Vikes Win! Bring On Philly....

NFC North Champs. It wasn't easy. The Vikes beat the Giants B-squad (who is better than a lot of teams A-squads) 20-19 on a 50-yard field goal by Ryan Longwell. A couple of thoughts on the game:

1. Once again, the game nearly killed me. It's strange being around 63,000 people who are that nervous. The older the person in the crowd, the more their level of apprehension. Hey, we've been here before. The crowd was into the game, but always expected the worst. After the game-winning field goal, there was more of a sigh of relief than a cheer.

2. T-Jack played just well enough to keep him in the running for the starting QB spot in 2009. He continues to make big mistakes (red-zone interception), but seems to bounce back quicker now than in the past.

3. It turns out that the Vikes didn't really need to win, as the Chicago Bears lost to Houston, which effectively eliminated them from the playoffs. It couldn't happen to a classier set of fans. Sorry Chicago!

4. The so-called "road to the Super Bowl" for the Vikings might look like this: Philadelphia, Carolina and New York. Oh.....................boy.

5. Bringing in kicker Ryan Longwell was money well spent. The guy is money.

6. That's all I've got for now. I'm spent.

Jeff

December 28th - Vikes vs. Giants

As I have mentioned, I will be attending the Vikings game today against the Giants with my friend Pete. It's for all the marbles today. The whole shootin' match. The whole Kitten Kaboodle (whatever that is). The Vikes will need all the luck, karma and bounces they can get to win this game today and become NFC North Champions and advance to the playoffs.

That is why I was rather disturbed this morning when I realized the date is December 28th. Thanks to Jim Souhan's article in today's Strib, I learned that this day has not been kind to the Vikings. What exactly has happened?

How about December 28th, 1975? How about the Drew Pearson "push-off," Hail Mary touchdown pass that eliminated the 12-2 Vikings from the Super Bowl. Many consider the 1975 team the most talented in team history, and this catch the lowpoint in Viking history.

How about December 28th, 2003? The Vikes were eliminated on the last play of the game by the vaunted Arizona Cardinals. A last-second touchdown pass to something called Nate Poole not only kept the Vikings from winning the division and making the playoffs, but it handed the division crown to the Green Bay Packers. The next year, Nate Poole was honored (I'm not making this up) by the Packers with a key to the city of Green Bay (insert your own jokes here) before a game.

Well, it's December 28th, 2008. Let's see what today brings for the Minnesota Vikings. Can they reverse the bad karma of 12/28, or will today's outcome be another "chapter in the book?"

I guess we'll see.

Jeff

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I have always loved the Charlie Brown Christmas special. It reminds me of my youth.

I will fully admit that this part, when Linus shares the true meaning of Christmas, still chokes me up after all of these years. Amen, Linus.

And the music from the show is fantasic!

Merry Christmas to all of you!

Jeff

It's All Coming Together....

Editors note: Before I write my actual post, I'd like to clarify that I truly believe a team (i.e the Vikings) should "win" their way into the playoffs rather than rely on other teams (i.e the Packers) to beat divisional foes for them. That being said.......

I cheered for the Packers last night. It was odd. Didn't work out too well, either. If the Packers would have beaten the Bears, they could have eliminated Chicago from the playoffs and the Minnesota Vikings would have been crowned NFC North Champions.

Or not.

It went very well for most of the game. The Packers led 14-3 at halftime, and stopped the Bears cold on their first drive of the second half. The Bears were punting to the Packers, and I actually felt pretty good about the outcome. That is when the punt hit a Packers blocker in the back and the Bears recovered. At that point, I remembered that I was watching "football," the most evil of sports and came to my senses. That is also when all hell broke loose and I witnessed a team collapse in such a manner that I haven't seen in, well...............since last Sunday.

Somehow, the Packers absolutely dominated the Bears in every phase of the contest but managed to blow the game and lose in overtime. As time in regulation was expiring, the Packers lined up to kick a 38-yard field goal (keep that yardage in mind) to win the game. A bad vibe came over me that I haven't felt since............well, last Sunday.

The kick was blocked.

This led to overtime. The Bears won the toss, drove down the field, and kicked the winning 38-yard field goal (keep that yardage in mind). 20-17 - Chicago wins. Astonishing.

