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Mr. Cheer or Die's
Views and Personal Photos on the Vikes from the Inaugural Hall of Fame fan.
Mr. Cheer or Die's
Lots and lots here today. Probably enough for two postings. Call it Two for Tuesday!
More thoughts on the local stadium issues. One argument that is constantly heard is, “Come on, when you're a billionaire, why in the world do you need our money?”
Take Seattle sports team owner, Paul Allen. A few years ago, Seattle voted to raise $400 million to build a new stadium alongside new Seattle Mariners' Safeco Field. Those were some apprehensive times for Seattle Sports Fans.
As fans, it splits our thinking right down the middle, doesn't it? At the exact time that we are thinking, "Come on, if you've got a billion dollars, why can't you just kick in the rest?” we are also thinking, "We have to get that stadium built or we lose the team!”
The whine from opponents then continues, “What good is it to read Forbes magazine year in and year out, to find out how rich these guys are if they don't even want to finance their own deals?”
Look at it this way. Paul Allen paid approximately $500 million in capital gains tax last year. You mean to tell me that he and the government couldn't figure out some way to take his taxes, call it a special tax credit and put it with the money he already committed towards a stadium so he can build a stadium that would generate more local, state, and federal taxes?
Surely there is a way that local and federal government can figure out a way for a special tax credit for building a major public facility like a stadium. If the state government can have a "special election" with a "special tax item" on the ballot that goes into a "special account," to build a stadium, definitely the federal government can have a "special tax credit" that it works out with the state and local government for someone building a stadium. Could it be then that a tax credit give to the billionaire would appease those that oppose increasing taxes?
Nah, then they would just whine that the billionaires are receiving special treatment and that the money lost from the capital gains taxes should be going to schools, blah-blah-blah.
Oh well, I can dream.
Arizona: New Logo & New Stadium
Enough is enough when the lowly Arizona Cardinals get a new logo and are about to move into their new state-of-the-art stadium in Glendale for the 2006 NFL Season. It's a damn nice looking stadium also! They even have a live construction cam!
I cannot take anymore!!!! AAAAGGGGHHHHH!
Is anyone in the St. Paul capitol building watching this? Or are they just playing the fiddle while the Vikings payroll burns!!?!?!?!!
Whoops!
In case you missed it, there was a significant faux pas on the web site of former Eagles quarterback and ESPN host Ron Jaworski.
Jaws, obviously, is an NFL guru who spends his time following the league very carefully and breaking down film (or, at least, he voices that every time you see him on the air!).
So since Jaws is, supposedly, one of the leading voices regarding pro football, he surely knows how to get basic facts right regarding, you know, matters regarding the NFL.
In a segment on his personal web site regarding teams that could break out in 2005, Jaworski includes the New York Jets, for the following reasons:
"Hiring Scott Linehan as the new offensive coordinator is significant. In Minnesota, Linehan cultivated a big-play, quick-strike offense. He's got the talent to work with in New York to have that same kind of offense. With Chad Pennington at quarterback, Curtis Martin in the backfield and receivers like Santana Moss and Justin McCareins, the Jets have the tools.
"Now they need the philosophy. Linehan will provide that. The Jets should be an attacking offense, one that is capable of scoring from anywhere on the field."
Great analysis, Jaws. With one minor exception. Linehan isn't the new offensive coordinator. It's Mike Heimerdinger.
Whoa! Who's your editor Jaws? Might want to have a little talky-talk with that person. Quick!
(Note: They may actually realize their mistake and correct the site before you access the link provided above. Nonetheless, it was there!)
Who I Want
Imagine this next year. The 6-0 Vikings go into Lambeau Field to take on the 1-5 Packers. Randy Moss again lights up the Girlfriend backfield....
And lights up the Packers fans with yet another Moss Moon.
Then newly aquired safety Donovin Darius lays a heavy (clean!) hit on Brett Favre resulting in Darius fumble recovery that he takes to the house.
Darius remains the one free agent that I hope the Vikings take a good, hard look at. Peter King thinks so too.
And having over 60,000 Packer fans booing their lungs out kind of warms the cockles of my heart, as well. I don't think Madison can afford to post billboards for TWO Minnesota Vikings players!
But then, I always have my trusting spray paint and Madison isn't that far a drive...
Links and Tidbits
----Rob Brzezinski is among more than a dozen people under consideration for the Seattle Seahawks' open team president job, it was learned Monday.
----Joe Juranitch could have used Ragnar's battle ax when the Vikings lost in Philly. Read how the classless Beagles fans treated the Vikings mascot.
----Look for future Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith to announce today his retirement from the Arizona Cardinals to join Reggie Fowler's investment group that is trying to buy the Vikings. Fowler's group also includes local automobile dealer Denny Hecker.
----Insiders say there are just four major investors, including Glen Taylor, in the Timberwolves owner's group to buy the Vikings, and one of them initially considered becoming general partner of his own group. But at the NFL's suggestion, that investor has joined Taylor. Taylor is considering adding a block of investors to his group for those who want to be part of the package, but for a much lower percentage. An objective view of the Vikings' value would be about $544 million, which would seem a fair price for whomever ends up buying the team. Red McCombs bought the Vikings in 1998 for $210 million plus $36 million in tax considerations. Teams with stadium leases similar to that of the Vikings have risen in value about 12 percent annually. That would make the Vikings' value $543.8 million.
----Why women should not be owners and/or coaches of men's sporting programs.
----Will the dollar be deposed as the world's reserve currency? Scary stuff. My kid could be working in a 2nd rate country!
----We have sports owners (Red McCombs, Carl Pohlad) who can't get the legislature to discuss the subject. But it could be worse, we could be living in New Orleans.
----The land for a possible new Jets new stadium could cost as much as $300 million. Land and infrastructure will be big topics here (as soon as Hell freezes over and the legislature gets off its big fat pork-laden butt). It'll be good to see how other areas get around these issues.
From the Sidelines
Yes, I love the Blues. And the Blues artists all have cool names. So, what's your Blues name? Follow the instructions below to get your genuine Blues name.
Then experience that legendary blues thrill.
1. From the first list, take the name using the first initial of your first name.
2. From the second list, do the same with your middle name.
3. From the third list, take the name using the initial of your last name.
First List - for your first name:
A=Fat; B=Muddy; C=Crippled; D=Old; E=Texas; F=Hollerin';
G=Ugly; H=Brown; I=Happy; J=Boney; K=Curly; L=Pretty;
M=Jailhouse; N=Peg Leg; O=Red; P=Sleepy; Q=Bald; R=Skinny;
S=Blind; T=Big; U=Yella; V=Toothless; W=Screamin'; X=Fat Boy;
Y=Washboard; Z=Steel-Eye
Second List - your middle name:
A=Bones; B=Money; C=Harp; D=Legs; E=Eyes; F=Lemon; G=Killer;
H=Hips; I=Lips; J=Fingers; K=Boy; L=Liver; M=Gumbo; N=Foot;
O=Mama; P=Back; Q=Duke; R=Dog; S=Bad Boy; T=Baby; U=Chicken; V=Pickles; W=Sugar; X=Cracker; Y=Tooth; Z=Smoke
Third List - your last name:
A=Jackson; B=McGee; C=Hopkins; D=Dupree; E=Green; F=Brown;
G=Jones; H=Rivers; I=Malone; J=Washington; K=Smith; L=Parker;
M=Lee; N=Thompkins; O=King; P=Bradley; Q=Hawkins; R=Jefferson;
S=Davis; T=Franklin; U=White; V=Jenkins; W=Bailey; X=Johnson;
Y=Blue; Z=Dixon
Me? I'm Muddy Boy Lee. Please address me as such in the future. My son turns out to be Ugly Boy Lee. My wife (Boney Boy Lee) might have something to say about that.
What is yours?
Photos of the Day
From the Sidelines: King Arthur and the Witch
From The Commish, a tale for men to live by:
Young King Arthur was ambushed and imprisoned by the monarch of a neighboring kingdom. The monarch could have killed him but was moved by Arthur's youth and ideals. So, the monarch offered him his freedom, as long as he could answer a very difficult question. Arthur would have a year to figure out the answer and, if after a year, he still had no answer, he would be put to death.
The question?....What do women really want? Such a question would perplex even the most knowledgeable man, and to young Arthur, it seemed an impossible query. But, since it was better than death, he accepted the monarch's proposition to have an answer by year's end.
He returned to his kingdom and began to poll everyone: the princess, the priests, the wise men and even the court jester. He spoke with everyone, but no one could give him a satisfactory answer.
Many people advised him to consult the old witch, for only she would have the answer.
