Category: Uncategorized
Under the Weather
January 26th, 2006, 2 Comments
I'm feeling a little under the weather tonight. I'm not sure, but I don't think that it is a direct result of the Wolves recent play.
Standing Pat
January 26th, 2006, 2 Comments
From the ESPN "Rumor Central":
Jan 26 - Whether it's a psychological ploy or a statement of the rganization's thought process, Timberwolves coach Dwane Casey said Wednesday night the team isn't making any trades, reports the St. Paul Pioneer Press. After losing to Memphis, Casey told the newspaper he thinks trade rumors are hurting the team. [...]
6:48
January 26th, 2006, No Comments
Last night's game with the Memphis Grizzlies goes down into the books as another terrible loss 107-87. With the upcoming road swing, I see the Wolves falling about 5 games under .500 and heading to a protected number one pick.
A while back, I wrote about the Wolves' need to lean on their top two scorers [...]
Big Hurt is an Athletic
January 25th, 2006, 11 Comments
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Free agent slugger Frank Thomas agreed to a one-year, $500,000 contract with Oakland on Wednesday, giving the Athletics the big bat they've been searching for in the middle of their lineup.
Thomas, a two-time American League MVP who has been slowed by injuries in recent years, can make an additional $2.6 million in [...]
Worth 1000 Words
January 25th, 2006, No Comments
Reaction Around the Association
January 25th, 2006, No Comments
I scanned the local links around the league to get reaction on the KB81 game.
Denver: David Thompson recalls his 73 point game, accomplished with only 38 shots and no three point line. "With the 3s, I could have easily been in the 80s." His TS% was 78.0%.
Golden State: The Warriors (Wilt's old team) are Kobe's [...]
Humiliation
January 24th, 2006, 4 Comments
They say that the best revenge is living well.
I suppose that's true. I don't think that I'm really into revenge at this point in my life. I have a very good wife and that's really what is important to me. I don't really know anyone against whom I hold a grudge (the faux grudges on [...]
Oh Thank God
January 24th, 2006, 5 Comments
Nick Punto has signed a one-year deal with the Twins. Terms were not disclosed, but I would imagine that it would be around $750,000.
Crazy is as Crazy Does
January 24th, 2006, 4 Comments
Dan Barreiro just informed me that Ron Artest has said he doesn't want to play in Sacto, and the trade is off -- Sacto has backed out. That sound you hear is his trade value falling. That other sound you hear is Peja swearing a blue streak.
King Ron-Ron
January 24th, 2006, No Comments
According to ESPN, Ron Artest has been dealt to the Kings, pending league approval. Sacramento is 17-23, three games behind both Utah and Minnesota for the eighth spot in the West. Assuming that Artest (and this is a big assumption) holds it together, the Kings could get back in the hunt.
Flip Who?
January 24th, 2006, 2 Comments
Flip Saunders.
Mr. Saunders returns to Target Center tonight with his rag tag team, the Detroit Pistons. Mr. Saunders, you may remember, was the coach of your Minnesota Timberwolves, until he was fired after 51 games last season. Flip had to settle for a job coaching the Pistons, while the Wolves have skyrocketed in his absence. [...]
Guns Don’t Kill People
January 24th, 2006, 5 Comments
Sport Utility Vehicles Do!
From the front page of the Strib website:
Police are looking for an SUV today in a fatal shooting that apparently occurred after the victim surprised burglars at his townhouse in south Minneapolis.
And here I thought that a Pepsi Machine playing in the NFL was a joke.
(Note: this is not to make light [...]
How Good Was that Kobe Game, Really?
January 23rd, 2006, 14 Comments
In the aftermath of Eighty-one!, Mark Stein of ESPN stated that Kobe's performance was the best, ever. Said Stein:
[It was] simply the greatest individual performance ever recorded: Bryant's 81 points in a 122-104 come-from-behind victory over the Toronto Raptors.
John Hollinger concurs and lays out his case. My question is: if an 81 point game is [...]
