I don't understand the difficulty with getting a Vikings stadium built. I am not a political man, so maybe I'm missing something here, but it just doesn't make sense to me. Here are my reasons why I think the stadium should get built.
I heard Lester Bagley on KFAN the other day claiming that the since the Metrodome has been built the state of Minnesota has received nearly 300 million dollars in income tax. So that alone is reason enough to build a stadium to keep the Vikings here.
What about the supplemental revenue streams. What happens to the revenue from parking, and an extra 60,000 people downtown 10 times a year. This money goes to the state, or private business owners that benefit from having a professional football team in town. Look at what the Twins stadium has done for the warehouse district. It's completely revitalized it. Let the Vikings stadium do that for the other side of downtown. You're not just building a stadium anymore you're building a community. These stadiums create jobs. Not just in the building of the stadium, but throughout the entire area.
The proposed plan was strictly "user fees" meaning it didn't affect the average person one bit. So how can you be opposed to that? What I've heard is that the republicans won't allow any law to pass that raises taxes or adds a user fee regardless of what it's for. Well they didn't have a problem taxing tobacco did they?
What I think is we have a bunch of hypocrites in office that can't get anything done. What happens when the Vikings leave? We don't want to build a stadium for billionaires? That is how our country works, we all benefit from the rich. It's a free market so this is nothing new. We can simply build a racino and solve a handful of problems, but we don't want the tribes to cut off they're spending through lobbying and donations. Well tell them to build the damn stadium then, because for some reason such a small percentage of our population has such a big say in what we can and can't do.
I am going to write a letter to my representatives voicing my displeasure. I'm going to tell them that if the Viking leave they better come up with something that is going to have my complete attention 20 Sunday's a year.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
NFL Draft
To me the NFL draft is the sports equivalent to blue balls. A lot of buildup and with no actual penetration. You've got guys like Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay who have full time jobs predicting this. If you go on the web, there has to be dozens of mock drafts. It's a growing phenomenon, that now will take 3 days to accomplish.
My problem with the draft is that you don't really know how things will turn out for at least two or three years.
Here are a couple of tidbits that bother me about the draft.
Tom Brady was taken in the sixth round. How do the experts and 32 NFL GM's paid to scout and study these players miss on him.
There is tape of Mel Kiper Jr. saying, "This pick was a mistake, this guy is not an NFL quarterback." This was right after the Miami Dolphins drafted Dan Marino. I think Kiper's credibility was lost that day.
Vikings fans were ready to riot when they took Troy Williamson over Mike Williams. As bad as Troy Williamson's career has been it is still better than Mike Williams.
The Houston Texans were mocked and ridiculed they day they selected Mario Williams over Reggie Bush. They made the right pick.
In the next few days we're going to see numerous grades. But how does anyone actually know how these players are going to perform throughout their careers. It is fun to watch and can be exciting if you're team takes guys like Percy Harvin and Adrian Peterson, but for some of these teams like the Lions and Browns who seem to screw it up every year, I'm not sure how they get into it.
My problem with the draft is that you don't really know how things will turn out for at least two or three years.
Here are a couple of tidbits that bother me about the draft.
Tom Brady was taken in the sixth round. How do the experts and 32 NFL GM's paid to scout and study these players miss on him.
There is tape of Mel Kiper Jr. saying, "This pick was a mistake, this guy is not an NFL quarterback." This was right after the Miami Dolphins drafted Dan Marino. I think Kiper's credibility was lost that day.
Vikings fans were ready to riot when they took Troy Williamson over Mike Williams. As bad as Troy Williamson's career has been it is still better than Mike Williams.
The Houston Texans were mocked and ridiculed they day they selected Mario Williams over Reggie Bush. They made the right pick.
In the next few days we're going to see numerous grades. But how does anyone actually know how these players are going to perform throughout their careers. It is fun to watch and can be exciting if you're team takes guys like Percy Harvin and Adrian Peterson, but for some of these teams like the Lions and Browns who seem to screw it up every year, I'm not sure how they get into it.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Exploitation
My Wife like a lot of women, and even guys out there watches shows like "16 and pregnant", "Jon and Kate plus 8", "19 kids and counting", and all of those other shows that exploit these families. What do these shows say about our culture.
These shows are exploiting these families and the hardships they may go through. Let's look at the show 16 and under. They try and make these girls victims. When in all actuality they are immature kids, who made a bad decision and are either having to pay for it for the rest of their lives or are choosing to either give it up for adoption or abortion. Now who thinks it's an even better idea to stick a video camera in their homes and schools and sensationalize this major moment in their lives. Maybe instead of treating these girls like victims and rewarding them with a spot on a TV show, they should put programming on that educates young girls to the dangers of screwing.
