen, this franchise would need something that has been in short supply throughout it's history: Good luck.
All in all, we'll probably be right back here next spring having this same conversation, which would truly be a shame. Playoffs are fun in general, but become exponentially more so when you add in a rooting interest, and it does not look like that is on the horizon. For the moment I will pick surrogate teams to live through vicariously, celebrating when they win, bumming when they lose, but not truly internalizing as I would if it were "my" team. A lot of teams make the postseason in both leagues, so playoff droughts should theoretically be short lived. Unfortunately when a franchise is run as far into the ground as these two have been, just getting back to the surface is quite a climb, nevermind soaring to new heights.
What time does the Twins game start again?
Friday, April 30, 2010
So who had April 30th in the pool?
Stop me if you've heard this one before: Veteran QB ponders retirement, gives the indication he'll be back for one more year, begins to hedge with doubts about his body's ability to handle the rigors of another season in the pros, only to ultimately return and deliver a stellar performance.
The NFL draft is a week past, teams have begun mini-camps and other such functions, so it must be time for another annual rite of spring, Brett Favre Wafflepalooza. Those of you holding April 30th tickets in the pool for the "First ESPN story casting doubt on Favre's return", please see the cashier to my left.
In a not-so-stunning twist, today also featured the "First non-denial denial of a story casting doubt on Favre's return", as posted on his website. If you were bold enough to anticipate both events on the same day, my hat's off to you, I myself had May 10th for the former, and didn't expect the latter to occur for at least 24 hours after that. It's almost as if #4 was anticipating the original report and had his response ready to go beforehand; if a person didn't know better, they could almost get the impression that Brett is somehow manipulating the media, which we all know is a ludicrous thought.
On a related note, we really need to get a font for conveying sarcasm.
So what does this mean to the average Vikings fan? As usual, only The Big (Former) Cheese himself can answer that, and he's not talking...at least not until late June/early July, and then only if you have a national talk show.(I wonder if he's ever used the phrase "need-to-know basis" when talking with Chilly?) My gut tells me this is the same drill as last year, setting up an excuse to avoid training camp under the guise of soul-searching about his return. Last year I made the mistake of taking him at his word when he said he was done, and won't be repeating it again. As eager as all of us are to resume the promising Tavaris Jackson Era, we probably should assume it will be delayed for at least one more season (Pretty sure no font is required for that one).
The more pressing question in my mind is, what is the ceiling for this team if he does come back? It's getting tough to be a Vikings fan after so many near-misses, because only one end result will be truly acceptable, it's Super Bowl or bust. Obviously this is a good team that was very close to that goal last year, but life in the NFL is not the linear progression that we see in other sports, where young teams progress from Competitive to Playoff to Contender to Champ. Things are more schizophrenic in pro football, one minute you're a contender coming off a great season, the next your QB is writhing on the ground as your season slips away or inexplicably losing his fastball and dragging the team with him down the tubes; look no further than the 2008 Patriots or 2009 Panthers if you doubt this.
Coming back strong in this league requires a delicate balance of players not regressing, draft picks contributing and above all, avoiding injuries. The Vikings did exceedingly well at the first two last season, and although they got a bit banged up, had relatively good luck with injuries as well. All in all, it was a pretty charmed life, and although I'm rarely confused for an optimist, from where I'm sitting it seems like pretty long odds that the dominoes are going to fall in place so well a second time around. At the end of the day, you'd have to be nuts to argue that the Vikings are a better team without Favre, but the more pressing question is, Are they good enough WITH Favre? All the double-talk and hand-wringing we're sure to see over the next few months could simply be the difference between 10-6 and 8-8, but hey, when you're the hot shooter, you've gotta keep tossing those dice, right?
It just feels like last season was the party and now we're dealing with the hangover that will be the lost 2010 season/Childress contract extension. Now I'm not one to complain, because it was one hell of a party, it's just a shame we couldn't close the deal and get laid, cause this hangover is going to be a killer for sure.
The NFL draft is a week past, teams have begun mini-camps and other such functions, so it must be time for another annual rite of spring, Brett Favre Wafflepalooza. Those of you holding April 30th tickets in the pool for the "First ESPN story casting doubt on Favre's return", please see the cashier to my left.
