I Don't Know Who Will Win, But I Do Know This...

You may have heard that the Vikings play the Packers on Sunday. Yes, Brett Favre is returning to Lambeau for the first time since leaving (or being asked to leave) the Packers. It would be a huge game even if Favre wasn't the main story line, as the NFC North title will most likely come down to one of these two teams.

I have to admit, however, that I really don't enjoy watching Viking-Packer games. Never have. I normally look forward to them like a root canal. Hey, they are great games and generally have vast importance in the NFC North. Fans of both sides love their teams, etc. I have always thought, however, that these games bring out the worst in people, including myself. If you don't think so, just check out the Comments section on virtually any online Viking/Packer story on a Minneapolis/St. Paul or Green Bay/Milwaukee website. Rubes screaming in ALL CAPS, misspelled words, threats, grown men calling the Vikings "Viqueens" and the Packers "Packqueers." Absolutely frightening. Downright scary.

Look, I was born in Eau Claire and lived in Wisconsin for the first 26 years of my life. And I have lived in Minnesota for the last 17 years of my life. I totally understand the rivalry when it comes to football, sports, etc. And, of course, I get the "Favre thing." I may be in the minority with this next statement, but I have never really understood the Minnesota/Wisconsin rivalry. Here is what I have noticed about Minnesota and Wisconsin in my 43 years on this earth:

Minnesota and Wisconsin are both Midwestern states with largely Catholic or Protestant religious backgrounds. Both states are made up mainly of people with Scandinavian/German/Western European heritage. Both states depend largely on agriculture. Both are filled with lakes and forests, and we generally like to spend our free time with the same pastimes - golfing, boating, hunting, fishing, etc. Many people live in Wisconsin and work in Minnesota or vise-verse. Many people have friends and family on both sides of the border. The two states are very similar politically and have very similar tax climates. The four seasons are virtually the same. I could go on and on with this, but I am basically saying: Minnesota and Wisconsin have virtually the same type of people and background.

The reason I bring this up, is that we've all be bombarded with the Vikings vs. Packers, Minnesota vs. Wisconsin border battle stuff. Us vs. Them. You'd think it was the civil war all over again, except instead of the North vs. the South, it's the Olsons vs. the Johnsons. It's kind of ridiculous.

So, I am sure the hatred will continue over the weekend and during the big game. I don't know who will win, but somebody will go away happy and somebody will go away disappointed. Insults will continue to be hurled. And then we'll go back to living and working with each other, side by side.

Hey, it's not like we're talking about Iowa or Illinois here. THAT is a whole different story....

Jeff

Perfect No More

The most disappointing aspect of the Vikings loss to the Steelers, in my opinion, was that the deciding play took place after the commentators announced "we'd like to welcome our visitors from the Green Bay-Cleveland game." Sure enough, after that kiss of death, with the Vikings driving, Brett Favre threw a pass that hit running back Chester Taylor in a bad spot (the hands) and was intercepted and returned for the winning touchdown.

Now, I am not going to get negative on Chester Taylor. Taylor could start for quite a few teams in the league and has been great as a backup to Adrian Peterson. He's won more games for the Vikings than he has lost. These things are going to happen.

In addition, I am not going to get negative on the Vikings in general. They showed today that they can play with anybody. If anything, the Vikings killed themselves today with 11 penalties for 78 yards, including one that negated a touchdown that would have put them ahead late in the 4th Quarter.

How the team responds to this loss will say a lot about the 2009 Minnesota Vikings. They face another tough challenge at Green Bay next Sunday afternoon. Something tells me that, for some reason, the Packers fans at the game will be quite fired up. And now, it's going to be even tougher with the news that Antoine Winfield has a broken foot and will miss 4-6 weeks. These are the things, however, that good teams overcome.

Let's hope the Vikings go into Green Bay and "play angry" after losing a game at Pittsburgh that they could have easily won.

Jeff

Blame The Ump. And Keep It That Way.

I was over at Tito Jackson's house watching the Twins-Yankees playoff game when the umpire pictured above, Phil Cuzzi, blew this call. Joe Mauer hit a ball that not only glanced off the Yankees left fielder in fair territory, it bounced in fair territory and left an indentation before bouncing into the stands. Cuzzi, amazingly, called the ball foul. Now look, even I have to admit that the way the Twins were driving in runners that night (they weren't), they probably would have found a way NOT to drive in Mauer even if he was correctly awarded a double. Even though this call nearly killed me, I am over it.

