15Vikings’s profile

I am a lifelong Twins fan who travels home to see at least two games in the Humpty Dome every year and I have never seen this alleged mascot. Guess I better pay less attention to the games... Great stuff, wfrazer

posted at 09:44 PM on June 25

Ahhh, the prototype for a new 21st century type of geek (and I say that endearingly). Qualifications: -Must have a lot of time on your hands (i.e. single w/ no dating prospects) -Must be obsessive (how long does it take to watch every play of every game 4-5 times each?) -Must have poor verbal communication skills ("I asked him how that all worked and I was immediately sorry because he launched into a long explanation of splitters and A and B switches and toggles") -But, most importantly, must actually know the sport you cover...a qualification that may, all by itself, disqualify most of the tv analysts in any sport I think I will follow his lead and start a similar book for golf now. Wonder what my wife will think of me leaving my job to pursue my sports passion/obsession.

posted at 10:55 AM on June 23

Touche, scottypup!

posted at 10:11 AM on June 22

I would love to see the Pistons win a close game tonite followed by a great game 7 overtime classic that comes down to the wire and is won by blocking a dunk in the final second. You know...the kind of defining game that will give the winners of this years NBA round robin classic a legacy that will endure forever...or at least as long as that of the 2004 Arena Football Champs (whatever their name was...) But, I cannot take another minute of Bill Walton's 'insights' and witty repartee, so GO SPURS!

posted at 06:28 PM on June 21

I see the problem of unbalanced competition here...but the solution of is ludicrous. This story sounds like another example of adults sending the wrong message to the kids. Does anybody else worry that (we) American parents are raising a generation of kids on an unhealthy dose of political correctness laced with steady mixes of a "can't do" attitude and poor work ethic (can kids even spell the word "chores" anymore)? The parents and/or the league admins should have their @$$es kicked for being this stupid. On the other hand, maybe this is the answer for American companies losing market share and jobs...just expel the competitors from the market. Vive le mediocre!

posted at 05:55 PM on June 21

Hmmm. I think he might be more successful as an undercover agent if he heeds the advice of his close friends (like maybe Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent or Peter Parker) who understand this super hero life he is living. I think they would tell him that the "undercover agent/super hero" handbook recommends that one be extremely discreet in every day life and let the heroics of saving the world be your source of fame. Or maybe Shaq has it right and I am the dumbass who did not know that every police department in the country thinks the missing ingredient to solving this pesky crime problem is a shortage of 7'1" pro athletes featured on 20 foot billboards in every city and NBA promos shown on three channels in prime time every day of the week and all day on the weekends. Only time will tell...

posted at 06:57 PM on May 26

I could be wrong, but that Herschel Walker trade HAD to be a conspiracy by the league to help "America's Team". (Or maybe it was just the dumbest deal in sports since Harry Frazee sold that Babe Ruth guy.)

posted at 04:19 PM on May 10

People playing lottery-like probabilities should win lottery-like money...but they usually just lose a $1.00. I wonder how many of the seven will now rush out to lay down a few six figure bets they could not afford a week ago on "a sure thing" until their net winnings are zero (or worse). Anybody capable of thinking those four horses would finish in that order before the race is certainly "smart" enough to lose it all just as fast. In fact, I think I have some "sure thing" investments they will like. That said, this was a VERY nice win and I am just pissed I didn't see it coming.

posted at 04:15 PM on May 10

That was painful to watch. You have to give the guy credit for staying seated. Bet he left the studio and went straight back to the bar.

posted at 09:37 PM on April 19

I still haven't heard a good argument that this is 'racist' policy.

posted at 02:45 PM on April 14

On what basis is this rule racist...or even "unfair" for that matter? Pro basketball is just a J-O-B job. Owners made the investments and can run league any way they want if it doesn't violate employment or other laws. The age limit would apply to people of all races equally. If applied (but thank god it isn't), affirmative action would be trying to move these JOBS to equally talented NON-black people based on the current distribution in the NBA vs our Population. Instead, the affected minorities to which the articulate ONeal refers would still be free to pursue their dream on equal footing against any young or old white dude who wanted the same job. I don't see the racism there. It isn't even age discrimination because 18 year old men are not a protected class in any legal sense. And the "old enough to fight a war" argument rings hollow b/c the US operates a voluntary military. No, I think we are just looking at a bunch of rich guys trying to figure out how to de-risk nine-figure investments in the team by limiting exposure to further eight-figure investments on unproven players who are unpredictable professionally (personally, and even ethically). You say "Garnett". I say "Ebi x 10." Hell, look at the hit rate of college players who left early and tell me you now want to gamble on a guy who hasn't played more than a handful of games against even one guy of NBA caliber. Only law that does apply here is "Supply and Demand". If unproven 18 year old hoop studs (usually with limited usable skills beyond the court) are in such demand, someone else can just form another league to showcase their talents and make a boatload of dough there. Now that I think of it, let's hope they raise the limit and we can all pool our money to start a minor league... who is in for $100?

posted at 08:09 PM on April 13

What a great show down! Did anyone else think of Sergio Garcia when Tiger was walking around every shot for five minutes? DiMarco didn't back off and (for a change) the announcers were right on point when they said that the 34 DiMarco shot going out was the worst he could have shot. He could have shot 30 there while Tiger was tightening up in a way I cannot recall seeing before. DiMarco had more make-able opportunities then Tiger...but didn't make them. Guess that is why Tiger is Tiger and DiMarco is my new nominee for "best player never to win..." but I'd bet on DiMarco winning a major in the next year based on his recent play.

posted at 05:49 PM on April 11

In breaking news, Al Bundy (who once scored six touchdowns in a single game for Polk High in Chicago) has renounced his position as head shoe salesman to pursue his dream of leading the Chicago Bears to another NFL championship. Bundy stated, "That English darts guy inspired me. He helped me realize any idiot can get acknowledged if he does something really, really stupid. Even me." When pressed for his real motives, Bundy stated that "I really love football. Oh...and I need to find a way to meet women without upsetting 'Big Red,' I mean 'my wife.'" We wish Al the best in his new pursuits.

posted at 01:34 PM on April 07

Shaq is replaying the movie role first created by that original loafer cum multi-Cy Young winner, Roger Clemens. Clemens got better after he left the Red Sox because he regained the ever-necessary chip on the shoulder and re-dedicated himself to winning just to prove that everyone was mistaken about him being too self-centered, complacent and unfocused to be a winner...all of which was true of Last Year Red Sox Clemens and Last Year Laker Shaq. Still, Shaq at 80% is much more of a centerpiece for a championship team over the next 4-5 years than Kobe will ever be. Kobe (the anti-Garnett?) isn't the next Jordan. He is the next Dominique Wilkins, i.e. a nice highlight reel but not able to make a good team great on his own. Lakers bet on the wrong horse there!

posted at 01:23 PM on April 07

Packer is faced with same problems as every other major voice of basketball. He has to dumb analysis down to lowest denominator to avoid alienating casual fans (aka "the target market")...but this makes it boring for the knowledgable fans. At same time, he has been around for long enough that we have heard virtually everything interesting he had to say already. And finally, Dick Vitale (and Costas for NBA) cornered market on being positive and still interesting by actually doing research and KNOWING more about the game, players and teams than Packer. IMO, Packer's real sin is that he is repetitive and very boring at this stage of his career. Maybe he should take a five year hiatus and work on finding something interesting to say about a game that is overexposed at all levels.

posted at 07:52 PM on April 06