Question

Am I the only one that feels more and more like Red Foreman from That '70's Show with each passing day?

It Was A Nice Run

Well, the Wild succumbed to the Ducks in the playoffs, 4 games to 1. I believe they lost to a better team. All in all, it was a great year. They finished in 2nd place in the tough Northwest Division with 104 points. I got to attend some great games. And, as I've stated previously, it was a bad draw for the Wild, probably the worst match up possible. So, congratulations to the Disney Ducks.

I will say this, however (you knew there was going to be more). I believe one huge reason the NHL is having problems is something they cannot do much about: teams in non-hockey markets continue to do well while teams in traditional markets struggle. Proud Canadian teams like Toronto, Calgary & Montreal have gone years, if not decades without a Stanley Cup. Vancouver has never won a Cup. Teams from Northern American cities with long hockey traditions such as Chicago, Minnesota & Boston have not won a Cup in decades. However, teams from Carolina and Tampa frickin' Bay have won Stanley Cups within the last couple of years. Now, Anaheim could quite possibly win a Cup in 2007. Now, I am a big hockey advocate, and I'm glad the sport is doing better in some of these southern and sun belt cities. And, this is not meant to be a knock on these teams. They have done a great job.

What upsets me is that fans from Canadian cities and many northern American cities (St. Paul) grow up playing the game of hockey, watching it consistently and selling out their arenas. These sun belt teams play to 50-75% capacity, and then show up when the team makes the playoffs. When team like Anaheim plays in the Stanley cup finals, nobody cares. Their cities do not have the understanding of the game and the long-term following. Brian Burke, GM of the Ducks, was on Sid's radio show last Sunday, and admitted that they are behind the Dodgers, Angels, Lakers, Clippers, UCLA Basketball and Football, and USC Basketball and Football in coverage in the LA market. Nobody cares. And next year, if the Ducks fall in the standings, they will play to 50% capacity. Overall, that is bad for the NHL.

Oh well, it's probably just sour grapes on my part. I needed a little bit of a rant, which was fueled by emotion and the couple of beers I had during the game. Like I said, it was a nice run for the Wild.

Now, I'll just sit back and wait for the Anaheim - Tampa Bay Stanley Cup final.

Jeff

Game With Son - Priceless

Every so often, I am lucky enough to attend a sporting event that falls into the category of "I Will Remember For The Rest Of My Life." For me, this category includes the 1980 Kramer to Rashad hail-mail pass at the Old Met that sealed the Central Division for the Vikings, mid '80's North Stars - Blackhawks playoff games, Twins playoff games, and Cal Ripkin's 3000th hit at the Dome. The Wild made also made my list when I attended my first-ever playoff game at the X in 2003, a 5-1 victory over Vancouver in front of a frenzied crowd. Now there is a new chapter to my "Remember Forever" list:

April 17th, 2007. Xcel Energy Center. Game #4 - Stanley Cup Quarterfinals. Wild 4, Ducks 1.

I attended the game with my eldest son, a 5th grader who loves hockey and the Wild. Admittedly, the Wild were in a bad position, down 3 games to 0 against a foe that seemed to be playing at a higher level. The Wild could have laid down for this game, and gotten out the golf clubs for the summer a little early. However, they showed some cahones and came out flying and gave the standing-room only crowd of over 19,000 their best effort of the year. The Wild came out and whipped the Ducks 4 - 1. True, they are still down 3 games to 1, but at least they gave the Ducks something to think about as the series moves back to hockey tradition-rich Anaheim, California.

But, back to the game. The atmosphere in the arena was more like a high school game between bitter rivals. I won't give you the play by play of the entire game, because that is available in any newspaper. What made this game so special is that I was able to experience it with my son, and see the look on his face throughout the contest. It reminded me of the MasterCard commercial:

2 Wild Playoff Tickets: $120
Nachos, pop and a beer: $15
Program: $2
Experience the game with your son: Priceless

I heard my son yell and scream at the Ducks like I've never heard him scream before. Pronger was "The Sasquatch." I heard him yell encouragement to the Wild players. He waved his "Wild Towel" throughout the game and out the window on the car ride home. And, I found out that he really doesn't like refs (don't know where that came from?!). After a Wild goal was disallowed by a mythical "in the crease" penalty (one of the many truly horrible calls in the game) I heard my son chant the following word, in unison, with over 19,000 people:

BULL - SHIT, BULL - SHIT, BULL - SHIT, BULL - SHIT

I have never heard him swear before. If he would said these words at home or at school, I would have been very disappointed, and given him a long-winded lecture. However, at the X with 19,000 other people? I don't see a problem (sorry mom!). Plus, let's face the facts, it was a bull-shit call.