The incompetence in umpiring that I have witnessed in subsequent Major League Baseball baseball games, however, has bordered on criminal. Two mind-blowingly horrible calls occurred in the same inning of the Yankees-Angels game the other night, and both involved the Yankees smug right-fielder Nick Swisher.

The first blown called occurred with Swisher on second. The pitcher tried to pick him off and, as can be seen from the image above, had him out by a foot. The call by umpire Dale Scott? SAFE! Check out how close Scott is on this call - he's three feet away! Now, Swisher eventually made it to third, and tried to tag up and score on a fly to center fielder Torii Hunter. After Hunter caught the ball, Swisher scored easily but was then ruled out by the third base umpire Tim McClelland for "leaving third base too early." Replays not only showed that Swisher DID NOT leave early (before Hunter caught the ball), they showed that McClelland was clearly watching Hunter only. He did not have his eyes on Swisher at all. Basically, a bogus make-up call. There have been other instances that I won't go into here, but there is a good Deadspin piece on the issue if you care to read it.

All of this incompetence has led to calls for instant replay in Major League Baseball. Today, MLB only uses replay to determine if home runs were fair or foul or truly cleared the fence. As I sure you know, football and hockey use instant replay to certain degrees today. With all of this umpire incompetence in baseball today, wouldn't it make sense to implement instant replay to solve these problems?

No. And here are a few reasons why:

1. Can you imagine how long baseball games would be today if there was a delay every time one of these clowns made a bad call, and they had to contact some guy up in the booth to watch the replay? Six hours long. It would be unbearable.

2. Baseball, more than any other sport, contains the "human element" of calling balls and strikes and runners "safe or out." The outcome of the game is determined by human thought, not video proof. There is something "robotic" of turning to the replay booth every time a call is disputed. I enjoy baseball largely because of this "human element" which I find charming. Sometimes charmingly good, sometimes charmingly bad. These calls, however, give fans something to discuss, debate and bitch about. This is the essence of baseball and sports in general. There are going to be some bad calls that go your team's way and some that don't. Live with it, and find a way to overcome.

3. Sometimes, even the replay booth doesn't get it right. See: NFL.

I do feel that baseball umpires should be held accountable for their performance, just like players, managers and general managers. When their performance is this bad, there must be repercussions, not just the post-game admittance that "Geez, I blew that call. Again." No umpire is going to be perfect, but the bad calls are becoming a trend. If the long-term umpires cannot handle the speed of the game, find someone who can - just like they do with players.

Instant replay in baseball would not solve the umpire issue, and would detract from the game.

Jeff

Lindsay Lohan

Now, I'd don't get too caught up in the happenings of Hollywood. Most Hollywood actors and actresses are self-centered, egotistical individuals that live in a different mental stratosphere. However, I was perusing startribune.com today when I came across a story about actress Lindsay Lohan. Apparently, a judge in Los Angeles (of course) has granted Lohan permission to extend her three year probation stemming from a 2007 DUI for the proverbial One-More-Year. Lohan's lawyer, Shawn Chapman Holley, asked the judge for the probation extension because she said Lohan has been busy with work and unable complete her substance abuse treatment program. Hey, work comes first, right? Lohan might want to rethink delaying rehab. Why?

Check out the picture.

Look, I am not claiming to be the most photogenic person to walk the earth. In fact, I am willing to say the only good picture taken of me is the one in the cowboy suit on the homepage of this blog. But Lindsey - come on. I had to Google Lindsay Lohan when I saw this picture to find out how old she is. People, she was born in........................1986.

1986. That makes her 23 years old.

Are you sure that is not 1946?????? And that is not a knock against people born in 1946. But a person born in 1986 should not look like this. This is sad. I guess is what cocaine will do. I made sure to show this picture to my kids as a "cautionary tale."

1986.

Jeff.

NFL Back to Los Angeles? The Vikings??

Thursday update: tony8489 sent me this link from a startribune.com article that was posted in the middle of the night. It appears that a California Senate vote yesterday has further cleared the way for the LA stadium to move ahead. This could get very interesting.

Twenty-six games and counting. That is how many scheduled home football games the Minnesota Vikings have left at the Metrodome until their lease runs out after the 2011 season. The Dome's other main tenants, Gopher football and the Twins, have officially vacated the premises. The Vikings are the last team left in the Metrodome.