In a not-so-stunning twist, today also featured the "First non-denial denial of a story casting doubt on Favre's return", as posted on his website. If you were bold enough to anticipate both events on the same day, my hat's off to you, I myself had May 10th for the former, and didn't expect the latter to occur for at least 24 hours after that. It's almost as if #4 was anticipating the original report and had his response ready to go beforehand; if a person didn't know better, they could almost get the impression that Brett is somehow manipulating the media, which we all know is a ludicrous thought.
On a related note, we really need to get a font for conveying sarcasm.
So what does this mean to the average Vikings fan? As usual, only The Big (Former) Cheese himself can answer that, and he's not talking...at least not until late June/early July, and then only if you have a national talk show.(I wonder if he's ever used the phrase "need-to-know basis" when talking with Chilly?) My gut tells me this is the same drill as last year, setting up an excuse to avoid training camp under the guise of soul-searching about his return. Last year I made the mistake of taking him at his word when he said he was done, and won't be repeating it again. As eager as all of us are to resume the promising Tavaris Jackson Era, we probably should assume it will be delayed for at least one more season (Pretty sure no font is required for that one).
The more pressing question in my mind is, what is the ceiling for this team if he does come back? It's getting tough to be a Vikings fan after so many near-misses, because only one end result will be truly acceptable, it's Super Bowl or bust. Obviously this is a good team that was very close to that goal last year, but life in the NFL is not the linear progression that we see in other sports, where young teams progress from Competitive to Playoff to Contender to Champ. Things are more schizophrenic in pro football, one minute you're a contender coming off a great season, the next your QB is writhing on the ground as your season slips away or inexplicably losing his fastball and dragging the team with him down the tubes; look no further than the 2008 Patriots or 2009 Panthers if you doubt this.
Coming back strong in this league requires a delicate balance of players not regressing, draft picks contributing and above all, avoiding injuries. The Vikings did exceedingly well at the first two last season, and although they got a bit banged up, had relatively good luck with injuries as well. All in all, it was a pretty charmed life, and although I'm rarely confused for an optimist, from where I'm sitting it seems like pretty long odds that the dominoes are going to fall in place so well a second time around. At the end of the day, you'd have to be nuts to argue that the Vikings are a better team without Favre, but the more pressing question is, Are they good enough WITH Favre? All the double-talk and hand-wringing we're sure to see over the next few months could simply be the difference between 10-6 and 8-8, but hey, when you're the hot shooter, you've gotta keep tossing those dice, right?
It just feels like last season was the party and now we're dealing with the hangover that will be the lost 2010 season/Childress contract extension. Now I'm not one to complain, because it was one hell of a party, it's just a shame we couldn't close the deal and get laid, cause this hangover is going to be a killer for sure.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
(Base)ball-gagged/Meltdown in Motown
Remember that extremely unplesant scene in Pulp Fiction when the two rednecks take certain, ahem, "liberties" with Ving Rhames character? Well the Minnesota Twins re-enacted it on a baseball diamond in Detroit last night, and the sequel was even more horrible to watch than the first time around. Scott Baker played the role of Maynard in this analogy, creating the situation that allowed it to happen, the umpires were Zed, actually doing the ****ing, and Marcellus Wallace? Alas, fellow Twins fans, that was you and I; hopefully you're not having trouble sitting down this morning.
Now I know I need to throw out the caveats of "long season", "can't win them all", "can still win the series", etc, but I'm not wired that way. Keeping an even keel through the storms of a baseball season is what's required to stay focused and win a title, even the best teams lose 60-70 games, so if you're going to lose your mind every time it doesn't go your way, you'll never make it through. But I'm not on a ship, I'm on a roller coaster, and fortunately, success or failure doesn't hinge on my personal conduct, so let the meltdown begin!
Game 21 of 162 was only one loss in the L column, but will be one that is remembered all season. The last two years have taught us every game counts, and when we're sitting one game up with one to play in September, April 28th will be a date that lives in infamy. Losing, although unpleasant, is acceptable; it can (and has repeatedly) happened. But losing by 5 after leading by 5, with your starting pitcher becoming so abjectly horrible you begin to wonder if he's wagering against the team, is not an option. Sure they were jobbed by the umps, but the game should've never reached a point where the umps were allowed to impact the outcome.
