Tuesday (Barstool debates) edition: Wha’ Happened?
Posted on March 11th, 2008 – 8:24 AMBy Michael Rand
Yes folks, it’s time to start a new feature here on RandBall, your leader in blog innovations since, well, at least today. We bring you a new occasional series called “Barstool Debates.” We’ll pick a topic, present some reasoning, and possibly even our choice; you then banter it back and forth as if you were seated — yes, this is the fun part — on a barstool and henceforth having this casual conversation with another slightly buzzed patron. Sound simple enough. We thought about all sorts of negative ways to start things off (for example, as Mr. Shelman points out, Johan Santana still pitches for the Twins in MLB2K8). Instead, though, we’re going to attempt to see the glass half full with this question:
Which of the four major local pro sports teams has the best chance of winning a championship in the next five years?
Do you go with the Wild, who have immediate prospects of at least making the playoffs?
Do you like the Vikings, who have a star running back and a division that just got weaker, at least in theory, with the “retirement” of Brett Favre?
Do you like the Twins, with a new ballpark slated to open and a young stable of hitters who could form a solid nucleus for years to come?
Do you like the Wolves, who despite a terrible record this year have some intriguing pieces and several draft picks on the way (though perhaps a worse shot at No. 1 overall coming up now that Dwyane Wade is out for the season)?
You can strike us down right here, but we’d say the Vikings for two main reasons: Adrian Peterson and NFL parity.
Have at it. Remember: You don’t actually have to be on a barstool to participate, but it doesn’t hurt (and what with the wireless internets and all, you could make it happen).
Fasola-link! Traffic jam.
21 Responses to "Tuesday (Barstool debates) edition: Wha’ Happened?"
Rand you are wrong and I think one Mr. Rocket has written a book to explain why the Vikings will never win the Super Bowl.
I know none of these teams are going to be winning a championship in the next couple of years but if I had any money I would bet on the Twins and I would guess the year would be 2011. There are a couple of things working for the Twins:
1. The new stadium will mean the team can spend more money. Maybe signing one big time Free Agent one of these years.
2. Their Farm System is stacked with good pitching which means that they can keep it or trade it for hitting.
3. They have a solid core of young hitting in Young, Morneau, and Mauer. If Kubel can pick it up a little and this team could be dangerous fairly soon. Plus in 2011 Gomez and Casilla should be starting which adds a lot of speed to this team.
4. They are the only local team that has won a championship before. How sad is this.
Now where’s my beer?
If this debate was before the NHL trade deadline, I would have said the Wild in a heartbeat. With the lack of activity by them, it becomes much more difficult. I’m not sold on the Vikings, because I don’t think that the defense is good enough to make T-Jack into the Trent Dilfer-model “game manager,” and I’m just not sold on him being able to make plays in the clutch. The Twins are looking better, but the AL, and the Central division especially, is just plain loaded, and I don’t think that they’d be able to make it out of the league. The Wolves will never win a championship under Kevin McHale.
So I’m back to the Wild. They’re still just missing a few pieces, and maybe the new ownership will be interested in bringing in another scorer and another offensive defenseman this summer.
I would like to participate but I just got my 1-year chip last night.
Congrats Clarence should we go out and celebrate? I know a great little wine bar. Sidney Ponson was the one that tipped me off on it.
I like the Vikes (somewhat better..but not alot). If Peterson stays healthy (and realistically who can run like a red lining SUV w/o blowing something soon), that sexually ambiguously colored team has a good chance. But what of the Tavaris question ? I don’t know anyone who gives him more than a 50/50 chance of getting any more than incrementally better, and in this league, that won’t be enough. The Vikes got a good receiver from the Bears but they should have went all out at qb. Tavaris is only average..enuf said.
But, there is lots more interesting stuff in the news today like how NY Gov. Spitzer got busted for being a “client” in a prostitution ring. I say, what’s the problem there ? We all want our servants to be contacting their public and here he is simply polling his constituents, and with a name like that no less.
Logic says Vikings, but logic didn’t have to watch the denouement of the Season That Never Was. I’ll go with the Twins.
Id have to say the Vikings have the greatest chance. With the continued maturity of both Adrian Peterson and TJack, I think they have the greatest potential assuming they ever get it right when they draft a defensive end.
Wolves win lottery, draft center, make a couple of key mid-level free agent acquisitions, improve as the rest of the West ages, win it all in 2010-11.
I’ll say Twins, too.
This question sucks. I don’t really trust any of the teams winning a championship. I guess that makes me a true MN fan.
Gun to my head, I’d probably pick the Vikings because of Purple Jesus. I think we’re only a few players away from winning 12-14 games in a season. Yay parity!
Who wins a title first, the Chicago Cubs or the MN Vikings?
jama - I think if either of the scenarios happened it would be like crossing the streams. Total protonic reversal.
Try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light.
PPP, was “polling his constituents” an intentional double entendre?
got that, scagmando
Which of the 4 locals would you put last to win a championship?
I’d say Wolves at least until Taylor sells the team. (So at least until Taylor’s family sells the team long after he is gone.
At least his name is Spitzer and not Skeeter…
None of the above. NONE OF THE ABOVE! I’ll tell you, thsethfhthing is… STAY AWAY FROM MY WIFE!
ok
+1 to Jon.
no such thing as a “solid nucleus” of players unless at absolute zero. Normally a nucleus is a miasma of high speed polar forces, and even the Twins new guy, All Wheels…No Stick…is not that fast.
Alike to others, I add that soccer has a better chance of becoming the fourth major sport and winning a championship than any o’ dem teams.
“1. The new stadium will mean the team can spend more money. Maybe signing one big time Free Agent one of these years.”
Are you kidding me, Jama?! Do you even follow the Twins. Everybody knows Carl will be using that money to pay down his financial obligation. Nonetheless I am with you due to reason number 4: they’ve won it before.
St. Paul Saints
Minnesota Swarm
U of M Women’s basketball
U of M Men’s basketball
Minnesota Lynx
All have the likelihood of winning championships before any of the four majors.
Stupid majors.