This is significant on several fronts. The Vikings have been unsuccessful in their bid for a new stadium for several years while they have watched the Twins and Gophers obtain approval for new homes from the Minnesota Legislature. The Vikings, however, still lack a financial partner (i.e the State, a county or 7-county area) in their quest for a new stadium. Zygi Wilf is calling for a billion-dollar (yes - billion) retractable roof stadium in which he is willing to cough up roughly $250 million of his own money. My Eau Claire public school math tells me that this leaves $750 million that would need to come from a public trough somewhere. This, of course, is troublesome. Where do we find $750 million dollars in This Economy and what politician is going to stick his or her neck (and career) out to ask for it?

I don't know.

Word is that a 1/10th of a 1-cent State tax would raise the money needed for the stadium. Good luck getting that approved in This Economy, however, and in this anti-tax atmosphere in Minnesota. There is always the gambling angle. Minnesota Representative Tom Hackbarth has called for funds from slot machines in already-existing horse tracks to go towards funding the stadium. People, I will be elected Pope before gambling funds are ever used to pay for a stadium in Minnesota. This will simply never happen. It is way too controversial for both the conservative anti-gambling folks and the liberal "can't go against the Native American casino" folks.

People are starting to raise their voices, however, on this subject. And here is why:

(From an AP story) - SoCal city vote clears NFL stadium hurdle
By JACOB ADELMAN (AP) – Sep 24, 2009

LOS ANGELES — The city of Industry approved a settlement Thursday with a neighboring city that had opposed plans for an $800 million NFL stadium, clearing a hurdle in efforts to bring a pro football team to the Los Angeles area.

The deal approved unanimously by the Industry City Council grants the city of Walnut $9 million, an annual cash payment of up to $500,000 and other concessions, Industry City Manager Kevin Radecki said.

"We are extremely pleased that the city of Walnut, the city of Industry and the developer have been able to reach an agreement for this project that will create jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars of economic benefits for this region," Industry Mayor David Perez said in a joint statement with Walnut officials.

This vote was considered by many to be the final hurdle for billionaire Ed Roski's plan to build a PRIVATELY funded $900 million dollar stadium just outside of Los Angeles in order to attract an existing NFL team. That is privately - with his own money. It's hard to compete with private money. The list of NFL teams that are up for relocation, by the way, is a short one. Oakland, San Diego, Jacksonville, Buffalo and.......the Vikings. These are all teams with bad stadium deals.

Predictably, the anti-stadium folks are already out. They always are. Here is what Star Tribune columnist Racheal Blount had to say in today's paper:

It takes a special brand of hubris to demand stadium financing now. This year's legislative session was one of the most painful in memory, as spending was slashed on basics such as education and health care. Next year is likely to be tougher.

...the Vikings need to face the reality that scarce public funds must be spent on bread before circuses - no matter how much the clowns protest.

I'm not even sure that I disagree with her. This is an very tough time to be asking for $750 million in public funds. I'm not sure, however, when the time is "good" to ask the Legislature for stadium funding.

One thing is for sure - nobody wants to see the Minnesota Vikings leave the state. Even Governor Pawlenty recognized that fact last week. Pawlenty, who has been known as an opponent of public stadium funding in the past, had this to say (from a WCCO story):

"I think it's fair to say the Metrodome has served us well, but its time is fading. And so we've got to figure out a way to keep the Vikings here," said Pawlenty. "We value the Vikings. They're an incredibly important asset to Minnesota."

"The philosophical question is, is this the appropriate time or the appropriate way to spend public dollars," Pawlenty said. "But we need to find a way -- setting that aside, we need to find a way to keep our Minnesota Vikings. They're exciting. They bring a lot of joy to a lot of people in our state."

Now, I will admit that "joy" and "Vikings" are two words that I have never used in the same sentence. I have admitted before that the Vikings leaving would have wondrous effects on my blood pressure. However, there is no question the Minnesota Vikings are, hands down, the #1 sports attraction in the state. (Oddly enough, for me it's the Twins). The Vikings are a source of year-round conversation. They virtually never fall "under" the radar like the other three professional franchises do if they are not winning. For better or worse, this state identifies with the Vikings.

That is why this is such a tough issue. I said before in this post that I don't know what politician would stick his or her neck out to support a stadium financing bill. On the flip side, I would not want to be a Minnesota politician who holds office when this team leaves. People were bummed out about the North Stars leaving. That was nothing compared the public outcry that would take place if the Vikings left.