A couple of things about this game. First, the Bears, down by 7, had a 4th and 1 at the Packers 5-yard line with 3 minutes to play. If the Pack stops them, the game is most likely over. The Bears ran up the middle and were stuffed well behind the first down marker. The Packers were celebrating as announcers were saying "the runner was stopped short." Then, what proceeded was the most incompetent, bordering on criminal, spot of the ball that I have seen in my 40 years of viewing football. The refs, to everyone's amazement, gave Chicago a first down. They went on to score the tying touchdown and the rest is history. It was complete bullshit.

Second. Thanks to tony8489 for pointing this out. Remember how I asked to keep the yardage of those field goals in mind? The Pack had a 38-yard field goal blocked that would have won the game. The Bears then nailed a 38-yard field goal to win the game in overtime. Do you remember a game that was played between the Vikings and Falcons 10 years ago for the right to go to the Super Bowl? Gary Anderson missed (you guessed it) a 38-yarder to seal the game in regulation. Then, in overtime, Falcons kicker Morten Anderson nailed a (you guessed it) 38-yarder to win the game.

Folks, spooky stuff is happening. You think it ain't?

This sets up the Vikings - Giants game next Sunday that I will be attending with Pete (The Weeg). Sure, the Giants won last Sunday to secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Does this make me feel better?

No.

This is the perfect set-up for the Vikings to choke against whatever backups the Giants decide to put on the field next Sunday. It's perfect.

Crazy things are going to happen in this game. Don't even try to predict them. What will happen will be so mind-boggling that it will defy reason.

Buckle up.

Jeff

Of Course.

All that the Minnesota Vikings had to do today to become 2008 NFC North Division Champions was beat the Atlanta Falcons. They were at home. They were favored. They were playing against a rookie quarterback. It was a big game.

Of course they lost.

Those of you who thoght the Vikings would win today haven't been paying attention for the last 40 years. You see, it's the 10-year anniversay of the 1998 NFC Championship loss to these same Falcons in this same Dome. For those of you who might not be from around these parts, here is a good Strib article about that game and season. And, for those of you who might not be around these parts and are wondering why Vikes fans are so cynical, these two passages from the aforementioned article sum it up:

For a generation of Vikings fans too young to have experienced the joy of reaching four Super Bowls or the sorrow of losing each one of them,there will always be 1998.It remains, 10 years later, the seminal season for the excitement and discontent of so many. It's the year the Vikings captured and broke the hearts of an entire state, going 15-1 only to be upset by Atlanta 30-27 in the NFC Championship Game at the Metrodome on Jan. 17, 1999.

But, like their forefathers in Purple Pain, today's fan remains a loyal, albeit more cynical, supporter of a team that is back on the doorstep to the playoffs.

AND

Despite the team's late-season surge, a vocal and active e-mailing segment of the Vikings fan base remains cynical and at best skeptical of coach Brad Childress and the team's chances if it makes the playoffs. That's not unusual in a market with this much scar tissue.

"I probably wouldn't say this if I was living in Minnesota," (former Vikings Todd) Steussie said. "But Vikings fans enjoy griping about a loss as much as they do celebrating a win. There's a level of mistrust that's been built in for generations.

"They still want to be fans. But at the same time, they're saying, 'I'm not going to let you guys get my hopes up just to have you burn me again.' "

Radio host Dan Barreiro said right beneath the surface of his callers' discontent is an implied feeling toward the Vikings that, "You guys still owe us, and it won't go away until you win the Super Bowl."

Amen. I am not going to rehash what happened in the latest Falcons fiasco (4 fumbles). Now it's down to the Giants game. They have to win. I will be attending the game with my friend Pete. I really appreciate him inviting me to this big game. I know this - outside of division rivals Green Bay and Chicago, no teams have provided more heartbreak to the Minnesota Vikings than Atlanta and the New York Giants. Well, the Falcons did their part today. The Giants are up next.

What follows next Sunday has the chance to be a part of Vikings lore. In the depths of my soul, I know the Viking-Giants game will be decided by the most shocking, unreal, unspeakable, unfathomable, physics-defying, nerve-wracking, gut-wrenching turn of events not seen in these parts for......at least a few weeks. It will be fun, but it may be hell.

If you have been watching the Vikings long enough, you know what's coming next Sunday. I hope I am wrong.

Jeff

A Few Things On My Mind....

