I don't know much about the NBA...

But I'll try to get something going here.

-Oden is out for 3-4 weeks. Sam Bowie anyone?
-"Four more years" for Andrew Bynum.
-Houston Rockets anyone??? If they stay healthy and Ron Artest keeps his mouth shut, things might be looking up.
-Any major sleepers this year? Anyone a little overrated?
-Who's the favorite? Who's gonna take it?

Please, opine!

Everyone else is criticizing Selig's decision the other night...

so why don't we?

The Worst Damn Sports Newtork Period

So Squints' last post got me thinking...

What could make FOX any worse? Even better, what would it take to put together the worst television station in sports history?

Just a few suggestions:

-Steve Phillips

-John Madden

-FOX technology

-ESPN's east coast bias

-Shannon Sharpe and Keyshawn Johnson hosting their rendition of PTI

-Strictly female game broadcasters

FOX sucks

Here are my top reasons for hating FOX

1. Terry, Howie and Jimmy

2. They don't have an HD channel in GF

3. They constantly show all fans who nervously cover their face between pitches in MLB

4. They use a robot during football coverage

5. Joe Buck didn't like Randy Moss' celebration.

P.S. I secretly just made this post so I didn't have to see all those ugly mustaches at the top of the screen when I go to this site.

Inspiring

don't ask how i stumbled across this site, but it gives new appreciation for stasche and how important it has been to the game

http://www.thephatphree.com/features.asp?StoryID=445&sectionID=2

Free Philly Cheese Steaks at Subway!

Subway said they will be giving away free Philly Cheese Steak subs in honor of every World Series win the Phillies pull off this year! I guess I know what I'm having for lunch tomorrow.

Alright, maybe not so much. I don't even really like Subway. But the Phils took game one.

Thoughts?

P.A. and Dub...

Cocaine's a hell of a drug...

http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/tv/31980739.html?elr=KArksD:aDyaEP:kD:aUg:oaEQDUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

Parody in Sports - Salary Cap.

What's everyone's thoughts on having a salary cap in baseball like they do in all the other major sports? The parody in football is unreal, but the same teams year after year after year do well and the same teams do poorly in baseball. There are the few well managed small market teams that manage to compete most years such as the Twins, A's, Marlins and maybe a couple of others, which makes for good stories. Naps is right about the Rays, they are one of the best sports stories in recent memory, but they're season probably wouldn't be so impressive if there was a salary cap. There's no doubt that ESPN would hate having a cap (they're east coast boners might become half chubs), but I'd like to know what you guys think.

Red Sox...Dead.

Baseball fans outside of Chowder Head Nation can breathe easy once again. This may be one of the poorest rated World Series in recent history, but to true baseball fans around the world, it will consist of one of the greatest team sports stories in years. What the Rays have done this year is an unbelievable achievement and I will be behind my American League bretheren throughout this series.

Props to my boy, Joe Madden, who spent just about his entire MLB career in the Angels organization before getting the Tampa Bay job.

Having trouble concentrating? Have you suffered any major head injuries throughout your career?

"You've got to be kidding me!" of the game: Gus Frerotte

Please, Lord, Not Again...

I am praying to the Almighty that last night was not a preview of things to come in the ALCS. The Chowds pulled off another miracle post-season victory against the Rays, scoring 8 runs in the last two innings to win the game 8-7.

If the Red Sox make another playoff comeback, I may not see November.

QB Solution

So, as many Vikings are fed up with the Chili Dynasty, I got to wondering where this team is going in the next two or three years. It is obvious that this team is not a playoff contender, and if they somehow back their way into the playoffs (Playoffs!?!?!?), it is likely that they will be one and done. We still will not have an answer at the quarterback position, AP will be one year older, and the chances of this team becoming a Super Bowl force seems very unlikely with our inept coach.

I do not see how Zigi Wilf can keep Chili on after this year considering the fans' outcry for a change. If we speculate that a new coach comes to town, the Vikings will still be a QB away from being a serious contender. T-jack is not the answer, Gus is not the answer, and JDB is not the answer in the short term and will never be the answer in my opinion. No free agents QB's come to mind and it will most likely take 2 or 3 years to develop a rookie which would waste the prime of many of our players.

But wait a minute, there is a free agent out there. He led his team to a playoff victory at Lambeau Field. He is considered one of the greatest athletes to ever play the quarterback position.

