Coming on the heels of the Baylor revelation most of what I'm about to spout about is insignificant. I have a strong and at least moderately controversial opinion about what should happen to people who sexually abuse others. It's much more important then sports. It's more tragic then the loss of any game. It is a terrible representation by a school that on paper aligns itself with a certain sect of Christianity. I hope that those people turn to Jesus and find healing for the wounds.
Sunday, May 29, 2016
Saturday, May 21, 2016
Breaking Through
For those of us who aren't "ball guys" this is a tough time to be a sports fan. The NFL is in a relative lull between the draft and the start of training camps, though there are off season workouts happening which can offer some small nuggets of information.
And while the NBA playoffs are still very much underway, since the Timberwolves are still in the midst of the playoff drought there is little in the way of local ties to it at present.
Sure this is hockey country but the Wild got bounced in the first round of the NHL playoffs, which to my mind is a positive outcome because they were pretty awful and only got in by default. I haven't mentioned it yet, but it seems as though the coaching hire for the Wild is a good one so maybe the big team will start to represent well again in short order. Either way, good for them!
But as I said, if not a baseball fan this can be a rough time. I don't mind baseball. Going to the park and watching the game can be an enjoyable outing. The Twins are putrid though. I did my rant about it and am still as fired up when the topic is broached. I sincerely don't want anyone to go to Twins games so that the Pohlad's pocket books get hit and they feel pressure to pay out for some better players. Their payroll should be at around $120 million a year. Not the roughly $97 million that it reportedly is. I have to admit that I didn't think it would be that high but still could be better and spent more effectively. Ok I'm going to move on so that I don't go off on it again because that's not what this is about.
I say all that because this is very much the sports abyss. So between now and the start of Vikings training camp I'm going to do periodic abyss breakers. It should go without saying, but I will hit on any unique sports things that may happen during that time, in addition to the breakers.
So first up is....
Going to come after the jump!
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Streaking
Before I get started, thank you to any and all of you who have checked out my little slice of sportsdom over the last few days. I got my first post on here with 100+ views and it feels good. Alright, onto lottery talk!
The NBA draft lottery is just wrapping up and once again the Timberwolves did not move up in the NBA draft. They could have picked lower then they will be but they also did not slide down even one pick. As slotted they received the fifth overall selection in the 2016 NBA draft.
Some people will be negative on the fact that we still haven't been able to jump up at all in the process, but get real people! Weird as it may seem, I didn't want to pick #1 and I don't think #2 would be that much better. I don't like Ben Simmons and am not convinced that Brandon Ingram would be an upgrade over Wiggins.
I was hoping for the third or fourth pick and while it's a little anti-climactic am content with selecting fifth.
Maybe it'll be for the best since it may have a reduced possibility of trade related foolishness. I hope that Thibs just takes the best shooting guard available but am too jaded by Minnesota history to consider it a certainty. Just don't trade down. Please!
There are pros and cons to both of the two top shooters in the draft and I'll get into that after the break. Here goes!
The NBA draft lottery is just wrapping up and once again the Timberwolves did not move up in the NBA draft. They could have picked lower then they will be but they also did not slide down even one pick. As slotted they received the fifth overall selection in the 2016 NBA draft.
Some people will be negative on the fact that we still haven't been able to jump up at all in the process, but get real people! Weird as it may seem, I didn't want to pick #1 and I don't think #2 would be that much better. I don't like Ben Simmons and am not convinced that Brandon Ingram would be an upgrade over Wiggins.
I was hoping for the third or fourth pick and while it's a little anti-climactic am content with selecting fifth.
Maybe it'll be for the best since it may have a reduced possibility of trade related foolishness. I hope that Thibs just takes the best shooting guard available but am too jaded by Minnesota history to consider it a certainty. Just don't trade down. Please!
There are pros and cons to both of the two top shooters in the draft and I'll get into that after the break. Here goes!
Sunday, May 15, 2016
The Wolf is Turning
Less then 48 hours ahead of the 2016 NBA Draft Lottery and things just keep cranking up for our favorite 15.
To the surprise of no one who was actually paying attention Karl - Anthony Towns has reportedly gotten the Rookie of the Year for the season. Days after Stephen Curry just went unanimous for the MVP I'm curious how many votes KAT got for ROY. In any case, it's like breaking news that's only sort of breaking news.