I thought it may be a good time to put a couple of thoughts down on The Blog, as time is becoming short before the holidays. I am wrapping a few gifts this afternoon, which I still can not do very well. Almost to an inept, mentally incompetent level. In fact, as I have stated in the past, I could not wrap a gift well if my life literally depended on it. If a guy put a gun to my head and stated "I will blow your head off unless you wrap this gift so it looks pretty," I would be dead - killed on the spot. But I digress. Here is some stuff that I thought about while wrapping gifts:

1. Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. Does this guy have "smug ass-hole" written all over himself or what? His haircut just screams "ass-hole." He should be convicted of something just because of that haircut. That is all I have to say about that.

2. Vikings playoff chances. It is down to this: The Vikings play Atlanta and the New York Giants - both at home. The Chicago Bears play the Packers and the Houston Texans. If the Vikings win one game OR the Bears lose one game, the Vikings are NFC North Champions and are guaranteed of a home playoff game. Sounds pretty simple and easy, right? Then why am I so paranoid?

Well, let me tell you. First, the Vikings next opponent, the Atlanta Falcons, provided the Vikings with arguably the worst moment in their history (debatable, because there are many) - the 1998 NFC overtime championship game loss at the dome. Many people feel this loss surpassed even the 1975 "Drew Pearson push-off game," also a NFC Championship game, in "suck-wadness." The mere sight of the Falcons in the Metrodome gives me facial ticks. If the Vikings win on Sunday, it would help exercise some demons from that 1998 fiasco. If they lose, more facial ticks. If they do lose, they would have to beat the New York Giants.

Ahhhh, the New York Giants. Here is another squad that has given the Vikings fits over the years. How about the 41-0 loss to the underdog Giants in (you guessed it) the 2001 NFC Championship game? How about the 4th down-Phil Simms pass to keep a drive alive and eventually beat the Vikes at the buzzer in the Dome in a huge game in the late-80's? There is more, but I can't talk about it any more. The Vikings will have to beat one of these hated foes, and exercise a demon, to advance to the playoffs.

That is, however, unless the Bears lose. Hey Packers - how about doing the Vikes a favor by beating the Bears Monday night? Wouldn't it be great to literally end your fiercest rival's season? (By the way, I'm talking about the Bears here, not the Vikings). That would be nice, but I don't see it happening since the game is in Chicago. I'm also torn on this because I will be attending the Vikings-Giants game at the Dome with Pete on the 28th, and it certainly would be fun if that game meant something. It could also be the perfect set-up for the proverbial OTHER SHOE to drop, and more facial ticks on the drive home from the game. Yeah, I hope the Pack beats the Bears.

3. Wild Slumping. Yes, the Wild managed to beat the hapless Islanders last night 4-1, but there is something wrong with this squad. The lack of scoring is catching up with them. When you remove Brian Rolston, Pavol Demetria, Mark Parrish, etc., from last year's team (who also had trouble scoring) and replace them with more defense, the team is not going to score much. Those 2-1 early-season victories have turned into 2-1 mid-season defeats. It doesn't help, of course, the Marion Gaborik has been out most of the year with a "lower body injury." He's back now, but not at 100%.

Here's the thing. I think Wild fans are starting to get a little frustrated. I believe there was a sense the last couple of years that the Wild were starting to build something special, but have digressed a little this year. I believe the fans are frustrated with the loss of Rolston this year, and have a foreboding sense that this is Marion Gaborik's last year with the team. Two straight first-round playoff losses have not help matters, either. Lastly, I believe the fans are a bit bored with Jacques Lemaire's defensive, trapping style of play.

On the bright side, this is nothing that a few wins wouldn't cure. After all, the Wild have a history of slumping in December and then rebounding after the Holidays. The fan base may be frustrated, but they still show up and they still care, unlike another team in town. And, they still have a great arena, so what the hell.

4. Gophers beat #9th-ranked Louisville. I do believe Tubby has the Gopher basketball program on the right track. Many of you probably remember that Gopher basketball used to be one of the toughest tickets in town, before the scandals. If they keep playing like they did today, those tickets will, once again, be in high demand.

Who said I wasn't a positive guy?

That is all I have right now. Back to wrapping gifts.

Jeff

The Forgotten Quarterback

Nobody saw this coming. After a 1-3 start, the Minnesota Vikings have gone 8-2 in their last 10 games and are on top of the NFC North at 9-5. There have been some bumps along the way. Jared Allen's separated shoulder. The possible suspension of Pat and Kevin Williams. Now, the injury to Pat Williams.