Having trouble figuring it out?? The Vikings answer to the QB question is simple. MIKE VICK. Call me crazy, but to me, he is the best chance that this team has to win a Super Bowl in the next two or three years. I think he is going to come out of prison with something to prove. You cannot defend him for dogfighting, but the penalty was harsh and he did not deserve 2 years in jail. The public usually forgives a guy who admits his mistakes, and Vick has already admitted he was wrong, and he has more than paid for his crime. Give him a chance. The Vikings don't have anything to lose. They will be able to sign him for cheap, and if he doesn't return at the same skill level, they can easily cut him.

With so many good players on this Vikings roster, in the prime of their careers, the window for this team to win a Super Bowl is closing as we speek. If you guys can see a better solution, please post your arguments.

Short-Term Vikes Outlook

Alright, while it hasn't been pretty, the Vikes have clawed there way back to .500 and are tied a top the NFC North standings. I'm not going to jump the gun and start talking about how they will finish the season, so let's talk short term.

The next four weeks look like this:
Week 7 at Chicago
Week 8 Bye
Week 9 vs Houston
Week 10 vs Green Bay

Where will Chili and the boys be sitting in a month? Please, opine.

A Terrible Team from a Terrible City with a Terrible Coaching Staff and Terrible Jerseys...

Who is Comin'? You tell me. I didn't get to see much of the second half.

Fantasy Hockey Update

I know, I know, calm down. I just wanted to brag up my team a little. Some team highlights:

Zach Parisie
Jason Blake
Drew Stafford
Ryan Potulney
Mike Commodore
Matt Green
TJ Oshie
Kyle Okposo

I will hopefully pick up Chris Porter on waivers tomorrow and am looking to trade for John Toews. How jealous are you? Fantasy Hockey glory, here I come!

Oh, and also, my team name is "Hockey is Weak."

Snapshots

With hockey season approaching (the puck drops on the NHL tomorrow night), I figured I'd practice my snapshots. Just a couple quick thoughts that don't fit in our conversations, that I like, but you probably won't.

Wanna feel old? The second line defensman of the St. Louis Blues was born on 1-18-90.

If I were Cole Hamels, I'd buzz one past Manny's head in his third AB tomorrow, then yell at him.

This probably isn't going to be a busy offseason for the cubs after the fukudome bust.

How dominant is Jimmie Johnson right now? So consistant.

I don't like The Red River Shootout being played at the state fair every year. They need to man up and play in the home stadiums, alternating years like everybody else.

The only sports on the schedule today is NBA preseason. Depressing.

On a More Positive Note

Now that every team that anyone cares about around here is done, let's think back to some of those moments this season that made us feel all warm and fuzzy inside....in other words, the moments that convinced us that we wouldn't be having this conversation right now.

What were your favorite Twins/Cubs/Angels moments of 2008?

Well that was a Brees...

Antoine Winfield is Comin!!!

Baseball Realignment

Reddog's point got me to thinkin' about what I consider a pretty interesting topic - how division alignment could be shuffled to make six divisions of five teams. I agree it is dumb to have four teams in the AL West and six in the NL Central. So how would you fix it? My thoughts:

1. Move Kansas City from the AL Central to the AL West

2. Switch Milwaukee back to an AL team

Resulting in:

AL West:
LAA, TEX, SEA, OAK, KC
AL Central:
MIN, CHW, CLE, DET, MIL
AL East:
NYY, BOS, TOR, BAL, TB

NL West:
LAD, ARI, COL, SF, SD
NL Central:
STL, CHC, PIT, HOU, CIN
NL East:
NYM, PHI, FLA, WAS, ATL

This seems to make the most sense geographically. I also considered moving Houston to the AL West, but I think it makes more sense to have both an AL and NL team in Texas.

Most Hated Things in Baseball

1. The Red Sox
2. The Yankees
3. The Dodgers
4. Manny Ramirez
5. The division series five game format
6. Scott Boras
7. Replay
8. The White Sox
9. A.J. Pierzynski
10. Steve Phillips

Keep the list going...

Manny

Pretty good read here if you have some time. A little perspective as to why the Red Sox dealt Manny at the deadline.

A Little Twins Talk

...just to make you feel important around here during the playoffs.

No, but seriously. I have an inside source telling me that the Twins might be looking to make a deal for a third baseman in a deal that might include Delmon Young.

Soooooooo, Twins fans, would you be willing to part ways with DY? What would you be willing to give up for that big right-handed bat you've all been looking for? Please, opine...

Cubs DEAD!!

It's October, and the Cubbies are playing their typical style of October baseball. Very, very comical.

Feel that chill

Its October! Mike and Mike did it this morning, and I do basically whatever they do. So, who ya got?