It's tough to watch the Timberwolves. It's true that they have an immensely better overall roster than they did last year. However, they are still terrible. On opening night, they lose at home to a Kings team that is missing their best player (Tyreke Evans). Here's my insight on the game last night and some other random thoughts:
* Sebastian Telfair used to be our starting point guard a few years ago. Yuck. I hate his game. He looks for his own shot way too much, and never gets his teammates involved. Also, what's up with the two point guards (Ridnour and Telfair) combining for 35 points? I was under the impression that the point guard really didn't have to do much offensively (other than make the right "reads") in the triangle offense...??
* Wesley Johnson...I might have been wrong about him. I didn't like his age. I didn't like how he was from Syracuse (no defense). I didn't like how he transferred from Iowa State to Syracuse (usually, that's a red flag for whatever reason). His dunk last night was ridiculous. His handles are still weak, but at least he's not shy about attacking the hoop. His shot wasn't on last night, but it looks pretty effortless...especially, on a night when you're forced to watch Luther Head and/or Corey Brewer attempt a long range jumper.
* I want Kevin Love to succeed. However, I don't know if he does enough things well on a consistent basis to succeed at this level on a nightly basis. He hit a couple of threes, but he was more of a liability with the ball in his hands than an actual threat on the perimeter. He had some dumb turnovers (that I was told Michael Beasley would make, but not Kevin Love) that killed us in the 2nd half. I'm still not sure what to make of him, but I'm pretty sure he's not a "building block". He's more of a solid 6th man on a playoff team.
And this crap about him being on Team USA this past summer, which somehow translates to some people that he's now a "star" in the making needs to stop. It was a tier 2-3 team. He barely got minutes on that team. Christian Laettner was on the ACTUAL original Dream Team...how did that work out for us?
* I like Beasley. He can create on his own. We haven't had a wing player be able to create his own shot since...?? Maybe Latrell...but, he was the older version at the time...I would almost have to go back to J.R. Rider. That's sad.
* One of the many reasons I prefer college basketball over the NBA...is the referees. I complain about the refs during college games as well, but the NBA game is so inconsistent from possession to possession that Tim Donaghy keeps creeping in my mind while I'm watching the game.
SBG
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Week 7 Recap: Vikings @ Packers
This year sucks. We have all the talent in the world and it doesn't amount to shit. Rubes can blame Childress, but Favre is the issue. How can you blame the play calling on the coaches when Favre is up at the line switching everything in his pre-snap read? How do we blame our offensive line every week when Favre is hanging on to the ball too long? How can you not operate at the very least an efficient offense when you have the best running back in the game behind you? How many pick six's (defensive td's) are you going to let up this year? Why is it that whenever you make a bad play, it's automatically because of an injury that you are laboring...but, no one knew anything about it until you started clutching it on the field? Why do you pretend like you may not be able to play the next week due to an injury? Why do you choke in Sunday night games? Why does a married 41 year old (actually 39 year old at the time) send dick pics? Now, for my thoughts on the rest of the game:
* Having Sullivan return to the lineup seemed to be a huge upgrade for our offensive line. Weird. I didn't think we'd miss him as much as we did.
* Chris Cook looked horrible. Hopefully, he was just nervous or still banged up...because he looked awful and Green Bay was exploiting him in the first half.
* Frank Walker (Cook's second half replacement)...looks like Kimbo Slice with his ragged beard. Walker basically commits a penalty on every play he's involved in. It's just a roll of the dice on whether the ref wants to the throw the flag or not. I'm not sure if I like this tactic or not.
* Do you think there was a conspiracy on the Favre to Shiancoe touchdown call because both players have exposed their penises' to the public? I think so.
* Why does Ray Edwards have a "NFL" shaved into his hair? The guy gets fined every week and then complains to the media about how the league is picking on him...?? It would be similar to Jenn Sterger tattooing or shaving Brett's penis somewhere on her body.
* I love to watch Percy Harvin. Remember when we'd get excited about these type of players (example: David Palmer...little, fast and versatile) in the past and the various ways we could use them...however, they never amounted to shit. Percy has exceeded my expectations.