"Jon and Kate plus 8", and "19 Kids and Counting" are very pathetic in their own right. These families are using showbiz to not necessarily help their families but market the parents. What kind of family would pimp out there kids to make a buck. Again does any sane thinking person actually think that having dozens of video cameras recording each and every moment in your families life is a good idea. These parents should all have their tubes tied.
Now I'm no idiot and I understand that these TV networks on putting these programs on because people are watching. So I'm calling out each person that watches these shows. They need to find a hobby, or invest more time in their own lives and care about that. Don't add fuel to the exploitation. And I'm also calling out the sponsors. They need to find a better avenue to spend their money. Lastly this falls on the TV networks. They pretend like their standards are so high and mighty anytime someone swears or cusses on their networks, but they jump all over any chance they get to stick a dozen video cameras in some families home. Look at the success rate of these families that put their lives on TV. The Hogans, Jon and Kate, and Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey. They don't work. Did some TV exec, tell Jon and Kate this going into it? I highly doubt that.
In my opinion these shows exploit the sanctity of marriage, and the try's and tribulations of parenthood. And everyone associated with it should be ashamed that they support it or watch it.
These shows are exploiting these families and the hardships they may go through. Let's look at the show 16 and under. They try and make these girls victims. When in all actuality they are immature kids, who made a bad decision and are either having to pay for it for the rest of their lives or are choosing to either give it up for adoption or abortion. Now who thinks it's an even better idea to stick a video camera in their homes and schools and sensationalize this major moment in their lives. Maybe instead of treating these girls like victims and rewarding them with a spot on a TV show, they should put programming on that educates young girls to the dangers of screwing.
"Jon and Kate plus 8", and "19 Kids and Counting" are very pathetic in their own right. These families are using showbiz to not necessarily help their families but market the parents. What kind of family would pimp out there kids to make a buck. Again does any sane thinking person actually think that having dozens of video cameras recording each and every moment in your families life is a good idea. These parents should all have their tubes tied.
Now I'm no idiot and I understand that these TV networks on putting these programs on because people are watching. So I'm calling out each person that watches these shows. They need to find a hobby, or invest more time in their own lives and care about that. Don't add fuel to the exploitation. And I'm also calling out the sponsors. They need to find a better avenue to spend their money. Lastly this falls on the TV networks. They pretend like their standards are so high and mighty anytime someone swears or cusses on their networks, but they jump all over any chance they get to stick a dozen video cameras in some families home. Look at the success rate of these families that put their lives on TV. The Hogans, Jon and Kate, and Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey. They don't work. Did some TV exec, tell Jon and Kate this going into it? I highly doubt that.
In my opinion these shows exploit the sanctity of marriage, and the try's and tribulations of parenthood. And everyone associated with it should be ashamed that they support it or watch it.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Very Classy
I'm as hard on the home teams as anyone. I'm always complaining about the lack of championships, or even playoff wins. But the Minnesota Wild along with the fans showed how classy they are.
Mike Modano started his career in Minnesota breaking through with the Minnesota North Stars he was a fan favorite then, and I think most fans checked the boxscores to see what he was doing down in Dallas after the North Stars left and became the Dallas Stars. He came into town tonight with the Stars to face the Minnesota Wild in the season finale. While the game had no impact whatsoever on any postseason seedings. Both teams finished outside of the playoffs. But rumors are that tonight's game was going to be Mike Modano's last game. So it came full circle with Mike Modano ending his career in Minnesota, the same place it started. Mike Modano is the most prolific U.S. born NHL player of all time. He is the all time leading scorer for U.S. born players too.
The Minnesota Wild played a video tribute to Modano during the game which lead to a standing ovation from the home team for a visiting player during the game. Which I'm guessing doesn't happen to often. Then after the game when the announced the three stars of the game, the Wild name Modano the first star of the game. Modano came out of the tunnel in his Minnesota North Stars jersey, and skated a few laps saluting the Minnesota fans.
So congratulations to Mike Modano on a successful career that will surely put him in the hall of fame. He also won a Stanley Cup with Dallas. And thank you Minnesota Wild for showing so much class. It was a special moment for hockey fans, and sports fans.
Mike Modano started his career in Minnesota breaking through with the Minnesota North Stars he was a fan favorite then, and I think most fans checked the boxscores to see what he was doing down in Dallas after the North Stars left and became the Dallas Stars. He came into town tonight with the Stars to face the Minnesota Wild in the season finale. While the game had no impact whatsoever on any postseason seedings. Both teams finished outside of the playoffs. But rumors are that tonight's game was going to be Mike Modano's last game. So it came full circle with Mike Modano ending his career in Minnesota, the same place it started. Mike Modano is the most prolific U.S. born NHL player of all time. He is the all time leading scorer for U.S. born players too.
