Did the Vikings really just take Christian Ponder at #12?
Did that really just happen?
Yesterday was supposed to be a good day. I had Twins tickets for the noon game, and the NFL Draft to watch in the evening. Unfortunately, a day that was supposed to be all about hope for the future offered none, with the Twins getting crushed and the Vikings pulling off the rare feat of uniting their fanbase in opposition of their pick.
Now I know that every rube fan out there suddenly transforms themself into a draft expert one day a year, and half eventually turn out to be wrong, regardless of the argument. We all get to weigh in with our two cents, and the resulting debates are part of what makes being a sports fan interesting. The draft is perfect fodder for throwing out over-the-top proclamations about who ends up a star or bust. These things are never settled until years down the road, and by that point it's tough to remember who was saying what about a guy when he was picked. I've been on the right side of a few of these conversations, and the wrong side of an equal amount. What strikes me most about the Ponder selection is the total lack of support, at least among the fans I know. In my opinion, this guy should've been picked significantly lower, perhaps even in the 2nd Round. I'd feel a lot better about things if more people were saying I was nuts.
Obviously any Vikings fan hopes that Christian Ponder turns out to be an excellent NFL QB. No criticism of the selection should be misconstrued as hoping the guy fails. And if you feel like brightsiding this whole situation, there are some things you can grab on to. For my part, I will say that Ponder is exactly the type of quarterback I like. A pocket passer with good size and enough mobility to be elusive, but not so much that he was able to use it as a crutch to avoid learning how to throw. Also working in his favor is the fact that he played in a pro style offense, removing the concerns that come with evaluating how a spread QB will translate into the pros. By all accounts he's extremely intelligent, good leader, plays through pain, many good things have been said.
Unfortunately, for all of those traits, there are also quite a few glaring negatives, starting with a history of injuries. Now the injury thing is notoriously tough to peg, in recent history we've seen a couple Vikings draft picks who've arrived with the "injury-prone" tag. One proved it false in resounding fashion (Adrian Peterson), the other has made it appear quite warranted thus far (Chris Cook), although sufficient time hasn't passed to pass full judgement. What I think we can agree on is that the thought of the Vikings offensive line trying to keep a fragile QB healthy is not very reassuring.
Negative point #2 is the fact that when Ponder did play in college, he didn't exactly blow people away. There were some nice wins and gaudy stat lines peppered in, but in general, he was just north of average. His signature performance in 2010 would have to be throwing for 264 yards and 3 TDs in a 37-35 loss versus North Carolina. The point has been brought up that the Tarheel defense included a lot of NFL-caliber talent. Problem there is, the defensive end who went 14th overall yesterday was suspended for that game, as were several other players. If we want to take positive omens from college performances, then you also need to factor in the 11-of-28, 2 INT turd that Ponder laid on the road against Oklahoma, a team that probably best approximates the defenses he'll be facing at the next level. Neither game tells the whole story, but you can't cherry-pick the one that backs up your opinion. The biggest thing for me was watching the draft with a Florida St. fan last night who had seen just about every game Ponder played the last few years. He was a fan of the guy, thought he might amount to something, but was still shocked to see him go where he went. Not what you want to hear from a confirmed Ponder supporter.
It's not killing me to have Christian Ponder as the Vikings QB of the future, and I think most fans would agree. What is killing me is where he was selected, and the future implications that it carries. By using a high first round pick on a quarterback, the Vikings have essentially locked themselves into starting the season with him under center. There's is no way they can justify making a trade for a veteran at this point, given what they've already invested in the position and their needs in other areas. While everyone seems to agree that it was early, the justification that's been offered by a few writers is that they had to pick a QB, because they had no other options. I have a problem with this line of reasoning, because although nobody wants to go to war with Joe Webb and Rhett Bomar at the top of the depth chart, thinking "we have to draft X regardless, because we have no one at the spot" is exactly what led to Troy Williamson at #7. There are guys who were discussed as being on par with Ponder that are still on the board, it's tough to believe there wasn't a middle ground here.
Finally, the optics on this thing are just terrible. Maybe Ponder is truly the guy the Vikings brain trust coveted, but it looks a bit like a panic move. Scoff if you want, but after watching 3 QBs go in a 5-pick span, I was reminded of a fantasy football adage: "Start the runs, don't finish them." Of course I realize that this is far from fantasy, but something in that notion still applies. They saw the guys they wanted go off the board, then grabbed the next guy left in the QB column. I'm guessing that there were 5-6 other players ahead of Ponder in the Best Available section. Watching those guys roll of the board, Fairley to the Lions in particular, and no QBs get drafted the rest of the round, poured some salt in the wound.
So what are we left with? A new face of the team to pin our hopes to, and a whole lot of bad puns. My calls around the country to other disgruntled Vikings fans last night at least yield a few moments of levity. As the title of this post suggests, there's a lot to Ponder here. Will the combination of our pourous O-line and Detroit's impressive new defensive front result in another Christian being thrown to the Lions? Or will this Christian be successful in his mission to be the savior of our franchise? Only time will tell, but the chips have been pushed all in, that's for sure.