* Green Bay won the game...but, let's not give too much credit to Aaron Rodgers. He racked up his ridiculous yards (mostly in first half), but you can't tell me he won the game for them. He had plenty of chances to close the door...and he didn't...like usual. Vikes still had the ball in the final minute and a touchdown would've won us the game.
SBG
* Having Sullivan return to the lineup seemed to be a huge upgrade for our offensive line. Weird. I didn't think we'd miss him as much as we did.
* Chris Cook looked horrible. Hopefully, he was just nervous or still banged up...because he looked awful and Green Bay was exploiting him in the first half.
* Frank Walker (Cook's second half replacement)...looks like Kimbo Slice with his ragged beard. Walker basically commits a penalty on every play he's involved in. It's just a roll of the dice on whether the ref wants to the throw the flag or not. I'm not sure if I like this tactic or not.
* Do you think there was a conspiracy on the Favre to Shiancoe touchdown call because both players have exposed their penises' to the public? I think so.
* Why does Ray Edwards have a "NFL" shaved into his hair? The guy gets fined every week and then complains to the media about how the league is picking on him...?? It would be similar to Jenn Sterger tattooing or shaving Brett's penis somewhere on her body.
* I love to watch Percy Harvin. Remember when we'd get excited about these type of players (example: David Palmer...little, fast and versatile) in the past and the various ways we could use them...however, they never amounted to shit. Percy has exceeded my expectations.
* Green Bay won the game...but, let's not give too much credit to Aaron Rodgers. He racked up his ridiculous yards (mostly in first half), but you can't tell me he won the game for them. He had plenty of chances to close the door...and he didn't...like usual. Vikes still had the ball in the final minute and a touchdown would've won us the game.
SBG
Monday, October 18, 2010
Week 6 Recap: Cowboys @ Vikings
Vikings eke out their second victory of the year to make them an ugly 2-3 (it's prettier than 1-4 though). Here are some of my random observations of the game (we watched the 2nd & 3rd quarters at Mad Jack's, while listening or watching the rest of the game in the comforts of either our car or home...so my analysis will be all over the map):
* I'm a homer...but with that said, the Vikings benefit from some real crucial calls that went against the Dallas Cowboys. Miles Austin's touchdown was called back because Asher Allen flew like a rag doll on a push off. Greg Lewis received a gift pass interference call that extended a key drive. Both of those were huge in either helping the Vikings put points up, or keeping Dallas from scoring any more. If this is a playoff game...do they even bother throwing the flag on either of those plays...I don't think so.
* A little frustrated by Tony Romo's scampers (not by design) right down the middle with no defender in sight until 10-15 yards down the field. Is there anything more depressing than to watch a quarterback who is not known as a scrambler, gain obscene amounts of yards and the defense not even being able to get a hit on the guy because he slides feet first...??
* Lito Sheppard and Bernard Berrian continue to give lame duck performances week in and week out. The good thing though is they are by far our most consistent players on the team. Congrats.
* The Vikings should be better than 2-3, but they are still in pretty good position within their own division as well as in the NFC side in general. Two of their three losses (Dolphins and Jets) are against AFC opponents and really don't factor into the tiebreakers...except for obviously adding to the loss column. The New Orleans Saints will probably be a shoe in for the playoffs, thus our loss to them may be pretty insignificant unless they struggle down the stretch. The Vikings are not exactly where they thought they'd be, but the mission has been altered to just survive and make it into the playoffs.
* Serious question...if you needed a big time scoring drive late in the game...who's your quarterback: Favre, Rodgers or Romo? I'd pick a forty-one year old, that's prone to throw a pick on any play over the other two pretenders any day of the week. What have those two done besides pile up ridiculous stats that have no bearing on their team's success...? They are not clutch when it matters most...end of game...end of season...playoffs...never.
* Offensive line play is horrible. The offensive line is so bad that Roger Goodell doesn't even have to suspend Favre in order to punish him for 'Danglegate 08'. Everybody wins....except for our offensive line, and probably the Vikings as well.
