Merry Christmas!

December 23rd weather update - The forecast for the Twin Cities calls for a Christmas snow storm that, according to the National Weather Service, could "rival the Halloween storm of 1991." Wcco.com is calling it "Snowmageddon." I guess we could get more than a foot of the stuff. I am actually looking forward to being holed-up with the family with nowhere to go. We've got egg nog, beer, etc. It should be a good time! Anyway, on to my original post:

First of all, I'd like to thank all of you who have sent us a Christmas card this year. We've received some wonderful cards from people once again this year. After sending out a card last year with a picture of the kids at a Twins game, we took this year off from sending a card. I apologize for the laziness. We'll start up again with a card next year. There is even a venue opening in April of 2010 where a guy could take a nice family photo.

Anyway, Merry Christmas to all of you out there! I hope 2009 was a great year and 2010 will be even better!

Jeff

Vikings Play Like Crap. Vikings Win Division.

People have accused me of being a cynic when it comes to the Minnesota Vikings. I always expect the worst. Why?

Because I have watched them for 40 years. They drive me bat-shit crazy.

In those 40 years, I have rarely witnessed as gutless a performance as I saw tonight against an injured, nothing-to-play-for Panthers team. Something called Matt Moore passed for 300 yards against the Vikes and looked like Johnny Unitas. Pathetic.

On a side note, the Vikings won the division because the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Packers on the last play of the game. Good for them.

I do know this - the Vikings better not play like they did against the Cardinals and Panthers when they get to the playoffs. If they do, they will not beat anybody.

They drive me absolutely crazy.

Wild Gear Burned. Sabotage????

The Minnesota Wild have been hot lately (pardon the pun). After a slow start, they have won 10 of their last 13 games, many of those on the road. So after beating hated Montreal on Thursday they made the trip to play hated Ottawa tonight. That is where the mystery begins.

While practicing in Ottawa on Friday, there was a "truck fire" in which the Wild lost much of their equipment. Some players lost all of their equipment - pads, skates, etc. Here is a list of "who lost what" from Michael Russo's Startribune blog. So now, the Wild have to play the Senators tonight will all new, non-broken-in equipment, probably purchased at a local second-hand shop like Play It Again Sports.

Here is more from Russo's blog on the bizarre incident:

The Wild practiced at the Kanata Rec Center this afternoon in suburban Ottawa. After a short drive back to the Scotiabank place, trainers apparently got out in the parking lot and noticed the back smoky. When they opened up the back of the truck, much of the equipment was on fire.

Firefighters were called to put out the blaze, but much was destroyed. Police are investigating the cause of the fire, but equipment trainers have no clue.

"It was a five-minute drive," said bewildered head equipment trainer Tony DaCosta.

Something is fishy here. You'd expect something like this to happen to the Vikings (right before the NFC Championship game), not the Wild. Very strange. I hope the Ottawa police continue to look into this.

I did take a moment to check the NHL schedule and I noticed that Vancouver played Washington last night so I can't blame them. I wouldn't put this sabotage past anyone on that team. I noticed, however, that Calgary was off on Friday. I think the Ottawa police should check into the whereabouts of some of their players during the day on Friday. You know, corroborate stories - Sherlock Holmes stuff. I also wouldn't put this sabotage past any of those Calgary players.

Assholes.

Jeff

Can Minnesota Support 4 Pro Teams?

The media outfit known as Portfolio.com, part of the company that includes the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal, just did a study of communities with professional sports teams. They wanted to find how many teams certain communties could support based on the communities "total personal income." Here is a MSP Business Journal story about the study.

The findings were not surprising. It was determined that many cities, including Minneapolis-St. Paul, are overextended in their ability to support 4 professional teams (and throw in Gopher sports) based on the total personal income in the area. Using their methodology, the authors of report determined that the total personal income of the MSP-St. Paul area was $154.59 billion in 2008, $43.13 billion short of what would be need to adequately support 4 teams (i.e. buying tickets, suites, etc.). If you want to view the chart for all cities here it is. And we are not alone in this assessment. Cleveland, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Tampa, Detroit and Denver are in over their heads with their ability to support their teams (not necessarily 4 teams - it could even be 1).