And, of course, the benching of Tarvaris Jackson, the starting quarterback at the beginning of the season. Things were so bad after the first two weeks that head coach Brad Childress declared that 37-year-old journeyman Gus Frerotte would not only start game 3, but that he'd be the starter for the rest of the season. The Vikings started to win games under Frerotte, even though he is basically a statue in the pocket, a stationery target for the defense. Upon further review, it only makes sense that, by week 13, Old Man Frerotte would get injured. He has been hit so many times, he is lucky not to be in traction.

Which brings us back to Tarvaris Jackson, the young, mobile quarterback with the questionable throwing accuracy. I got used to seeing Jackson on the sidelines, hat on backwards, chewing gum, wearing headphones. He looked relatively happy not be be taking those shots that Gus was enduring. When Frerotte was injured against Detroit, however, it was once again Jackson's turn. He entered the game in the second half and calmly guided the Vikings on two touchdown drives and won the game. But that is against Detroit, right? My 6-year old daughter could have guided the Vikes to a couple of scores against the Lions, right ?(sorry Dools) What would happen in Tarvaris actually had to start a game, after the opposing team had a week to plan for him?

Well, the answer to that question came Sunday at Arizona. The Vikings, led by T-Jack, dismantled the Cardinals 35-14 (a possible entry into a parallel universe). Jackson went 11 of 17 for 163 yards with a career-best four touchdown passes and a 135.5 passer rating. Not bad. His mobility also added a dimension to the game that Frerotte could not offer.

I think I owe Jackson an apology. I've said some pretty bad things about his ability to start at quarterback in the National Football League. I've said that he is the second coming of Shaun King. I've said that he is not the smartest bulb on the tree (or something like that). Now, don't get me wrong - I realize that Jackson is not the second coming of Dan Marino. Six quarters does not make a career. And, there were a few factors in his favor that took place in the Arizona game. The Vikings took an early 21-0 lead, which meant T-Jack didn't have to play from behind. In addition, the Vikings running game was excellent, which kept Jackson's passes to a minimum.

However, I give credit to Jackson for, time and again, hitting big third down passes across the middle to keep the clock moving and keep the ball away from the Cardinals. I also give him credit for rallying the Vikings offense each time the Cardinals scored and crept back into the game. The biggest play was his touchdown pass to Bobby Wade after Arizona blocked a field-goal and returned it for a score to make it 28-14. If they go three-and-out after that block, it's a new game.

So, it looks like the Vikes may have a Quarterback controversy on their hands. I'm not sure that they can replace T-Jack right now after he has added a spark to the team. Football is an odd game and it's a long season. No question that the team had to go with Gus when they did, but it may be the time to hand the reigns back to Jackson.

What do you think?

Jeff

Remember When It Used To Snow?

"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas,just like the ones I used to know

Where the treetops glisten and children listen

to hear sleigh bells in the snow

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas,just like the ones I used to know

Where the treetops glisten and children listen

to hear sleigh bells in the snow"

It's December 14th, Christmas is 11 days away and I am looking out my window at......rain. Most of the northern half of Minnesota, however, is expecting anywhere from 6-12 inches of snow today because there is a sharp temperature contrast between here and there. Here in St. Paul, we're getting a cold, wet rain that is washing away the few inches of snow we've received up to this point, revealing dead grass and dirt spots on the lawn where the blow-up swimming pool used to be. Now, the weather terrorists like Paul Douglas (thank you, Dan Barreiro) have been screaming and prognosticating about this storm for the past week, first predicting 3-5 inches of snow for the Cities, then changing it to 1-3, and ending up with "a wintry mix." I have known in my heart all week that there would be no snow. Only cold, wet rain. Just so you know, I happen to like lots of snow before Christmas and look forward to oncoming storms. After Christmas, however, it can all go away as far as I am concerned.

Remember when it used to snow? Do you remember when we were guaranteed of not only a white Christmas, but a white Thanksgiving? Growing up, it seemed like we had several feet of snow before Christmas - more than enough for sledding, snowmen and an overall "Christmas feeling." I have brought this topic up to people at THE CHECK, and many of them have told me that "I was just shorter back then." Less snow seemed like more snow because I was shorter. I don't think so. I am convinced that, back in THE DAY, we had more snow.