* Most memorable play outside of Harvin's return and E.J's two picks...shotgun formation on 3rd and 3 and the snap is low and on the ground. Favre picks it up with defenders in his face and zips it to Kleinsasser who just released himself from the line of scrimmage. He rumbles for a long gain to get deep in Cowboys territory.
* Does anyone else get nervous when the razzle, dazzle play on the kickoff return (last play of game/only up by three) for Dallas goes a little too long and you start saying...we're not going to lose like this are we...?? Only Minnesota fans...maybe Buffalo as well (Miracle in Music City).
SBG
* I'm a homer...but with that said, the Vikings benefit from some real crucial calls that went against the Dallas Cowboys. Miles Austin's touchdown was called back because Asher Allen flew like a rag doll on a push off. Greg Lewis received a gift pass interference call that extended a key drive. Both of those were huge in either helping the Vikings put points up, or keeping Dallas from scoring any more. If this is a playoff game...do they even bother throwing the flag on either of those plays...I don't think so.
* A little frustrated by Tony Romo's scampers (not by design) right down the middle with no defender in sight until 10-15 yards down the field. Is there anything more depressing than to watch a quarterback who is not known as a scrambler, gain obscene amounts of yards and the defense not even being able to get a hit on the guy because he slides feet first...??
* Lito Sheppard and Bernard Berrian continue to give lame duck performances week in and week out. The good thing though is they are by far our most consistent players on the team. Congrats.
* The Vikings should be better than 2-3, but they are still in pretty good position within their own division as well as in the NFC side in general. Two of their three losses (Dolphins and Jets) are against AFC opponents and really don't factor into the tiebreakers...except for obviously adding to the loss column. The New Orleans Saints will probably be a shoe in for the playoffs, thus our loss to them may be pretty insignificant unless they struggle down the stretch. The Vikings are not exactly where they thought they'd be, but the mission has been altered to just survive and make it into the playoffs.
* Serious question...if you needed a big time scoring drive late in the game...who's your quarterback: Favre, Rodgers or Romo? I'd pick a forty-one year old, that's prone to throw a pick on any play over the other two pretenders any day of the week. What have those two done besides pile up ridiculous stats that have no bearing on their team's success...? They are not clutch when it matters most...end of game...end of season...playoffs...never.
* Offensive line play is horrible. The offensive line is so bad that Roger Goodell doesn't even have to suspend Favre in order to punish him for 'Danglegate 08'. Everybody wins....except for our offensive line, and probably the Vikings as well.
* Most memorable play outside of Harvin's return and E.J's two picks...shotgun formation on 3rd and 3 and the snap is low and on the ground. Favre picks it up with defenders in his face and zips it to Kleinsasser who just released himself from the line of scrimmage. He rumbles for a long gain to get deep in Cowboys territory.
* Does anyone else get nervous when the razzle, dazzle play on the kickoff return (last play of game/only up by three) for Dallas goes a little too long and you start saying...we're not going to lose like this are we...?? Only Minnesota fans...maybe Buffalo as well (Miracle in Music City).
SBG
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Week 5 Recap: Vikings @ Jets
The Tubby Tipoff is this upcoming Friday (10/15)...I can't wait for something positive in the Minnesota sports scene.
Now for my thoughts and observations on the game:
* I thought Mike Ditka was a liar, but I was wrong...he's just old. He claimed his Chicago team shut down Moss in his rookie year. Ditka was coaching New Orleans (1997-1999), not Chicago...but his team did actually hold Moss to one catch for six yards in 1997.
* Cris Carter is a dick. I will always admire his career between the lines on Sunday afternoons, but he is simply an asshole with a microphone in front of him. Why does he feel the need to upstage his co-workers (Matt Millen, Steve Young, etc) while each of them are giving their OWN "opinions"...? Wait your turn and then give your bullshit opinion...that's it, done.
* Rain delay. Great. More "insight" from Cris Carter and company.
