Tuesday (Great Debates) edition: Wha’ Happened?
Posted on July 1st, 2008 – 8:18 AMBy Michael Rand
Our nightmarish descent into July has commenced. The Twins blew a 4-1 lead last night. We have three more days of work, then a couple weeks of vacation. What do these things have in common? They are all reasons why we are starting up a “Great Debates” series right here — and giving you, the gentle yet charismatic reader, a chance to help. The idea: pick a topic, perhaps of local focus but not necessarily, that can be bandied about in a meaningful sports conversation. For instance: what is the worst loss in Vikings history? Or: could Stu eat 100 hard-boiled eggs if he knew it would make Tommy Kramer 22 years old and QB of the Vikings again? We’ll get the ball rolling this week; but we are accepting word donations now through Sunday (and possibly beyond) featuring your Great Debates post. As an aside, we were originally going to call this “Barstool Debates,” but we know that few people debate on barstools anymore. There’s far less chance of a physical confrontation, actual spittle or learning of real names in the anonymous debating playpen setting of the Interwebs. But anyway: e-mail us your Great Debate. And now, subject No. 1:
Let’s go back in time a couple of years to when the Twins had not yet been granted a new outdoor stadium. The Vikings were in the same boat (and continue to be). Both teams are threatening to leave Minnesota if they cannot get a new deal in place. But one — and only one — is going to leave for sure. Which would be the more devastating loss to Minnesota and the region: Twins or Vikings?
Defend your answer.
Fasola-link! Pol-ka?
49 Responses to "Tuesday (Great Debates) edition: Wha’ Happened?"
I think the Twins would be the more devastating loss economically (81 home dates, more revenue generated locally through media) but the Vikings would be more devastating from a social perspective (EVERYone follows the Vikings).
And now, a public service announcement to my fellow Cleveland fans:
Ditto everything fasola said. For the state of MN the Twins loss would be more of a drain on the bottom line.
Plus if the Vikings left, there would be a good chance of some of you jumping on the Bears bandwagon. Who else are you going to cheer for, the Packers?
or the Browns?
(EVERYone follows the Vikings).
There’s your answer, right there.
As to Michael’s Tommy Kramer reference, please to note that I was exaggerating for comic effect at Legends last Thursday night.
I would be willing to say losing the Twins would be more devastating.
I say this for one reason. In the summer, we would have no team sport to follow. And if you say the Lynx, I will laugh openly at you.
At least in the Vikings season we can catch some Gophers Football (if they are ever good again), then the Wild start up, and by November we have the T’Wolves as well. So I think from a calendar sports watching standpoint, a summer w/o the Twinkies would be devastating.
Should these Great Debate posts be held to 300 words?
latte
P3 says NO WAY!!!
If the Twins left, at least you have other options in town with the Saints and other smaller teams. There aren’t any other pro football teams around.
If Stu wouldn’t eat 100 eggs to revive Tommy Kramer, how many would he eat?
Twins were mentioned in “Field of Dreams”, Vikings were mentioned in “The Postman”.
Obviously, we’d miss the Twins more.
Speaking of movies Muxhut…anyone notice how in movies, the Twins NEVER win.
Little Big League - Twins lose at end as Griffey robs homer.
Major League, back to the minors - Twins lose to minor league club.
A Few Good Men - Twins loss to Baltimore in ‘91 is on in the background.
I’m not sure what that all means, but at least they are consistent.
There aren’t any other viable baseball options in the Twin Cities. The Saints and the Gophers really don’t count. Only The Marth will argue with me on that one.
Gopher Football would thrive without the Vikings in town. If more people paid attention, there would be higher expectations of that program, and, hopefully, that would lead to better results.
The Twins would be missed more.
Rotoblinders:
And the Cubs always seem to win.
Rookie of the Year
Back to the Future Part II (a bit of trivia: “Cubs Sweep Series In 5 [a World Series sweep would be in 4 wins thus implying the playoffs have been expanded in the future])
If the Twins left, I’d have to propose to my girlfriend, because I’d have no excuse for why we can’t hang out every night. Thus, the Twins are more important.
In Tom Clancy’s book “The Sum of All Fears” the Vikings are playing the Superbowl in Denver and the entire stadium gets nuked.
Twins = tough loses in plucky sports films.
Vikings = death death death.
I haven’t watched a full NFL game in years (except the Super Bowl) because I travel on the weekends. So the Twins would be more of a blow.
Dave MN: I like that trivia piece. Very typical of the Back to the Future films… One of the reasons I like them so much.