I'm talking to you Scott Baker, at this point I would have no problem letting you chuck a baseball at my chest from 20 feet, ala Bull Durham, cause there ain't no way I'm getting hit. One more outing like that and I start petitioning for Scott Baker D-Cell Battery Night, where you stand on the mound solo and each fan gets one chance to loosen a couple of your fillings with a well-placed Duracell. Better hope the big kid in row 3 above the dugout isn't better at hitting his spots than you are.
Now I know I need to throw out the caveats of "long season", "can't win them all", "can still win the series", etc, but I'm not wired that way. Keeping an even keel through the storms of a baseball season is what's required to stay focused and win a title, even the best teams lose 60-70 games, so if you're going to lose your mind every time it doesn't go your way, you'll never make it through. But I'm not on a ship, I'm on a roller coaster, and fortunately, success or failure doesn't hinge on my personal conduct, so let the meltdown begin!
Game 21 of 162 was only one loss in the L column, but will be one that is remembered all season. The last two years have taught us every game counts, and when we're sitting one game up with one to play in September, April 28th will be a date that lives in infamy. Losing, although unpleasant, is acceptable; it can (and has repeatedly) happened. But losing by 5 after leading by 5, with your starting pitcher becoming so abjectly horrible you begin to wonder if he's wagering against the team, is not an option. Sure they were jobbed by the umps, but the game should've never reached a point where the umps were allowed to impact the outcome.
I'm talking to you Scott Baker, at this point I would have no problem letting you chuck a baseball at my chest from 20 feet, ala Bull Durham, cause there ain't no way I'm getting hit. One more outing like that and I start petitioning for Scott Baker D-Cell Battery Night, where you stand on the mound solo and each fan gets one chance to loosen a couple of your fillings with a well-placed Duracell. Better hope the big kid in row 3 above the dugout isn't better at hitting his spots than you are.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Spring, the season of new (and misplaced) hope
So I suck at this blogging thing, but may have found the answer. Over the weekend, I had a small electrode implanted at the base of my skull, any more that 3 days without posting will set of a series of small electric shocks at 30 minute intervals until something is posted. This will either lead to regular postings, or chronic incontinence, we shall see.
So much time off leaves too much to cover, so here's a little rapid-fire Love/Hate to bring us back up to speed:
LOVE - Target Field, just the greatest thing to happen to this town in some time, I finally have a reason to look forward to summer, instead of just considering it the boring 3 months before fall returns.
HATE - The NFL draft on Thursday nights, way to wreck what was a great tradtion, waking up a spending a whole day with friends, celebrating the ultimate day of football hope. I know more people watch TV on Thursdays, but does the NFL really think it's going to steal part of the Grey's Anatomy audience by moving the draft? More likely a bunch of guys that would be watching on a Saturday morning are instead being subjected to the Dancing With the Stars semifinals. Plus they cruised through the picks so quickly, those of us who were watching didn't get to savor it much. Trust me on this, if someone is not a draft fan, they're not going to become one simply because you move it to prime time. It is a small (well maybe not so much anymore) but dedicated group of individuals watching, nobody who couldn't make time for it on Saturday is suddenly glued to the TV on Thursday. I fail to see how this benefits anyone, but as many leagues have proven, it doesn't have to be a good idea to get adopted.
HATE - Viking draft picks; nice job moving up to grab the white running back, no way that backfires. On a related note, we really need to agree on a universal font for sarcasm. As Loserville reader Joe Kelm points out, Adrian and Toby sounds like a gay couple that should be hosting a show on the Food Network, we'll see how this pans out.
LOVE - NHL playoffs, and pity the poor fools who don't watch the greatest tournament in all of sports. Both the NHL and NBA improve greatly this time of year, as players give us a glimpse of what the game looks like when played with full out effort and intensity. Unfortunately, that usually translates to teams trading 15-point blowouts in the NBA, where most NHL games are nailbiters. Advantage: Hockey.
LOVE/HATE - Twins fast start/Twins starting pitching. 19 games in seems like an appropriate time to offer the first official impressions, to quote Brett Favre: "We should be pretty good". Unfortunately, I see good and not great things on the horizon for this team, as I still have significant doubts about the ability of their starters to pitch well consistently. Every guy has dazzled at times, but each one has also laid a turd or two, and a good lineup might hack the whole staff to pieces over a 5 or 7-game series. Liriano is the guy who can change all that, but if pinning your hopes to that guy isn't a prospect that makes you nervous, you haven't been paying attention.