* Brett Favre sucked. The two fumbles killed me. No contact was made with a defensive player and he coughs the ball up TWICE.
* Speaking of turnovers...does our defense know what these are? I will say that E.J. Henderson and Chad Greenway looked pretty solid out there. Although, everyone else has been pretty quiet thus far...which is pretty amazing since they were on the field for virtually the whole game due to an inept Vikings offense.
* Other bright spots...Moss scoring a touchdown, Percy made some big plays (2 TD's), the offensive line looked better in the 2nd half, and the red zone defense.
* More low lights: Asher Allen, Cedric Griffin getting hurt, kickoff coverage when WE had momentum, pass protection in first half, and Jets converting on 3rd and long situations.
SBG
Now for my thoughts and observations on the game:
* I thought Mike Ditka was a liar, but I was wrong...he's just old. He claimed his Chicago team shut down Moss in his rookie year. Ditka was coaching New Orleans (1997-1999), not Chicago...but his team did actually hold Moss to one catch for six yards in 1997.
* Cris Carter is a dick. I will always admire his career between the lines on Sunday afternoons, but he is simply an asshole with a microphone in front of him. Why does he feel the need to upstage his co-workers (Matt Millen, Steve Young, etc) while each of them are giving their OWN "opinions"...? Wait your turn and then give your bullshit opinion...that's it, done.
* Rain delay. Great. More "insight" from Cris Carter and company.
* Brett Favre sucked. The two fumbles killed me. No contact was made with a defensive player and he coughs the ball up TWICE.
* Speaking of turnovers...does our defense know what these are? I will say that E.J. Henderson and Chad Greenway looked pretty solid out there. Although, everyone else has been pretty quiet thus far...which is pretty amazing since they were on the field for virtually the whole game due to an inept Vikings offense.
* Other bright spots...Moss scoring a touchdown, Percy made some big plays (2 TD's), the offensive line looked better in the 2nd half, and the red zone defense.
* More low lights: Asher Allen, Cedric Griffin getting hurt, kickoff coverage when WE had momentum, pass protection in first half, and Jets converting on 3rd and long situations.
SBG
Monday, October 11, 2010
Yankees own Twins...again...
Yankees sweep the Twins in the best of five series...I really didn't want to write anything about this since it was such a depressing performance by our ball club. Unfortunately, I feel like I have to though. Here's what I took away from watching all three games:
* TBS sucks. Why do you have TWO former pitchers filling ONE role as the "baseball analyst" on your broadcast team? Two "analysts" can work at times...but, you need different perspectives. Nothing worse than everybody in the booth agreeing with each other...the "Yes" man is the role for the play-by-play man.
* On the way home from work before game one of the series...I heard Dan Gladden ask Gardy about the game plan. Gardy mentions about having to "pitch inside" on the Yankees. I call bullshit. No one pitched inside the whole series. Every pitcher tried to tickle the outside corner on virtually every pitch. Thome was brushed back once and beaned another time in two different at bats (early in Game 1 by C.C.)...nobody did anything other than make the Yankees even more comfortable at the plate by only working the outside half of the plate.
* Fans want to criticize and put blame on Gardy. How about Joe Mauer? This guy is going to eat up a sizable chunk of our payroll starting next year (limits who we can and can't sign to help this club) and he's going to give us lame duck post season performances such as this year...and on top of it...he won't even speak to the media (he leaves that to Cuddyer) on a regular basis.
* Hunter Wendelstedt III...what are you doing? The Pavano pitch was strike three to Berkman. You missed plenty of other calls (balls and strikes) with your inconsistent strike zone that night too, but the real question is how do you throw out a manager in a PLAYOFF SERIES stating that fact to you in a close game. Gardy probably had some choice words for you, but he didn't throw a tantrum until you booted him from the game. Ever since I saw Doug Harvey get into the Hall of Fame this year (2010), I've seen more and more umpires take even less criticism.
Memo to Gardy: If you plan to get ejected from games, please line up a more competent fill-in manager than Scott Ullger. I had to watch his managing prowess in Detroit for 1 1/2 games in September...and it was B R U T A L, brutal.