Meeting with the Bloggers
January 23rd, 2006, No Comments
Got a chance to meet with Will Young, Twins Junkie, Twins Geek and a few others tonight to talk Twins baseball. Will brought along his S.O., who is a law student at SBG School of Law. We talked a little about school (gack!). Mostly, the conversation was about baseball, the Twins, and [...]
Must. Go. To. Joe. Senser’s
January 23rd, 2006, No Comments
Come on out for a meeting of the Twins bloggers and enjoy some food if you want, some refreshments of your choosing and a little Twins conversation! Joe Sensor's in Bloomington, tonight at 6:30 to whenever.
SBG
Efficiency
January 23rd, 2006, 4 Comments
It's really hard to believe that Kobe got to 81 points on just 46 shots. That's jaw dropping.
On Wilt's 100 point night, he took 63 shots and 32 free throw attempts (making 28). Kobe had the benefit of seven extra points on threes (as if Wilt would be shooting a 3), but Good [...]
Twins Arbitration Update
January 23rd, 2006, 6 Comments
Michael Cuddyer avoids hearing, signs for $1.3 million. That's a lot of money for a guy that the Twins have "NO CONFIDENCE" in. He'll be making more than the starting shortstop, third baseman, and catcher. I'd think he'd better play or that is a waste of money. Actually, as a Cuddyer backer, I'm glad he's [...]
Yep, That’s a Big Number
January 22nd, 2006, 4 Comments
Kobe Bryant scored 81 points against Toronto Sunday night, the second highest total (behind Wilt's 100) in NBA history.
That's a lot of points.
Okay, Then
January 22nd, 2006, 10 Comments
This morning, I was pretty excited about the NDSU win over the Wisconsin Badgers. Butch and I chatted about the situation and it was pretty enjoyable. We enjoyed our discussion about my non-believing, traiterous brother, who decided to forsake his alma mater. Yes, life was good.
Then, I watched the Timberwolves game this [...]
How Sweet it is
January 22nd, 2006, 1 Comment
From the Wisconsin State Journal:
"Sitting in the locker room, you still see we're on top of the Big Ten, but we don't live in the past. We live in the present," said [Wisconsin] freshman swingman Joe Krabbenhoft, who had a career-high 11 points. "We can't be satisfied with 4-1 in the Big Ten. So what? [...]
Speaking of College Basketball
January 21st, 2006, 1 Comment
I don't know if you caught this score from Saturday from Madison, Wisconsin:
North Dakota State 62, #13 Wisconsin 55.
As a two-time graduate of NDSU, I have this to say. Fucking A! (Sorry, Cheesehead! You have been trampled under the Thundering Herd!) For those of you that don't know, this is NDSU's first year playing a [...]
Insomnia City
January 21st, 2006, 6 Comments
Lately, I've been suffering from insomnia.
It's not that I can't fall asleep... I'm usually out about 10 minutes after hitting the pillow. I try to get to bed around 10:30 or so. What's happening is that I'm waking up at 3:00 and 4:00 AM wide awake and unable to sleep. Right now, [...]
Greg Anthony is on Crack
January 20th, 2006, No Comments
"Lamar Odom is the most talented big man in the league."
How Is This Possible?
January 20th, 2006, 1 Comment
Chicago's Michael Sweetney admits to having the dubious distinction of never having taken a charging foul. Not in the NBA, not in college and not in high school.
"I just never put myself in position," he said. "I'm always late."
Bulls coach Scott Skiles, naturally, was unimpressed. "We're waiting to award him the game ball when [...]
Ouch
January 20th, 2006, 2 Comments
Joe Sheehan of BP on Jacque Jones:
Jones is an inadequate corner outfielder for any team, but a particularly bad choice for the Cubs.
If you are a long time reader, you know I was apoplectic about the Twins signing Jones for the 2005 season, because it was pretty clear that he was not worth the $5 [...]
What to Watch For — Spacing
January 20th, 2006, No Comments
From the Strib:
In Wednesday's loss in Boston the Wolves took a six-point lead into the final quarter before losing 103-96.
The biggest problems? To coach Dwane Casey there are two: spacing on the floor, especially when Kevin Garnett has the ball, and the speed with which the Wolves guards get the half-court offense set up.
Facing constant [...]