But the price would be high; as the witch was famous throughout the kingdom for the exorbitant prices she charged.
The last day of the year arrived and Arthur had no choice but to talk to the witch. She agreed to answer the question, but he would have to agree to her price first.
The old witch wanted to marry Sir Lancelot, the most noble of the Knights of the Round Table and Arthur's closest friend!
Young Arthur was horrified. She was hunchbacked and hideous, had only one tooth, smelled like sewage, made obscene noises, etc. He had never encountered such a repugnant creature in all his life.
He refused to force his friend to marry her and endure such a terrible burden, but Lancelot, learning of the proposal, spoke with Arthur.
He said nothing was too big of a sacrifice compared to Arthur's life and the preservation of the Round Table.
Hence, a wedding was proclaimed and the witch answered Arthur's question
thus:
What a woman really wants, she answered....is to be in charge of her own life.
Everyone in the kingdom instantly knew that the witch had uttered a great truth and that Arthur's life would be spared.
And so it was, the neighboring monarch granted Arthur his freedom and Lancelot and the witch had a wonderful wedding.
The honeymoon hour approached and Lancelot, steeling himself for a horrific experience, entered the bedroom. But, what a sight awaited him. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen, lay before him on the bed. The astounded Lancelot asked what had happened.
The beauty replied that since he had been so kind to her when she appeared as a witch, she would henceforth, be her horrible deformed self only half the time and the beautiful maiden the other half.
Which would he prefer? Beautiful during the day....or night?
Lancelot pondered the predicament. During the day, a beautiful woman to show off to his friends, but at night, in the privacy of his castle, an old witch? Or, would he prefer having a hideous witch during the day, but by night, a beautiful woman for him to enjoy wondrous, intimate moments?
What would YOU do?
What Lancelot chose is below. BUT....make YOUR choice before you scroll down below. OKAY?
Noble Lancelot, knowing the answer the witch gave Arthur to his question, said that he would allow HER to make the choice herself.
Upon hearing this, she announced that she would be beautiful all the time because he had respected her enough to let her be in charge of her own life.
Now....what is the moral to this story?
The moral is.....
If you don't let a woman have her own way....
Things are going to get ugly
Set phasers to Grin and Bear It! Does one laugh manically as if insane or cry like a newly born baby? However one looks at it, the Vikes are again at the top of the chart when it comes to salary cap numbers.
For 2005, estimating the NFL salary cap to be approximately $85 M, the Vikings will be an estimated $30 million under. Think of who the Vikings could sign with that kind of dough.
Inside the NFL North division, the Bears come in at $19.28 million under, the Lions at $15 million under, and the lowly Packers at $3 million OVER.
So, whom could the Vikings target should McCombs (or Fowler or Taylor) decide to actually spend that projected money instead of saving it for a rainy day? The following summaries are players set to become free agents in 2005. Note that this list does not include players who are likely to void a year on their contract and thereby become free agents. I do not break out Restricted Free Agents and which will be Unrestricted. This list only includes players who started in 2004.
Defensive Back
Idrees Bashir (Colts)
Gary Baxter (Ravens)
Aaron Beasley (Falcons)
Jay Bellamy (Saints)
Donovin Darius (Jaguars)
Will Demps (Ravens)
Tony Dixon (Cowboys)
Andre Dyson (Titans)
Nicholas Harper (Colts)
Quentin Harris (Cardinals)
Ronnie Heard (49ers)
Anthony Henry (Browns)
Kelly Herndon (Broncos)
Renaldo Hill (Cardinals)
Joseph Jefferson (Colts)
Sammy Knight (Dolphins)
Marlon McCree (Texans)
Dwight Smith (Buccaneers)
Fred Smoot (Redskins)
Travares Tillman (Panthers)
Bracy Walker (Lions)
Adrian Wilson (Cardinals)
Charles Woodson (Raiders)
Linebacker
Jessie Armstead (Panthers)
Akin Ayodele (Jaguars)
Kendrell Bell (Steelers)
Gary Brackett (Colts)
Rocky Calmus (Titans)
Andra Davis (Browns)
Mark Fields (Panthers)
Scott Fujita (Chiefs)
Morlon Greenwood (Dolphins)
Nick Greisen (Giants)
Edgerton Hartwell (Ravens)
Sedrick Hodge (Saints)
Warrick Holdman (Browns)
Orlando Huff (Seahawks)
Rob Morris (Colts)
Ryan Nece (Buccaneers)
Julian Peterson (49ers)
Tommy Polley (Rams)
Matt Stewart (Falcons)
David Thornton (Colts)
Will Witherspoon (Panthers)
Defensive Line
John Abraham (Jets)
Raheem Brock (Colts)
Hugh Douglas (Eagles)
Marques Douglas (Ravens)
Jason Ferguson (Jets)
Carlos Hall (Titans)
Reggie Hayward (Broncos)
Darren Howard (Saints)
Aaron Kampman (Packers)
Chike Okeafor (Seahawks)
Seth Payne (Texans)
Corey Simon (Eagles)
Pat Williams (Bills)
Tony Williams (Bengals)
Offensive Line
Bennie Anderson (Ravens)
Joe Andruzzi (Patriots)
Rich Braham (Bengals)
Milford Brown (Texans)
Rick DeMulling (Colts)
Ryan Diem (Colts)
Chris Gray (Seahawks)
Ben Hamilton (Broncos)
Justin Hartwig (Titans)
Eric Heitmann (49ers)
Jonas Jennings (Bills)
Kenyatta Jones (Redskins)
Walter Jones (Seahawks)
Kyle Kosier (49ers)
Jermane Mayberry (Eagles)
Stockar McDougle (Lions)
Kareem McKenzie (Jets)
Seth McKinney (Dolphins)
Tom Nutten (Rams)
Matt O'Dwyer (Buccaneers)
Orlando Pace (Rams)
Tupe Peko (Colts)
Dominic Raiola (Lions)
Victor Riley (Saints)
Oliver Ross (Steelers)
Kevin Shaffer (Falcons)
Cameron Spikes (Cardinals)
Robbie Tobeck (Seahawks)
Keydrick Vincent (Steelers)
Matt Willig (Panthers)
Paul Zukauskas (Browns)
Kicker
Steve Christie (Giants)
Billy Cundiff (Cowboys)
Jay Feely (Falcons)
Todd Peterson (49ers)
Jeff Reed (Steelers)
Adam Vinatieri (Patriots)
Punter
Bryan Barker (Packers)
Toby Gowin (Jets)
Tom Rouen (Seahawks)
Kevin Stemke (Rams)
Dave Zastudil (Ravens)
Should be a few names on that list that the Vikes bring in for a look in the coming months. I hope.
More on Ownership
It is now being thought that Red McCombs is waiting for the NFL to conclude contract extensions for the league's Sunday night, Monday night and new eight-game Thursday-Saturday night TV package to rationalize his increased $650 million asking price for the Vikings. Nevertheless, just because McCombs is asking $650 million doesn't mean he'll receive any more visits to his Texas ranch. Without a stadium deal, it's almost a certainty he'll have to resolve for a smaller amount. A little used car haggling!
It could then be time for Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor to recommence his effort to buy the Vikings from Red McCombs in two weeks. That's how long Arizonan Reggie Fowler has before his negotiating rights understanding with McCombs ends. Let the countdown begin.
Think Randy Moss didn't have an impact on the psyche of Green Bay fans when he ended their season by ending their pathetic post-season hopes? Go no further than Madison, Wisconsin where a string of billboards specifically target Moss.
The first one says: "Squirting an Official with water bottle $25,000."
The next one: "Ramming a Meter Maid $1,200 and probation."
The third billboard says: "Mooning pack fans $10,000."
The final one: "Zero rings for Randy Moss. Priceless."
If for no other reason than to show Packer fans as being overly obsessed with their hatred towards Moss, we cannot allow the team to trade him!
This is golden, golden stuff!
My son and I are home today. "Stay home days", Graham calls them. Graham has pink eye and strep. WKW (Well-Kempt Wife) needs to be at work so WTH (Well-Trained Husband) is at home with sick child.
So, I don't have a lot of time to develop a story for today. Just enough time to pull some things together before I am to turn on the Cartoon Network and sit down with Graham to watch Tom and Jerry, Scooby Doo, Looney Tunes......hey! That's not such a bad day!
Arizona Gets New Logo
The Arizona Cardinals are now sporting a new, more fierce logo.
Oooooooohhhhhhhhhhh!
After decades of sporting a mildly perturbed cardinal on their helmet, the Chicago/St. Louis/Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals finally have cracked open the wallet of owner Bill Bidwill for a relatively minor makeover.