* I read another blog (Down With Goldy)...he thinks the Twins should go and get Carl Crawford and either trade Young/Kubel and one of our mediocre pitchers for whatever we can get for them. I don't think it'll happen, but I'm game. This team won a lot of games this year, but this roster still needs a major overhaul. We're stuck in between a power team (with actually no to minimal power) and a speed team (with no speed other than Span and reserves). The current roster is great compared to years past...but, we still need upgrades all over the field. Is Span a true center fielder or should he be moved to a corner? Should Kubel/Young even own gloves? Do we even have a true ace on the staff? Are Hudson and Hardy worth keeping after average years at best? Will Valencia have a sophomore slump? Does Morneau have a headache this BIG? Is Mauer ever going to be clutch?
* I really liked our bullpen before the playoffs started. I thought Gardy would use it early and often because of our depth, and the lack of an ace on the starting staff. He didn't (until the Game 3 mismatch)...and now that strong bullpen will evaporate (Fuentes, Rauch, Crain or Guerrier) in the off season. I can't believe I just wrote "strong bullpen" and had "Crain" attached to that point.
SBG
* TBS sucks. Why do you have TWO former pitchers filling ONE role as the "baseball analyst" on your broadcast team? Two "analysts" can work at times...but, you need different perspectives. Nothing worse than everybody in the booth agreeing with each other...the "Yes" man is the role for the play-by-play man.
* On the way home from work before game one of the series...I heard Dan Gladden ask Gardy about the game plan. Gardy mentions about having to "pitch inside" on the Yankees. I call bullshit. No one pitched inside the whole series. Every pitcher tried to tickle the outside corner on virtually every pitch. Thome was brushed back once and beaned another time in two different at bats (early in Game 1 by C.C.)...nobody did anything other than make the Yankees even more comfortable at the plate by only working the outside half of the plate.
* Fans want to criticize and put blame on Gardy. How about Joe Mauer? This guy is going to eat up a sizable chunk of our payroll starting next year (limits who we can and can't sign to help this club) and he's going to give us lame duck post season performances such as this year...and on top of it...he won't even speak to the media (he leaves that to Cuddyer) on a regular basis.
* Hunter Wendelstedt III...what are you doing? The Pavano pitch was strike three to Berkman. You missed plenty of other calls (balls and strikes) with your inconsistent strike zone that night too, but the real question is how do you throw out a manager in a PLAYOFF SERIES stating that fact to you in a close game. Gardy probably had some choice words for you, but he didn't throw a tantrum until you booted him from the game. Ever since I saw Doug Harvey get into the Hall of Fame this year (2010), I've seen more and more umpires take even less criticism.
Memo to Gardy: If you plan to get ejected from games, please line up a more competent fill-in manager than Scott Ullger. I had to watch his managing prowess in Detroit for 1 1/2 games in September...and it was B R U T A L, brutal.
* I read another blog (Down With Goldy)...he thinks the Twins should go and get Carl Crawford and either trade Young/Kubel and one of our mediocre pitchers for whatever we can get for them. I don't think it'll happen, but I'm game. This team won a lot of games this year, but this roster still needs a major overhaul. We're stuck in between a power team (with actually no to minimal power) and a speed team (with no speed other than Span and reserves). The current roster is great compared to years past...but, we still need upgrades all over the field. Is Span a true center fielder or should he be moved to a corner? Should Kubel/Young even own gloves? Do we even have a true ace on the staff? Are Hudson and Hardy worth keeping after average years at best? Will Valencia have a sophomore slump? Does Morneau have a headache this BIG? Is Mauer ever going to be clutch?
* I really liked our bullpen before the playoffs started. I thought Gardy would use it early and often because of our depth, and the lack of an ace on the starting staff. He didn't (until the Game 3 mismatch)...and now that strong bullpen will evaporate (Fuentes, Rauch, Crain or Guerrier) in the off season. I can't believe I just wrote "strong bullpen" and had "Crain" attached to that point.