I think Pawlenty understands this, and is why he changed his tune last week. I think the politicians of Minnesota know this, deep down. It is real easy to talk tough now (Let them leave! I'll help them move!), but 2011 is not that far away. Can you imagine Minnesota without the Vikings? Some tough decisions lie ahead.

But not too far ahead.

Jeff

The Yankees.

I cannot overstate my absolute hatred for the New York Yankees. I actually believe that cheering for the New York Yankees is an indication of a mental illness or a mental deficiency. Even for a New York resident. A New York resident, at the very least, should cheer for the Mets. The Yankees are a symbol for all that is wrong in our society. If you don't believe it, read this.

I've been doing some soul searching after that latest heartbreaking Twins defeat to the Yankees, and I have only been able to come up with three evil entities that are on par with the Yankees. Cheering for the Yankees is like cheering for:

1. Goliath

2. The Nazis

3. The Devil. (a.k.a. Satan)

I nearly threw up watching A-Fraud and Mark Texaria congratulate each other after the latest come from behind victory. That's $50 million dollars worth of smugness hugging each other. I'm really happy for you guys, and I am sure you are great friends.

Hey - just an aside to the umpire who made the "foul" call on Joe Mauer's hit in the 11th inning. Nice call. The ball hits the outfielders glove and then lands three feet INSIDE the foul line and he calls the ball "foul" while standing no more than 10 feet away. Look - I have Kerataconus - pointed corneas - and I could not have possibly missed that call. Either the ump is high on mushrooms or incompetent, and I think we know the answer to that question. (By the way, there is absolutely no excuse for the Twins not scoring with the bases loaded and no outs in that inning. None. It's almost criminal.)

So now we are down to the last game. One more loss to the Yankees and the series is over. I am trying to visualize what ass-hole on the Yankees (in a very long list of ass-holes) will drive in the winning run in extra innings to end this series. The choices are many.

Sorry for the hatred tonight. I've had a few High Lifes.

Peace.

Jeff

And Some Other Stuff.....

Here are a few other "non-Twins" things that have been going on lately:

1. Wilco Concert. I took my oldest son to his first concert ever - Wilco at St. Paul's Roy Wilkins Auditorium. I wanted him to be able to say his first concert ever was a cool one compared to my first-ever concert at the Met Center in Bloomington in 1978 - The Village People. Yes, that is correct. When I was in 5th grade, I forced my father (then Captain of the Eau Claire Police) to take me to see the Village People. Can you imagine what must have been going through his mind during that show?

But I digress. My son, along with CR and Tito Jackson and their daughters got to see a fantastic show. As I have stated before, if you have never seen Wilco in concert, you owe it to yourself to experience them live. They were on stage for two hours and forty-five minutes and played a nice mix of new and old material. Here is a nice review from the Star Tribune and another from Freealonzo. I'm proud that my son got a chance to see a great show for his first-ever concert. It was even better than the Village People!

2. Vikes Beat Pack. Possibly the most hyped Monday Night Football game ever, this match-up was billed as Brett Favre vs. Aaron Rodgers. However, I predicted before the game that the outcome would be determined by the play of the Vikings defensive line vs. the Packers offensive line and by how the Vikings running game performs. I was right about one of those things. The Vikings defensive line dominated the patchwork offensive line of the Packers and sacked Aaron Rodgers 8 times, including 4 1/2 by Jared Allen alone. The Vikings running game, however, was another story. The Packers held Adrian Peterson in check with only 55 yards on 25 carries. If you would have told me that stat before the game, I would have said the Packers win by 14.

I didn't think the Vikings would win if Adrian Peterson was taken out of the game and had to rely on Brett Favre's passing. This isn't 1997, for Cliff's sake. But I'll tell you what - Favre was in 1997 form. He was incredible. The 39-year-old QB completed 24 of 31 passes for 271 yards and 3 touchdowns. And most importantly he had no turnovers and was never sacked. Favre basically had all the time in the world, compliments of his offensive line. He responded to the immense pressure of playing his former team before the most-viewed cable telecast in history (21.8 million viewers) better than I could have ever imagined.

Aaron Rodgers also showed that he is a legitimate NFL Quarterback with a nice future ahead of him. The Packers did not lose this game because of Aaron Rodgers - they lost because of their offensive line. Packer fans should not be mad at Ted Thompson about how he handled their quarterback situation, they should be mad at him for consistently being way under the salary cap and not surrounding Rodgers with better offensive line protection.

So there.

Jeff