He was the best rookie all year and only got better as the season progressed. It wasn't even really that close between him and Porzingis, even with KP playing in NYC and the East Coast bias. ESPN silently acknowledged it by not covering Porzingis much more then it did KAT, which is to say it gave like no coverage to either since it just generally tries to ignore Twin City teams.
It's been 12 months of history making for the Timberwolves which I'll hit on and more after a second.
To the surprise of no one who was actually paying attention Karl - Anthony Towns has reportedly gotten the Rookie of the Year for the season. Days after Stephen Curry just went unanimous for the MVP I'm curious how many votes KAT got for ROY. In any case, it's like breaking news that's only sort of breaking news.
He was the best rookie all year and only got better as the season progressed. It wasn't even really that close between him and Porzingis, even with KP playing in NYC and the East Coast bias. ESPN silently acknowledged it by not covering Porzingis much more then it did KAT, which is to say it gave like no coverage to either since it just generally tries to ignore Twin City teams.
It's been 12 months of history making for the Timberwolves which I'll hit on and more after a second.
Thursday, May 12, 2016
The Opening Door
Down goes another team in the playoffs. The most shocking series so far has been the victory by OKC over the Spurs.
The most consistent and dominant team over the last 15 years may have finally reached the end of the run. With Timmy, Tony & Manu all in the waning days of their careers the chapter may be closing on their spectacular run. Yes, they have Kwahi. And they signed LaMarcus Aldridge to a big contract a year ago so they will probably continue to be a playoff team going forward but without the addition of another great player or two, the championship window may have just closed.
But where one thing closes, another opens.
Sunday, May 8, 2016
Rube Rant
Newsflash: The Twins are terrible. They started 0 - 9 then they got on a little bit of a hot streak but now they lose basically every day. Some times I think that historically incompetent performance is exciting but then I think back on examples of it and find myself despising such occurrences. So I have no interest in them losing a record number of games or having a historically bad winning percentage or anything like that but when they're bad during the sports abyss that is the time between the Wolves season ending and the start of Vikings Training camp there is not much to focus on locally so I understand why some people may want them to tank.
It's May 8 and they have no chance of a playoff spot. They are still in a terrible position as far as pitchers go and while they have plenty of guys who can hit home runs, they seem to never happen at the most opportune times. This team will probably lose 95 games this season and as much as the players need to perform better I'm putting a lot on the ownership.
yeah, yeah it's super cliche to rip a teams owner when they're bad but the refusal to spend money by the Pohlads is unacceptable. They have a chance to get a once great pitcher and they don't even send a scout to check him out. Are you kidding me?! I hope that people stop going to the games. I've heard repeatedly that Target Field is one of the nicest in the MLB. I've been there and know that it is a gem but people need to just refuse to go there.
When the team loses and isn't even competent then the organization from the top down should suffer for it. If they spent money, if they tried to bring in quality free agents but were unsuccessful that would be one thing. Instead they make stupid trades. Refuse to pay players and laughably even when they open up the check book to stay above the salary floor it doesn't work. Everything needs to change with the Minnesota 9. Everything!
I'm not even a ball guy and I can't help but get fired up because going to a game at Target Field is still a good time. Until it improves I refuse to spend any money to see them live. I'm boycotting, plain and simple. Hopefully I'm not the only one that takes that approach either!
Force their hand. Hit em in the pocket book! Then just try to suffer through until July and Vikings training camp gets under way!
It's May 8 and they have no chance of a playoff spot. They are still in a terrible position as far as pitchers go and while they have plenty of guys who can hit home runs, they seem to never happen at the most opportune times. This team will probably lose 95 games this season and as much as the players need to perform better I'm putting a lot on the ownership.
yeah, yeah it's super cliche to rip a teams owner when they're bad but the refusal to spend money by the Pohlads is unacceptable. They have a chance to get a once great pitcher and they don't even send a scout to check him out. Are you kidding me?! I hope that people stop going to the games. I've heard repeatedly that Target Field is one of the nicest in the MLB. I've been there and know that it is a gem but people need to just refuse to go there.
When the team loses and isn't even competent then the organization from the top down should suffer for it. If they spent money, if they tried to bring in quality free agents but were unsuccessful that would be one thing. Instead they make stupid trades. Refuse to pay players and laughably even when they open up the check book to stay above the salary floor it doesn't work. Everything needs to change with the Minnesota 9. Everything!
I'm not even a ball guy and I can't help but get fired up because going to a game at Target Field is still a good time. Until it improves I refuse to spend any money to see them live. I'm boycotting, plain and simple. Hopefully I'm not the only one that takes that approach either!