SBG
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Things just got a little interesting...
The Minnesota Vikings make a monster move by acquiring Randy Moss from the Patriots. Even at the age of 33, Randy is a huge upgrade over the current fleet of receivers currently running routes at Winter Park. Here are some random thoughts on the trade:
* You may not be a pro-stadium advocate for the Vikings, but you have to hand it to the Wilf Family for opening their wallets and doing their best to absolutely put the best possible product on the field year in and year out...all, while doing it in one of the worst and outdated stadiums (doesn't generate much revenue) in the league.
* I know we have a brutal stretch of games coming up...and I'm not trying to look to far ahead...but, can you just imagine the Vikings finally winning a Super Bowl with both Randy Moss (former franchise player for the Vikings) and Adrian Peterson (current franchise player), while a 40 year old (Brett Favre and former nemesis while playing at Green Bay) is our quarterback. I'm biased...but, our threesome is going to be a whole lot more entertaining than the Lebron, Wade and Bosh in South Beach.
* Childress was a control freak when he first arrived. How is he going to handle this circus when Favre and Moss are running the sidelines on game day...?? I'm sure we'll get a token line from his days from Philadelphia on how they were successful with Terrell Owens in the mix...but, I'm anxious to at least see how all the dynamics actually play out.
* As sports fans...enjoy this day. You don't see a franchise player come back to where he started his professional career, especially when he still has something left in the tank this late in his career. There is too many egos involved in the sports world for any of that to take place nowadays.
* Even if this fails (which it may)...it will still be fun to watch the drama unfold. Watching the first three games this year has been, well...boring. For whatever reason, the buzz around last years team did not carry over to this years team. That has now changed...Randy Moss is back in a Vikings uniform.
* Lastly, I love Randy Moss...and will continue to do so. People clamor about all these "antics" that he's done over the years. The "antics" are all football related (besides running over the traffic cop...oops). Some of his "antics" were actually cool though: squirting an official with a water bottle in St. Louis and pretending to moon the Packer fans in Lambeau...I would personally take credit for those acts because those are legendary and didn't hurt anyone involved besides Joe Buck's feelings of course.
SBG
* You may not be a pro-stadium advocate for the Vikings, but you have to hand it to the Wilf Family for opening their wallets and doing their best to absolutely put the best possible product on the field year in and year out...all, while doing it in one of the worst and outdated stadiums (doesn't generate much revenue) in the league.
* I know we have a brutal stretch of games coming up...and I'm not trying to look to far ahead...but, can you just imagine the Vikings finally winning a Super Bowl with both Randy Moss (former franchise player for the Vikings) and Adrian Peterson (current franchise player), while a 40 year old (Brett Favre and former nemesis while playing at Green Bay) is our quarterback. I'm biased...but, our threesome is going to be a whole lot more entertaining than the Lebron, Wade and Bosh in South Beach.
* Childress was a control freak when he first arrived. How is he going to handle this circus when Favre and Moss are running the sidelines on game day...?? I'm sure we'll get a token line from his days from Philadelphia on how they were successful with Terrell Owens in the mix...but, I'm anxious to at least see how all the dynamics actually play out.
* As sports fans...enjoy this day. You don't see a franchise player come back to where he started his professional career, especially when he still has something left in the tank this late in his career. There is too many egos involved in the sports world for any of that to take place nowadays.
* Even if this fails (which it may)...it will still be fun to watch the drama unfold. Watching the first three games this year has been, well...boring. For whatever reason, the buzz around last years team did not carry over to this years team. That has now changed...Randy Moss is back in a Vikings uniform.
* Lastly, I love Randy Moss...and will continue to do so. People clamor about all these "antics" that he's done over the years. The "antics" are all football related (besides running over the traffic cop...oops). Some of his "antics" were actually cool though: squirting an official with a water bottle in St. Louis and pretending to moon the Packer fans in Lambeau...I would personally take credit for those acts because those are legendary and didn't hurt anyone involved besides Joe Buck's feelings of course.
SBG
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)