The reason this is relevant is, of course, the Vikings campaign for a new stadium. Being a fan of the team, I'd like them to stay even if it means skyrocketing blood-pressure levels for me. What happens, however, if a brand new shiny stadium is built for the Vikings, complete with 60-75 luxury suites. If so, the Twin Cities population would have the opportunity (and need) to support the new Vikes stadium, Target Field, Target Center, Xcel Energy Center, TCF Bank Stadium, Williams Arena & Mariucci Arena. I have to admit that I don't believe this can be accomplished, even in good economic times, let alone the shit-storm that we are experiencing now. What does all of this mean?

It means we have to give somebody the Timberwolves - and quick.

Anyone - who wants them? Seattle just lost the Sonics. How would they like to take the Wolves?? Losing the Vikings and retaining the Timberwolves is akin to keeping the moldy mayonnaise in the refrigerator but throwing out the sirloin steak. I don't think anybody would even notice that the Wolves were gone. The Vikings and Twins are state institutions, and the Wild has a rabid following in the State of Hockey. The Gophers can't leave.

If that study is correct, we are going to lose a team eventually. Folks, it simply has to be the Wolves. Who wants them?

Jeff

Sasquatch Update - Bemidji, U.S.A.

I was at THE CHECK today when I was alerted by both Freealonzo and CD about the latest Sasquatch sighting - this time in nearby Bemidji, Minnesota. I, of course, had already heard about the sighting because I have an alarm on my computer that goes off when Bigfoot is in the news.

Let's see what this is all about. According to startribune.com article, Tim Kedrowski, a salesman from Rice, Minnesota, set up a motion sensor camera on his hunting ground near Leech Lake back in October and caught this image. Here is what Kedrowski had to say:

"I can't sit here and tell you I'm a 100 percent believer, but I'm a little less skeptical than I was before. You don't go deer hunting looking for this kind of thing."

Who knows - maybe you do. Kedrowski remained skeptical of the photograph until he contacted members of the Northern Minnesota Bigfoot Research Team (NMBRT) who compared the image to one of an alleged Bigfoot photo taken years ago in California and found that the features were "identical."

Folks, all this tells me is that they sell the same ape suit at Spencer Gift in Bemidji, Minnesota AND California.

While I appreciate keeping the Sasquatch lore alive and well in the news, these people have got to get better costumes if they are going to try and fake this stuff for their "15 minutes of fame." This is a guy in a bad ape suit, for Cliff's sake. Or a drunk in dark clothing stumbling through the woods from his way home from the Bemidji bars. Unless Sasquatch wears grey gloves. I'd take the Jack Links version over this hoax.

Remember those wing-nuts down in Georgia (redundant) who had the "frozen" body of a Bigfoot in a freezer? That was an ape suit with a Cornelius mask from the Planet of the Apes. I called that, by the way, because I am not a Sasquatch novice. I know when to tell a fake when I see one. I am surprised the guys from NMBRT would even waste their time with this one.

Lest we forget, here is the real thing. I had to throw that in because of all of the ridiculous fakes lately. Oh, well. One of these days........

Jeff

Nightmare Scenario - #2. NFL To End Revenue Sharing

I have written about the Vikings stadium issues many times. The Vikings continue to ask for $750 million in public funds towards a new $1 billion dollar stadium. There seems to be a "perfect storm" brewing on this front that is working against the Vikings stadium cause. Here are some things to consider:

1. Los Angeles still seems to be on pace to build a privately-financed NFL stadium. Somehow, someway, a billionaire named Ed Roski Jr. is going to fund a $1 billion dollar stadium with private funds.

2. The state of Minnesota has a 1.2 billion dollar deficit. Hospitals and schools are in need of funding. Unemployment is at it's highest level in decades. How does a state raise money for a football stadium in this economic environment?

3. The Vikings stadium lease ends after the 2011 season.

4. The state already has already contributed nearly $600 million towards the new Twins and Gophers stadiums over the past 3 years.

5. And now, in their infinite wisdom, the NFL owners want to end the $100 million revenue sharing plan after this season.

Number 5 is especially horrible news for the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings have some of the lowest revenue totals in the league due to their stadium situation, so they are the recipient of millions of dollars from many of the other teams in the NFL. Without this money or a new stadium, it's unlikely that the Vikings could exist in Minnesota.

