The game against the Atlanta Falcons lasted a little over three hours or one eternity, however you chose to look at it. The Vikings flew into Georgia with some confidence riding a one-game winning streak and ended up fighting a squall barreling from the Georgia Dome, and the Vikes flying directly into it.

If the Vikings could be compared to a plane, I'm sure that lightning fried the black box and sent them careening down into sea. Luckily for me, I had dined some hours previous, so there was nothing to come up except, of course, my stomach itself.

I tried to take all the pounding and thrashing the Falcons put out stoically. Still, I heaved a sigh of relief when at last the game ended. Now comes the real fun. Reading the national media rip apart the team, and head coach Mike Tice. It has come to that, be entertained not by the team, but by the media's impression of this team. Here are some adjectives already being used to describe the Vikings following the spanking by the Falcons:

Hapless: 274-yard rushing performance on the ground for the Falcons. Oh, they had with 205 yards at halftime. Check.

Wretched: Daunte Culpepper was sacked nine times, intercepted twice and lost a fumble. Check.

Miserable: Culpepper did not complete a pass to a wide receiver until the third quarter. Check.

Disastrous: The best play of the game for the Vikings was when punter Chris Kluwe punted the ball which went out at the Falcons one-yard line. The best play of the game came from the punter. Check.

Regrettable: New owner Zygi Wilf probably had a better time watching his beloved N.Y. Giants put up 44-points and 456-yards of offense, than watching the team he owns put up a 10-spot and 261-yards.

So, can it get any more ugly? Yes. Will it? Quite probably so. Who will Tice decide to introduce at the next home game on October 23? Not the offense, we already know that. Not the defense, nope, nope, nope. So get ready ladies and germs to hear Chris Kluwe and Paul Edinger get introduced to the warm, receptive home crowd.

For they are the only ones assured of receiving applause at this point in this laughable season.

I leave you with these two questions:

1) Will the entire coaching staff be relegated to the coaches box for the next game?
2) What is the over/under on the number of brown-bag wearing fans appearing at the next home game?

Leave a comment below. Blow off some steam. You'll feel better for it. Hell, you can even yell at me if you want to. That's what I'm here for.

Tice Approval Rating

Head coach Mike Tice carried a Viking Underground 61% Approval Rating into the game against the Falcons. That was up from 7% the week before. He is now carrying a season average 54% approval rating.

Vote your approval....or otherwise....to the left.

Club T-Shirts

I received a nice package this past Friday (thanks Dan!) from the Derby City Norsemen of Louisville, Kentucky. And they are great looking shirts. And enough to clothe my entire family! Take a gander at these great shirts.

So, if you are ever in Louisville just look up this great Vikings club! You'll be warmly received.

Zygi Goes to the People

In Sunday's Star Tribune, there was an open letter written by Zygi Wilf and Margaret Langfeld, who is the chair of the Anoka County Board of Commissioners. I thought it a bold move by Zygi to write the liberal paper who will no doubt relish in printing anti-stadium rebuttal letters-to-the-editor in the coming days.

I thought this line particularly poignant, "when it comes to stadium proposals, vision isn't the challenge; it's paying for them that's difficult." That should take some air out of the sails of the anti-stadium crowd. But it may fuel the fire for those who believe the owners should foot the entire cost of a new stadium rather than only a portion.

Another great part was, "Some argue that there should be a local referendum on the sales tax. We disagree. If we relied on local referendums for building statewide assets, we might not have a Guthrie Theater, Mall of America or Xcel Energy Center. Local referendums were not used to approve those projects and one is not needed to approve this proposal."

Bah on referendums! The anti-stadium crowd, two-faced as they are, will demand a referendum for any of the proposed three new stadiums but will say no referendum is required for a new theatre, new shopping arena, new library, or new schools. In short, the anti-stadium crowd feels it is more intelligent than you and that you should just let them do the thinking for you.

At any rate, I will post all the anti-stadium rants as they come into the STrib this week, ridiculous as they will be. And it will be very interesting to see what the STrib actually does print, as the paper has been curiously in favor of new stadiums in recent months.

Here is the full text of the letter as it appeared. Have a comment? Leave it at the end of this entry!

Gov. Tim Pawlenty has said he'll call a special session if legislators limit the issues to be considered. New stadiums for the Twins and University of Minnesota are expected to be on the list. The Anoka County-Minnesota Vikings stadium project should be on that approved list, too.

Some say three stadiums at once is too much and that the Vikings should wait their turn, behind the Gophers and Twins. We, along with thousands of supporters, disagree.

We have a fair and balanced plan that works for the state, county and team, and it deserves prompt consideration.

This is the best opportunity lawmakers will have to solve all the state's long-standing stadium issues. This is the right time and right plan, and we urge the Legislature to act on our historic partnership.

No one disputes this is an exciting vision. However, Minnesotans know all too well that, when it comes to stadium proposals, vision isn't the challenge; it's paying for them that's difficult. We believe we have a responsible and viable approach.

The publicly owned, retractable-roof stadium and on-site infrastructure will cost $675 million. Anoka County and the team each will pay $280 million; the state would bond for the remaining $115 million.

Revenue generated by the project pays the state's portion of the cost, without tapping Minnesota's general fund.

Our proposal creates a stadium-development taxing district capturing the state taxes within the district to cover the cost of the bonds for the state portion. In other words, the project pays for itself. The idea of using project-generated revenues was endorsed by Pawlenty's 2004 Stadium Task Force and ensures that only those who use or benefit from the development end up paying the state's share.

The state's contribution covers on-site infrastructure, such as roads and utilities, and a portion of the stadium's retractable roof.

The roof will make this a year-round facility and help Minnesota compete for prestigious events such as Super Bowls, NCAA basketball tournaments, large conferences and other events that generate millions of dollars for the state's economy.

The Vikings $280 million private-capital contribution -- by far the largest by any team in state history -- includes an NFL loan that will be repaid by stadium revenues. In return, the Vikings will receive the stadium revenue and pay rent to the county. This world-class facility, which will be managed by a public sports commission, will help keep the Vikings competitive, preserve the team's legacy for generations to come and return tailgating to Minnesota.

Anoka County's contribution would be covered by a 0.75 percent countywide sales tax, the same as other local-option sales taxes widely used throughout the state for development projects with statewide significance.

For Anoka County, this development will produce thousands of jobs, generate millions of dollars in economic activity, improve infrastructure and help ease the local property tax burden.

It's estimated that the two affected school districts each will see their property tax base strengthened by $5.4 million, and the city and county will see their property tax base grow by $10.8 million. This gives the schools, city and county greater flexibility in providing needed services for residents.

Make no mistake: Anoka County and its residents will get back much more than they will put into the project.

Some argue that there should be a local referendum on the sales tax. We disagree.

If we relied on local referendums for building statewide assets, we might not have a Guthrie Theater, Mall of America or Xcel Energy Center. Local referendums were not used to approve those projects and one is not needed to approve this proposal.

In addition, our proposal recommends $115 million in accelerated off-site road improvements in the north metro, one of the fastest-growing areas of Minnesota. The cost also would be covered by revenue generated within the stadium taxing district.

These projects, such as widening Interstate Hwy. 35W and improving exit and entrance ramps, are needed today but aren't set to be built for 20 years. Our plan benefits everyone who drives on Minnesota roads because it provides separate funding for these accelerated road projects, freeing up transportation dollars for other needed projects throughout the state.

Our plan works.

There will never be a better opportunity to get all three stadium projects built.

Local elected officials have stepped up and made difficult decisions. Now we need the governor and the Legislature to do the same.

Posted by maasx003 at October 3, 2005 06:45 AM | TrackBack