UBER HATE - Fighting Sioux nickname resolution. Can it get any worse than being railroaded by the PC Thought Police over the objections of the people they're claiming to defend? I will grant that the University of North Dakota has been fighting (no pun intended) this battle too long and it needs to end, but it should end with a binding vote of the people impacted, not the foot-dragging inaction of a bunch of bureaucrats.
I'm not going to tell you the Sioux tribes should feel honored or offended, in fact I'm not going to tell anyone anything, I'm simply asking for the open and honest accounting that was allegedly the goal of this process. This ridiculous witchhunt by the NCAA started 5 years ago, and rather than chronicle all of the double standards and missteps in the process, I will simply say that I think they got one things right: Asking the opinion of the tribes impacted and abiding by the result.
Unfortunately the Fighting Sioux nickname will not be afforded the same luxury that the Florida State Seminoles, Central Michigan Chippewas and University of Illinois Fighting Illini were given. Instead, with the nickname receiving overwhelming support in the only binding vote to date, the question of a second and final vote will be allowed to wither on the vine. I accepted some time ago that the name and logo would be gone, all I have ever wanted was honesty from those seeking to remove it. Just admit that you are PC do-gooders who care far more about assuaging your own guilt than the feelings of the people represented by the names.
For an organization that purports to represent the values of integrity and fairplay, the NCAA has shown neither in this case. They have constantly tweaked the rules to create double standards, most likely motivated by a desire to make a fake moral stand on an issue that does not jeopardize their pocketbook. Now that their conditions were seemingly about to be met, the powers that be have conspired to pull the rug and leave the whole thing in perpetual limbo, as that is the only way they can avoid looking like the frauds they are. Sure, it's only a nickname, we can get past it, but I don't like the implication that the will of the people should dictate, until it runs afoul of the will of the government.
So much time off leaves too much to cover, so here's a little rapid-fire Love/Hate to bring us back up to speed:
LOVE - Target Field, just the greatest thing to happen to this town in some time, I finally have a reason to look forward to summer, instead of just considering it the boring 3 months before fall returns.
HATE - The NFL draft on Thursday nights, way to wreck what was a great tradtion, waking up a spending a whole day with friends, celebrating the ultimate day of football hope. I know more people watch TV on Thursdays, but does the NFL really think it's going to steal part of the Grey's Anatomy audience by moving the draft? More likely a bunch of guys that would be watching on a Saturday morning are instead being subjected to the Dancing With the Stars semifinals. Plus they cruised through the picks so quickly, those of us who were watching didn't get to savor it much. Trust me on this, if someone is not a draft fan, they're not going to become one simply because you move it to prime time. It is a small (well maybe not so much anymore) but dedicated group of individuals watching, nobody who couldn't make time for it on Saturday is suddenly glued to the TV on Thursday. I fail to see how this benefits anyone, but as many leagues have proven, it doesn't have to be a good idea to get adopted.
HATE - Viking draft picks; nice job moving up to grab the white running back, no way that backfires. On a related note, we really need to agree on a universal font for sarcasm. As Loserville reader Joe Kelm points out, Adrian and Toby sounds like a gay couple that should be hosting a show on the Food Network, we'll see how this pans out.
LOVE - NHL playoffs, and pity the poor fools who don't watch the greatest tournament in all of sports. Both the NHL and NBA improve greatly this time of year, as players give us a glimpse of what the game looks like when played with full out effort and intensity. Unfortunately, that usually translates to teams trading 15-point blowouts in the NBA, where most NHL games are nailbiters. Advantage: Hockey.
LOVE/HATE - Twins fast start/Twins starting pitching. 19 games in seems like an appropriate time to offer the first official impressions, to quote Brett Favre: "We should be pretty good". Unfortunately, I see good and not great things on the horizon for this team, as I still have significant doubts about the ability of their starters to pitch well consistently. Every guy has dazzled at times, but each one has also laid a turd or two, and a good lineup might hack the whole staff to pieces over a 5 or 7-game series. Liriano is the guy who can change all that, but if pinning your hopes to that guy isn't a prospect that makes you nervous, you haven't been paying attention.