So I consulted the magic of The Google. I looked up Twin Cities snow totals over the years, and here is what I found:
I realize that graph is hard to see, especially if you have eye sight like mine. The middle of the graph is the "median" Twin Cities snowfall over the years, which is right around 44 inches. Any bar above that line represents a year OVER that median, and bar below that line represents a year BELOW that median. Overall, I guess the graph indicates that there is still a good mix of "more and less" of the median snowfall amount.

However, I did find an interesting tidbit in this graph. Check out the years between 1970 and 1985 (if you can see them)! That span of 15 years, on average, had well-above the median 44 inches of snow.

I knew it! That period is when I, Old Man Thompson, grew up! There truly was more snow in those formative years of my youth - it didn't just seem that way because I was shorter.

So there. It doesn't really help me feel any better today, as I look out the window at the continuing rain. Maybe as the day wears on, the rain will change to snow and "Christmas the place up a bit."

Yep, and the Wild might score 10 goals in their next game.

Peace,

Jeff

Editors Note: Yep, at 4:30 P.M. its, you guessed it, snowing.

He Invented the Question Mark....

Dr. Evil talks about his father in group therapy.

Simply one of the best movie monologues of all-time.

He accused chestnuts of being lazy...

Jeff

Bad For Baseball

Seven years, one-hundred-and-sixty-one million dollar$. That is the contract that C.C Sabathia signed with (you guessed it) the New York Yankees today. Rumor has it that the Yankees are also prepared to offer pitcher A.J. Burnett a five-year deal in the range of $90 million dollars. Add this to the fact that last year, the Yankees had a payroll of $209 million dollars. It appears as if that total will increase significantly in 2009. Oddly enough, the Yanks finished 89-73 (1 game better than the $57-million payroll Twins) and 8 games out of first place, proving that money doesn't necessarily buy championships and that karma is real.

It appears that the news of the economic downtown has not reached the offices of the New York Yankees.

Now, I can't blame Sabathia for taking the Yankees offer. After all, it was $60 million more than the next best offer of $100 million from his former team, the Milwaukee Brewers. Part of me wishes, however, that a guy like Sabathia would say "Hey, I really enjoyed Milwaukee and we made the playoffs with a very good young team. I think I'll take the $100 mil and stay where I'm loved." This, to me, is like looking at a plate of a dozen doughnuts and saying, "I think I'll eat just 8 doughnuts instead of all 12." You're going to be full either way, and probably won't get sick.

I realize this is a pipe dream, folks. It will never happen. Sure, back in THE DAY, Kirby Puckett and Kent Hrbek took less to stay with the Twins, where they won World Championships and were considered local heroes. That was back when the contract they accepted was worth $6 mil rather than $7 mil that New York or Boston offered. Chump change, right? That was back in the the day in which the rest of baseball wasn't necessarily a minor league for a handful of East and West coast teams. Or the Cubs, which is irrelevant because they are cursed.

Folks, this contract is bad for baseball. I'm not saying the Yankees are guaranteed to win the next 10 World Series Championships, because that is not the issue. There are teams that draft better talent and play the game better than the Yankees. The issue is that this contract sets the "new bar" for elite free agents. And The Bar just keeps on rising. I thought Armageddon was upon us when Johan Santana was offered $130 mil for 6 years by the New York Mets. Well, one year later, that contract is eclipsed by $30 million. When is this going to stop?

Baseball is the last professional sport with absolutely no salary cap. Football, hockey and basketball have figured out that a salary cap, while not perfect, is good for their respective sports. Baseball has not been successful in implementing a cap, however, largely because the players union is second in power to only God Himself. The players union is not going to settle for a salary cap as long as teams are willing to offer players contracts like the Yankees offered C.C Sabathia today.

I believe these types of contracts will lead to another work stoppage, probably a lockout by the owners, until the situation can be remedied. Just like what happened in hockey. I understand that baseball is in much better financial shape than hockey, but I don't know if that will be true in 5 years. Particularly if the economy does not turn around. This is why teams like the Yankees are ultimately hurting baseball. You see, baseball is not a true "free market" competition. While the Yankees are trying to eliminate their competition ON the field, they actually NEED their competition OFF of the field. The Yankees NEED the Twins, Tigers, Indians, Rays, etc., just as they need the Red Sox. That is, unless baseball wants a 6-team league. In addition, a team like the Twins cannot decide to compete in the Yankees lucrative market, like other business can. They can't say, "Hey, we want a piece of that New York media pie and it's 19-million population." It's simply not "true" free market competition.

