Weekend links with Jon Marthaler
Posted on January 19th, 2008 – 10:33 AMBy Michael Rand
As I write this, it is -9 degrees outside. Minnesotans: what the heck are we doing with our lives?
*Starting off with hockey for the fifteenth week in a row: if you have not seen Rick Nash’s game-winner against Phoenix on Thursday, you really,
really, should.
*From Paging Jim Shikenjaski: There are many bad ways to react to a loss. Some have drank too much and regretted it the next day. Some have punched or kicked an inanimate object, thus leading to injury. There are even cases of people doing horrible things to each other — stabbings, dog-kickings, you get the idea. I’m not exactly sure where this falls on the scale, but I do know this: this might be the worst reaction ever videotaped for posterity.
*Western College Hockey got its hands on a new form letter from the WCHA re: officiating. (For the background on the latest controversy, try here.)
*Remember when Air Jordans cost like $135, and every sports columnist over the age of 40 wrote about this being the end of Western civilization as we knew it? Don’t tell them about the new version. On the bright side, I’m officially an old codger now; my first car cost lest than one of these shoes. Not one pair — one.
*We have video evidence: Bud Selig is Ralph Kramden. I don’t even know what to say about this. It did, however, remind me of the time that Tim Pawlenty tried to say “It’s time to drop the puck” at a Wild game and, well, failed.
*Finally, TrueHoop points out a dude that thinks Joakim Noah might be the next Muhammad Ali. You know, Joakim Noah — this guy. Hmmm… there might be some work yet to be done.
That’s it for me; stay warm today. By which I mean just stay inside. Maybe check on your neighbors, make sure their heat is working, but that’s about it. We’ll all pull through this if we just pull together. And if you’re heading out to Lake Nokomis to check out the US Pond Hockey Championships today, then you, friend, are insane. Kudos.
Proprietor note: One last gratuitous shot.
49 Responses to "Weekend links with Jon Marthaler"
About the Propietor’s note that the bar in the link above offering free beer until someone pees or leaves, that could never happen at a Viking game since people are always immediately pissed off watching Action Jackson and his gang of misfits …
“It’s only my wife. I’ll punch her out”…then a few days ago from a friend of Tiger’s “Maybe we should lynch him (to slow him down)”
For me, there should be a bounty on these clucking PBS style heart wrenching naysayers. I mean is there any room any more for humor, albeit testy questionable humor, or are we to walk around like clowns afraid of our shadows, afraid of offending someone we could care less about ?
Personally, I think we should walk around with those annoying plastic/rubber bats meant to make noise at ball games and WHACK anyone making such vanilla poor poor pitiful us comments. As Tim O’reilly, a raving redneck himself, once said..life is full of dangerous notions, but w/o danger we wouldn’t have any death and w/o death we would be surrounding food with our anus….at least I think he said that, but then again I can’t even spell pc..
Rick Nash’s goal was wicked sweet.
But, I put it behind that 5-goal outbust by some guy named Gaborik.
How strange…I read this post, and turn on the TV just in time to see Jim Shikenjaski come into a game on the BTN from 1990–apparently we came back big against Wisconsin.
-9 this morning…should be just about zero for the Packer’s game. That kind of cold reminds me of what Favre said about that nasty cold and windy loss in Chicago. He took offense, though with Favre unlike a pouting Sharper you couldn’t tell if he meant it, but he was talking about cold and that supposedly being a home field advantage for the Pack. He reminded the interviewer that he was from Gulfport Miss and that he HATED the cold, but, (and an important “but” here) he had to play in it.
Moral of the story: that if the Vikings were forced to play under such bitter adversity, they might tighten up their gamefaces, body and mind and not choke and blame one another after every game they lose. Let’s face it, dome teams can win the big ones, just not this team..
Packers………………….Sunday !!
Be there when the best of the North meet the Cowboy slayers of the East…be there to watch if only to wet your jealous hate if those Packers do lose…my, my what a tedious and frustrating thing it must be to back a team such as yours…alas
I don’t know if anyone’s picking the Giants tomorrow. They’re not going to win. And if Volek and whoever is taking LT’s place beat the Pats tomorrow, I’d say that’s the biggest upset of the year.
I’m not thrilled about the prospect of listening to every sports columnist/announcer salivating over the idea of a Favre/Brady SuperBowl, but I think that’s what we’re going to be looking at.
I never had faith in Manning. Their winning streak was impressive but they beat a much weakened Cowboys. I say the Pack by 10 +. And, I can’t see the Pats getting beat by LT etal since the Chargers blew their wad against the Colts and now must face, no matter how much people dislike the Pats, perhaps the best team in the last decade if not longer..
Oh, and a warning to any of you Packer fans/natives living in Minny who are going home for the game:
It is against MN STATE LAW to cross state lines with a duck atop your head.