Odd thing is, the most unsettling thought coming out of this whole things was supplied courtesy of my brother, who mentioned that the last time a team in this town drafted a guy named Christian, the results were less than stellar. This threw my mind down the path of parallels linking the two of them beyond the name. One was the 3rd overall pick, the other the 3rd QB picked in quick succession. Both were regarded as a being a few notches below the guys that preceeded them. If things hold up, that means Locker is Shaq, Gabbert is Mourning, and Christian...well he's Christian. Different sport, 20 years ago, remains unsettling.
I wanted the second coming of Prince, because the first one rocked. Instead we got Christian Part II, let's pray it isn't a sequel.
Showing posts with label NFL draft. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NFL draft. Show all posts
Friday, April 29, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
One if by ground, two if by air
Taking a break from the playoff hockey talk today, as it's probably getting repetitive. Not that their isn't plenty to discuss in that vein. The OT streak was extended to 9 yesterday, on the second of back-to-back double-Game 7 evenings, it just finally seems time to weigh in on the NFL Draft.
Now I might hate the fact that draft chatter starts in February, hate that they moved the first round to Thursday, hate the cloud of a lockout hanging over this year's proceedings and hate the fact that even the people who evaluate players for a living will admit it's a total crapshoot (why am I supposed to care what they have to say when they admit it's probably wrong), but if I bailed on everything that caused me irritation in life, what would be left? Like most things happening, I don't hate the event, I hate the people who beat the event into the ground, until it can't be escaped!
I don't hate politicians, I hate the folks who voted for them acting like they somehow accomplished something by casting that vote. (FYI, it takes less effort to fill out a circle on a ballot than I expend in my morning trip to the john. Particularly if I ate something spicy the night before) I don't hate reality TV, I hate how blatantly obvious it makes the stupidity of the populous. I don't hate the Olympics, I hate the people who seem to think there's some relevancy switch in life that I can flip to make me care about swimming for a week every 4 years, despite not giving it a second thought the other 207. I don't hate US Weekly and TMZ, I hate the fact that more people apparently read these publications than newspapers. I don't even hate the Green Bay Packers, just the idiotic interlopers who sit next to me at Minnesota bars, crowing about how great Wisconsin is.
Point being, I bitch, therefore I am, kind of like one of those fish who has to keep swimming or it dies. I can give just about anything a chance, but will rebel aggressively once I feel it's being forced upon me. In a football-crazy world, draft and lockout talk has been the eclipse blocking out the warm sun of playoff action and baseball season. Draftniks don't just beat a dead horse, they skin it, filet it, make furniture out of it's bones and a wig out of it's mane. There is a time and a place for everything, and for this guy, when it comes to draft talk, that's about 24 hours before the first pick happens.
Because as much as it might annoy, the draft is an event. It's the introduction to the public of the new players in America's most popular sport, and to those of us backing teams with lousy prospects, a sorely needed ray of hope. Am I still unimpressed with this year's draft class and irritated by the lockout news? Sure, but I'm also not ready to totally give up the chatter. This was crystalized during a recent conversation, when my joke about draft conversation was met with "I'd rather talk about the Royal Wedding." Whoa. That's going way too far. I have to assume that was a joke, at least I hope it was, otherwise there's a friend I can no longer speak with.
Just think about waking up on Friday morning or staying up all night on Thursday, because you cared about the nuptials of a couple you've never met half a world away. Furthermore, the reason you care about them is not because they posses any special talents, but rather because one of them was spawed from an inbred bloodline that once upon a time killed off enough of their enemies to seize power (that might not be exactly how it happened, but frankly I don't care). They're not even real royalty. Can't order anyone beheaded, lay seige to a castle, pour a bit of boiling tar on a horde, condemn a serf to slavery, nothing. Big house, some servants, it's basically like they're casting a UK version of "The Hills". I for one, am unimpressed.
So much like the guilt I feel while eating a huge sandwich in front of the TV and the commercial about starving kids comes on, my situation is minor by comparison. Imagine for one moment a world in which the tsunami of draft info suddenly morphed into, ROYAL WEDDING NEWS!!! I'd probably have to go on some kind of killing spree just so something else would be on the radio in the cop car while they were taking me to jail. I know one thing, the question of "Have you seen pictures of the Royal Wedding?" is being added to the list I use to determine whether I accept someone's mockery of my sports fixation or alert them to why they are full of sh*t. If you read US Weekly, you've lost the high ground in making fun of draft chatter. If you stay up until 4 AM to watch this thing live...well then you've lost the right to ever make fun of anything again. Frankly I'm going to need to take a moment conferring with the other patriots to determine if we can allow you to live.
Because this hate isn't like the ones list above, this one is the genuine article. I hate the monarchy itself as much as those who worship it. Call me old fashioned, but we fought a war to rid this country of a king, and in the 200 or so years since, it's my personal belief that they've just been looking for an opening to pay us back. Used to be someone who showered adoration on royalty was not a welcome member of this republic. We called them Royalists, and either killed them on the spot, or burned their homes and took their stuff. These days, it seems as if we've lost our collective edge in that regard.
Now you can give me that weak-ass argument about how that was the 1700s, and times have changed, but to that I say BS. If we don't keep a close eye on these slippery Royalist s.o.b.s, we'll all be riding the lift, using the loo and ending our conversations with 'Cheers" before you know it. Do your part to stem the British invasion, if you have suspicion that they're may be a Royal Wedding gathering occurring in your neighborhood this week, alert the authorities. They may appear to be harmless, but the truth is you never know what one of them is plotting to do, much like child molesters, we need to know the wherabouts of these people at all times.
