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January 18, 2007
Sorry for the silence
Sorry for the lack of entries everyone. Life happens and life is happening for me in a very busy way. I'll get some new stadium related content up soon. Until then:
• Yesterday was my birthday (along with SBG). I got a circular saw from my parents, the video for Weird Al's "White and Nerdy" for my iPod from my two sons, a tool organizer (and new fancy screwdriver) from my wife, and my daughter made me a spice cake in her EasyBake oven. Cheesehead Craig called and left a message with him singing "Happy Birthday" to me Marilyn Monroe style (that was disturbing). And to top it all off, I had a delicious milkshake at Sunffy's last night. Overall it was a great day!
• I like Tim Brewster as the new Gopher's head coach. I like what I am reading, and I like what he is saying. However, this was a hire on the cheap. With Monson's and Mason's buyouts, Maturi gave Brewster's application a couple of extra gold stars because he wouldn't command Patterson or Coker type money. That is my opinion and if you disagree ... well you are just plain wrong. I wish Brewster all the luck in the world, though, and I look forward to a Gopher victory in the Rose Bowl. More than anything, though, I look forward to seeing Minnesotans in Gopher uniforms. The next 5 years should be interesting (and fun!).
• Regardless of what happened last night, I like what Dwayne Casey is doing with the T-Wolves right now. I like the Thud is sitting, and I like that Foye is playing during crunch time. I might actually have to attend a T-Wolves game this year. Anyway, Dwayne Casey deserves some props.
That's it for now. See you all later! (I'll look into the comment preview problem. Seems to work in Firefox. Might just be an IE problem.)
Posted by snackeru at January 18, 2007 8:51 AM
Comments
Belated happy birthday to Shane!
I agree on Brewster and I don't really care if it was a hire on the cheap. I think he'll do better than Mason and hopefully show that you can have a winning football program without throwing millions at a "name" coach.
I'm going to chalk up the Wolves game last night as one of those handful of clunkers that teams just seem to have every season. I saw my share of them when I used to have Wolves season tickets and even the Spurs do that once in a while. Hopefully it doesn't carry over to tomorrow's game because I'm actually going...first home game in over a year, though I did go to Detroit last year with a buddy of mine to watch them at the Palace.
Posted by: Mark at January 18, 2007 10:41 AM
Happy Birthday! Sounds like you had a good one, with the exception of the Cheesehead Craig song. I'm trying real hard not to picture that in my mind...
Curt in Grand Forks
Posted by: Curt Hanson at January 19, 2007 8:57 AM
I just happened to stumble across your blog while searching for any stadium information that I could find on the internet. Nice job with the topic! I happen to be a staunch outdoor baseball advocate living in St. Paul. I spent a good portion of my (limited) free time last year writing e-mails to politicians, letters to the editor (had 4 or 5 published) and even spoke in favor of the stadium in front of the Hennepin County Board in August. I simply cannot believe that this deal isn't finalized yet.
In simple terms, it seems to me that the existance of the Minnesota Twins comes down to 6.5 million dollars. I don't think the general public realizes what is happening. We are talking about a $550 million-dollar project that has taken 10 years to be approved, and it may be scrapped because the amount of money the team pays their third starter in the pitching rotation. If Hennepin County, the land owners and the Twins let this deal fall through over 6.5 million dollars, it will be a travesty. Although, if there is a county that could screw this up, it's Hennepin County.
It's funny that Borders Books just announced that they are closing their Block E location today. They blamed rising crime in the area as one reason they are closing. That areaof downtown needs all of the help they can get to attract non-criminals. I hope all parties involved realize that if the baseball park falls through, it could spell disaster for that area of Minneapolis.
Anyway, thanks for the information. It's hard to find anything substantial in the media.
Jeff T.
Posted by: Jeff T. in St. Paul at January 19, 2007 10:17 AM
I must disagree with you for once, Shane. I don't think money was a factor in this hire. According to the Dallas paper, the Gophers offered Patterson $2.3 million a year and he turned them down. So, I must believe that Brewster really was thier second choice. And you can't say they didn't try to get Patterson.
Posted by: David Howe at January 19, 2007 10:12 PM
Happy belated birthday!!
Posted by: twins15 at January 20, 2007 12:13 AM
Happy belated birthday, Shane! I wish I could share your optimism about Gopher football, but with the big extension and subsequent firing of Mason, combined with lagging stadium fundraising efforts, I see nothing good there until Maturi is gone, and/or Bruiniks wises up and sets him straight.
Did you see the note in today's (Saturday's) Strib about the $3,000 fan contribution to the ballpark? Could have bought a good Greet Machine birthday gift... although perhaps it was the perfect Greet Machine birthday gift! I wonder, is that tax-deductible? How about Pohlad's contribution?
Also, for commenter Jeff T. in St. Paul: check out today's (Saturday's) Strib for an article on declining crime rates in the area around Block E. Although the perception of crime is still a problem, downtown isn't all that accessible or attractive these days anyway. Frankly, Block E kind of blows. It's a suburban fish in city water. I'd prefer to see it largely dismantled or marginalized, if only to reduce traffic (and crime opportunities) and allow an organic downtown business district to grow, likely around the new ballpark(s) and transit hubs.
Posted by: spycake at January 20, 2007 1:26 PM
O.k. Spycake is usually pretty right on and I agree architecturally Block E is a loser, but there is some cool things at Block E. Gameworks is a hoot, fun for the whole family. Graves Hotel is very nice and Bellanote is a place to pick up swankily dressed young ladies for some impromptu stairwell sex (Professional Athletes only please).
I've had many a nice Block E date with my wife that have included a movie, book browsing at Borders followed by fierce video racing and topped off with a drink or two (no stairwell sex - yet).
Posted by: freealonzo at January 20, 2007 9:59 PM