Not only that, it is against MN STATE LAW to specifically cross the border into WI with a chicken atop your head.
Anyone who doesn’t believe me look it up. Cheese only. No ducks or chickens. Good luck tomorrow.
I’ve had a full day to think about this, and I still say neither favorite covers.
Beyond that, the wisdom of ramon should always be heeded, and stay warm with Irish coffee.
f..k a duck
If Pack fans are Cheeseheads, Viking fans are just douc..bags, you know just full of it, in last place but right up there…
Toonces - I wasted almost 2 hours watching that 1990 game, thinking that for it to be one of the “Greatest Big 10 Basketball Games”, the Gophs had to have ended up winning. (How could Sconnie think it’s a great game to squander a 21-point lead?) Turns out the refs screwed us, as always… It was fun, though, to see some of the players I’d forgotten about, like “Good Job, Big Bob” Martin.
Stu - that’s so weird… I read your comment right after I poured myself an Irish coffee. Minus the coffee but, as BB King might have said, the chill is gone.
I forgot to mention it is also against MN STATE LAW to drive a red car down Lake Street.
Sleep tight my sour purple friends, the new day will bring a team enjoyable to watch…
The Patriots? Yes, they’re playing tomorrow.
A number of hours ’til the Pack/Giants game, but I’d like to ask Dave and his pack of jackals and assorted sordid Viking (and Bear) lackeys if the Packers win (and I say “if” since “on every given Sunday..blah, blah)), but if they do win, will you shut up for the entire upcoming week leading to the Superbowl or will you keep up the same nonsensical attacks on what clearly is one of the best teams in the league ..or to put it more briefly for those who want (or can) only read only 10-15 word bursts “will you go away and drink your sorrows away in private ?”
P3, the answer to your question is “no”.
I will continue to be an idiot for the entire fortnight leading up to the game. I will express my hope that the Packers lose the game (likely to the Pats) and Brett Favre retires. I will probably make numerous 10-15 word bursts that are nonsensical. However, I can’t guarantee that they will all be anti-Packer. I’ll try my best though.
Oh crap, this was way more than 10-15 words, let me try again…
“Durrrr…I hate the Packers. I hate Bretty Favre. Go Gopher Football! Woooo!”
Dave…69 words in that !! Tsk, tsk..Are you trying to lose your Coat of Most Moronic Threads …lose your standing of fewest words with your word limited friends (Stu etal) ?..and if (I say “if”..again) the Pack beats the Pats who have been behind others as often as you, will you continue to attack what you don’t have..a qb who can walk and chew gum w/o overthrowing his school receivers, continue to attack a team when you have only a smattering of good players…one of which, Peterson, will never shine as such a bright light again..in short, will you continue to play the fool by attacking what quite likely may be the best team in football ?
But, foolish me, you are “Dave”, one of the anonymous foolish tribesmen who by accident of living in this presumptuous frozen town fails to see it’s many warts, buy see those warts elsewhere on teams far more worthy than yours. So, rip on, my small minded friend. I expected nothing less..
will you continue to attack what you don’t have
Why not? I’ve always wanted to own a football team, and not having one has made me surly.
Also, I didn’t know you owned a football team…much less one with a qb that could “walk and chew gum” at the same time, and more than a “smattering” of good players. You must be a multi-millionaire, or, better yet, a billionaire. With that in mind, what brings you to this working-class, Viking lovin’ hovel of a message board? Don’t you have more expensive things to do?
I love to tear the wings off of butterflys, I guess
Aaaaand the former Gopher scores the first touchdown of the afternoon! Go Maroney!
AZGG - Yeah, I was disappointed to see that in the end, after the great comeback, we managed to lose that game too. Yet at the same time, I wasn’t shocked.
P3 - Why don’t you go f**k yourself in the earhole with an ice pick? Why the h**l would we shut up in here if the Pack wins? I shouldn’t have the right to come in here and talk about how lopsided the Super Bowl will be with the best team in the NFL (or much less likely probably the 4th best team in the NFL) facing off against the 7th or 8th best team in the NFL? Will you shut up if they lose? Oh, wait, you probably will disappear for another year, just like you did last year.
TooncyBaby:
Surely using your evident writing skills you could have come up with something more creative than “Why don’t you go f**k yourself in the earhole with an ice pick? “..Maybe it’s because you remember your wife saying that so often as soon as you come in the bedroom..and I don’t remember disappearing last year but being a part of the P3 fan club, I’m sure you do..but my ISP (look it up)is acting up so I’m not sure I’ll be able to get back online if the Pack loses…Hardehar (aand what kind of penname is Tootsey anyway ?)
Not to beat up on weird a.s naming again, but what was some mother thinking naming her kid “Plexico” unless that is really some anonymous screen name like “Toonces” ?