So where was I? Oh yeah, the draft. Apparently there are 6 guys the Vikings would like to get, and if they don't get one of them, they might move down. Or they might not. This is the riveting specuation that is the hallmark of draft week. For my part I can only say that there are a few guys I'd like to see on the team, but they won't be available, so I'm largely indifferent. Here's my wish list:
1. Prince Amukamara (CB), Nebraska - Out cornerbacks now consist of an aging midget, guy with no ACLs, (alledgedly) gun-toting infirmary case and other assorted castoffs. Sure anyone who watched Winfield wreak havoc during the Philly game last year can see his potential playing the slot in an aggressive, blitz-happy scheme, but he's never been a classic cover guy and getting older isn't helping. LSU corner Patrick Peterson, everyone's top player who we have no chance at grabbing, will go Top 5, we can only hope The Prince slips past Dallas and Houston to fall into our laps. Heck, maybe we can lure Nnamdi here and get the Asomugha-Amukamura connection going, that'd be sweet for everyone who didn't have to call the games.
2. Anthony Costanzo (OT), USC - On a team with as many holes as the Vikings, my general attitude is to rebuild the offensive line and defensive secondary before worrying about the skill positions. I mean a franchise QB is great, if you can keep him alive long enough to learn how to be a franchise QB. Matthew Stafford was drafted first overall two years ago, but hasn't been able to stay on the field. I see history repeating itself if the Vikes try to grab a young starting QB while ignoring their line. Costanzo was a 4-year starter who went up against some of the best defensive players in college football. Plus he would put into play every George Costanza quote/joke out there. That's what we call an intangible.
3. Robert Quinn (LB-DE), North Carolina - There was a lot of steam around the Vikings taking this guy, but lately it's been appearing he will go in the Top 10. He strikes me as a better fit for a 3-4 and was suspended all of last year, which is troublesome, but I watched a bit of film on him (I know, RUBE!) and he's a beast. With Ray Edwards about to be history and a team that might need to lean heavily on it's defense for the next couple of years, Quinn might be the guy.
4. Nick Fairley (DT), Auburn - Supposedly not a great effort guy, so could be Haynesworth 2.0, but he was in the conversation for #1 overall a couple months ago. If he's there at #12, I'd take him.
5. Jake Locker (QB), Washington - Didn't say I was allergic to first-round QBs, just a bit gun-shy about this year's crop. Crazy as it might sound, I like Locker in the mid-first better than Newton or Gabbert at the top of it. To apply a fantasy football strategy, look at the guys who were at the top of the list last year, but are now a little ways down. Odds are they didn't forget how to play football, just had an off year, and the talent that put them on top is still there. Jake Locker was considered one of the best, if not the best, quarterbacks in last year's draft. If you can pick him mid-round, maybe add a late pick by moving down while doing so, pull the trigger.
Some other guys I like: Julio Jones - WR (eff you Sidney, don't let the door hit you), Gabe Carimi/Mike Pouncey - OL (ditto, McKinnie), Cameron Jordan - DE (Steve's kid!)
Some guys I don't: Christian Ponder/Ryan Mallet - QBs (2nd round at the earliest), Tyron Smith - OT (just something that makes me uneasy about USC guys), Jimmy Smith - CB (if only it was the wideout and this was 2002!)
It's perhaps the craziest draft year ever, with opinions flying all over the board. No free agency or trades have put teams in the weird position of not really know what their full roster looks like before drafting. Could be an interesting day.
Now I might hate the fact that draft chatter starts in February, hate that they moved the first round to Thursday, hate the cloud of a lockout hanging over this year's proceedings and hate the fact that even the people who evaluate players for a living will admit it's a total crapshoot (why am I supposed to care what they have to say when they admit it's probably wrong), but if I bailed on everything that caused me irritation in life, what would be left? Like most things happening, I don't hate the event, I hate the people who beat the event into the ground, until it can't be escaped!
I don't hate politicians, I hate the folks who voted for them acting like they somehow accomplished something by casting that vote. (FYI, it takes less effort to fill out a circle on a ballot than I expend in my morning trip to the john. Particularly if I ate something spicy the night before) I don't hate reality TV, I hate how blatantly obvious it makes the stupidity of the populous. I don't hate the Olympics, I hate the people who seem to think there's some relevancy switch in life that I can flip to make me care about swimming for a week every 4 years, despite not giving it a second thought the other 207. I don't hate US Weekly and TMZ, I hate the fact that more people apparently read these publications than newspapers. I don't even hate the Green Bay Packers, just the idiotic interlopers who sit next to me at Minnesota bars, crowing about how great Wisconsin is.
Point being, I bitch, therefore I am, kind of like one of those fish who has to keep swimming or it dies. I can give just about anything a chance, but will rebel aggressively once I feel it's being forced upon me. In a football-crazy world, draft and lockout talk has been the eclipse blocking out the warm sun of playoff action and baseball season. Draftniks don't just beat a dead horse, they skin it, filet it, make furniture out of it's bones and a wig out of it's mane. There is a time and a place for everything, and for this guy, when it comes to draft talk, that's about 24 hours before the first pick happens.