In Tom Clancy’s book “The Sum of All Fears” the Vikings are playing the Superbowl in Denver and the entire stadium gets nuked.
I never realized that Tom Clancy and P3 had the same vision of the apocalypse…
The important question raised above depends greatly on one fact:
Would said 22-year old Tommy Kramer be allowed to drink like he really did at 22? Including possibly the days before (mornings of?) games?
If he’s allowed that, if Stu wouldn’t eat 100 eggs, I would.
If he’s on the wagon, as he was later in his career…I wouldn’t go past 30.
This could be a new unit of measure…how many hard boiled eggs would you eat to see [event x]?
Twins. It’s true that all sports nuts follow football, but many non-sports fans enjoy watching/attending Twins games and couldn’t give two redacteds about the Vikings. Rightly so, I say: the NFL has gone to the crazies.
Rightly so, I say: the NFL has gone to the crazies.
Exhibit A: Access Vikings
the NFL has gone to the crazies.
If the Twins were abolished, how would I be able to eat my weight in Hot Dogs for $10 on a random Wednesday?
By the way I am going to the game tonight. Any requests on who I should unleash the venom of my booing on?
Another reason for Rand to post a picture of ARod with his shirt off.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8302728/Rumors-swirling:-Madonna-and-A-Rod-an-item?&MSNHPHMA
By the way I am going to the game tonight. Any requests on who I should unleash the venom of my booing on?
Jesse Crain. Always, Jesse Crain.
RE: A-Rod and Madonna.
Yuck.
SCH:
Maybe A-Rod saw this video and was as transfixed as I was at 13-years-old.
Or maybe it was this one
Crap, let me try that again, I broke the “one link at a time” commenting rule.
SCH:
Maybe A-Rod saw this video and was as transfixed as I was at 13-years-old
Or maybe it was this one
At this point I just assumed Crain’s entrance song was booing.
Although, he was 19 when those videos came out, and maybe not as easily impressed…
At this point I just assumed Crain’s entrance song was booing.
+1 Roto
SCH
I second that, Yuck!
Madonna needs to follow in Michael Jackson’s footsteps, which are now far far away.
Madonna needs to follow in Michael Jackson’s footsteps, which are now far far away.
You mean, taking on a British accent isn’t enough?
Dave: Hard to blame him if that’s why. Madonna used to have something special… Now she’s got Grandma Guns and a creepy face.
P3 Style answer in my words:
I’m going to have to agree to disagree with all of you. I am a bigger Twins fan and feel it’s much more important that they stay, but do have reasons to want them to stay:
1. Having to listen to all the local Packer fans boast on how we don’t have a team anymore
2. Think for a moment about becoming a Bears fan and realize it’s not worth it.
3. Having to buy a Jared Allen Chiefs Jersey on a clearance rack.
Joker style:
Boobs
“Think for a moment about becoming a Bears fan and realize it’s not worth it.”
Like being a Vikings fan is that much more valuable. Just as Rocket how rewarding it is.
“Like being a Vikings fan is that much more valuable. Just as Rocket how rewarding it is.”
Rewarding like not knowing all the names of every starting QB for the last 22 years?
A Minnesota winter without the Vikings? It’s hard enough to get out of bed once the season is done. At least in a summer without the Twins you could still sit out on the deck with your Off and some Summer Shandy.
No, Rewarding like drafting Running Back after Running Back in the first round only to have a 5th round pick start year after year.
Did Rand go on Vacation 3 days earlier than planned?
Of the four members of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, only Stills sported a #41 Vikings jersey on an album cover and on stage. (The Vikes responded by giving him an inexplicably oversized lineman’s jersey in the early 80s.)
Neil Young - the most talented of the bunch - never wore a Vikings jersey on stage. But he did come from Winnipeg, where a lot of people (believe it or not) are Twins fans.
Stills = Vikes
Young = Twins
You decide.
The Twins clearly win then, ramon.
Rand must be finishing up this week’s Good Sports.
Now that you put it that way, Ramon…
ramon’s reasoning earns him a +1.
AZGG: Summer Shandy is definitively NOT one of the best non-Twins things about summer in Minnesota. If I wanted a fruity beer I’d go back to junior high and put jolly ranchers in Zima.
I agree with your point about Minnesota winters without the Vikes though. If it weren’t for noon NFL games I might actually drink away my hangovers in bed.
you could still sit out on the deck with your Off and some Summer Shandy.
Which one are you drinking? If I had the choice, I think I’d take the Off