Go Driver !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
One play and the Pack leads !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
can the Vikes do that ? Not !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yup, Bigby, you strut around for your nice hit. Never mind that it was a first down.
Hey P3, how come you never question players first names on the Packers, like Atari? You’re only a racist against people on other teams, maybe?
Trade Peterson. He’s the only good player u have on offense. Don’t let him rot on your bench
Hahahahaha. I think you spend more time worrying about the Vikings than any one of us on this blog does.
When you look at teams like the Pack or Pats do you ever wonder why you even HAVE a team at all or put differently, why the NFL allows an abor…. of a team like yours to even stay up here ?
Nope. I figure if a team that sucks as bad as the Lions have recently, the Bengals and Cardinals did in the 90’s, and the Packers did in the 80’s (and 70’s–while being located in Green Bay, no less) doesn’t get shut down, they certainly won’t shut us down.
Why are the Packer fans booing? The Giants got screwed on the first penalty–that was interference, the ball was in the air. And Collins’ hit was clearly late. If someone did that to Favre, they would storm the field looking for blood.
So, P3, are you man enough to admit that THAT was a great game? And yes, I would have said that even if the Packers had won.
that was neat.
Mr. Paulos:
I trust I’ve made myself abundantly clear.
Cordially,
K
Thank God.
A few post game points:
1) With the way the Packers played and as close as this game was and then considering how much better the Pats are than either of these teams, Eli may be coming to the Superbowl but that’s about the only place he’ll be cumming unless he brings one of you with..
2) and tomorrow when the local yokel papers (yes, this one too) gush about how the Giants stayed with and then beat the storied Packers, remember the Packers pure and simply gave them the game..not, by any means that these mediocre Giants beat them (and again, as an aside, who names their kid “Plexico” ?)
2) and lastly, now that the Packers have finally lost, I wonder if this will satisfy your idiotic blood lust, shut your anti-Packer mouths (doubt it, since what would morons like you then talk about besides babes and bars), shut off that angry jealousy borne from these Packers so royally kicking your team’s butt this year, or put differently, as I always ask as a finale …”by the way, how did your team do this year”…hardehar
“Go Action Jackson” ..what a depressing thought that must be to cling to..
1) Yes, neither of these teams was going to beat the Patriots. Of course, no one gave the Giants a chance today, either (except Victor, who called it last week).
2) You still haven’t called it a great game–not man enough to admit it? Neither team played well–that doesn’t mean that just the Pack gave it away. Both teams tried to give it away.
2?) I still don’t get how you can not expect anti-Packer feelings at a Minnesota based blog/paper. I think this paper does too much positive Packer coverage as is (thank you, Mr. Craig).
As for “Action Jackson,” I hadn’t given that “depressing” thought 1 iota of second until you mentioned him. I’ve moved on to the Wild, the Gophers basketball team, and the Johan Santana sweepstakes. What does Green Bay have to move on to? Oh, I guess Thompson’s is launching a new line of paint thinner…so you’ve got that going for you.
Toonces,
I’d say it was a great game if it was. It wasn’t. Both teams played a pretty mediocre game actually, and either would/will be beat badly by the Pats…and as for some of you playing the race card, get a life. It is just interesting on the face of it how names sometimes pop out of nowhere, how people decide to name their kids a particular name, what a name may or may not mean. Like what does Mewelde mean ? It may have meant much to his mom or she just may have like the lilting sound to it. But, asking the question isn’t racist any more than I (and many much better writers) asking how such a high percentage of top athletes are black is, on the face of it, a racist question. What is racist are p.c. writers like you raised on the social niceties of a reality denying PBS culture saying such inquiries are racist. In short, I don’t believe in concepts like the so-called “reverse racism” where the flag of racism is waved in a racist manner (thus “reversed racism) whenever you are uncomfortable with the question. So, tough !! I am uncomfortable with these question too, but it still strikes as unusual to name a child Plexico, a name that sounds like a corporation, as it would to label myself Toonce 
For the record, Karma’ comments are the best ones in here tonight…
Paulos,
I give you credit for coming back on after shooting your mouth off all day, but that’s all… the rest of your post sounds like revisionist history and, most of all, pathetic whining.
First of all it’s Plaxico, not Plexico. Look it up.
Second, the Packers did not give the game away. The Giants took it. They outrushed the Pack. They outthrew the Pack. They were more physical than the Pack…
The Pack was outcoached and outplayed –
the Giants were, by far, the better team today.
More than 40 minutes of possession to 22.
22 first downs to 13.
134 rushing yards to 28.
And take out the 90 yard pass and Favre threw 34 passes for 146 yards.
