Lost Control

Randy Moss has been released. First off I wonder what questions he'll ask himself and what answers he'll give. One thing for sure, is it has become apparent to me that Brad Childress has lost control of the locker room. It's time he needs to be fired. He has lost control, and he's over his head. He can't handle the chaos or ego's that go along with being a head coach of an NFL team. While I don't have a problem with him going for the touchdown instead of a field goal at the end of the half against the patriots, that is just the tip of the iceberg in his laundry list of issues.
I'm not hard on Leslie Frazier like everyone else is. Remember this guy leads a defense that hasn't had a sack in three straight games. But this would be a perfect time to see if he can coach. Let him finish the year, and see what he can do. If he does a good job, hire him. If he fails it was a decent tryout, and you don't lose much. Remember we are the team that let Brian Billick, Tony Dungy, and Mike Tomlin go and win super bowls.
But if he does fail, then we need to hire a Jon Gruden/Bill Cowher type. A proven leader. It will no doubt be a different team next year, but one things for sure, Randy Moss won't be there. I just hope that Brad Childress won't either.

The Honeymoon’s Over

For years and years I was taught to hate Brett Favre. He was the QB for the enemy, the Green Bay Packers. Last year Vikings fans went on a magical ride captained by the enemy himself. We took him in. We thought he was the missing piece to the Super Bowl puzzle. Favre played better than anyone could have asked of him and then some. So last year was as good as it gets.

Well that was last year. I don’t share those feelings anymore. I wish he’d go back to Green Bay, so it would be easier to hate him again. He is the Vikings biggest problem right now. He’s 40+ years old. He’s got a bad ankle, a bad elbow, and by the looks of the pictures a bad penis too. He’s going through a scandal, and I’m guessing his home life isn’t great. So he’s got some baggage. He’s obviously injured enough that sitting out a game is in his best interest. But he’s got this streak of consecutive games. We wouldn’t want to break that. He’s like that guy that refuses to go to the doctor, until eventually he dies, and it was something that had he gone in, it would have been an easy fix. Instead of death, it’s interceptions and losses.

So maybe a suspension is the best thing that can happen to the Vikes. I’m not saying T-Jack’s the answer either, but we won’t win as long as Favre continues to play like this.

It's snowing tonight in Ron Washington's Tampa Hotel Room

Ron Washington should be manager of the year. I know that is not received well in Minnesota. Our beloved Ron Gardenhire has been overlooked so many times, that this has to be his year. Well maybe he hasn't been overlooked, he's just been properly evaluated. I'm not sure if the voting includes the postseason, but if it does, in my opinion it's a no brainer. Ron Washington didn't something I'm not sure "Gaardy" is capable of. Well I'm almost certain Gaardy couldn't do it, because I'm not sure he's capable of taking a 2-0 lead in a series. But Washington let his guys into a game 5 on the road, and came out with a win. Washington's taken a team that for the past few years, had an indentity of all power, no pitching, no defense, no "small ball". They didn't do the little thing's that Gaardy loves so much. Well whatever they're doing now, they are doing it right. And you have to give the manager credit. We give Gaardy so much credit for every good thing the Twins accomplish, and usually it's deserving. But to say that Gaardy should win this award hands down is just moronic.
While it's obvious that Cliff Lee was the difference for the Rangers, and Washington couldn't have done it without him. Remember about a month after the trade deadline, and the papers, and FSN would run stats of what Cliff Lee had done since the trade deadline, and what Brian Duensing had done. Duensing had better numbers at one point, so they were leading us to believe that not trading for Cliff Lee was a good decision for the Twins. Instead we traded for a closer that was never used, and set up guy that wasn't brought in (We brought in Mijares in Game #1 instead). So Cliff Lee didn't go 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA, and 21 strikeouts in his first two starts with the Rangers in August. He just did that in the first round of the playoffs instead!!!! Imagine a Cliff Lee starting game #1 at Target Field, and dominating and giving the Twinks some confidence, and Liriano pitching game #2. And always knowing that if things get hairy, we always have Cliff Lee we could bring in 3-4 days rest.
Who knows how the Rangers will do against the Yanks, but they have pitchers that strike guys out. Hitters that hit. So that in my opinion gives them a chance in any game they play. So congrats to the Rangers, good luck against the yanks.

What's the Goal?

The Minnesota Twins have just clinched the division. Well as long as the White Sox don't stage a late innings comeback. What will be interesting though will be to see the Twins celebration. This will be their 6th division title in 9 years. So they aren't shocking the world anymore. The have a payroll of over 100 Million, and are the 11th highest paid team, so they aren't living on a small market budget anymore.

So it'll be interesting to see the celebration. I'm guessing that we'll see the goggles and the other typical horseplay. Don't get me wrong I celebrate a great fart 72 times a day, but the Twins need to act like this isn't the final goal. With all the expectations and the way they've been playing they need to save the crazy celebration, at least the big celebration for after the ALDS or even after winning the ALCS. The goal has to be different than in past years. The division title is nice, but they haven't accomplished much yet. They deserve this title, and earned it. They lost their closer, and best power hitter. So this is an accomplishment. But it's not THE accomplishment. So I'd like to see the Twins celebrate and move on. The goal is to reach the world series, not to reach the playoffs.

Kind of sucks doesn't it?

I'm sure most of you have heard by now, but former ESPN and Chicago columnist Jay Mariotti will be charged with a few counts of domestic abuse. I read an interesting article by Dan LeBatard, http://thebiglead.com/index.php/2010/08/23/dan-lebatard-on-jay-mariotti-the-vitriolic-reaction-to-mariottis-misery-frightened-me/. What I find funny is the double standard these public figures feel they have when the story is about them. It was the same way with Jeff DuBay locally. All the ex-ESPN guys who have been fired. They attack those who question them or even seek out information.
I have a couple of problems with this. First of all this is how these guys have made a living for so long. Criticizing and commenting on the on field and off field issues. Did they leave Ben Roethlisberger alone after his off the field issues. Did they leave Tiger alone? These guys are vultures. And it's not all their fault, they're only like that because their readers, viewers, and listeners want to know. But they also have to realize that when they become the story they'll be the subject of the same harassment and questioning. They can't stand behind their journalist badge. It's the old adage treat other people how you want to be treated. Especially guys like Mariotti who are edgy and in your face. They are treated like politicians who preach all day about how great they are and criticize those they are covering, but when it's all said and done with a lot of them are hypocrites and liars. Take the recent news that the Jets are under scrutiny for making rude comments to a female reporter. Who of these columnists that have ripped them haven't done the same. So these reporters should be the first to understand why when their own personal lives become news, we are quick to jump on the story.
Secondly I'm sick of journalists and radio talk show hosts criticizing bloggers and other amateurs who have used the internet as an avenue to voice their opinion. What makes these guys so high and mighty? What's the difference between Dan Barrerio and myself for example? He is a better writer, he is a better story teller, but as far as opinions go, we are each entitled to our own. So the main difference is he is broadcasting daily to thousands of people on a major market radio show. While I write periodically on a blog to a handful of my friends. But what makes him any more knowledgeable about football than me? I can understand the former players and coaches, who have an inside knowledge of the games they played. But these columnists have nothing on bloggers other than the size of their listening audiences.
Columnists and reporters now days can become news just as easily as the players and sports they cover. They can't hide behind their notepads when things go bad, just as they wouldn't let the players hide. So it's up to bloggers and other amateur media to pick up where they leave off when they're deciding to beat up a wife, or force them selves on an intern.