Hooooooo Boy
January 20th, 2006, 4 Comments
I have long been a supporter of Daunte Culpepper. I also believe that players in the NFL, as compared to every other major league sport, are underpaid and have an extremely poor CBA. Considering the health risk involved with playing football in the NFL and the obscene amount of money made by the [...]
A Shovel Full of Half Baked Crap!
January 20th, 2006, No Comments
That's right fans, you can get a shovel full of half baked crap in person!
I'll be meeting up with other Twins Bloggers on Monday Night! I'll be spewing out stuff that just popped into my head, but I guarantee the food will be fully cooked!
What: An evening of Twins talk the week before Twins [...]
Kobe Gets 51, Lakers Lose
January 20th, 2006, No Comments
From ESPN.COM:
Bryant played the entire first quarter and demanded the ball on almost every possession. He finished the first half with 26 points, but grew visibly frustrated with his teammates -- particularly Odom -- when they didn't pass to him every time down the court.
Luke Walton got an earful from Bryant after the third quarter [...]
No Contest
January 19th, 2006, 1 Comment
Watching the Detroit Pistons/NY Knicks game tonight. The Pistons are so much better than the Knicks, it's not funny. Yes, Marbury isn't playing due to the hit that he took against Wally and Antonio Davis is suspended, but man, the Knicks are putrid.
The best thing about this game, besides of course the ass-kicking [...]
Someone Needs the Baseball Season To Start
January 19th, 2006, 4 Comments
That someone would be Gene Wojciechowski of ESPN.COM.
Why? Because he has nothing to write about. In the off-season, I write about the Wolves, my wife, my birthday, my birthday cake, Ralph Sampson, whatever I feel like. But, poor Gene. He has to write about baseball (actually he doesn't, he writes about all kinds of stuff). [...]
What’s Your Favorite College BB Moment?
January 19th, 2006, 10 Comments
I used to be a huge college BB fan, back in the day. Ralph Sampson was the guy when I was in high school. I still remember that Sampson/Ewing matchup. Pat Ewing wore the t-shirt under his uniform, which became all the rage. Considering that Sampson never made the Final Four, but Virginia did immediately [...]
Sampson Indicted on Perjury Charge
January 18th, 2006, 10 Comments
Former NBA player Ralph Sampson has been indicted on charges of lying about his finances to obtain court-appointed counsel in a federal child support case.
Sampson, 45, was indicted on one count each of perjury and making a false claim, the U.S. Attorney's Office said Tuesday. The charges are related to an affidavit Sampson submitted to [...]
Aw, Christ
January 18th, 2006, 4 Comments
I was going to write about the Wild tonight and how bad they'd be if it weren't for their goal tenders.
Then I watched the Wolves game tonight.
Aw, Christ.
The Wolves started the game with a bang, bolting out to a big lead on the strength of a 32 point first quarter. Then, they slowly pissed [...]
Who Said It?
January 18th, 2006, 15 Comments
Guess who said the following:
You've got to keep shooting. Pretty soon they're going to fall. If you stop shooting, you're not going to do your team any justice.
Chink in the Armor
January 17th, 2006, 6 Comments
To this point, I've really enjoyed John Hollinger's writing. But, he's written something that give me pause.
In choosing his selections for the All-Star game, he leaves KG off the starting five in the West. I don't agree with that, but that isn't my beef. It's that he's left KG off for Tracy McGrady. That's right. [...]
Birthday Buddies
January 17th, 2006, 2 Comments
In addition to Shane over at the Greet Machine, here are some of my birthday buddies:
1706 - Benjamin Franklin American writer, inventor, publisher, and ambassador (d. 1790)
1763 - John Jacob Astor, American entrepreneur (d. 1848)
1820 - Anne Bront�, British author (d. 1849)
1899 - Al Capone, American gangster (d. 1947)
1922 - Betty White, American actress
1927 - [...]
Age is Just a Number
January 17th, 2006, 12 Comments
And my number just incremented. It's my birthday today. I'm 41 years old.
Wolves Top Knicks
January 16th, 2006, No Comments
A few days ago, I posted a sarcastic comment about how the Knicks had played like crap for two months and then won three ina rowM prompting praise from ESPN.COM.