Because as much as it might annoy, the draft is an event. It's the introduction to the public of the new players in America's most popular sport, and to those of us backing teams with lousy prospects, a sorely needed ray of hope. Am I still unimpressed with this year's draft class and irritated by the lockout news? Sure, but I'm also not ready to totally give up the chatter. This was crystalized during a recent conversation, when my joke about draft conversation was met with "I'd rather talk about the Royal Wedding." Whoa. That's going way too far. I have to assume that was a joke, at least I hope it was, otherwise there's a friend I can no longer speak with.
Just think about waking up on Friday morning or staying up all night on Thursday, because you cared about the nuptials of a couple you've never met half a world away. Furthermore, the reason you care about them is not because they posses any special talents, but rather because one of them was spawed from an inbred bloodline that once upon a time killed off enough of their enemies to seize power (that might not be exactly how it happened, but frankly I don't care). They're not even real royalty. Can't order anyone beheaded, lay seige to a castle, pour a bit of boiling tar on a horde, condemn a serf to slavery, nothing. Big house, some servants, it's basically like they're casting a UK version of "The Hills". I for one, am unimpressed.
So much like the guilt I feel while eating a huge sandwich in front of the TV and the commercial about starving kids comes on, my situation is minor by comparison. Imagine for one moment a world in which the tsunami of draft info suddenly morphed into, ROYAL WEDDING NEWS!!! I'd probably have to go on some kind of killing spree just so something else would be on the radio in the cop car while they were taking me to jail. I know one thing, the question of "Have you seen pictures of the Royal Wedding?" is being added to the list I use to determine whether I accept someone's mockery of my sports fixation or alert them to why they are full of sh*t. If you read US Weekly, you've lost the high ground in making fun of draft chatter. If you stay up until 4 AM to watch this thing live...well then you've lost the right to ever make fun of anything again. Frankly I'm going to need to take a moment conferring with the other patriots to determine if we can allow you to live.
Because this hate isn't like the ones list above, this one is the genuine article. I hate the monarchy itself as much as those who worship it. Call me old fashioned, but we fought a war to rid this country of a king, and in the 200 or so years since, it's my personal belief that they've just been looking for an opening to pay us back. Used to be someone who showered adoration on royalty was not a welcome member of this republic. We called them Royalists, and either killed them on the spot, or burned their homes and took their stuff. These days, it seems as if we've lost our collective edge in that regard.
Now you can give me that weak-ass argument about how that was the 1700s, and times have changed, but to that I say BS. If we don't keep a close eye on these slippery Royalist s.o.b.s, we'll all be riding the lift, using the loo and ending our conversations with 'Cheers" before you know it. Do your part to stem the British invasion, if you have suspicion that they're may be a Royal Wedding gathering occurring in your neighborhood this week, alert the authorities. They may appear to be harmless, but the truth is you never know what one of them is plotting to do, much like child molesters, we need to know the wherabouts of these people at all times.
So where was I? Oh yeah, the draft. Apparently there are 6 guys the Vikings would like to get, and if they don't get one of them, they might move down. Or they might not. This is the riveting specuation that is the hallmark of draft week. For my part I can only say that there are a few guys I'd like to see on the team, but they won't be available, so I'm largely indifferent. Here's my wish list:
1. Prince Amukamara (CB), Nebraska - Out cornerbacks now consist of an aging midget, guy with no ACLs, (alledgedly) gun-toting infirmary case and other assorted castoffs. Sure anyone who watched Winfield wreak havoc during the Philly game last year can see his potential playing the slot in an aggressive, blitz-happy scheme, but he's never been a classic cover guy and getting older isn't helping. LSU corner Patrick Peterson, everyone's top player who we have no chance at grabbing, will go Top 5, we can only hope The Prince slips past Dallas and Houston to fall into our laps. Heck, maybe we can lure Nnamdi here and get the Asomugha-Amukamura connection going, that'd be sweet for everyone who didn't have to call the games.
2. Anthony Costanzo (OT), USC - On a team with as many holes as the Vikings, my general attitude is to rebuild the offensive line and defensive secondary before worrying about the skill positions. I mean a franchise QB is great, if you can keep him alive long enough to learn how to be a franchise QB. Matthew Stafford was drafted first overall two years ago, but hasn't been able to stay on the field. I see history repeating itself if the Vikes try to grab a young starting QB while ignoring their line. Costanzo was a 4-year starter who went up against some of the best defensive players in college football. Plus he would put into play every George Costanza quote/joke out there. That's what we call an intangible.
3. Robert Quinn (LB-DE), North Carolina - There was a lot of steam around the Vikings taking this guy, but lately it's been appearing he will go in the Top 10. He strikes me as a better fit for a 3-4 and was suspended all of last year, which is troublesome, but I watched a bit of film on him (I know, RUBE!) and he's a beast. With Ray Edwards about to be history and a team that might need to lean heavily on it's defense for the next couple of years, Quinn might be the guy.
4. Nick Fairley (DT), Auburn - Supposedly not a great effort guy, so could be Haynesworth 2.0, but he was in the conversation for #1 overall a couple months ago. If he's there at #12, I'd take him.