That is why I truly believe baseball needs to get with the other 3 major leagues and implement a salary cap. Otherwise, the sport is headed for big trouble.

Jeff

Wittman Fired;McHale in as Coach (Round II)

Things aren't going so well for the Timberwolves this year. Kevin McHale now takes over as coach to try and right the ship with the team he assembled.

Good luck.

Escape From Detroit

Well, that was terrifying. Vikes win, 20-16. I really thought they were going to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and lose to the 0-12 Lions today. The Lions played inspired ball, considering they had nothing to play for.

For those of you who might not be reading this post from the Minnesota/Wisconsin area, I realize that I, and most Viking fans, sound like paranoid cynics. That is because we are all paranoid cynics. And with good reason - the Vikings have blown more big games, often against horrible foes, than most NFL teams. There have been books written on this subject. I called tony8489 during the game and he made a good point, however. Maybe the Lions bad luck trumps the Vikings bad luck. That is probably true.

If I were to give out game balls today, one goes to Jared Allen, who nearly had his knees taken out by a Detroit rookie offensive lineman. I'm don't believe the guy was trying to injure Allen, but you can't take out a player's knees like that. Allen went out for a series and then came back and played hurt with a vengeance. This guy is a throwback to the 60's/70's mentality of "you play unless you are hospitalized." It nice to see is this era of sports (see M. Gaborik).

The other game ball would go to the forgotten QB - one Tarvaris Jackson. Jackson was sitting on the sidelines listening to his iPod and eating Cheetos when Gus Frerotte went down with an injury. Although his hasn't played since week 2, he came in and calmly guided the Vikings on 2 touchdown drives. He was 8 of 10 for 105 yards and a TD. He just might have resurrected his career with that performance.

The Vikes should win the division with one more victory. Here's hoping T-Jack has some more life in his arm, and that U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson delays any more legal decisions for a few more months.

By the way - do you know who the Detroit Lion in that picture up top is? That is ex-Viking safety Dwight ("I'm just sitting in my car smoking pot, officer") Smith. He's probably high as a kite in that picture.

Peace,

Jeff

A Few Observations

Here are a couple of thoughts on a cold Saturday night.....

1. Jase and I attended the Wild game last night against the hated Vancouver Canucks. Vancouver won 2-1, took over first place from the Wild and, to make matters worse, Jase and I were in the beer line when the Wild scored their lone goal. The game was still a lot of fun, however, as they always are. I couldn't help but think throughout the game that the Wild could benefit from the services of one Mary Ann Gaborik, but he is still out (of course) with a "lower body injury" sustained while playing hackey sack (100% truth).

I don't want to talk about Gaborik, however. I want to talk about an odd trend that continued last night. The trend is that no matter what game I attend - Wild, Twins, Vikings, Wolves (hypothetically), or Gophers - I am guaranteed to sit right next to fans of the opposing team. This happens without fail. And, sure enough, Jase and I sat right next to 4 Canucks fans visiting town from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Now, I know what you are thinking. You are thinking that, to be fans of an evil team like Vancouver, these guys must have been real pricks, bordering on Satanists. That is what I thought, too. I have found that most fans of the opposing team are ass-holes, particularly Chicago Bear fans. Well, too my surprise, these guys turned out to be 4 of the nicest guys you could ever meet. It turns out they adopted Vancouver as their team after the Winnipeg Jets left for the hockey hotbed of Phoenix a few years back.

We actually hung out with these guys at the Liffy after the game and they bought us a beer. They were very complimentary towards the Wild, their fans, and the Xcel Energy Center. One of them used to cheer for the North Stars, for God's sake. I guess it just goes to show you that if Wild fans and Vancouver fans can get along, there might just be hope for this world after all.

By the way, if the NHL wants to get serious, the league must admit that it is a regional, northern sport and put teams back in Winnipeg, Quebec and Hamilton. To accomplish this, they should move Nashville, Florida and Atlanta's teams to those Canadian cities. Hockey in those southern cities is a joke.

2. Tonight at Target Center, the 4-14 Timberwolves take on the 3-16 Los Angeles Clippers. Do you think there are still tickets available?