The Minnesota Wild played a video tribute to Modano during the game which lead to a standing ovation from the home team for a visiting player during the game. Which I'm guessing doesn't happen to often. Then after the game when the announced the three stars of the game, the Wild name Modano the first star of the game. Modano came out of the tunnel in his Minnesota North Stars jersey, and skated a few laps saluting the Minnesota fans.
So congratulations to Mike Modano on a successful career that will surely put him in the hall of fame. He also won a Stanley Cup with Dallas. And thank you Minnesota Wild for showing so much class. It was a special moment for hockey fans, and sports fans.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Mr. Minnesota
If you were like me, and watched the Joe Mauer press conference yesterday, I'm sure you had that same feeling of happiness and joy that I had. This 26 year old just signed a deal making him one of the richest Minnesotans, and definitely the richest sports contract in state history, but there was no resentment or animosity towards him at all. Joe Mauer is a true Minnesotan. Kirby Puckett was a transplant so it was different, Kent Hrbek wasn't on the same level so it ws different. Joe Mauer is a Minnesotan.
We live in a state that is very modest, very polite, and very competitive. Those same characteristic's can describe Joe Mauer. This guy has got it all now, looks, money, talent, and fame. I'm guessing it won't be long until we see him popping up on some magazines 50 most eligible bachelor list. He does a great job representing us, and we should be proud of him. He's doesn't come across as a businessman like A-Rod. His business is baseball, and he's damn good at it.
Growing up most kids want to be a professional athlete at some point. And most parents over the last 20 years have probably had a hard time identifying athletes that their kids should emulate and idolize. Look at the top players from most sports and they've been tied to some sort of controversy, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mark McGuire, Ben Roethlisberger, Kobe Byant, and even Tiger Woods. I'm not saying Joe Mauer is perfect, he might have a few skeletons in his closet but I doubt it. The reason I say that is because I think we all feel like we know him. I myself played football against him, and I have a guy at work who is best friends with his roommate, and they all went to high school and played baseball growing up. So you hear first and second hand stories about him, and they're always good. So as a parent now I think he would be the perfect person for my son to idolize. In fact after watching the press conference yesterday, I went and bought my 5 month old son a Mauer jersey and poster for his room.
Joe Mauer isn't the second coming, but when you open the sports page and read Tiger's text messages, or Roethlisbergers alleged assaults, Joe Mauer is a welcome relief and reminder of what can happen to the good guys. One of the news crews went to a homeless shelter yesterday after the press conference and asked the homeless what they thought about Mauer's contract and everyone that they showed was happy, and said he deserved it. I'm guessing that wouldn't happen with every athlete.
So going forward Mauer will continue to represent his family, friends, company, and community the Minnesotan way, the same way we would all like to do it. When asked what was the first thing he wanted to buy when getting a 184 million dollar contract, he said, "I'm going to take Justin Morneau out to dinner."
We live in a state that is very modest, very polite, and very competitive. Those same characteristic's can describe Joe Mauer. This guy has got it all now, looks, money, talent, and fame. I'm guessing it won't be long until we see him popping up on some magazines 50 most eligible bachelor list. He does a great job representing us, and we should be proud of him. He's doesn't come across as a businessman like A-Rod. His business is baseball, and he's damn good at it.
Growing up most kids want to be a professional athlete at some point. And most parents over the last 20 years have probably had a hard time identifying athletes that their kids should emulate and idolize. Look at the top players from most sports and they've been tied to some sort of controversy, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mark McGuire, Ben Roethlisberger, Kobe Byant, and even Tiger Woods. I'm not saying Joe Mauer is perfect, he might have a few skeletons in his closet but I doubt it. The reason I say that is because I think we all feel like we know him. I myself played football against him, and I have a guy at work who is best friends with his roommate, and they all went to high school and played baseball growing up. So you hear first and second hand stories about him, and they're always good. So as a parent now I think he would be the perfect person for my son to idolize. In fact after watching the press conference yesterday, I went and bought my 5 month old son a Mauer jersey and poster for his room.
Joe Mauer isn't the second coming, but when you open the sports page and read Tiger's text messages, or Roethlisbergers alleged assaults, Joe Mauer is a welcome relief and reminder of what can happen to the good guys. One of the news crews went to a homeless shelter yesterday after the press conference and asked the homeless what they thought about Mauer's contract and everyone that they showed was happy, and said he deserved it. I'm guessing that wouldn't happen with every athlete.
So going forward Mauer will continue to represent his family, friends, company, and community the Minnesotan way, the same way we would all like to do it. When asked what was the first thing he wanted to buy when getting a 184 million dollar contract, he said, "I'm going to take Justin Morneau out to dinner."
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