5. Jake Locker (QB), Washington - Didn't say I was allergic to first-round QBs, just a bit gun-shy about this year's crop. Crazy as it might sound, I like Locker in the mid-first better than Newton or Gabbert at the top of it. To apply a fantasy football strategy, look at the guys who were at the top of the list last year, but are now a little ways down. Odds are they didn't forget how to play football, just had an off year, and the talent that put them on top is still there. Jake Locker was considered one of the best, if not the best, quarterbacks in last year's draft. If you can pick him mid-round, maybe add a late pick by moving down while doing so, pull the trigger.
Some other guys I like: Julio Jones - WR (eff you Sidney, don't let the door hit you), Gabe Carimi/Mike Pouncey - OL (ditto, McKinnie), Cameron Jordan - DE (Steve's kid!)
Some guys I don't: Christian Ponder/Ryan Mallet - QBs (2nd round at the earliest), Tyron Smith - OT (just something that makes me uneasy about USC guys), Jimmy Smith - CB (if only it was the wideout and this was 2002!)
It's perhaps the craziest draft year ever, with opinions flying all over the board. No free agency or trades have put teams in the weird position of not really know what their full roster looks like before drafting. Could be an interesting day.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
N.F.L. = No Football Love
The NFL Draft opens in 9 days, on the evening of April 28th. I can't recall ever being more apathetic about this event, or the sport it's a part of.
As the king of American sport, the National Football League has become a 24/7/365 enterprise, complete with it's own network and a year-round calendar of events designed to ensure it never falls too far from the public consciousness during the offseason. There's typically about a three-week breather between the Super Bowl ending and the first snippets of draft speculation beginning to pop up. It seems the media and public take a collective deep breath through the end of February, but on March 1st hit you head on, wallpapering the airwaves with mocks and chatter about which teams will do what where.
Normally I don't have much to do with the draft machine during the month of March, with the hockey and basketball tourneys going on, there's just no time to worry about the combine. But once the calendar turns to April, it's officially time to start checking out how things are projected to play out. Sure predicting the draft is an inexact science, but it's fun to wade through the opinions that are out there and develop a few of your own. Is your team picking high or low? Will they draft for need or take the best player available? Will one of your favorite college stars potentially be the pick? Who will fall? Who will be reached for? Which bust will go a pick or two before a Hall of Famer? Debating and speculating on all these questions used to bring me great joy, but for some reason this year, they are not.
There are a number of reasons for this, labor strife of course leads the way. I pretty much cut ties with the league soon after the lockout started, about the time the words "injuction" and "decertification" began to outnumber every other type of news 10 to 1. Stopped tuning in to some of my favorite sports programs to avoid the discussion, changed the channel on others when it came up, unfollowed 20 or so football folks on Twitter, simply went into NFL sensory-deprivation. This is not to say I consider myself any less rabid a fan, just that courtroom legalities are for lawyers to consider, and not worth my time and attention. There has been no real news to follow with free agency on hold, and even if there were, how am I supposed to muster any enthusiasm for a season that may never happen? The whole thing seems to ring hollow.
But beyond the fact that they're might not be a next season, there's a bigger problem: This year's crop of players just isn't that good. Now I have to throw in the caveat that this stuff is tough to judge, you never really know how guys will develop, etc., but at the moment, I see a lot of teams uncertain about who they're going to pick, which points to a lack of compelling choices. For example, Vikings fans are trying to talk themselves into a QB as a franchise savior. Problem is, it's a different guy every week. First it was Ryan Mallet, who'd be a steal at #12, then it was Cam Newton potentially falling, next it was Jake Locker making the workout leap back into the middle of the first round. At this point, the whole thing seems about as firm as the midsection of your average NFC North fan after 6 months of winter.
None of this is a surprise if you watched any appreciable amount of college football last season. There is one player that I would be legitimately excited to see my team draft, Patrick Peterson from LSU, and there is zero chance he'll be available by the time they get on the clock. During the last week the hot names thrown about have been a DE/OLB who was suspended all of last season and an offensive tackle who I heard described as having "not what you'd call elite talent". If that doesn't get you buzzing, well then I don't know what to tell you.
Which leads us to the final, and biggest, problem that I'm left to ponder, is it possible I'm just losing my passion for the Vikings offseason? Once upon a time, I'd dig into any topic with gusto, now it all just leaves me cold. It's not because they stink (if anything that makes the offseason more fun, not less), but more because NFL fans in general are starting to get on my nerves. I'll cop to the irony in someone like me saying another person is taking an element of sports too seriously, but have you seen some of these people? They're debating who offers the best value in the 4th round, which quarterback's mechanics translate best to the pros, and a host of other topics, to which I can only reply: NERDS!
It might be different if I followed another non-cursed franchise, but discussion of the Vikings fortunes strikes me as more pointless with every passing year. Give me any what-if scenario you please, and I will respond with a simple "Makes no difference", because until the curse is lifted, nothing will. You want to speculate on how the hex started, and what we can do about lifting it, then I'm all ears. But until you start on those grounds, you are wasting everyone's time.
Many fans may not believe this, but that just means they are either in denial, or have not been following this team long enough. All the players in the world can do nothing when it comes to the cosmic, keep that in mind.
As the king of American sport, the National Football League has become a 24/7/365 enterprise, complete with it's own network and a year-round calendar of events designed to ensure it never falls too far from the public consciousness during the offseason. There's typically about a three-week breather between the Super Bowl ending and the first snippets of draft speculation beginning to pop up. It seems the media and public take a collective deep breath through the end of February, but on March 1st hit you head on, wallpapering the airwaves with mocks and chatter about which teams will do what where.