The virtual ink had barely dried on that post when the Knicks beat the Mavs and the Cavs,prompting me to think: more half baked crap.
Luckily for [...]
Not Now
January 16th, 2006, 10 Comments
But when?
There was a time when it seemed that Elway would never win the Super Bowl. But, at least he'd gotten there. Now, he has two rings and the record for most QB starts in the Big One (five).
What about Peyton? Will he ever even get there? Given all the questions about Daunte, when do [...]
Have the Wolves Lost Their Sweet Tooth?
January 15th, 2006, 2 Comments
Sid reported on Sunday that the Wolves may have completed a deal shipping Michael Olowokandi out of Minnesota. That would leave the Wolves without a true center. I'm not too upset with that. The Wolves are at their best offensively when KG is on the block, so offensively, they don't really need [...]
KG Passes Bird in Rebounds
January 14th, 2006, No Comments
I didn't get a chance to watch or listen to the nice win over Denver last night, as Lucy and I were headed to the crime capital of North America last night. A small note from last night's game. KG passed Larry Bird on the career rebound list.
You may wonder why I have the "KG [...]
Crime Spree
January 14th, 2006, 3 Comments
I was reading the Winona Daily News this morning and I was shocked by the criminal activity. Here, in its entirety is the police report as published in the Saturday, January 14, 2005 paper.
City of Winona
Jan. 5
3:31 p.m. -- A woman reported three shirts stolen out of an apartment laundry room near Homer Road and [...]
Hassel — A Poor Man’s Artest
January 13th, 2006, 6 Comments
The Timberwolves have publicly stated that Trenton Hassell is playing well enough to justify not taking a risk on Ron Artest.
Trenton Hassell, a poor man's Ron Artest?
Or better yet, a calm, stable, nonthreatening man's Ron Artest?
Don't scoff. The allure of Artest as a trade target for the Timberwolves and a handful of other teams in [...]
Whipping that Deceased Equine
January 12th, 2006, No Comments
As you can probably tell, I wasn't too thrilled with the Bruce Sutter HOF election. I mean really, a comparison with Jesse Orosco? I don't know how I can be any clearer in my disapproval.
One of the arguments for Sutter is his Cy Young award, an award I believe he did not deserve. Joe Sheehan [...]
Take Out Chinese
January 12th, 2006, 2 Comments
Both Lucy and I had trouble sleeping last night, and as a result, we are both worn out today.
Poor Lucy. She has a kid at her daycare that cries constantly ALL DAY LONG. His grandparents stayed with him for months and held him constantly. As a result, if he isn't being held, [...]
Best of All Time?
January 12th, 2006, 8 Comments
Sid:
[Kevin Garnett] and Kirby Puckett will go down as two of the greatest athletes who ever competed here.
Well, duh. Two of the greatest? For sure. But who is the absolute greatest?
In my mind, KG has surpassed Kirby in terms of achievement on the playing field. Yes, Kirby was on two World [...]
Who is Pitcher A?
January 12th, 2006, 1 Comment
Had a thought at lunch today about the Sutter HOF election. Thought I'd compare Sutter to Pitcher A.
Player
W
L
GS
GF
SV
IP
H
R
ER
HR
BB
SO
ERA
A
63
58
4
358
122
876
718
315
276
69
362
759
2.83
Sutter
68
71
0
512
300
1042
879
370
328
77
309
861
2.83
Pitcher A is pretty comparable. Not so many saves, but he wasn't really used in the "stopper" role. The ERA is identical, the walks are a little high. Pitcher A had a WHIP of 1.23 [...]
Good Mood
January 12th, 2006, No Comments
It's funny how a nice day can put a guy in a good mood. It's a warm January day, and that's enough to make me happy.
Our friend Aaron is trying to lose weight. I can sympathize, as I would like to drop the spare tire I picked up in law school. Good [...]
It Weren’t Pretty, But It’s a Win
January 11th, 2006, 4 Comments
The Wolves get a win tonight against the Bulls at home. It wasn't pretty but it's a win. The Wolves let the Bulls stick around right until the end, but at the end, it was KG and Wally leading the way.