3. Lastly, I see that Pat and Kevin Williams have been given a reprieve by a federal judge in St. Paul and will be allowed to play against the Lions this Sunday. There is also speculation that they will be able to play the rest of this year. Now, I have asked myself how I would feel about this whole thing if these were not Viking players. On one side, I blame the Williams boys for taking any type of supplement that was not clearly approved by the league. That is a huge risk to themselves and their team's fortunes. On the other side, it sounds like they took steps through their physicians and by calling league offices to try and surmise if the supplement was acceptable and they did not receive an answer from either source. If the NFL is going to start suspending players with no pay for 4 games, they had better develop a list that is clear - beyond a doubt - of what supplements are acceptable and not acceptable. If you want to read a good article on the subject by Patrick Ruesse, certainly no Viking apologist, here it is.

So, Pat and Kevin will be allowed to play against Detroit on Sunday. This is a game the Vikings should win by 21 points. Anyone who has followed the Viking franchise knows, however, that this is the type of game that they blow. On the road against a divisional opponent, a week of distractions with the legal case, ex-Viking QB starting for the other team. I must say that I am getting bad vibes.

I will say this - if the Vikings cannot beat the 0-12 Detroit Lions on Sunday, they have no business claiming they should be NFC North division champs and they have no business making the playoffs.

That is all for now.

Jeff

Only the Vikings.

There is only one team in professional sports that could do this.

Only the Minnesota Vikings could go 7-3 after a 0-2 start, take over 1st place in their division, and then have 2 of their best players suspended for using a banned diuretic.

Only the Minnesota Vikings could handily defeat their bitter rivals on national television, take over sole possession of 1st place, and then have 2 of their best players suspended for using a banned diuretic.

Only the Minnesota Vikings, on the SAME DAY their owner declared "...glad to see things are falling into place the way we envisioned it" and their last victory "...was really a turning point for our franchise," could have 2 of their best players suspended for using a banned diuretic.

They will let you down every time, these Minnesota Vikings. This is why I waited before writing a beaming review of their well-played victory over the Bears. The proverbial, unavoidable "OTHER SHOE" had not yet dropped.

Well, it dropped today.

You heard it here first:

Detroit - 26
Vikings - 20.

Peace.

Jeff

The Blog.....Two Year Anniversary (!?)

I was going to talk about the Viking victory over the hated Bears until I realized that today, December 1st, 2008, is the two-year anniversary of What Jeff Thinks. Yes, it is true. I will post some thoughts about the game later this week, once it has been determined if Kevin and Pat Williams have been suspended by the NFL.

December 1, 2006 to December 1, 2008. Two years of Sasquatch speculation, incorrect sports prognostications, visions, talking politics out of both sides of my mouth, rumors, innuendo, stadium talk etc. I have to admit that I wasn't sure if the blog would last this long. I also have to admit that I have been getting a little lazy with my writing recently. My nights are filled with the kid's homework and other tasks these days and I am usually asleep by 9:30 so I am fresh for THE CHECK each morning. There is just not as much time to put all of my thoughts in writing.

Now, if some of you are starting to get worried (or excited) that I am thinking of shutting this blog down - don't worry. I have to keep this thing going for sanity reasons. After all, I have to complain about the Vikings/Gophers/Twins/Wolves/Wild/Packers/Bears/White Sox/Yankees/Red Sox/Canucks/Avs/Flames (and so on) to somebody. This thing serves a mental health purpose for me.

I also really enjoy reader comments. When I write a post at night, I look forward to waking up in the morning to see what comments might have been added. I have to admit I am a little bummed when there is none. I'd also like to thank the regular readers - tony8489, CR, Tito, The Pantless Wonder, Neil K., snyde043, Free, Dave M., KSue., Jase, Gilby, dools, Phil, Paul F., Jerry, Roger, Uncle Rob, Pete, Shane.......etc. Sorry if I forgot anyone! Thanks for taking the time to check the blog out.

I also would like to thank all of the "Anonymous" commenter's out there who take the time to leave a message. If you don't want to add your name, that's cool.

Lastly, in honor of the two-year anniversary of What Jeff Thinks, I told my daughter that she could pick out any picture and I would add it to this post. She thought about it, and here is what she decided: So there you go. Two years and counting...

Jeff