Normally I don't have much to do with the draft machine during the month of March, with the hockey and basketball tourneys going on, there's just no time to worry about the combine. But once the calendar turns to April, it's officially time to start checking out how things are projected to play out. Sure predicting the draft is an inexact science, but it's fun to wade through the opinions that are out there and develop a few of your own. Is your team picking high or low? Will they draft for need or take the best player available? Will one of your favorite college stars potentially be the pick? Who will fall? Who will be reached for? Which bust will go a pick or two before a Hall of Famer? Debating and speculating on all these questions used to bring me great joy, but for some reason this year, they are not.
There are a number of reasons for this, labor strife of course leads the way. I pretty much cut ties with the league soon after the lockout started, about the time the words "injuction" and "decertification" began to outnumber every other type of news 10 to 1. Stopped tuning in to some of my favorite sports programs to avoid the discussion, changed the channel on others when it came up, unfollowed 20 or so football folks on Twitter, simply went into NFL sensory-deprivation. This is not to say I consider myself any less rabid a fan, just that courtroom legalities are for lawyers to consider, and not worth my time and attention. There has been no real news to follow with free agency on hold, and even if there were, how am I supposed to muster any enthusiasm for a season that may never happen? The whole thing seems to ring hollow.
But beyond the fact that they're might not be a next season, there's a bigger problem: This year's crop of players just isn't that good. Now I have to throw in the caveat that this stuff is tough to judge, you never really know how guys will develop, etc., but at the moment, I see a lot of teams uncertain about who they're going to pick, which points to a lack of compelling choices. For example, Vikings fans are trying to talk themselves into a QB as a franchise savior. Problem is, it's a different guy every week. First it was Ryan Mallet, who'd be a steal at #12, then it was Cam Newton potentially falling, next it was Jake Locker making the workout leap back into the middle of the first round. At this point, the whole thing seems about as firm as the midsection of your average NFC North fan after 6 months of winter.
None of this is a surprise if you watched any appreciable amount of college football last season. There is one player that I would be legitimately excited to see my team draft, Patrick Peterson from LSU, and there is zero chance he'll be available by the time they get on the clock. During the last week the hot names thrown about have been a DE/OLB who was suspended all of last season and an offensive tackle who I heard described as having "not what you'd call elite talent". If that doesn't get you buzzing, well then I don't know what to tell you.
Which leads us to the final, and biggest, problem that I'm left to ponder, is it possible I'm just losing my passion for the Vikings offseason? Once upon a time, I'd dig into any topic with gusto, now it all just leaves me cold. It's not because they stink (if anything that makes the offseason more fun, not less), but more because NFL fans in general are starting to get on my nerves. I'll cop to the irony in someone like me saying another person is taking an element of sports too seriously, but have you seen some of these people? They're debating who offers the best value in the 4th round, which quarterback's mechanics translate best to the pros, and a host of other topics, to which I can only reply: NERDS!
It might be different if I followed another non-cursed franchise, but discussion of the Vikings fortunes strikes me as more pointless with every passing year. Give me any what-if scenario you please, and I will respond with a simple "Makes no difference", because until the curse is lifted, nothing will. You want to speculate on how the hex started, and what we can do about lifting it, then I'm all ears. But until you start on those grounds, you are wasting everyone's time.
Many fans may not believe this, but that just means they are either in denial, or have not been following this team long enough. All the players in the world can do nothing when it comes to the cosmic, keep that in mind.
Monday, April 4, 2011
The Tom Kelly "Even Keel" Approach
Lousy weekend north of the border, as the Twins opened up the season by getting shelled, backed up by getting, in the words of Harry Doyle, "one goddamn hit" on Saturday, then eeked out a tight game on Sunday. The pitching was poor, fielding sloppy, and hitting nonexistent. Now you might think a superstitious person like me, who reads way too much into things and overreacts at every turn, would be freaking out a bit today. That's not the case, for a variety of reasons.
First off, the Twins always lose to Toronto, particularly in Toronto. The Blue Jays won 6 of 9 games between the two clubs last season, including a 11-2 pounding of Carl Pavano that looked remarkably similar to Friday night's opener. Was I perturbed by the fact that they went down 4-0 in the first inning, en route to a 13-3 shellacking in the season opener? You betcha, but that was more about the anticipation of game one, and feeling robbed when it turned into a dud.
So now it's off to New York, and the expectation of returning home Friday with at best a 2-5 record. Again, losing 3 of 4 at Yankee Stadium will be nothing new, so nothing to get bent out of shape over. This is not a rationalization of failure, simply an acknowledgement that things might take a bit of time to come together this season. The middle infield is unfamiliar, the first baseman and closer are returning from injuries and a little off, the pitching staff isn't quite in rhythm. Basically, the same issues that a lot of teams face early on. If the Twins are still behind Kansas City in the standings a month from now, then I'll panic.
But just because I'm not agitated about baseball doesn't mean I'm not agitated. Today it's the NFL draft. Not that I have a problem with the draft itself, typically it's one of my favorite events of the year. This year, with the Vikings holding a high pick, should be more entertaining than usual, if only I could get past the black labor cloud hanging over the league at the moment. Watching a bunch of guys get drafted is only intriguing because you get to speculate on seeing them play in a few months. Without the promise of a season on the horizon? Well they might as well be discussing the WNBA.