UBER HATE - Fighting Sioux nickname resolution. Can it get any worse than being railroaded by the PC Thought Police over the objections of the people they're claiming to defend? I will grant that the University of North Dakota has been fighting (no pun intended) this battle too long and it needs to end, but it should end with a binding vote of the people impacted, not the foot-dragging inaction of a bunch of bureaucrats.
I'm not going to tell you the Sioux tribes should feel honored or offended, in fact I'm not going to tell anyone anything, I'm simply asking for the open and honest accounting that was allegedly the goal of this process. This ridiculous witchhunt by the NCAA started 5 years ago, and rather than chronicle all of the double standards and missteps in the process, I will simply say that I think they got one things right: Asking the opinion of the tribes impacted and abiding by the result.
Unfortunately the Fighting Sioux nickname will not be afforded the same luxury that the Florida State Seminoles, Central Michigan Chippewas and University of Illinois Fighting Illini were given. Instead, with the nickname receiving overwhelming support in the only binding vote to date, the question of a second and final vote will be allowed to wither on the vine. I accepted some time ago that the name and logo would be gone, all I have ever wanted was honesty from those seeking to remove it. Just admit that you are PC do-gooders who care far more about assuaging your own guilt than the feelings of the people represented by the names.
For an organization that purports to represent the values of integrity and fairplay, the NCAA has shown neither in this case. They have constantly tweaked the rules to create double standards, most likely motivated by a desire to make a fake moral stand on an issue that does not jeopardize their pocketbook. Now that their conditions were seemingly about to be met, the powers that be have conspired to pull the rug and leave the whole thing in perpetual limbo, as that is the only way they can avoid looking like the frauds they are. Sure, it's only a nickname, we can get past it, but I don't like the implication that the will of the people should dictate, until it runs afoul of the will of the government.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Hiatus...DEAD!
So it's been a long layoff, but I don't want to give up on this thing. Frankly I was drunk for much of March; I don't offer that as an excuse or explanation of my poor effort, just an acknowledgement of reality. A friend of mine gave me some good advice, not every post has to be a novel, keep things short and sweet, so I will do that here. The month of March taught me another lesson, or perhaps re-taught in this case: I am a loser, born and bred, so don't get caught up deluding myself into thinking we can win.
Today is an auspicious day, kicking off the beginning of baseball season. For anyone that does not follow baseball, I am sorry, you are missing out on a special phenomenon, a living, breathing thing that weaves itself into your daily routine for half the year. Box scores to start the day, Baseball Tonight to end it, with a game in between; the routine gets so powerful, off days feel strangely incomplete. It is a great time, and the time that offers the fans of Loserville the most hope, as the only team that ever overachieves in this town comes out to play. So, without further ado, my AL Central standings for 2010:
1. White Sox (92-70) - Over the course of the season, the best pitching usually carries the day
2. Twins (90-72) - Starting rotation falters just enough to cost them (like I was goig to pick them to win, it's friggin Loserville for petes sake)
3. Tigers (86-76) - No table setters and not enough power, young pitching also takes a step back
4. Royals (74-88) - See last 20 years of Royals baseball
5. Indians (68-94) - This is what a $50 million payroll with several bad contracts gets you
So there you go, here's to 6 months of ballgames, outdoor baseball in Minneapolis and hopefully a playoff run. Prove me wrong Twins, prove me wrong.
Today is an auspicious day, kicking off the beginning of baseball season. For anyone that does not follow baseball, I am sorry, you are missing out on a special phenomenon, a living, breathing thing that weaves itself into your daily routine for half the year. Box scores to start the day, Baseball Tonight to end it, with a game in between; the routine gets so powerful, off days feel strangely incomplete. It is a great time, and the time that offers the fans of Loserville the most hope, as the only team that ever overachieves in this town comes out to play. So, without further ado, my AL Central standings for 2010:
1. White Sox (92-70) - Over the course of the season, the best pitching usually carries the day
2. Twins (90-72) - Starting rotation falters just enough to cost them (like I was goig to pick them to win, it's friggin Loserville for petes sake)
3. Tigers (86-76) - No table setters and not enough power, young pitching also takes a step back
4. Royals (74-88) - See last 20 years of Royals baseball
5. Indians (68-94) - This is what a $50 million payroll with several bad contracts gets you
So there you go, here's to 6 months of ballgames, outdoor baseball in Minneapolis and hopefully a playoff run. Prove me wrong Twins, prove me wrong.
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