Some think he is senile. Some think he is the anti-Christ. Ask any follower of Minnesota Vikings football their opinion of Red McCombs and you will not receive an indignant shrug of the shoulders. McCombs has been vilified in the press the last few years for his mismanagement of the Vikings. From the lowest paid coaching staff in the NFL to coveted free agents walking away from the table because of deferred payment clauses, McCombs has eroded any good feelings Vikings fans had towards him.

During Thursdays teleconference McCombs proved once again that he may not have ever heard the adage, “Be sure brain is engaged before opening mouth.”

McCombs wanted so badly to "get a spark out of Randy" that he nearly fired Mike Tice before Randy Moss returned from a hamstring injury. Asked about McCombs' comments, Tice joked that he thought about quitting last season, so he believes that he and the boss are even.

Moss was hurt at the time, and just before he got hurt, he was torching the Saints with yet another highlight-reel performance. So what kind of a spark did McCombs want?

The fact that McCombs would even say with a straight face that he thought there was a causal link between dumping the coach and getting Moss to be all he can be gives me cause for why he didn’t follow Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor’s example.

The Timberwolves also were experiencing issues with star players. The ‘Wolves were also underperforming. But instead of keeping a very good coach and getting rid of some two-bit players, Taylor fired the coach and kept the team intact.

On the other side of town, McCombs was in the same position. But he did the opposite. He kept a mediocre coach and fired the best player in the NFL today. Just take a breath and think about that for a moment.

It isn’t as if the Vikings have a future hall-of-fame coach leading the team. Under Tice the Vikes have been fast out of the gate and basically 0-for-2nd half of the season. Tice’s lone playoff win came about because the team backed into the post-season and the game was won by a true future Hall of Fame wide receiver.

Tice could have been easily replaced. We may never see another player with the caliber of Randy Moss ever don a Vikings uniform again. Taylor made the wrong call with the ‘Wolves. McCombs made the wrong call with the Vikings. Tice should be coaching the offensive line in Oakland. Moss should still be wearing purple.

March Madness

No, we are not talking NCAA basketball. But, as long as I mention that, check back soon for information on the 1st Annual Mr. Cheer Or Die Viking Underground March Madness tourney. I'll set up a board on one of the fantasy sites and everyone can sign up and play for bragging rights.

But that's not the topic today. It's absolute madness on the NFL rumor mill currently. That should be the new March Madness. Here's a taste of things sent to me or found on various message boards. True or false?

Onterrio Smith has been caught with the Wacky Weed once again. Unknown. Probably has little weight unless S.O.D. was partying with Ricky Williams.

Ragnar to be Fired! False. I know Ragnar. We hosted a radio show during the 1998 season and I can tell you that Ragnar is looking forward to next season and tormenting Cheeseheads once again.

Tice Gets New Contract! False. This was followed by the, "I gave serious thought to replacing Mike when Randy was coming off injury," statement from Red McCombs in Thursday's teleconference.

Marcus Pollard a Viking. False. Vikes have no need to spend big money on a tight-end when trying to get Jermaine Wiggins to resign and starter James Kleinsasser returing from injury.

"We have some freakin' players that can freakin' play offense." True. Uttered by Mike Tice at Thursday's press conference.

Rob Brezinski has shot down any rumors of a reported trade involving the Vikings sending RB Michael Bennett and their 2005 second-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals for WR Anquan Boldin. Unknown. Could be Brezinski blowing smoke towards Denny to get Arizona to panic.

Vikes close to a deal with Miami for Surtain. The holdup is Miami wants Onterrio and we are offering Bennett. Unknown. But I seriously hope not. Surtain doesn't want to play in the cold ala Darrin "Disco" Nelson. Vikes can do better.

But Is It Sponge Worthy?

Based on Elaine Benes of the great Seinfeld sitcom, each week or so I will introduce another blog that I have come across and have begun reading on a regular basis. You, my valued reader, will decide if it deserves a permanent link on my site under the category of Sponge Worthy Links.

You recall the Seinfeld episode. Elaine only uses the sponge as her form of birth control. When the sponge is to be discontinued she scavenges the city buying in hordes any sponges she can find. From then on, if a man was not sponge worthy, then he was not worth Elaine's troubles.

The blogs chosen at random, may have nothing to do with football..or even sports. If you have a favorite blog, please pass it along to me by leaving the web address under the Comments section found at the end of each entry.

Last week, Stick and Ball Guy was up for vote. It was overwhelmingly considered as Sponge Worthy and now finds itself in the SW Hall of Fame.

This week I give you the NFL Cheerleader Blog. So go check it out. You know you want to! Then come back and vote and let me know if this blog is truly Sponge Worthy and deserving of a permanent link on the Worlds Number One Vikings blog?

Voting will be open for one week, ending next Friday (3/11) morning.

From the Sidelines

Received this in my e-mail box from The Wife®. I wonder if she's trying to tell me something?

Men vs. Women

1. NAMES: If Laurie, Linda, Elizabeth and Barbara go out for lunch, they will call each other Laurie, Linda, Elizabeth and Barbara.

If Mark, Chris, Eric and Tom go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla, Peanut-Head and Scrappy.

2. EATING OUT: When the bill arrives, Mark, Chris, Eric and Tom will each throw in $20, even though it's only for $32.50. None of them will have anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back.

When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.

3. MONEY: A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.

A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need but it's on sale.

4. BATHROOMS: A man has five items in his bathroom: a toothbrush, shaving cream, razor, bar of soap, and a towel from the Marriott.

The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify most of these items.

5. ARGUMENTS: A woman has the last word in any argument.

Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.

6. CATS: Women love cats.

Men say they love cats, but when women aren't looking, men kick cats. (Unless you are Stick and Ball Guy who allows his sports blog to transcend into a Cat Blog each Saturday.)

7. FUTURE: A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.

A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.

8. SUCCESS: A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can
spend.

A successful woman is one who can find such a man.

9. MARRIAGE: A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't.

A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change and she does.

10. DRESSING UP: A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the garbage, answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail.

A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.

11. NATURAL: Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.

Women somehow deteriorate during the night.

12. OFFSPRING: Ah, children.

A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams.

A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Any married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people remembering the same thing.

AND FINALLY...A couple drove down a country road for several miles, not saying a word. An earlier discussion had led to an argument and neither of them wanted to concede their position. As they passed a barnyard of mules, jack asses, and pigs, the husband asked sarcastically, "Relatives of yours?"

"Yep," the wife replied, "in-laws."

Posted by maasx003 at March 4, 2005 07:25 AM | TrackBack