Just another reminder how the most popular and profitable sports league in the history of this country is killing the golden goose. I'm sure that at some point the draft chatter will suck me in, but each time it's come up so far, I've disgustedly changed the station. It's bad enough they moved the damn thing to Thursday night, now they don't even have the decency to ensure there will be a next season, before hyping the new additions that will be a part of it. Maybe.
First off, the Twins always lose to Toronto, particularly in Toronto. The Blue Jays won 6 of 9 games between the two clubs last season, including a 11-2 pounding of Carl Pavano that looked remarkably similar to Friday night's opener. Was I perturbed by the fact that they went down 4-0 in the first inning, en route to a 13-3 shellacking in the season opener? You betcha, but that was more about the anticipation of game one, and feeling robbed when it turned into a dud.
So now it's off to New York, and the expectation of returning home Friday with at best a 2-5 record. Again, losing 3 of 4 at Yankee Stadium will be nothing new, so nothing to get bent out of shape over. This is not a rationalization of failure, simply an acknowledgement that things might take a bit of time to come together this season. The middle infield is unfamiliar, the first baseman and closer are returning from injuries and a little off, the pitching staff isn't quite in rhythm. Basically, the same issues that a lot of teams face early on. If the Twins are still behind Kansas City in the standings a month from now, then I'll panic.
But just because I'm not agitated about baseball doesn't mean I'm not agitated. Today it's the NFL draft. Not that I have a problem with the draft itself, typically it's one of my favorite events of the year. This year, with the Vikings holding a high pick, should be more entertaining than usual, if only I could get past the black labor cloud hanging over the league at the moment. Watching a bunch of guys get drafted is only intriguing because you get to speculate on seeing them play in a few months. Without the promise of a season on the horizon? Well they might as well be discussing the WNBA.
Just another reminder how the most popular and profitable sports league in the history of this country is killing the golden goose. I'm sure that at some point the draft chatter will suck me in, but each time it's come up so far, I've disgustedly changed the station. It's bad enough they moved the damn thing to Thursday night, now they don't even have the decency to ensure there will be a next season, before hyping the new additions that will be a part of it. Maybe.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Learnings from the weekend
The reasons why September is the greatest month of the year were out in full force this weekend, as college football, the NFL, MLB pennant races and perfect fall weather converged to form a phenomenal 48 hours. Sure, some of the action left a bit to be desired, but overall it was just the kind of weekend that makes you happy to be alive and proud to be an American. So, after the flurry of activity over the last 6 days, what do we know (or at least think we know) that we didn’t before?
If I gambled on NFL games, it would take me much longer to type these entries, due to the fingers I’d be missing on my left hand.
Despite what Dimitri, my former Estonian bookie used to say, winning bets on NFL spreads is not as easy as “being kick by mule”. Unless of course it’s hard to get a mule to kick and he was confusing me with some kind of Slavic slang. At any rate, the atrocious 4-10-2 record I managed to fashion in the season’s first week was the latest reminder that, unless I’d like to answer to the nickname “Gums” for the rest of my days, it’s best for me to stay away from NFL gambling of any kind. In fact, things didn’t look much better straight up, as 5 of the favorites I picked lost outright. The Jets (never liked Sanchez), Falcons (aforementioned “doubting Pittsburgh can make you look dumb” caveat) and Dallas (awful preseason, NFC East games are always tough) can be rationalized a bit. But the Colts showing a softer defensive line than the French army and Niners getting MANHANDLED in Seattle were truly shocking. I mean Houston is good, but were 1-for-the decade against Indy, and the Seahawks…well I just don’t even know where to begin there.
The only thing I can hang my hat on is calling the Kansas City upset, a pick I had so much faith in that I reversed it on Monday morning when putting in a loser’s pool pick I’d forgotten to call in Sunday. The logic of course being that I was wrong on every other instinct so far, so why trust my first thought here? I’m one more week like this from going Costanza on things and just picking the opposite of whoever I think will win.
Twins > White Sox, Part 10
It’s a damn shame the Chicago White Sox won the 2005 World Series, because if not for that, the Twins would have the largest edge in any rivalry other than Hammer v. Nail. Unfortunately, I’m on the record roughly a million times as saying I’d trade one championship for a hundred winning seasons, so taunting Sox fans would ring a bit hollow. Nevertheless, it does feel good to once again watch the Twins perform a smackdown on their Central Division rival, extending the division lead to 6 games before the final series of the year began, and winning another last night to stretch it to 7. The first few nails have been driven into the coffin, and over the next two evening, that puppy could be nailed shut and chucked in the ground. Once again us Twins fans are poised to be the ungrateful guest, happy to be invited to the party (playoffs), but complaining about the brand of beer your serving if it’s not to our liking (first-round ouster). Best record in baseball since the break and home-field advantage mean the bar has been raised. Now go finish off the Whities and keep this thing rolling into October.