Owner Bill Bidwill called the new logo "[a] tough bird," which "[h]opefully . . . will be worn by tougher and faster and meaner players."
And I'm still having trouble with the notion that anyone should be afraid of a little red bird.
"As they say, it's not the size of the bird in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the bird," coach Dennis Green said. "The cardinal is a small bird, but it can be a very aggressive bird. That's the idea."
Typical Denny, sounding like a guy who's trying too hard to come up with something good to say.
Added quarterback and apparent world traveler Josh McCown: "The only birds I know about are the duck and the dove and the quail, birds that you shoot,. You're not really supposed to shoot cardinals. I don't know if I'd shoot this bird. It looks pretty mean.
"This bird might pull a gun out and shoot right back at you."
There's a healthy image for the National Football League at a time when Jamal Lewis is getting ready to become someones girlfriend in Cell Block H.
From the Sidelines
Everyone that knows me understands my love of Guinness.
A Guide For The Un-Initated To Buying Guinness In An Irish Pub
1 Choose your pub carefully. A pint of Guinness does not appreciate loud music, loud people or bright flashing lights.
2 Ask politely for a pint of Guinness. Depending on the pub, it is possible to catch the barmans eye and mouth the word "pint", he will translate this accurately.
3 The barman will fill the glass between 70% and 80% capacity. It will then be put to the side for a few moments to allow it "to settle". Once the brownish liquid has almost turned to a solid black the barman will then fill the rest of the glass. NB: do not under any circumstances take the glass before it is filled. Some virgins seem to think that the settling stage is the final stage and walk away with an unfinished pint. At this point we Irish DO understand the predicament, but I assure you it causes endless mirth as well.
4 Once you have received your pint, find a comfortable stool or seat, gaze with awe into the deep blackness, raise the pint to your mouth and take a large mouthful. Be firm.
5 A good pint can distinguished by a number of methods. A smooth, slightly off- white head is one, another is the residue left on the inside of the glass. These, surpise surprise, are known as rings. As long as they are there you know your're okay. A science of rings is developing - the instance that comes to mind is determining a persons nationality by the number of rings (a ring is dependent on a swig of Guinness each swig leaving it's own ring). An Irishman will have in the region of 5-6 rings (they pace themselves), an Englishman will have 8-10 rings, an American will have 17-20 (we sip) and an Australian won't have any at all as they tend to knock it back in one go!
6 As you near the end of your pint, it is the custom to order another one. It is a well known fact that a bird does not fly on one wing.
Need another reason to drink Guinness (or any beer) for that matter? Go no further than this incredible tale:
Y'all have a great weekend. I've already got a start on mine.
Mike Tice doesn't even know if he can even hire new coaches to replace those that he has lost recently.
The front office at Winter Park doesn't know if they will be allowed to add to the Vikings payroll through free agency, let alone sign a #1 draft pick.
But down in Miami, things are just dandy. Let's take a look to see how the other half is living.
Dolphins new head coach Nick Saban has already figured out an important exception to the salary cap.
It doesn't apply to coaches.
As a result, Saban is rounding up an all-star assortment of assistants, throwing salaries of $800,000 a year or more onto the table in an effort to buy their services. (Oh, and Saban's salary is expected to average between $4 million and $5 million a season compared to Tice's $750,000 for the coming season.)
Former Vikings offensive coordinator Scott Linehan went from a salary of $300,000 per year to $850,000 in making the leap from Minny to Miami. Vikings receivers coach Charlie Baggett (who for some reason was making $100,000 a year more than the team's offensive coordinator) saw his own salary double from $400,000 to $800,000 when he accepted the same position in Miami.
Most recently, the Fins added offensive line guru Hudson Houck, paying him $850,000 per year.
''There's a salary cap on players, but there's no salary cap on coaches,'' Saban said, according to the Miami Herald. "You have to understand that getting the best quality people to develop your players is a very good value. It's certainly something I believe in and it's something we believe in organizationally."
Meanwhile Tice can be found scouring the highschool football wite looking for a few new coaches who might actually receive a nominal bump in salary should they be hired by the team.
Oh, and the 'Fins wanna pony up just about their whole team to reunite Randy Moss with Linehan. This one is very interesting. Why? the 'Fins have the #2 overall pick this year. Hmmmmm.
Link of the Day
The Greet Machine has initiated a campaign launch for Tom Ridge to become governor of Minnesota. While governor of Pennsylvania, Ridge figured out how to build 4 new stadiums for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia Eagles, and Pitt Panthers. In other words, Tom Ridge is a diplomatic and financial genius.
Now that Tom has resigned as directory of the Department of Homeland Security, Minnesota desperately needs his leadership. To that effect I created an online petition for the purpose of drumming up support for Tom Ridge's candidacy:
Tom Ridge for Governor of Minnesota Campaign Petition
Please sign it if you are interested in seeing stadiums finally built in Minnesota!
Quote of the Day
From the Washington Post's Tony Kornheiser, regarding the NFL's inexplicable decision to allow the City-Town of Jacksonville to host a Super Bowl:
"The NFL must see itself as handing out some sort of charity when it awards the Super Bowl to any place other than New Orleans, Miami and Southern California. Because, believe me, nobody wants the game to be anywhere but there. So when the NFL insists on putting it in outposts like Detroit, Houston or Minneapolis, people ask, 'Are you guys nuts?' But when you pick Jacksonville, people are agape and say, 'Who in Jacksonville has a photo of Tagliabue with a goat?'"
Close, personal friend 78-year old Red McCombs probably doesn't believe in the "you can't take it with you when you die" adage. McCombs was born in the West Texas town of Spur in 1927, the mischievous oldest child of four siblings. He began working at age nine, selling peanuts to migrant workers. He was determined to make money. And he has never stopped.
Well, Red isn't selling peanuts any longer. He is trying to sell the beloved Minnesota Vikings. Reports during the 2004-05 season had the asking price hovering around $600 million. And that was too much for anyone to even nibble on Red's fishing pole. So, you would think that the price would drop a bit, right? I mean, if the hosue you are trying to sell has been sitting on the market for over a year you drop the asking price. Not Red.
McCombs has jacked up his asking price for the Minnesota Vikings to $650 million or more, a team source said Tuesday.
What can one say? I've got nothing. So this thread will end abruptly.
Deion, Shut-Up!
One player is paying particularly close attention to the trade rumors involving Randy Moss and the Baltimore Ravens.
Ravens cornerback Deion Sanders seemed to suggest to NFL on FOX's James Brown that he'd be more excited about returning to the Ravens if they landed our #84.
"First of all, that would really encourage me to play, first and foremost," Sanders told Brown while appearing on his Sporting News radio show.
Sanders went on to suggest that he and Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis would be able to provide a little guidance for the occasionally wayward Moss, who has been dogged by controversy throughout his career.
"I think we can help him, not only on the field but off the field and let him see the big picture," Sanders said.
"Because football is just a blink of an eye, then you've got to deal with your life in your mid-30s or the early-30s, and we want to prepare him for that. Because football, it's over so quick, and we don't want him to burn so many bridges and destroy relationships that you're left alone when you retire. But I think we could really help him."
Deion Sanders and Ray Lewis are going to give advice to Moss on how to run his life? How about, ruin his life?
Moss is intelligent enough to see through these two clowns. And knowing Moss, the conversation might go a little like this....
Sanders: "Randy, would you come to the Ravens?''
Moss: "Anybody but Green Bay or the Ravens, homey."
Lewis: "But Randy, we need can tell you how to run your life."
Moss: "You're a murderer, the hell with you.''
Sanders: "What about me?. I'm hip, I'm cool, I know the inside dope.''
Moss: "Nope. You're part of the problem, homey.''
From The Sidelines
I've now had a chance to listen to the new 89.3 FM (The Current) station over the last three days. My mind is not yet made up whether I love it (yes!), am luke-warm to it (yes!), or just plain loathe it (yes!). I'll explain in a bit.
For those not in the Twin Cities, The Current is a public radio station under Minnesota Public Radio. Its goal is capturing new music that defines our era - and its musical roots and influences. 89.3 will be streamed live via the Internet, so listeners anywhere in the world can hear the broadcasts, as they happen.
As I said, my feelings have really run the gamut. Let me explain:
The Good: During my drive to work early Tuesday, I heard a song from a group called Two Time Polka. Apparently it is a group that originated in Ireland but plays Cajun music. It was very captivating and I have already ordered the CD. I will be listening to this CD as I sit outside under the garden pergola with my family this coming summer. And I would have never heard of them had it not been for The Current.
