Blog that should actually be called: In Deep Depression over Minnesota Sports

Let me rant...

* I can't wait until Ralph Sampson III graduates. I've disliked other Gophers for various reasons in the past. For example: I was frustrated with Lawerence Westbrook being selfish and all, but at least he actually cared and played hard every game. But, to be honest...Tubby has created this monster himself. The no-nonsense coach that makes players "earn" minutes, didn't use this philosophy for Ralph. Nope, Ralph was locked in at starter from day one. Who cares if he's never had a legitimately good game against a big time opponent that ended up in a Gophers win. Who cares if he plays like a Nancy and has never boxed out a single defender for a potential rebound in his career. Who cares if there are more deserving options on the bench to start over Ralph. The only one that has ever benched Ralph are his own injuries. I went down to the Old Spice Classic in Orlando and I thought Tubby was benching him because of poor play (he was getting worked in all three games: DePaul, Indiana State and Dayton). I find out after coming back in town that Ralph wasn't 100%...no shit, when does he ever play like he's 100%.

* Fred Pagac...wasn't he just a dead man walking once Singletary was hired on the staff before the year even started. So, do you blame Frazier for sticking with Pagac or adding Singletary to the staff? And if the reports are true that players quit on Pagac...what does that say about Leslie's leadership?

* Rick Adelman won't live long having to start every game watching Ridnour, Johnson, Beasley, Love and Darko attempting to play basketball. I'm not crying for Rubio to start, but watching this starting five play actually makes me want my son to play hockey. No ball movement once it hits Beasley. No defense. Piss poor team rebounding, even though we apparently have the "best rebounder" in the league on the floor. Wes Johnson resembles Rodney Williams timidness and absolutley no confidence with the ball on the perimeter.

* Build a GOD DAMN football stadium for the Vikings already! How can the state fumble away at maybe losing our most identified sports team in the state? Especially, coming off the heels of: 1. The Twins success off their new dig and the business they jump started in that district. 2. The roof collapsing last winter being the MOST depressing moment in the most depressing sports year ever for Minnesota. What is the hold-up? Has a stadium deal publicly financed or not ever turned into a debbie downer deal? I can't recall one...I mean the Vikings still pack the ugly, depressing dome every Sunday...with a horseshit product and all.

* Teams/players I purposely root against because the local teams suck so far into irrelevance that they don't really matter in the big picture anymore. Miami Heat (I hate LeBron and Bosh), Alabama basketball (do they have to air every one of their games on an ESPN channel), Matt Ryan (can we drop the "Matty Ice" nickname due to his playoff record), Indiana Hoosiers basketball (Tom Crean claps too much on the sideline), Northwestern basketball (I enjoy them failing to make NCAA...it boosts my morale of Gopher program), Kentucky basketball (John Calipari and that crazed fan base will hopefully never win that imaginary title, because obviously cheating will take said title away a few years down the line after Calipari leaves the program)...

* Attempting to build a man cave in our basement. My dream list to "honor" our local teams: Timberwolves - old school logo is the shit. But, you know what else was dope?? Stanley Roberts "Thug Love" tattoo. Twins - A Nick Punto fathead would do the trick, or maybe I could just honor them by having John Olerud's fielding helmet that Morneau and Span could wear next year. Vikings - maybe a mural on the wall of water covering two-thirds of the world and then Fred Smoot covering the other third..but then have Steve Smith getting wide open in whatever Carolina state they play in. Gopher hoops - Team photo that include Royce, Trevor, Devoe, Al, Blake, Colton, Rodney, Ralph...so, sad. Gopher football - uniforms under Jim Wacker that didn't represent school colors, also the grass from Pasadena that Brewster brought in.

SBG