Personally, I don't see any way the Legislature will even bring this topic up in the next session. And, is it even "moral" to use public money (nearly a billion dollars of it) to pay for a sports stadium in this economy? Then again, there is no question that the Vikings are part of the fabric on Minnesota, and the #1 sports entity in the state. To lose them now is to lose them forever.

I hate to say it, but gambling funds may be the only way to keep this team in Minnesota. Gambling funds are an cynical way of funding a stadium. Gambling, however, is "everywhere" in Minnesota and those that argue that "we can't expand gambling" are about 10 years too late. It would be interesting to see what the outcome would be if this funding source was put to a public vote. Unfortunately, it may be the only thing that saves this team.

22 home games and counting......

Jeff

Nightmare Scenario

**Quick note - today is the official 3rd Anniversary of What Jeff Thinks. I wasn't sure it would last 3 weeks, but we made it through 3 years! Thank you, that is all.

So the Vikings are 10-1. Everyone is feeling good. Brett Favre is an MVP candidate. Jerod Allen is the funniest guy in football and making people forget about the Purple People Eaters. Adrian Peterson fumbles but who cares because the Vikings are so far in the lead it doesn't matter. Percy Harvin is the Steal Of the Draft (SOD) and could be rookie of the year. Sidney is new Jerry Rice. Everything is peachy, right? The only question left to answer is whether the Vikings will wear home purple or road white in the Super Bowl.

Well, I wouldn't be doing my job on What Jeff Thinks if I didn't throw a little water on this fire. I have a Nightmare Scenario that I conjured up. I also had a phone conversation with tony8489 and he had the same nightmare scenario. You see, tony and I have been watching the Vikings since the 1970's, and have witnessed first-hand The Hammer drop at some time every year. You know, the proverbial Other Shoe. Every year. If you are a true Vikings fan, the Hammer (i.e. Other Shoe) is always in the back of your mind.

I am not going recount all of the Other Shoes that have occurred over the years because I have to be to church on Sunday. The one that really did it for me, however, was Gary Anderson "Wide Left" in 1998. You know what I'm talking about. Enough said. After that, I felt that if the 1998 Vikings did not win the Super Bowl, it ain't going to happen.

And then came 2009.

I have to admit that I have drank the purple kool-aid. I bought a Jared Allen shirt. I now arrange my Sunday's around the game again. Good thing church is in the morning. Could this be the year? Things seem "different." The Vikings seem "competent" on both sides of the ball and on special teams. They have good guys on the team instead of criminals. They have Brett frickin' Favre at Quarterback which suggests that we are squarely placed in a parallel universe right now (which is exactly what it might take for the Vikes to win in all!).

This brings up the aforementioned "Nightmare Scenario." It does not involve Brett Favre getting injured - too easy. We'd have an excuse, then. It does not even involve losing the New Orleans Saints - too easy. The Saints may go undefeated and losing to them wouldn't even be embarrassing. This "Nightmare Scenario" involves the Green Bay Packers.

Right now, the NFL is divided between a few great teams (Saints, Colts, Vikings) and too many horrible teams to even mention. There are, however, a few "good" teams that will qualify as Wild-Cards in the playoffs. I believe Green Bay is one of these teams. Folks, I believe in my heart that the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers will meet, once again, at the Metrodome in the playoffs. These teams have played twice this year, and the Vikes have won both games. We all know the old adage that it's nearly impossible to beat a team three times in one year. My nightmare scenario involves the Wild-Card Packers ending the Vikings and Brett Favre's season in the playoffs at the Metrodome. This would even be revenge for the Randy Moss "Moon Game" in the playoffs at Lambeau a few years back.

Now, a big reason that I am putting this out there in print is that my sports predictions and "visions" usually do not come true (i.e. the Cleveland Indians winning the AL Central in '09). Nobody is talking about this, however. Everybody is talking about a Minnesota-New Orleans NFC Championship game and whether or not it would be at the Metrodome or Superdome. That is the cart before the horse.

A Vikings loss, with Favre at QB, to the Packers would be the perfect blend of humiliation, horror and disbelief for Viking fans. It would fit perfectly into Viking "lore." It could possibly be even worse than "Gary Anderson Wide Left." I hope this doesn't happen, but I just had to put it out there. Kind of makes you think, doesn't it?

The question left to be answered is this: What is stronger - the crush of Viking "lore" or Brett Favre's "parallel universe?" We'll see.

Jeff