The Bad: Also on Tuesday, I was suddenly swept back to 1988 when Siouxsie & The Banshees' Peek-A-Boo roared from my speakers. I loved that song as it was on the tail end of the New Wave music that defined my twenties. The group was one of the Punk/New Wave movement's most revered iconic bands. So, why do I have this under the "bad" category? Because they followed it with a tune from Pinetop Perkins!
Now, many of you probably have never heard of Pinetop Perkins. Perkins is most well known as a member of the great Muddy Waters Band, and has also been inducted into the Blue's Foundation's Blues Hall Of Fame in Memphis. He is something of a legendary status in the blues world. And as I've let you know as of late, I love the blues.
So, here we had two great artists that rank high in my personal music library. Two artists which I would never hesitate to play. I just would never choose to play one after the other. Maybe I'm being picky, but I don't mix foods on my plate and I don't mix genres' when playing my music.
The Ugly: On Monday morning I heard a great Willie Nelson tune from his Stardust album. One of my favorites, indeed. That was followed by Bjork. Bjork is the kind of singer that my grandfather would have said, "Sounds like two cats fighting in a bag". Bjork fans, of course, would say that her music is odd, and ground breaking. I simply say, you don't follow a classic Willie tune with Bjork. Especially when people are driving.
So, the verdict is still out on The Current. But I do think they have a shot. It's early yet and they'll most certainly be playing around with the format. I suggest specialty shows. This is what BBC Wales Radio does and my wife and I often tune in to hear our favorite segments from BBC Wales each day. And I suppose this is what MPR is aspiring to.
Good luck to them. I'll be listening for these changes.
Neal St. Anthony, a business columnist with the Star Tribune, wrote an very interesting piece in the January 25 edition of the STrib. "State dropped the ball on stadium plan" went on to describe how Gov. Tim Pawlenty's administration effectively killed a baseball bill last year that was acceptable to Senate leaders and was passed by the Republican-run House tax committee. The bill would have set aside money for a $531 million, retractable-roof baseball stadium without tapping income or property taxes. The plan also met the guidelines of Pawlenty's own 2003 stadium commission. But the powerful House tax committee killed the bill's chances when it voted down a different financing plan supported by Pawlenty that would have tapped into incremental taxes paid by pro athletes.
Huh?
Why would Gov. Pawlenty toss up a road-block on something that so clearly would have meet his very own requirements? St. Anthony describes through interviews and quotes how Pawlenty is dodging the issue and placing stadium talk on the back burner until after the 2006 gubernatorial election.
So, it would appear that our esteemed governor is talking out of two sides of his yapper. On one side, Pawlenty touts, “Bottom line, I don’t want to lose the Vikings and the Twins on my watch.”
Then, on the flip side it appears Gov. Pawlenty, who repeatedly voted against stadium bills as a member of the Legislature, is saying what he needs to say to appease those who support the stadium measures. But then Pawlenty does not carry through on his promises so that he can point to the lack of movement to appease those groups who oppose new stadiums. All in time to garner votes from both sides in time for the aforementioned 2006 gubernatorial election.
That's a very dangerous game Gov. Some may call it undiluted political chicanery....dating two women at the same time. And you don't need to be playing it. Tom Ridge got it done in Pennsylvania amidst huge opposition.
In 1994, Ridge ran for governor of Pennsylvania, winning the election as a Republican. He was reelected in 1998, serving until his resignation to become Secretary of Homeland Security in 2001. Oh, and Ridge won reelection in 1998 after he garned a new stadium bill and approval.
That's right, Ridge worked a stadium bill during an election year. Are you listening, Tim? Here's a timeline for how Ridge got it done in case anyone at the Governor's Mansion in St. Paul wants to take notes.
March 1998 -- Plan B is officially born, with the details of the $809 million plan laid out in a press conference, including a $228 million baseball park, a $233 million football stadium and an expansion of the convention center estimated at between $267 million and $290 million.
June 1998 -- Negotiations among the city and the county and the two teams lead to an agreement that calls for the Steelers providing $76.5 million toward the cost of their stadium and the Pirates providing $40 million toward theirs.
July 1998 -- The Regional Asset District board, which administers half the funds raised by the county sales tax, approves its share of the Plan B funding.
August 1998 -- At a press conference at the site of the new baseball park along the Allegheny riverfront, PNC Bank announces it will pay $30 million over 20 years, starting in 2001, to put its name on the Pirates' facility, PNC Park.
October 1998 -- The Steelers make their long-awaited announcement on the site of their new stadium, to go just west of Three Rivers Stadium.
November 1998 -- As he wins re-election, Ridge says his top priority is to secure the state's portion of the funding for stadiums in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
Ridge conceded that voting for stadium financing was difficult for many lawmakers. But the governor, who handily won re-election in 1998, said his own political fortunes hadn't suffered because of his public support for using state revenues to assist these projects.
"As I tried to remind folks, there has only been one public person visibly, vocally and positively supporting the state's giving one-third [of the projected construction costs] to the stadiums over the past two years. That's me," Ridge said. "I would hope they would take some comfort in the fact because, clearly, that has been known statewide for some time."
He said there had been no voter backlash against a particular party or governor who supported public financing for stadiums.
No voter backlash. New stadiums in Pennsylvania. So, how have the teams done since then?
The Phillies had the 16th-highest payroll two seasons ago, at just under $60 million. That was increased to about $70 million last season.
The Phillies, who moved into their new ballpark in 2004, had been hampered by an unfavorable lease at Veterans Stadium.
The Eagles, who are heading to Super Bowl XXXIX, got there by signing wide receiver Terrell Owens, free agent linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, free agent defensive end Hugh Douglas, free agent linebacker Dhani Jones, and free agent defensive end Jevon Kearse. The Eagles moved into their new stadium in 2003.
Lessee, the Twins are having a hard time signing Cy Young winner Johann Santana. The Vikes are talking about trading away Randy Moss.
Tom Ridge, are you available to run for Governor of Minnesota in 2006?
Links and Tidbits
Ever since the Vikings were upset (yes, Cheesehead Craig, upset!) by the soon-to-be-Super Bowl runner-up Philadelphia Iggles, there has been rampant speculation regarding the potential trade of Mr. Randy Moss. Contained within various sport sites such as ESPN or CNNSI, and even amongst fan message boards, there has been very little in the way of actual credence that one could actually glom onto with any sort of conviction.
Using my vast powers of insider views and contacts, let us now look at some of the solid news that has emerged regarding the possible move. I will then offer my outlook regarding whether a trade should and could happen, and finally review the teams that might ring, amid plenty of picks and/or players, Winter Park as the Vikings attempt more than 15 years after the fact to do to another team the same thing the Cowboys did to them via the infamous Herschel Walker trade.
For starters, owner Red McCombs said on Monday that he has no plans to trade Moss. "I don't see how we would want to give up a player like that," said Red. Don’t you always know that owners who say, “I’ll never do this or that,” that the very next day they do the exact opposite? So don’t give that statement much weight. Especially since ol’ Red might not be the owner of the Vikings for much longer.
Close, personal friend Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press thinks that Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor eventually will step up and buy the team, even though Arizona businessman Reggie Fowler is trying to scrape together enough cash (and interested parties) to make it happen. But I still consider Taylor to be the front-runner and as a new boss he might be more of a mind to send Moss packing.
But the bigger thrust for a trade likely will come from Moss himself. Moss won't appreciate being the subject of "should we or shouldn't we" rumors emanating from the front office, such as Chris Mortensen's current report that an unnamed source pegs the chances for a trade at 60-40. So in lieu of coming off as unwanted, Moss will start making it known that he, not the Vikings, will say when their affiliation ends. And he'll do it by ultimately demanding a trade.
Moss might already be offering an allusion of his coming intentions through longtime friend Sam Singelton. Singleton, who coached Moss in youth football and baseball, said last week, "He's not happy there, and I think he wants to go somewhere else. He knows he's not going to win anything there."
So should the Vikes move Moss? At initial thinking, it might not appear to be a great brainchild. There's a big difference between the solid-but-far-from-great Vikings of 2004 and the 1-15 Cowboys of 1989, who were in significant rebuilding mode under a new coach, new owner, and rookie quarterback when Walker was traded.
Moss, in contrast, is a key contributor, and the team's overall talent level will dip without him. The Vikings looked at times lost when Moss was out with a hamstring injury this past season, although the team nearly pulled off regular season road upsets over Green Bay and Indy while Moss was on the shelf.
The crème’ de le crème at the center of this inquiry is whether the Vikes will get enough help on the other side of the ball to excuse the loss of Moss. I really and truly doubt that any team will send six players, three ones, three twos, and three threes to Minnesota for the talented-but-troubled Pro Bowler. But if the Vikings could swing a solid middle linebacker, a 320-pound run stuffer, and/or a quality cover corner plus a first-round and second-round draft pick, it might be worth making the move. And remember, it was the picks and not the initial players that eventually made Dallas great.