Force their hand. Hit em in the pocket book! Then just try to suffer through until July and Vikings training camp gets under way!
Monday, May 2, 2016
Flash off
Option day has come and from what I can tell, the right decisions have been made.
Xavier Rhodes and Shariff Floyd had their 5th year contract options picked up by the Vikings. Their first round running mate, Cordarelle Patterson did not.
So CP - "Flash" - is now in a contract year.
I despise contract year players. So many times players break out in a big way in the last year of their contracts. It happens in the NBA & NFL on a nearly yearly basis.
The only ones who deserve big contract extensions or contracts with other teams are those who have multiple years of high level production. Or just consistent levels of productivity.
That does not include the aforementioned Flash Patterson.
Maybe he'll have a spectacular year. Which I can only imagine would mean great things for the entire team but flash off.
I don't want him on the Vikings next season. Not as a kick returner. Not as a "wide receiver".
Go away CP, just flash off.
Xavier Rhodes and Shariff Floyd had their 5th year contract options picked up by the Vikings. Their first round running mate, Cordarelle Patterson did not.
So CP - "Flash" - is now in a contract year.
I despise contract year players. So many times players break out in a big way in the last year of their contracts. It happens in the NBA & NFL on a nearly yearly basis.
The only ones who deserve big contract extensions or contracts with other teams are those who have multiple years of high level production. Or just consistent levels of productivity.
That does not include the aforementioned Flash Patterson.
Maybe he'll have a spectacular year. Which I can only imagine would mean great things for the entire team but flash off.
I don't want him on the Vikings next season. Not as a kick returner. Not as a "wide receiver".
Go away CP, just flash off.
Sunday, May 1, 2016
Super 7
I've hit on this a little bit in the last few days but things keep progressing and it's very noteworthy.
Newsflash: The NFL draft was this weekend.
With the second pick in the draft Carson Wentz was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles. It's been discussed ad nauseam so I'm going to leave it at that.
In the fifth round his left tackle Joe Haeg got snatched by the Indianapolis Colts.
Like I said, I've covered this stuff in the past few days but there is new information that ought to be relayed.
After
Newsflash: The NFL draft was this weekend.
With the second pick in the draft Carson Wentz was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles. It's been discussed ad nauseam so I'm going to leave it at that.
In the fifth round his left tackle Joe Haeg got snatched by the Indianapolis Colts.
Like I said, I've covered this stuff in the past few days but there is new information that ought to be relayed.
After
Rube Rant
Not everything that happens in the world of sports is blue skies and bunnies, even when the scope of focus is limited to the area which I desire to cover. So when a rant is required because of stupid or annoying things happen this will be the format. I can't quite say I hope it's a weekly thing but I plan on it being a recurring post.
And in case you were wondering, no there won't be profanity or coarse use of language.
The thing that has my ire from this past week is the approach that the GM took. In general I approve of and enjoy the players that Rick Spielman takes with the draft. He has brought in many good players, more successful draft selection and free agent acquisitions then failed ones. He has also made good trades along the way, look no further then the trade he made with the Dolphins to flip a third round pick for a third and fourth next year and sixth yesterday.
But then he just made an obnoxious number of silly trades in the later rounds. Thanks to one Christopher Gates over at The Daily Norseman the trades were deciphered.
Essentially, what the Vikings did was
And in case you were wondering, no there won't be profanity or coarse use of language.
The thing that has my ire from this past week is the approach that the GM took. In general I approve of and enjoy the players that Rick Spielman takes with the draft. He has brought in many good players, more successful draft selection and free agent acquisitions then failed ones. He has also made good trades along the way, look no further then the trade he made with the Dolphins to flip a third round pick for a third and fourth next year and sixth yesterday.
But then he just made an obnoxious number of silly trades in the later rounds. Thanks to one Christopher Gates over at The Daily Norseman the trades were deciphered.
Essentially, what the Vikings did was
-Move down two spots in Round 6 (from 186 to 188)
-Move up thirteen spots in Round 7 (from 240 to 227)
-Pick up two mid-round picks in the 2017 NFL Draft from Miami (third round pick, conditional fourth round pick)
I'll get to the rant after the break-Move up thirteen spots in Round 7 (from 240 to 227)
-Pick up two mid-round picks in the 2017 NFL Draft from Miami (third round pick, conditional fourth round pick)
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