I hope my son can now start his "I Will Remember For The Rest Of My Life" game list and his brother and sister will follow later with their lists. I am proud, however, that we will share this game on our respective lists, and I am part of his life-long memories.

Peace, and Go Wild!

Jeff

Sagging

In keeping up with the proud history of the Minnesota Vikings, yet another player was arrested early Sunday morning in downtown Minneapolis. This time, it was Cornerback Cedric Griffin who was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct. Here is the story from today's St. Paul Pioneer Press:

Vikings cornerback Cedric Griffin has a Friday date in Hennepin County court after being arrested early Sunday in downtown Minneapolis on a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct. According to the Hennepin County Sheriff's jail roster, Griffin was booked at 2:05 a.m. and released at 4:45 a.m. after posting $50 bail. Two witnesses told KSTP-TV that Griffin was thrown out of the Spin nightclub for not pulling up his pants. The club has a dress code requiring that pants not sag below the waist. The witnesses said Griffin then scuffled with bouncers and police before being taken away in handcuffs.

Griffin, 24, came to the Vikings last season as a second-round draft choice out of Texas and started seven games. He made 42 tackles and intercepted two passes. He replaced Fred Smoot at right cornerback for the Nov. 12 game against Green Bay and is expected to open the 2007 season at that position. Griffin's agent, Brian Overstreet, said he had no knowledge of the incident. A Vikings spokesman said the team had no comment. Because this is Griffin's first arrest since entering the NFL, he likely will not face disciplinary action under the league's new personal conduct policy until after the case is resolved.

Arrested for "not pulling up his pants." Think about that. What we have here is an adult male (reportedly) who refused to pull up his pants in a public place of business. I learned today on the radio that this practice of wearing your pants low, halfway between your waist and knees is called "sagging." This exposes the boxers, which the chicks apparently dig. Now, I am not really up the latest hip-hop jargon or fashion, and I have always thanked God that I was too old for "sagging." Now, I lived through feathered hockey hair (some people call them mullets), preppy boat shoes, Member's Only jackets (I had a tan one), huge 80's glasses, etc., but "sagging" takes the cake. Sagging is generally associated with the inner-city urban hip-hop crowd. I wouldn't say it is race specific, or even location-specific. I've seen plenty of white kids from Woodbury with their North Carolina hats cocked sideways, slumped over while driving their mommy and daddy's $45,000 car trying to look "gangsta." That is nothing short of pathetic. So while it is not race or location specific, sagging is "stupid specific." But, I digress. Let's get back to Mr. Griffin.

The Vikings are living under the misconception that there is a "new code of conduct" on the team. Gone are the thugs like Randy Moss, but are things getting better? Where are the Vikings and the rest of the NFL, for that matter, finding their "talent?" It is a belief of mine that the NBA has gone insane, and the NFL is trying it's best to catch up. Check out the Vikings, ALL of the Bengals, Pac-Man Jones, etc. etc. etc. Speaking of Pac-Man Jones, he is Exhibit A1 of what happens when you actually combine players from the NBA and NFL. Pac-Man (NFL guy) was in Las Vegas for the NBA all-star game, and he almost burned the town down single-handily. Add the NBA players and their posse's and I surprised there is a building left standing in Vegas. Anyway, I'm digressing again.

Why, on average, are NFL and NBA players getting in so much trouble compared to the NHL and Major League Baseball? Not to say players from those sports are 100% innocent. However, hockey and baseball players are getting into trouble FAR less than the NFL and NBA. Well. here is one thing that I don't see as a major factor - race. Race is far too convenient an explanation, and discredits all of the outstanding minority individuals in sports who provide an excellent example of character for today's youth. Torii Hunter, Dave Winfield and Alan Page are great examples of this in Minnesota. There are good and bad people of all races. Then what is it? Why are NBA and NFL players getting in so much trouble compared to the other sports. Here is what I think:

1. The hip-hop and rap culture. This is not just "music," it's a lifestyle. Many of these players in the NFL and NBA are raised in this lifestyle. Rap glorifies violence, guns, drugs and crime. Live fast, die young. Why, I'd even go so far as to say that rap is more dangerous and detrimental to inner city youth (and whoever else subscribes to this lifestyle) than Don Imus (sarcasm). What happens when you give a 21-year old from the rap lifestyle millions of dollars overnight? Pac Man Jones happens.