But why even make such a risky move? Because Daunte Culpepper is the bona fide head of the Vikings, and Moss' presence is keeping Culpepper's influence from taking root with the rest of the roster. Culpepper recently said that the only stat he cares about is wins, and he reasoned on the NFL Network recently that he doesn't go Afro for the big games because, to him, every game is a big game. That’s why my son Graham, wears a #11 jersey and not #84.
So it is my esteemed view that the team should use Moss as fuel for pumping up a defense that has been in despondency for much of the past decade. Such improvements could be more than enough to allow Culpepper to push the team to the Super Bowl.
Some will argue that if the Vikes were willing to spend all of their salary cap allocation, they might have been a lot stronger on defense in 2004, with only the addition of another stud defensive player like speed rusher Jevon Kearse. My argument is that a Kearse or other highly sought free agent wouldn’t have wanted to come here anyway…but that’s a topic for another day.
With all that said, who’s alleged to be in the market for Moss? It's in the Vikings' interests to get as many suitors as possible at the table. Regardless of Moss’ many cynic’s, my guess is that more than a few teams won't be able to resist pondering what Moss might mean to their offensive attack.
For now, I’ll put each of the following teams in the pool of prospective suitors: Jets, Dolphins, Ravens, Jaguars, Broncos, Chiefs, Raiders, Chargers, Cowboys, Giants, Redskins, Bucs, Cardinals, and 49ers.
Each team might have diverse motivations, but each will at least be suitably interested to talk about the possibility internally. Given the impact that Terrell Owens had in Philly this year, my guess is that, in the end, at least five teams will become won over that Moss can do more good than harm.
And unless ownership (McCombs or otherwise) renews the Vikings commitment to Moss with a contract extension, Moss’ tenor with the Purple could be over. Assuming ownership is likewise willing to spend money on replacing Moss, this could be their best chance to get real value for a guy who might be starting to venture down the back side of his prime years.
Blog Site Additions
You'll notice a few updates to this dog blog off to the left on the navigation bar area. There are a couple of RSS feeds now. RSS is a format for syndicating news and the content of news-like sites, including major news sites like Wired, news-oriented community sites like Slashdot, and personal weblogs. I've added a news feed for Vikings related stories and a link to iTunes giving you the Top 10 Songs in the Blues category for the day. (I have become a Blues junkie!)
I may play with this off-and-on over the next few weeks so check it out every now and then.
From the Sidelines
If you haven't already, check out my Dog Blog to check out the latest happenings with my two mutts.
Darling you gotta let me know
Should I stay or should I go?
If you say that you are mine
I’ll be here ’til the end of time
So you got to let me know
Should I stay or should I go?
Always tease tease tease
Siempre - coqetiando y enganyando
You’re happy when I’m on my knees
Me arrodilla y estas feliz
One day is fine, next is black
Un dias bien el otro negro
So if you want me off your back
Al rededar en tu espalda
Well come on and let me know
Me tienes que desir
Should I stay or should I go?
Me debo ir o que darme
Should I stay or should I go now?
Should I stay or should I go now?
If I go there will be trouble
An’ if I stay it will be double
So come on and let me know
This indecision’s bugging me
Esta undecision me molesta
If you don’t want me, set me free
Si no me quieres, librame
Exactly who’m I’m supposed to be
Diga me que tengo ser
Don’t you know which clothes even fit me?
¡§saves que robas me querda?
Come on and let me know
Me tienes que desir
Should I cool it or should I blow?
¡§me debo ir o quedarme?
Should I stay or should I go now?
¡§yo me frio o lo sophlo?
If I go there will be trouble
Si me voi - va ver peligro
And if I stay it will be double
Si me quedo es doble
So you gotta let me know
Me tienes que decir
Should I stay or should I go?
¡§yo me frio o lo sophlo?
The Clash
Ah, The Clash. No finer punk band in the history of Rock 'N Roll. Those boys knew their stuff. And it was a great time for me as well. When the album Combat Rock came out in 1982, I was twenty-one years old. I was a third-year pharmacy student. In the third year of my relationship with my then highschool sweetheart. And like all college kids.....I knew everything. I was rebel exemplified. In short, I was a real pain-in-the-ass.
Oh, right. This is a football related blog. Sorry about my Bloody Mary induced flashback!
As promised a few days ago, there will be topics to discuss this Vikings off-season. Probably more than once or even twice. So let's start off with the hot topic of Randy Moss even being in purple next year.
Lots has been made in the last week about a trade to Washington, or Arizona, or Oakland. We'll hear more. And I'm sure when pressed by the media the Vikings will deny that any such talks are taking place and blah-blah-blah. We all know that everyone has a price. Offer up enough in the way of defensive help and or draft picks and you bet your pierced nipple the team will listen.
Well, let me throw another possibility your way. With receiver David Terrell's Friday arrest likely to push Bears G.M. Jerry Angelo past the breaking point as to the underachieving and erratic 2001 first-round draft pick, inside word from my bud the Bear Man (Photo from 2001), that the Bears are hoping to trade out of the No. 4 overall spot, and select USC receiver Mike Williams with a lower pick.
First, of course, the Bears would need to find a trade partner. And in a year when a clear-cut top five picks might not emerge, it might be difficult for Chicago to find someone who'll make the jump for a guy who isn't head-and-shoulders above the rest, especially since the slotting process will require the team that selects from the four spot to give their pick a commensurate financial package.
The Bears also remain very interested in the Marty Booker situation in Miami. If new coach Nick Saban opts to release Booker, who was sent by the Bears to the Fins as part of the Adewale Ogunleye trade, Angelo will be interested in bringing Booker back.
The challenge, of course, will be to make Marty forgive and forget the abrupt manner in which the team communicated to him the fact that he'd been traded. Booker was very upset with the team at the time, and our guess is that he won't be inclined to return -- especially if the Vikings come calling for his services after the seemingly inevitable trade of Randy Moss.
So, Moss would be traded for some top defensive help and maybe a pick or two. And the Vikes would end up with Nate Burleson and two former Bears (Booker and Marcus Robinson) as the top three WRs. I might be able to live with that actually. Might.....as I really don't want to let Moss go.
Should I stay or should I go, indeed! I think I'll make me a batch of seafood curry using scallops, swordfish, grouper, and shrimp. Sip some imported wine. Bring out the port and select cheese for dessert. Do some pondering. You do the same and get back to me. Leave a comment. I might actually respond. This indecision’s bugging me........
From the Sidelines
If you didn't already know, I am a Licensed Drug Dealer (LDD). Licensed in four states as a matter of fact. Virginia, Texas, North Dakota (don't ask!) and Minnesota. And LDD is my funny way of letting people know that I am a pharmacist. I quit the retail racket of weekends, 12-hour days with no breaks, and working holidays waaayyyyyy back in 1997. In 1997 I became gainfully employed by the evil pharmacy benefit managers. I'm the guy who gleefully restricts the number of Viagra tablets Grandpa can get and raise your copay each January. And relish in it.
Then came THE REMODEL. Added 1200 square feet of cherry cabinets, Sub-Zero refrigerator, hardwoods floors, storage space, plasma TV, and God-knows-what-else to our humble abode. Oh yeah, about this time I decided I need a BMW also. What the hell, I was doing my part to help stimulate America's economy. Then came the bills.
So it was back to occassional relief at one of your finer retail pharmacies. I now work one to two nights a week to make ends meet. Time goes quickly and the money is good. But there are times I recall why I quit retail in the first place. Such as patient etiquette. Here is one man's tongue-in-cheek guide on how to make me feel extra special and love you, the customer, even more:
1) Be sure to stare at the pharmacist while your prescriptions are being filled. Staring at the pharmacist makes him or her work faster.
2) Never remember the name of the medications that you want refilled. By calling it "the little white pill," you are sure to receive the correct medication.
3) When calling in eight prescriptions or more, always arrive at the pharmacy to pick them up within 10 minutes. It is OK to hurry the pharmacists; if they make a mistake, it won't kill you or anything.
4) Feel free to ask the pharmacy staff for the exact price of your prescription before it is filled. The staff should know every co-pay for every insurance plan.
5) Always ask how long it will take to fill a prescription. If you're lucky, you will get it for free if it's not ready in 30 minutes or less. Also, be sure to keep asking if the prescription is ready every five minutes - pharmacists often keep prescriptions to themselves after they are filled just to tick you off.