The shot heard round Dinkytown
Considering I made the optimistic prediction that the Minnesota Golden Gopher football team would finish over .500 this season, I was a bit surprised to see them fall to a highly mediocre (even for I-AA) South Dakota Coyotes team this past week. Not shocked of course, because I’m not sure any loss could shock me. Even if you told me a high school team had beat them by a couple of touchdowns, I’d need to ask which team in order to properly calibrate my level of surprise. Given the loss to North Dakota State and near-miss by South Dakota State in the past couple years, you’re not exactly picking your jaw up off the floor when you hear it happened again. And that’s pretty sad, actually. The silver lining I suppose is that this loss most likely signals the end of the Tim Brewster Era after this season, barring a miracle upset or two. This week USC travel to Minnesota for the first time in 30 years, and based on the result, I’m guessing the Gophers won’t want to see them for another 30. Line for this game USC -13, can that possibly be right? Easy money if so…then again, see my NFL picks from last week…aw screw it, this isn’t the NFL, it’s the Gophers, bring it on!
First big college football Saturday is a dud
Sure it was a long shot, the idea that an underdog road team would pull off an upset in one of last weekend’s marquee matchups, but something close would’ve been nice. I know a lot of people think of Michigan-Notre Dame was a big game, but in my book I need little numbers next to the name of at least one team for the matchup to qualify as “big”. That one was most certainly good, but definitely not big, at least not currently. If Denard Robinson keeps ripping off 500 yard total offense every week, it might become more significant in retrospect, but that’s about as unlikely as Reggie Bush being asked to host an ethics seminar at USC during next offseason. Well, unlikely until he plays against the Gophers at least.
If I gambled on NFL games, it would take me much longer to type these entries, due to the fingers I’d be missing on my left hand.
Despite what Dimitri, my former Estonian bookie used to say, winning bets on NFL spreads is not as easy as “being kick by mule”. Unless of course it’s hard to get a mule to kick and he was confusing me with some kind of Slavic slang. At any rate, the atrocious 4-10-2 record I managed to fashion in the season’s first week was the latest reminder that, unless I’d like to answer to the nickname “Gums” for the rest of my days, it’s best for me to stay away from NFL gambling of any kind. In fact, things didn’t look much better straight up, as 5 of the favorites I picked lost outright. The Jets (never liked Sanchez), Falcons (aforementioned “doubting Pittsburgh can make you look dumb” caveat) and Dallas (awful preseason, NFC East games are always tough) can be rationalized a bit. But the Colts showing a softer defensive line than the French army and Niners getting MANHANDLED in Seattle were truly shocking. I mean Houston is good, but were 1-for-the decade against Indy, and the Seahawks…well I just don’t even know where to begin there.
The only thing I can hang my hat on is calling the Kansas City upset, a pick I had so much faith in that I reversed it on Monday morning when putting in a loser’s pool pick I’d forgotten to call in Sunday. The logic of course being that I was wrong on every other instinct so far, so why trust my first thought here? I’m one more week like this from going Costanza on things and just picking the opposite of whoever I think will win.
Twins > White Sox, Part 10
It’s a damn shame the Chicago White Sox won the 2005 World Series, because if not for that, the Twins would have the largest edge in any rivalry other than Hammer v. Nail. Unfortunately, I’m on the record roughly a million times as saying I’d trade one championship for a hundred winning seasons, so taunting Sox fans would ring a bit hollow. Nevertheless, it does feel good to once again watch the Twins perform a smackdown on their Central Division rival, extending the division lead to 6 games before the final series of the year began, and winning another last night to stretch it to 7. The first few nails have been driven into the coffin, and over the next two evening, that puppy could be nailed shut and chucked in the ground. Once again us Twins fans are poised to be the ungrateful guest, happy to be invited to the party (playoffs), but complaining about the brand of beer your serving if it’s not to our liking (first-round ouster). Best record in baseball since the break and home-field advantage mean the bar has been raised. Now go finish off the Whities and keep this thing rolling into October.
The shot heard round Dinkytown
Considering I made the optimistic prediction that the Minnesota Golden Gopher football team would finish over .500 this season, I was a bit surprised to see them fall to a highly mediocre (even for I-AA) South Dakota Coyotes team this past week. Not shocked of course, because I’m not sure any loss could shock me. Even if you told me a high school team had beat them by a couple of touchdowns, I’d need to ask which team in order to properly calibrate my level of surprise. Given the loss to North Dakota State and near-miss by South Dakota State in the past couple years, you’re not exactly picking your jaw up off the floor when you hear it happened again. And that’s pretty sad, actually. The silver lining I suppose is that this loss most likely signals the end of the Tim Brewster Era after this season, barring a miracle upset or two. This week USC travel to Minnesota for the first time in 30 years, and based on the result, I’m guessing the Gophers won’t want to see them for another 30. Line for this game USC -13, can that possibly be right? Easy money if so…then again, see my NFL picks from last week…aw screw it, this isn’t the NFL, it’s the Gophers, bring it on!
First big college football Saturday is a dud
Sure it was a long shot, the idea that an underdog road team would pull off an upset in one of last weekend’s marquee matchups, but something close would’ve been nice. I know a lot of people think of Michigan-Notre Dame was a big game, but in my book I need little numbers next to the name of at least one team for the matchup to qualify as “big”. That one was most certainly good, but definitely not big, at least not currently. If Denard Robinson keeps ripping off 500 yard total offense every week, it might become more significant in retrospect, but that’s about as unlikely as Reggie Bush being asked to host an ethics seminar at USC during next offseason. Well, unlikely until he plays against the Gophers at least.
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.
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