Well, unfortunately for Viking-Nation, our local gang teased us all last week with a miracle 4th quarter comeback to beat Arizona and give us all, as Poison would put it, "Something To Believe In". But they knocked off that nonsense this week and got back to normal with yet another uninspired, stumblin', bumblin' loss to a very mediocre Bears team, essentially putting the nail into the coffin of the 2010 season. This team has suddenly gotten very old very fast. I don't think anyone expected QB Brett Favre to equal last years magic, but 10 TDs with 16 interceptions? That's terrible, although a few of those were clanks off of recievers hands. Last year we sent a dozen guys to the Pro Bowl. This year the possibilities max out at 3. (RB Adrian Peterson, WR Percy Harvin, and possibly P Chris Kluwe) The Packers come to the Dome next week and as much as I'd like to pound those posers into the dust, I have this sinking feeling a 36-13 spanking is coming our way. Here's hoping for the return of WR Sidney Rice and he ignites a once potent offense. However, it's obvious that we're a listless vessel drifting towards the rocks and I have zero confidence in Head Coach Brad Childress ability to right the ship. With his rather dopey handling of the Randy Moss situation, he's completely lost any credibility he had within the locker room, even if a few veterans meekly try and stick up for him. His "my way or the highway" approach isn't new, but requires a certain deft touch. Bill Parcells?...yes.....Bill Cower?...yes...Brad Childress?....eh?....not so much. I don't think there's any question that he's going to be fired, the only question is when?
There's plenty to blame for this years unraveling, but the sudden disappearance of the Vikings pass rush is the most surprising to me. That, and an uncanny ability to fail to get off the field on third downs is equally disturbing. And as much as I didn't want to single anyone out specifically on offense, RG Anthony Herrera has been just awful. Play after play I see this guy turning around running backwards to see who just torched him on his way to crushing a Vikings ball carrier. I bet I've seen that 50 times this year. I'd at least like to see rookie G Chris DeGeare get a shot. He's 6-5, 330, and I don't think it's possible to be any worse than Herrera at this point.
This week's Sign of the Apacalypse: The Golden Gophers football team went TO Illinois and pulled out a 38-34 road victory. Seriously. And it was a good game! I'm happy for the kids, but I think I need someone to explain to my why the Gophers have had, basically, the worst defense in college football for, oh I don't know,...about 20 YEARS? What do you call that?? I mean, isn't it possible to get lucky with a couple of defensive studs sometime within the past TWO DECADES??
Through 16 games, the Minnesota Wild have skated the State of Hockey....into the State of Mediocrity. Win one here,...lose one there. It's been a little weird how they're playing however. Head Coach Todd Richards is still playing around with his line pairings way too much this far into the season, but I'm beginning to see why: His go-to-guys aren't producing. Our leading goal scorer is D Brent Burns with 5. C Mikko Koivu and C Matt Cullen have 3, and $30 million man RW Marty Havlat has 1. This is unacceptable, and if it weren't for a couple of Herculean efforts from G Niklas Backstrom, their record could be much worse. Let's pick it up a bit, eh boys?
My initial excitement over the 1-1 start to the Timberwolves season quickly dissipated during a 6-game losing streak, including a couple of 30-turnover "performances", and a franchise-worst 42-point blowout loss to Orlando. I was kind of hoping those types of nights were a thing of the past, but no such luck. However, they finally got back on track with a couple of clutch wins including an historic night for F Kevin Love who had a 31-point, 31-rebound effort in a win over the Knicks. A 30-30 hadn't been recorded since Moses Malone did it with the 76ers in 1982. Mass props Kevin.
One last note: Has anyone but me noticed how crappy the Saturday morning cartoons have gotten?? It's brutal. The lack of the Buggs Bunny/Road Runner Show is stunting the growth of children everywhere. SCOOBY-DOO.......WHERE ARE YOU......??
Mike Veiseth can be found this NFL season drinking coldies, chowing Hot Wingees, hoping my beloved Steelers allow me some semblance of football enjoyment in 2010, and poring over my 2011 NFL Draft sheets looking for Vikings help.