6) Be sure to complain about the co-pay. The co-pay is set up on the whim of the pharmacist and has nothing to do with the insurance company.
7) It is not necessary to present your insurance card - or even know the name of the company. Pharmacists are psychic and know everyone's insurance.
8) Upon calling in a refill on a maintenance medication without refills, always question why the doctor has to be called when you've taken the same medication for years. It is only a myth that prescription medications have to be ordered by doctors.
9) Always question why the insurance company is so concerned about your getting Prilosec 10 days too soon. After all, you are paying $5.00 for it and that's all it costs.
10) Over-the-counter displays are put there in order to entertain your children. Please encourage them to play with any item and even open one or two.
11) Make sure you save all your old prescription cards. One of pharmacists' favorite games is to guess which one is current.
12) When you call in a prescription, just say, "Can I have my pills filled?" You can be sure the pharmacist will recognize your voice and know which medication you want.
13) Pharmacists are some of the few people whose ears work independently. So when you see a pharmacist on the phone, feel free to just start talking - his free ear will hear everything.
14) The pharmacist is the only person in the store who is really capable of writing down your refill numbers, so when you call, demand to speak to the pharmacist.
15) Try to do all of your pharmacy business on a Monday. The pharmacist will appreciate it.
16) Another pharmacist favorite is to have a patient walk up and ask, "Can I pick up my prescription?" Guessing who you are is another pharmacist game.
17) When there are several people ahead of you near the pickup counter, always stand right at it. The pharmacist will know how important you are and fill your RX first, and, if not, you can listen to juicy patient-pharmacist conversations.
18) If you are not asked for your insurance card, it means that the pharmacist wants to fill your prescription and then, after you are told how much it is, you can shout, "I have insurance!" The pharmacist will be glad to do it all over again.
19) When you need a really old prescription filled, tell the pharmacist that you have a standing order for it. This works especially well if the doctor who wrote it is dead.
20) When you get a new insurance card, make sure that you keep it a secret. The pharmacist would rather phone your old company to find out why your RX is being rejected.
21) When you drop off a refill bottle, tell the pharmacist you'll pick it up either today or tomorrow. This type of clarity helps him plan his workload.
22) When you order your prescriptions and the pharmacist asks which ones, respond by saying, "All of them." The pharmacist will know.
23) When asked for the number of your prescription, respond by saying, "I don't know, you have it there." The pharmacist will know.
24) When asking for a refill on a pain medication, make sure you wait until the last one is gone and then try to call late on Friday afternoon. It will be easy to get in touch with the doctor for a new Rx.
Next week, more on the Vikings and who knows what other rant. You'll just never know with me. It's the off-season and I have to fill my time somehow!
I've mentioned my good buddy The Commish before. Good guy...family man....runs our Beer Brotherhood Football Fantasy league.....sits next to me in Row 1, Section 101 on Vikings game days. Just likes Tice a wee bit too much for my taste but then no one is perfect. (He thinks Tice will be the coach to take the Vikes to a Super Bowl title...yeah, and Les Steckel was a great coach!)
Anyway, The Commish didn't waste any tears when Scott Linehan departed the Great White North for Bikini City. Here's his take.
The Commish felt that Linehan was a good coordinator. Linehan had the Vikings offense ranked right up there in yardage every year. But points per game? Not so much.
I agreed with The Commish that the Vikings are built for offense...speed offense. So what was the magic number of points the offense needed to put up on the board for the Vikings to win? If the magic number was not obtained, the oft-knocked Viking defense was too weak to contain the opposition. So this got The Commish intrigued and he sharpened his replica Mike Tice pencil, removed it from behind his ear and got to work. Here is what The Commish found:
In the 2002-03 season, the Vikes were 4-1 when the offense scored greater than 27-points per game. They were 2-9 when scoring less than 27.
In the 2003-04 season, the Vikes were 6-2 when the offense scored greater than 27-points per game. They were 3-5 when scoring less than 27.
In the 2004-05 season, the Vikes were 7-2 when the offense scored greater than 27-points per game. They were 2-6 when scoring less than 27.
Summary for the Tice/Linehan era: 17-4 when the offense went over 27 points in a game. 7-21 when they didn't. Kind of speaks volumes.
Enter Steve Loney. Loney was an offensive coordinator at the University of Minnesota in 1998-99 and at Iowa State from 1995-97 and 2000-01.
Loney returned to Ames for the 2000 season after a two-year stint at Minnesota. Under Loney, the Cyclone offensive line gelled and Iowa State ranked second in the Big 12 in rushing and allowed just seven sacks the entire season. (The Vikings allowed six sacks in two playoff games this past season and forty-six during the entire 2004 regular season!) ISU, a small school, ranked 21st nationally in total offense, averaging 424.5 yards per game. Oh, and Iowa State averaged 27.82 points per game in 2000.
Loney's offensive schemes produced record-breaking results at Iowa State from 1995-97. In Loney's first two seasons at ISU, the Cyclone offense produced the most prolific tailback over two seasons in NCAA history in Troy Davis, who rushed for a two-year NCAA record 4,195 yards. Troy's brother, Darren Davis, rushed for 1,005 yards in just nine games in 1997, giving the Cyclones three straight 1,000-yard rushers under Loney. He also helped develop Tim Kohn, a two-time first-team all-Big 12 selection at offensive tackle, center Pat Augafa, the 1995 Big Eight Conference offensive newcomer of the year and an all-conference choice in 1996, and Oliver Ross, currently with the Dallas Cowboys.
Iowa State increased its offensive production by 20 percent during Loney's tenure in Ames. ISU ranked second in the Big 12 and 37th in the nation in passing offense in 1997 with an average of 231.9 yards per game through the air. The Cyclones ranked fourth in the Big 12 and 13th in the nation in rushing in 1996 with an average of 237.7 yards per game on the ground, which included an impressive average of 5.0 yards per carry. In 1995, Iowa State was third in the Big Eight and 15th in the country with an average of 228.5 yards per game rushing.
What about under the lowly Gophers? Minnesota was second in the Big Ten under Loney's guidance in the 1999 seasonand ranked 11th nationally in rushing, averaging 239.1 yards per game. The Golden Gophers were fourth in the Big Ten and 26th nationally in total offense (415.4). Minnesota finished fourth in the Big Ten and 20th nationally in scoring offense at 31.6 points per game in 1999.
Minnesota broke 19 offensive records in 1999 as the Golden Gophers turned around their program and went to a bowl game. Minnesota produced nearly 5,000 yards of total offense in 1999.
Loney's unit also produced an all-Big Ten first-team rusher in Thomas Hamner (1,362 yds) and a first-team All-America center in Ben Hamilton. Hamner and quarterback Billy Cockerham combined to form the top rushing duo in the country with 2,167 yards for an average of 197.0 yards per game. In addition, Minnesota set team records for points (348), touchdowns (42), total offensive yards (4,569), average yards per play (5.9) and average yards per game (415.4).
So, an established and smash-mouth running game. Pass protection to the tenth degree. This is starting to sound promising.
Who was Scott Linehan again?
From the Sidelines Part One
My son Graham will be turning five this coming April. He can already tool around the computer like a pro, speak Spanish, point out the correct stars and planets in the night sky, is taking Irish Dance (big recital in a month!), can bowl a strike.....and still run around the house naked whilst ignoring pleas to "get your PJs on!"
Graham's new interest is doing mazes. Lots of mazes. Thirty mazes in a day was accomplished just last Saturday. We no longer invest in maze books. My wife and I now spend a portion of our day searching for printable mazes from the 'Net. It's actually a large portion of our day but don't tell our bosses.
Now, think back to win you were four going on five. Could you do a maze like this? Or like this? Or even like this....it even says 'hard' on it! Hell, I was too busy with a finger up my nose or playing with my Tonka trucks to worry about mazes.
Yes, we are proud. And we are bragging. But, this is impressive. So much so that I have taken it upon myself to design and build a kid-size maze in time for Graham's birthday party. He and his buddies will be able to walk through this lifesize maze on their own. Here is hoping for a warm April!
From the Sidelines Part Deux
My guy, George W. Bush, was inaugurated into his second-term Thursday. Watch Bush systematically take apart the soon-to-be extinct Democratic Party over the next four years. He'll do this by forcing the Dems to speak to issues that they really don't want to tackle. (Senator Clinton Urges Use of Faith-Based Initiatives...hah!)
Take apart the party of Roosevelt, Harry S. (a favorite of mine, by the way), and Kennedy? "What you talkin' 'bout Willis!?!?!"
For a spot-on commentary on why the Democratic Party doesn't get IT...read this piece by Brian G. Fortin.
$825,000 or $750,000? One of those figures is former Vikings offensive Coordinator Scott Linehan's 2005 salary with the Miami Dolphins. The other is Vikings head coach Mike Tice's 2004 salary.
As of yesterday, Linehan is officially making more than his former boss. By $75,000. Ouch! Just how valuable did the Dolphins think Linehan was? Consider that the average NFL salary for an NFL offensive coordinator in 2004 was $466,000. Not too shabby Scotty!
Linehan also wanted to take current Vikings offensive line coach Steve Loney with him. Tice slammed the door shut on that deal and is keeping Loney here...for now. Why?
If you'll recall from earlier this season, Tice's contract is set to expire after this season as only the option year was picked up by owner Red McCombs. Do you think Tice and the Vikings can get anyone of value (Norm Chow!!!!) by selling them on a one-year contract with no assurance of employment after 2005?
Therefore, it seems to be even money that Loney will be promoted to offensive coordinator. That's got to have Daunte Culpepper and Randy Moss excited.
But back to Linehan's new three-year contract worth $2.55 million. What speaks volumes here? That McCombs is a skin-flint who throws nickels around like manhole covers? While that is true, McCombs is trying to run a business and prep for a sale of the team. He's doing what any other former owner has done. Lower overhead and make the sale palpable while increasing net profit.
So who's to blame for this one? Without a doubt, the Minnesota State Legislature. Without a new stadium to produce the revenue necessary to compete, the Vikings are totally handcuffed.
In 1999 the Vikings fell $11 million below the league average in total revenues. But team operating costs remained above that. Without a new stadium that can provide the same (and additional) revenue sources other teams such as the Dolphins enjoy, that gap has gotten wider every year.
In 2004, the Minnesota franchise ranked 31 out of 32 teams (just ahead of San Diego) in local revenue. The team fell $27 million behind average league revenues and simply can't compete at the dome under current conditions. Soon, the Vikings will no be able to generate the revenues needed to operate the team.
Take a gander at these NFL Rankings for the Vikings (Source: NFL CFO's office):
Net Gate Receipts: 25th
Concessions: 26th
Suites: 27th
Parking: 31st (duh!)
Club Seats/Stadium Club: 31st
Advertising: 31st
Total Revenue: 30th
So Purple Brothers & Sisters, I'm afraid until the State Legislature gets off their collective fat keisters and stops debating inane subjects such as Cosmetology and barbering regs merger under one examiners board, Methamphetamine manufacturing, and Mourning dove hunting season for example, and begins a stadium debate in earnest, there will be more departures from Winter Park for greener pastures.
There will be no significant free agent signings in 2005 and beyond. There will be no moving up to a Top 10 draft pick on Draft Day. Because there is no money to throw around.
There will be, instead, free agent signings that will be voiced as "significant" when in fact, the free agent is an oft-injured retread that the team wants to take a chance on because the guy signed a low-ball contract.
There will be, instead, the Vikes looking to trade out of their first round selection every year because they simply cannot afford to sign a first round rookie stud.
There will be, instead, unhappy coaches at Winter Park that are so below the league average on terms of salary that they need to pick up a second job.
Oh, and one more to watch. Vice President of Football Operations for the Vikings is Rob Brzezinski. In 2004 the Vikings were more than $19 million below the $80.6 million cap largely due to Brzezinski. The Vikings are projected to have at least $25 million in cap room this coming season. Brzezinski accomplished this by signing players to contracts that evenly distributed the cap hit over the life of the deal. Consider the seven-year, $30.83 million contract center Matt Birk signed prior to the 2001 season. Brzezinski has put the Vikings in position with the current salary cap restraints to have a great run for the foreseeable future.
Oh, and Brzezinski has a contract that expires after the 2005 season. Bye-bye Rob. It's been fun.
Links and Tidbits
If you haven't yet seen this parody of Brett Favre, DO IT!
Interesting Moss Trade Rumor Out of D.C.
Interesting Moss Trade Rumor Out of Oakland
Interesting Moss Trade Rumor Out of Arizona
Yesterday I left you with information pertaining to the growing speculation that a potential sale of the Vikings to Arizona businessman Reggie Fowler could be imminent according to various local media outlets. It looks like everyone is in full reverse mode as of this morning. You know what that means....yeah, a sale is right around the corner. When people start denying things you can be certain that very serious negotiations are underway.
Now, I have nothing against Fowler. Very little is even known about the man. But I would be against the sale if Fowler has to put together a team of investors in order to close the deal. Been there, done that.
From 1991 until 1998, the Vikings were owned by a 10-headed hydra that ran the ship. These people couldn't even agree on meeting times, let alone run the team. The President and Chief Executive Officer was Roger Headrick.
Headrick was a business man. He had spent a 30-year career in business (Exxon and Pillsbury) before coming to the Vikings. His principal expertise was in the area of finance and strategic planning. It was not football.
That's why I sat down on February 7, 1998 to conduct a review on Headrick and rate him in terms of running a business. I thought that if Headrick wanted to be viewed as being the ideal candidate to purchase the Vikings (remember Tom Clancy?) in 1998 based on his strong business acumen, then he should have his feet held to the fire and review his previous years as head Viking Grand Poohbah.
Much to my surprise, within days of posting the Headrick review on the old Viking Underground site, I was called into Winter Park by then marketing director Stew Widdess. What took place during the face-to-face meeting at Winter Park on a cold Saturday morning will remain private. But I posted a retraction shortly afterwards. A retraction that cost me the respect of many Vikings fans across the country.
Jump to present day. Here we are staring at another possible group of investors to again own the beloved Vikings. Do we really want to go down this road again?
To help you decide, I have gone into my vault and retrived the original Headrick review as posted back in 1998. I hope I don't get another call from Winter Park again. Send out the search party if you don't hear from me later this week.
“The Successful Owner’s Handbook”
February 7, 1998
by Brian K. Maas (Mr. Cheer Or Die)
So successful businessman Roger Headrick wants to fight for ownership of the Minnesota Vikings. Fair enough, but let’s look at the keys to successful ownership and see how the Pillsbury Doughboy rates:
Administrative Skills:
1. Establish Plans: Already Roger ranks low here as he could not even plan correctly in the event that his bid for the team was exceeded, in this case by Tom Clancy. Now Roger is just bitter. Good long-range planning, Roger. And besides, if you had the right of first refusal, why didn’t you just put in a bid for $1 since it appears you were just going to raise the bid anyway?
2. Structure and Staff: Let’s see, Roger, your football organization runs on a structure that includes no GM, a public relations director who was fired in October but worked the rest of the season, and a board of ten directors with no clear responsibilities. When staffing, you should have been building a team whose members had complementary strengths. But with a lack of understanding of your organization’s future challenges, you chose instead to mix people with missing skill sets and perspectives. Football minds do not mesh with business minds, a la Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson.
3. Develop Systems and Processes: First was the need to improve efficiency through the use of technology, like actually getting computers into Winter Park. Heck, Roger, through connections with the Southern California Viking Fan Club, state-of-the-art computer systems were sent to you at Winter Park and you, gulp, sent them back unopened! Then there was the need to increase ticket sales by asking yourself, “Does this current system support, block or create obstacles to achieve the mission?” Instead we had blackouts, long ticket lines on game day and a head coach challenging ownership halfway through the year.
4. Manage Expectations: By conveying clear expectations for assignments, a good owner can eliminate time wasted by employees who don’t have clear direction. The staff at Winter Park has worked under the NFL’s thumb the last two years while they waited for you to resolve the 30% ownership issue with the other owners. That has to have been as frustrating for your employees as it was for the fans.
5. Work Efficiently: Maybe a course in time management should be thought about. Again, it really took two years to finally meet the NFL’s demand for 30% ownership? Maybe an adjustment of priorities and schedule to ensure your daily work aligned with this major job responsibility should have taken place.
Grade: D-
Communication Skills:
1. Speak Effectively: By communicating in a succinct and concise manner, the nine other board members would have had a clear understanding of the Viking’s bylaws, and this upcoming nasty battle could have been avoided.
2. Foster Open Communication: By interacting with your fellow owners openly and directly, you could have made sure there would have been no “surprises,” such as Denny’s book, this past year.
3. Listen To Others: Roger, the WCCO poll shows that 98% of Minnesotans prefer Tom Clancy over you as Viking owner. What more clarification do you require?
Grade: F
Interpersonal Skills:
1. Build Relationships: An owner should relate to his fans in an open, friendly and accepting manner while showing sincere interest. Tom Clancy has done that in 48 hours. You tried by hiring Jonathan Winters to do some ticket sales promos two years ago.