2. The instant gratification of the NFL and NBA. Kids realize early on that to reach the NHL or Major League Baseball, you most likely have to go through the minor leagues. You get to play in Iowa, or Nebraska, ride buses, and you get $9 dollars a day meal money. And, you play in front of a couple hundred people each night. Television? Probably not. In the NFL, "kids" are drafted earlier and earlier and given immense signing bonuses right off the bat. Many basketball players stay in college for a year or two before turing pro, or just go straight from high school. The minors? Hell, no. How about starting on opening night on national television! The trouble is, many of these kids don't live up to the hype and fail miserabley (J.R. Rider). They have quite a bit of money to blow, however. What happens then? Pac Man Jones happens then.

3. Now, I realize that an easy answer to this is that hockey is a very expensive sport to play, and generally not played in the inner city. However, baseball is not that expensive. Why aren't inner city youths playing baseball like they used to? This is an ever-growing question that is the subject of a book by Dave Winfield. Once again, baseball is not as sexy or high scoring as basketball. Why not as sexy? See # 1 and #2.

To me, these are the biggest reasons for the issues in the NBA and NFL today. They are not the only reasons, however. Let me know what you think. In short, the older I get, the more I find myself moving away from pro basketball and football. It has nothing to do with wins or losses - I can't identify with the players anymore. Maybe if I bought me a North Carolina hat and started sagging.......

Peace,

Jeff

Google 2084

I was reading The Greet Machine this morning, which is a daily event for me. There is no better source for stadium updates, ballpark conversation, etc. There's a few anti-stadium wing- nuts that barge on to the site and provide some good humor, too, through their anger and bitterness. That is not what I'm going to talk about today, however. Shane put a link to a New York Times cartoon entitled Google 2084 on his site. I thought it was pretty funny, and possibly quite accurate. Now, I will probably not be around in 2084 to see if this comic comes true (unless the Zocor really does the job!). I'd be 118, for God's sakes. Anyway, here it is. Let me know what YOU think:

Crap

A couple of weeks ago, Lou Nanne was asked on a local radio show for his opinion on what team would be the worst match-up for the Wild in round 1 of the NHL playoffs. His answer was "The Anaheim Ducks." Among the reasons are the Ducks outstanding defense, goaltending and overall size advantage. Go figure that the Wild has their best season in their brief history, and draw - The Ducks. Now after 2 late night games, the Wild return to St. Paul down 2 games to 0. Not where they want to be. The games have been fairly entertaining and the Ducks fans seem into the games now that they have been alerted that a hockey team plays in the area. I'm sure that hockey instruction books are handed out to the fans as they pass through the gates so they call learn what icing, offsides and other rules mean. Enough said about that (for now).

The Wild have gone toe-to-toe with the Ducks, and Niklas Backstrom has been outstanding in goal. He has had to stand on his head at times to keep the Wild in the games. The Wild have only managed 3 goals in the 2 games but has only given up 5. Here is the tell-tale statistic, however, of why the Wild are in a 0-2 hole:

They are 0 for 10 on the power play.

Special teams often decide a playoff series, and when you don't score with the man-advantage, you're not going to win. Meanwhile, the Ducks haven't been a scoring machine either, but they have been able to convert on a couple of important power plays.

Now, the series shifts back to St. Paul and the Xcel Energy Center, where hockey is actually played and understood. I will be attending game #4 on Tuesday with the eldest son. He's fired up. I certainly hope that the Wild is not down 0-3 by that time. They are going to have to start scoring more than 1 or 2 goals a game, however.

Peace,

Jeff

Twins Stadium Designs

Today was a Big Day. Now that the land has been secured for the new Twins stadium, the designs of the ballpark were made public. I have been waiting for this for 10 LONG years. Now, I'm not going to get too giddy yet because there is a "small issue" with moving some railroad tracks, so nothing is OFFICIAL. And I fully expect Chief Hiawatha's bones to be discovered while excavating the site, and the land will be declared Holy and untouchable. So, until I see a hole being dug and metal beams being hoisted, I will remain paranoid. However, things are looking good. Even Sid says so.

The Twins unveiled several new designs of the stadium today, and put them on display at the Government Center in downtown Minneapolis. Here are some of those designs. Just the mere fact that there is not a teflon roof over the place is wonderful. And, rumor has it, the seats will actually face the infield, unlike the Metrodome!

The ballpark will be intimate with a 40,000 seating capacity. The design has been compared to Wrigley Field and Fenway Park in size, feel and urban setting. There will also be a "Minnesota feel" with rows of pine trees behind the center field wall and a limestone exterior. Gates will be marked with famous players numbers such as "34, 3, 14 & 29," with life-sized statues of those players near the entrances. There will be many more updates to come. It's off to a great start, however. Ok, I'm a little giddy. Here are some of the other initial designs: