Wednesday (positivity) edition: Wha’ Happened?
Posted on January 2nd, 2008 – 8:50 AMBy Michael Rand
Now that we’ve officially made it through not only the holiday season but a rather ugly 2007 in terms of sports if you’re a fan of Minnesota teams, it’s time to start 2008 out with a positive jam. Two lists: Five things you have to look forward to this year, and five things sports, in spite of themselves, are getting right. First, this year:
1) Another year of Purple Jesus. We’re not sure what to make of the Vikings’ overall chances next year. We know the schedule looks a little tougher with the AFC South teams on the docket, etc. We don’t know what will happen for sure at QB or WR. But we do know this squad, with its running game, should compete for a playoff spot. That’s more than we knew a year ago at this point.
2) The good possibility of playoff hockey in the state of hockey. Nothing better.
3) If you like wrestling: The Gophers look primed for an NCAA D-I repeat, while Augsburg will gun for its 11th D-III title in 18 years.
4) College football Metrodome fairwell tour. That’s right, just a few more games in the big blue seats for the Gophers before they move into a fine facility of their own. The Twins aren’t far behind, either.
5) Gophers basketball looks, at the very least, to be watchable again. Too bad you can’t watch it on TV.
AND NOW … five things sports gets right in spite of itself:
1) Outdoor hockey. They need to do this at least once a year, if not more, in the NHL. Maybe when that new Gophers football stadium opens here …
2) Baseball’s all-star game. We’re pretty sure we’re in the minority on this one, but we love the winner-take-home-field wrinkle added a few years back. It’s better than an alternation or a coin flip. The game itself is also the only of the big ones that resembles the actual sport.
3) NFL instant replay. Our rule: If we can’t think of a markedly better way to do it, then it must be pretty good.
4) The NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Sure, it’s built on money and hype. But it delivers like nothing else.
5) Your choice. Complete this (and/or the other list).
Fasola-link! Color of the year! Search no further. You have found the color that defines 2008, or something like that.
22 Responses to "Wednesday (positivity) edition: Wha’ Happened?"
Outdoor hockey: we broke the TV out of cold storage to watch yesterday’s NHL spectacle, and C-Dog (who is “three and three quarters”) wanted to go ice skating immediately after the first period. He got skates for Xmas. His mom took him to the outdoor rink a couple of blocks away, and he had a good time. Please, I don’t want to be a stereotypical hockey parent!
Man, it looked like a lot of fun in Buffalo. Let’s put THREE rinks on the new football field, play an NHL game and maybe the Gopher holiday tournament on the middle rink in front of a big crowd, then a high school tournament on all three rinks for a few days thereafter.
One more thing sports gets right… availability of every radio call in MLB on the internet for $15 a year, and availability of every home radio call on XM for $150 a year. Indians games while hanging out in the front yard, and falling asleep to the dulcet tones of Vin Scully or Jon Miller…
Combining the stable and calming aspects of blue with the mystical and spiritual qualities of purple, Blue Iris satisfies the need for reassurance in a complex world, while adding a hint of mystery and excitement.
Shut up.
And all this time I was calling it Blurple…
Looking Forward To:
1. Adrian Peterson 2.0
2. The composition of the Twins’ rotation and batting order
3. The Minnesota Gophers have 10 wins already. The Big Ten doesn’t look all that good. The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is not an unrealistic destination. Unlikely, but not unrealistic.
4. The NFL draft
5. The continued development of the McLovin Youth.
Looking forward to:
1. National Signing Day: What has Brewster pulled in with a full year to recruit?
2. The season opener and hoping that Torii just barely misses robbing a home run. He’ll probably be weighed down by the expectations…
3. NHL playoffs. I can’t really look forward to anything for the Gopher Hockey team, so I’ll look forward to this…5 months from now. Ugh.
4. I’ll agree with Stu, the NFL draft. I’m curious what need the Vikes will consider their #1 need. I also wonder what bust the Dolphins will draft #1.
5. Another national championship in Wrestling. I don’t really see anyone stopping the Gophs in a non-dual format.
DaveMN-
I hear both Ryan Leaf and Akili Smith are available for the #1 pick.
What to look forward to:
1. The Bears firing their Offensive Coordinator by the end of the week.
2. The Wolves finally receiving the #1 overall pick when they deserve it.
3. The new “Get to know them” campaign from the Twins.
4. Liriano making a fully healthy return to the top of the Twins rotation.
5. The Heat getting the 8 seed in the East therefore giving the McLovins another 1st round pick.
Things that Sports get right:
1. The Wild Card format in the NFL. The games this weekend will be the best of the playoffs.
2. The new NFL draft format. As much as I like hearing Mel Kiper Jr. talk about a prospect for 14 minutes and 30 seconds, the new sleek time saving format will definitely be an upgrade.
3. I agree that March Madness is the best time of the year. Now I need to talk my boss into letting me bring my TV into the office.
4. MLB allowing instant replay on questionable HR calls.(This will be up and running for the 2008 season)
5. Roger Goodell fine and suspending all players and coaches that act like complete [redacted] morons. Now if he can only find a way to suspend the Bears Offensive Coordinator for the entire 2008 season.
Happy New Year’s to all my fellow RandBall commentors.
The Bears had an Offensive Coordinator?! All this time I thought Lovie was trying a new “wrinkle” of not having one.
I hope all of the Twins wear “Hello, my name is” name tags on their uniforms on opening day.
If the Wolves get the #1 pick it WILL determine McHale’s future with the club. I think he’s out of free passes.
Jama - with your “things sports get right” list, you’ve just opened a P3 can of worms with #1. I hope you’re happy…
Take a day off and all hell breaks loose in Biscay!
In 2008, I’m looking forward to Willie Vandesteeg’s day in court, where the truth will come out. He was no doubt provoked, much like Tatiana, the tiger in the San Francisco zoo.
RE: Wild Card weekend. It’s good, but the Conference Semis the week after are better.
Re: #2, #4, then #1: did I write this post? I’ve never agreed so much with RandBall.
AZ Gopher Girl -
The truth will come out that Willie was just buying some beverages (read: Everclear) to cleanse his palate after the GSL Football Alumni Raw Meat buffet and blood shower.
Dave
The Bears paid a guy that claimed to be an Offensive Coordinator. Now whether or not he actually did any work is still up in the air.
I forgot to add that I’m looking forward to Brett Favre’s retirement in 2008 (the video montage farewells will be painful, but it will all be worth it in the end).
AZGopherGirl - Shouldn’t retirement be in quotes?
Dave, I’m being optimistic that this is the year it actually happens. I’ve actually toyed with the idea of asking God for a Packer Super Bowl win, thinking Brett could then satisfy his need to “go out on top”. However, if that happened, P3’s gloating for the next year would inevitably cause someone to assassinate him, and I can’t pray for that. I’m Lutheran.
Dave, you got me wrong. I’m quite positive about being positive, since w/o feeling positive people are just wasting their time whether in sports or in life…but (you knew this was coming) “positive” should not keep anyone from seeing the negatives or those negatives will keep on appearing.
I’ll mention just one since I want to be thusly positive, and that’s T. Jack. Here’s a qb who in the most rosy of forecasts won’t even rise to the skill level of a backup like Green Bay’s Rodgers and, unless someone hails from PurpleVille, most in the know know that already. So then it’s positive, in a way, to note that negative, which I’m sure you can follow.
I should have said it’s not all Jackson’s fault. He also has zip for decent receivers and a coach who because of his myopia continues to see Jackson as “his guy”…Try reading Natl. sports mags for their season wrapup editions and they will say the same thing.
But, to be positive, the Vikings have a good O line and rbs and that makes up 1/2 the offense (the qb and receivers being the other 1/2), so I ask the question…is the glass 1/2 full or 1/2 empty ?
Thanks for sharing
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