2. Display Organizational Savvy: One skill necessary in this category is to recognize which battles are worth fighting and when it is time to compromise. “The right message at the wrong time is the wrong message.” Now you tell Viking fans that you were going to place a competitive team on the field when it appears you will be losing the team. Um, Roger, why weren’t you doing that before?
3. Leverage Networks: Yeah, right. Let’s see, you lost the ownership vote 9-0. You must have been working overtime on this skill!
4. Manage Disagreements: This past season we had a head coach take on the ownership committee, the owners splintered and assistant coaches who quit to come back later in frustration. Way to minimize that conflict, Roger!
Grade: F
Leadership Skills:
1. Provide Direction: This fosters the development of a common vision. Instead, under your direction, we had owners wanting Green fired while others wanted to retain him, owners wanting to sell, some owners wanting to spend money on free agents and others wanting to remain at status quo. There has been no direction at Winter Park since you took over, and it has shown on the field and off.
2. Lead Courageously: An owner should step forward to address difficult issues and put himself on the line to deal with important problems. A quote from Clancy, “ If things go wrong, there will be only one person to answer to, me.”
3. Influence Others: This skill helps to mobilize people to take action. Your skillful leadership over the last several years has mobilized thousands of Viking cyber-fans to complain via fax and e-mail to the NFL Commissioner’s office, local media and web sites.
4. Foster Teamwork: If the organization was a “team,” would Brian Billick have resigned in disgust with your leadership?
5. Motivate Others: A desire to excel comes from the leader. Instead we have owners and coaches who want out faster than they can open the door.
Grade: D
Organizational Skills:
1. Know the Business: Instead of hiring a GM with a strong football background, you chose, instead, to appear at a scouting event with sun visor, stopwatch and clipboard. Next time, maybe bring a starter pistol for those 40-yard dash timings.
2. Use Technical/Functional Expertise: Your plan to renovate the Metrodome by lowering the field and adding 6,000 new seats was meet with laughs by Minneapolis engineers. The punch line? Seems a river runs under the Dome. Your response? “We can always divert the river.” Uh-huh.
3. Manage Profitability: Well, everyone can excel in at least one area. By not spending big-time money on those exceptional free agents the last several years, you have saved Viking fans from having to deal with lengthy playoff runs and having to dip into our pocket books for those playoff tickets. Thank you, sir.
4. Focus On Fan Needs: An owner should ask his fans what their needs are. You make lists which detail the needs you believe the fans have. Note the difference.
Grade: D-
Self-Management Skills:
1. Act With Integrity: "What appears to have happened is that Mr. Headrick low-balled his opening bid, not knowing that somebody wanted to pay what the team was really worth," said Clancy. "And now he's going to his partners and saying 'OK, well . . . I tried to shaft you before, but this time I'm trying to do something better.' I guess the board wasn't overly pleased with that approach, and in any case it doesn't matter, 'cause I've already been approved." ‘Nuff said.
2. Demonstrate Adaptability: Adaptability is a skill in which an owner shows resilience in the face of constraints, frustrations or adversity. "The issue we have to deal with is, 'What do you do now with a guy that has turned adversarial like this?' " co-owner Jaye Dyer said. "To me this is just as dumb as [coach] Dennis Green's book deal.’
3. Develop Oneself: Learn from experience. Even in the heat of a bitter takeover battle at Pillsbury Co. in 1989, you reportedly remained cool and professional. The reputation that preceded your 1991 appointment as president and chief executive officer of the Vikings was that of a level-headed, intelligent, buttoned-down numbers cruncher who didn't meddle in sales, marketing, personnel matters, communications or corporate goal-setting. Again, Roger, learn from experience.
Grade: F
Overall Grade: F
To summarize, competitive pressure and fundamental changes will remain the hallmark of the NFL environment. The organizations have found that they are successful only when their staff, coaches, and players have the skills necessary to meet both current and future needs.
To ensure that the Viking organization keeps pace with the competition and continues to evolve and grow, we need a leader who will place a high priority on developing people and pleasing his fans.
And by reviewing the aforementioned skills, Roger, that’s not going to be you.
Got your own suggestion for ownership? Just leave a comment by using the Comments link at the end of this entry.
Stadium Updates
Lots and lots of stadium stories out there today. The STrib even provides a possible timeline to get all three (Gophers, Twins, Vikings) stadiums built. I'll return back to this topic later this month as things become more crystallized but you can always keep up-to-date with the latest and greatest stadium news by visiting the Greet Machine blog.
According to the STrib, Mike Tice wants to decide on one running back to feature next season. "Whether that's Mewelde Moore, Onterrio Smith or Michael Bennett, I think that has to [be decided] by the time we leave Mankato, if not sooner," Tice said.
That's good news for fantasy football owners, like myself. Also good news for Vikings fans who haven't seen a featured back since Robert Smith hung up his cleats. As you'll recall, Smith stunned Minnesota when he walked away from the game at age 28 after the 2000 season.
From what I saw of the current stable this year, no one totally enthralls me. And I want that big, break-way, top-5 NFL numbers kind of back that Smith was. That's why I'd personally love to see a trade for Jamal Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens. But, that's just me.
I'd be happy with any of the current four as well. I'd like to see what they could do given the chance to carry the load for the majority of the season. Each excelled this season, when give the chance prior to injury setting in. And with Jim Kleinsasser back next year to clear a wider path, you never know. The Vikes may just have a NFL Leading Rusher candidate in their very midst.
Who would you like?
Sale Coming?
Rumors of a pending sale are flying fast and furious this week. One can hardly keep up with them.
Former Vikings punter and current Vikings Game Day sideline reporter Greg Coleman is friends with Arizona entrepreneur Reggie Fowler who has been off and on news in regards to purchasing the Vikings from Red McCombs. Well, Fowler is back on again. Coleman spoke at length with Fowler recently and gets the feeling that a sale is near. No price mentioned, and Coleman is not sure if Taylor would be involved. Fowler wants a family like atmosphere and has zero intention of moving the team. Coleman also said today on KFAN Radio that Fowler wants to move his entire business to Minnesota as well as his family.
This same news was reported this afternoon on WCCO radio which broadcasts from Minneapolis. Stay tuned!
From the Sidelines
It's the off-season now. So I can't provide Vikings views 24-7 without repeating myself a thousand times or boring you half to death. So, I'm just going to post some non-football related things under the From the Sidelines heading now and then. You might find these things interesting. You might not. But you'll probably come to know me a little bit better than.
I've been taking seafood classes at Coastal Seafoods. What a great place. Knowledgeable staff, great seafood, and the classes have been wonderful to date.
I took my second class, Shellfish, last Thursday (1/13/2005). We learned a few traditional recipes for steamed mussels and clams. It was the mussels that really interested me in this particular class as my wife and I love the mussels served at the Atlas Grill in downtown Minneapolis.
We also sampled raw oysters on the ½ shell. I had done this quite a bit when I lived in Texas. I had found a bar that served up my favorite Belgian ales and also served up raw oysters every Friday. I recall in Texas, though, we laid on the horse-radish sauce pretty heavily. At Coastal it was straight oyster.
But sampling the oyster without sauce brought my attention to the differences between the East coast, West coast, and Japanese oyster. I ended up prefering the East coast (Northpoint) oyster.
But the highlight of the class was learning to prepare Oysters Rockefeller. I prepared this dish after the Vikings lost to the Eagles. It went flawlessly and it erased any memory of the bitter defeat of the Purple.
So, need a way to bury your sorrows after the season? Try a cooking class! It is great fun.
The Vikes were upset by the Eagles today when the Vikings made too many mental errors during the game and could simply not overcome them. I won't even blame the coaching stafff on this loss as it seemed to this fan that the players were put into the correct position and the correct plays were being called. The players simply did not make the plays.
Poor passes by Daunte Culpepper. Dropped passes by Randy Moss. Players not knowing the play called such as when an extra offensive lineman reported onto the field during the fake FG attempt that almost certainly would have resulted in a touchdown to Moss.
It was also very obvious that the Vikings missed pass-blocking specialist Moe Williams today. Not to mention Jimmy Kleinsasser.
In any event, it should be a heck of a Super Bowl watching Michael Vick and the Atlanta Falcons. What a complete team and what a complete game put on by the Falcons Saturday night when they destroyed the St. Louis Rams.
So, what will be the lingering questions as the Vikings head into this off-season? I'll try and tackle each of these over the next few months as more information comes out and as we look back on the campaign the was.
In no certain order:
1) Ownership: Will it be Red McCombs or will we finally see a sale to Glen Taylor?
2) Randy Moss Traded: We're going to read about it. We might as well discuss it.
3) Status of M
