After weeks of Minnesota Vikings’ games, I thought I would taper off gradually with just a short note about the Vikes. They had a bye this past week after a very welcome win over the Detroit Lions.
Christian Ponder played well, the defense did likewise and Adrian Peterson was his usual self. If you were to pick an offensive player from the Central Division, I don’t know whom you would go with other than Peterson or Percy Harvin. Or maybe Green Bay’s quarterback Aaron Rogers, only because of the position he plays.
Over the years, the Vikings had standout running backs such as Chuck Foreman and Robert Smith. They were fun to watch, especially the shifty Foreman.
But Peterson, unless he’s injured, will rank up there with Jim Brown, Walter Payton, Gayle Sayers, O.J. Simpson and Alan "The Horse" Ameche. Ameche is usually not mentioned with the great running backs, but when I was a young guy, I used to enjoy watching would-be tacklers bounce off Ameche, kind of a slower, stronger Franco Harris.
The Vikings continue to surprise and may have saved coach Leslie Frazier’s job. They are still in the hunt and really, what more can you expect this rebuilding year?
George Allen, the successful Washington Redskins coach, used to trade his draft choices for established veterans. His teams did well and while Allen’s coaching philosophy was unusual, his teams were winners until the Redskins woke up one year with a poor, aging over-the-hill gang.
You’ll notice that in football and baseball, teams that may exceed expectations tend to be young. Perhaps now it is the Twins’ turn.
However, for this to work, the young teams have to be good. The Twins have positioned themselves well for offseason acquisitions.
They finished last in the American League Central Division enabling them to draft high in the forthcoming draft. They didn’t re-sign Scott Baker after his surgery, saving themselves $5 million, not too bad a move even though they badly need pitching.
Given Baker’s history, he appeared to be long ways from a sure bet. I think Terry Ryan was of the same opinion.
The Twins shed Tsuyushi Nishioka at his behest, saving $3 million. At first, I thought it was a sportsmanlike gesture on Nishioka’s part. However, it turned out he was going back to Japan for more money.
Therefore, things are in place for Ryan to have a good offseason. But, a good winter does not mean a good summer even if Ryan does well in his player acquisitions.
Our Minnesota Timberwolves were down to nine players and still had a winning record. Somebody should have coined a good nickname for the Timberwolves with their shortage of players.
It could have been on the order of the Chicago White Sox’s "Hitless Wonders" decades ago or the young Philadelphia Phillies "Whiz Kids." The "Whiz Kids" became the "Phiz Kids" after losing the World Series in four straight to the New York Yankees. Perhaps the Timberwolves could have been the "Nasty Nine" or something like that.
Our Minnesota Gopher football team, after qualifying for a post season bowl game, gave up a lot of that good feeling. They got stomped by Nebraska and showed they had a long ways to go to be ranked with the Big Ten elite.
Then they had an interteam squabble on the Internet between the coach and one of his players. On the Internet no less.
Simon and Garfunkel used to sing, "The times they are a changing." They were right. The Internet squabble proves it.
