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January 7, 2005

Amazing! Welcome Google Searchers!

This blog is getting nailed right now by people searching Google for any news on Glen Taylor's rumored purchase of the Vikings. Check it out: do a search in Google for glen taylor vikings (just click on the link). This humble blog comes up as the fourth link, above the Star Tribune, and above Viking Update. This is amazing to me. And, if you are like me, you must wonder, why? Why does Google rank the Greet Machine so highly? Is it because of my phenomenal writing? My awe inspiring prose? Is it because Google knows I am from Minnesota or that I am a knowledgeable Vikings fan? None of the above. Google ranks this blog so highly because of its URL. First of all, the Greet Machine comes from a ".edu" domain so Google gives it a little more credence in its rankings. Secondly, this blog comes from a ".lib" domain. Google knows this comes from a library and as a result ranks it even higher. So, to sum it up, the Greet Machine has the double whammy of being from an educational domain, and from a library. Ha! If only they knew.

So, for all of you coming to this page as a result of a Google search, here is what I know about a possible sale of the Vikings (and sadly it probably isn't much more than you already know):

• Charley Walters convincingly reports that the a sale is probably imminent:
  

  The time is ripe for a sale. The Vikings are in a downslide and Sunday's loss in Washington is expected to result in hundreds , if not thousands of season ticket cancellations. McCombs hasn't experienced a local TV blackout since he bought the Vikings for $245 million six years ago, but diminished attendance could cause that next season.

  Taylor, a billionaire from Mankato, Minn., quietly has positioned himself during the past year to buy the Vikings. Don't think he hasn't met with top NFL officials, as well as various team owners who would eagerly approve a sale.



• However, as I say in the post below, Sid Hartman just reported yesterday in a column piece called "Vikings sale not close":
  

  There have been rumors that Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor was close to a deal with Vikings owner Red McCombs to buy the NFL team, but Taylor said, "I have not talked to McCombs in more than a month. There is nothing new. I'm still interested in the team."

  One of Taylor's concerns is that if he does buy the Vikings, the Legislature might be less inclined to support a new stadium because they wouldn't worry about Taylor moving the team.

  For the sake of my sanity and my own hopefulness, I choose not to believe Mr. Hartman.


• We also have hearsay. Mr Cheer or Die reported yesterday:
  

  Now, my good buddy The Commish reported to me that when the Wolves played the Knicks recently, Taylor was there. And Taylor doesn’t go to a lot of road games. A reporter asked him why he went to that game and his exact quote was, “Let’s just say I was here to watch the Wolves game.”

  Fingers crossed. Toes crossed. Salt over left shoulder. Luck[y] rabbits foot. Knock on wood. Stay tuned.

  Yes, we need all the luck, and prayers, we can get right now.
• There are also rumors that Ted Waitt of Gateway wants to buy the team. I don't give these rumors much credence. Charley Walters also reports that:

  Insiders say Los Angeles sports entrepreneur Casey Wasserman remains seriously interested in trying to acquire the Vikings.

  
  This scares me a great deal since Wasserman would only have one goal in mind: to move the Vikings to LA. Let's hope these rumors are not serious.
• Finally, we have the potential of a Vikings sale to Reggie Fowler. As recently as early December Fowler was in Minnesota attending an informational meeting in Anoka County regarding their push for a new stadium. According to the Star Tribune:
  

  Fowler, whose group of potential partners appears to be growing, met with members of the Anoka/Blaine stadium contingent Nov. 22 at the Minneapolis Club. During the meeting, Fowler and a host of other interested businessmen listened to a presentation of development possibilities for the 740-acre land tract off I-35W.

  So, Fowler is still definitely in the picture. Personally I doubt Fowler has the financial power to make a purchase of this kind, but he has promised to move to Minnesota if he did and keep the team in Minnesota so I would welcome this sale.

So, to sum up, there are heavy rumors floating around that Taylor is poised to buy the Vikings. And I'm a firm believer in "where there is smoke, there is a fire." There are also rumors of other people buying the Vikings. Based on all these rumors, I think we will see a sale of the Vikings shortly after the end of the season. Hopefully it will be to someone that A) is committed to keeping the team in Minnesota and B) someone who is committed to making the team into a winner again. My money is on Taylor.

Posted by snackeru at January 7, 2005 7:37 PM | Vikings

Comments

Thanks for being my spellchecked..I went back and inserted that [y] from Lucky.

Now, then...hearsay!!! Hrumph and poppycock my good man! I'll have you know that my sources are more reliable than anything Sid "steals" from other sources! The Commish is a real person. A basketball aficionado who studies reports in much the same way you and I study html. His word is golden. Taylor was in N.Y. and the basketball game was a decoy for the real purpose of his visit.

Go Vikes!

Posted by: Brian Maas at January 7, 2005 10:29 PM

Rumor around town is that a deal has been done. Fowler's group owns majority of the team and Glen Taylor has a 10% stake...a stadium deal is also apprarently ready to go...expect news to be released soon!

Posted by: Anonymous at January 17, 2005 2:57 PM

I've recently relocated to the East Coast from Minnesota, born and raised in MN. I bleed Purple and always will. I've kept in touch with the folks back home and have heard rumours of Glen Taylor buying our team. Is there a petition or something going around that Glen Taylor is going to be presented with? I'd love to see a home grown, responsible owner buy the team. Thanks!

Posted by: Angela at January 21, 2005 5:41 PM