You simply don’t give the Giants enough credit - they outplayed the Pack. It is a testament to the Pack that the game was as close as it was, but it is the Giants that almost gave the game away, not the Pack handing the game to the Giants, as you whine, err, say.
Now, do Randball a favor and go away for another year.
Yes, I liked Karma’s comments too. And I don’t really think you’re a racist–I just found it interesting that you always ask about the strange names from other teams, and never any of the Packers. The racist comment was more bait.
As for great game or not, I would say yes, it was a great game–no, admittedly not a well played game–but almost any playoff OT game would go in my great game column. And yes, I realize that means it includes a certain game that we don’t like to talk about here–but so be it. Even games where you don’t like the outcome can be great games.
P3,
RE: Your comments
1) Maybe you missed the Giants-Pats game a few weeks ago, but the G-Men gave the Pats as close of a game that they’ve had all year, so I think they may have a chance.
2) No person has called this Packers team “storied”. If you want to talk about storied franchises the Giants have a bit of history too. People will continue to play the race card as long as you criticize only the names of players of African descent. Your ideal that Judeo-Christian, or “white” names are better than Plaxico, Shaquille, or Tarvaris is the definition of racism.
3) You’re an idiot. Number your bullet points correctly. Your whining about this blog having an anti-Packer slant to it, as it should, is correct. YOU ARE IN MINNESOTA. I think this blog accurately mirrors the anti-Packer sentiment in the area. If you don’t like it find another blog and move back to Wisconsin.
Lastly, the fact that when your team was playing their biggest game of the year you were on this blog posting tells me so much about your life that I got a little sad. Then I remembered how much of a bitter, pathetic, racist, sexist tool you’ve been over the last few months that I’m not sad any more. I just want you and your stupid little emoticons to go away.
Danonymous: Nice…
And to the only Packer fan who comments in here, seriously, how does the crow taste?
I mean, you’ve got to be kidding me. Eli Manning and Pals beat the “storied” Packers? In Lambeau? When it’s -4 degrees?! Didn’t Eli get picked off a ridiculous number of times (4) by Darren “Duller” Sharper and the rest of the Vikings secondary? How many picks did the storied Packer secondary have? What? None?! It was windy and cold!
How many NFC Central teams made it to the Super Bowl? None?! Come on! You’re pulling my leg! Well, hell, in whose company does that leave the “storied” Packers? I won’t even bother to say it, I’m sure you already know. Oh yeah, and no “storied” team would lose to this season’s Bears twice.
Mmmm….mmmm…crow!
I would like to point out that the Packers, for all of their supposed “invincibility” in Lambeau, have now lost three of their last five playoff games in Green Bay.
After eighty years of never losing there, the “Frozen Tundra” has lost its mystique.
and lastly, now that the Packers have finally lost, I wonder if this will satisfy your idiotic blood lust, shut your anti-Packer mouths (doubt it, since what would morons like you then talk about besides babes and bars), shut off that angry jealousy borne from these Packers so royally kicking your team’s butt this year, or put differently, as I always ask as a finale …”by the way, how did your team do this year”…hardehar
Mr. Paulos:
I don’t take the offseason off. If you need proof, I have the receipt for Chmura’s Jacuzzi in my filing cabinet. Don’t push it.
Regards,
K
Good heavens, that was a great game last night. Giants played incredibly well, Green Bay was able to overcome lousy field position and mediocre QB play to get it to OT. That said, the silence you hear is Lambeau Field.
As for the Super Bowl, I’ll simply wait until Rand makes his pick, and make the exact opposite prediction. Seems to be working so far.
The path to the Super Bowl wasn’t about Favre or which Manning brother deserved to win or the weather or health of LT or Green Rivers or perfect seasons. Or the fact the Vikings beat two of the four team big time this year.
It’s about the two most psychotic, driven, frightening coaches in the league. With Dungy’s heart elsewhere the Colt’s didn’t have a chance. The Pack, bless ‘em, have a coach who is Dean Martin to his QB’s Sinatra. Norv Turner looks like he wants to hide every time Rivers’ vein-popping forehead comes back to the sidelines after a botched play.
That’s why it’s Giants/Pats. Coaches who exude the characteristics of Herb Brooks, Vince Lombardi, John Gotti and Hannibal Lecter. Who will lie, cheat, steal and kill their own. That’s why they come out ahead when it counts. I wonder if that’s the one thing Bud lacked - he had the discipline and respect from his players, but maybe he needed that little bit of that dark side this year’s surviving coaches have. Or in Belichick’s case, lack of honor.
Thanks Eli!!! We are nearing twelve hours without a comment from P3. These have been the greatest twelve hours in the history of RandBall.
(By the way, things aren’t all sad in the “city” of Green Bay. The local authorities have decided to use the additional revenue from the second home playoff game to install a second traffic signal in town. That is progress!!!)