KG finished the game with 28 points, 14 rebounds and 9 assists.
Wally finished [...]
Freddy Boy Learns Lesson from Boat Trip, Not
January 11th, 2006, 9 Comments
Koren Robinson and Fred Smoot were not present when the Vikings did their 11 p.m. room checks at Minneapolis Hilton on New Year's Eve, the night before the season finale against Chicago. Staff members never did find Smoot until the next morning. He was fined $9,000 and Mike Tice had him stand on the sidelines, [...]
The Guv Talking Stadium with Twins
January 11th, 2006, 2 Comments
An election year stadium bill? Boy, I don't see that happening.
Be sure to read Greet Machine today. Shane has some interesting information about the Hennepin County proposal that died without a vote last year. I'm not sure why the revenue stuff that Shane is talking about, if true, wasn't made public.
Offensive
January 10th, 2006, 5 Comments
The Wolves lost again Tuesday night, falling to the Bucks in Milwaukee, 95-92. My favorite Wisconsin blogging buddy, Cheesehead Craig, sent me an e-mail on Tuesday, trash talking and predicting a Bucks win. I figured he was right about that, and here, CC, is my depressing Wolves post.
It should come as no surprise that the [...]
Bruce Sutter Makes the Hall
January 10th, 2006, 3 Comments
Ridiculous.
Here's what Rob Neyer has to say about relief pitchers and the Hall.
Rule 1: Relief pitchers, because they throw a relatively small number of innings, don't have the same impact on winning and losing that starting pitchers (let alone hitters) have.
Rule 2: Nearly every great relief pitcher was a failed starting pitcher.
Rule 3: Most good [...]
Woe be us
January 10th, 2006, 2 Comments
The Twins are poor mouthing their financial status again.
I'm one who wants a stadium and I liked the Hennepin County plan. But that deal is dead. It is incumbent upon the Twins to find a plan that works. Crying to the public, even if what they are saying is true, will NOT [...]
Old Henk
January 10th, 2006, 3 Comments
When I was back in ND this weekend, I got a copy of a book that I had been longing to get for a while. It was a book written by my mother and her siblings about my grandfather. He was killed in a car accident 25 years ago, and my uncle, Big [...]
Flowin’
January 9th, 2006, 2 Comments
Imagine you have a favorite basketball team. Let's say that your team staggered through the month of December, going 2 and 12. Now, let's suppose they win three home games in a row, but still your team has the 27th best record in a 30 team league. You might be a little encouraged, but I'm [...]
Bert Out in the Cold?
January 9th, 2006, No Comments
There have been a rash of articles and a website supporting Bert Blyleven's candidacy for the Hall of Fame. Has it made a difference, especially in this year of a weak first time class?
Maybe not.
Baseball Think Factory has been polling voters and is reporting that of those voters who have responded, only 41.9% have [...]
Twins Trying to Free Themselves from the Dome
January 9th, 2006, 2 Comments
The Twins are trying to get their lease with the Metrodome killed. They contend that their lease is a year-to-year lease. The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission contends that the lease is a long term lease. They were in front of a judge today, arguing that point.
The dispute centers on whether the Twins have [...]
Top Jimmy on Culpepper
January 9th, 2006, 9 Comments
At this time last year, I was referring to Culpepper as a mature team leader. At the end of the preseason, I was calling him a potential NFL MVP.
Back then, Culpepper said the game had "slowed down" for him, as if he were a Jedi Knight. I was wrong. He was wrong. The Vikings were [...]
Monday Morning
January 9th, 2006, No Comments
Lucy and I went to ND over the wwekend and visited with Butch and Mrs. Butch. I saw my old house that had the fire. The fire rolled through the attic and burned through on each end of the house. But, it appparently was confined pretty much to the attic and the garage. The attic [...]
Dinner with Melman
January 7th, 2006, 2 Comments
Last night, Lucy and I went to dinner with my old friend Melman. He's a heckuva good guy and I hadn't seen him in a couple of years. He's one of my best friends, and my wife had never met him. He's a Catholic priest, but I first knew him back in [...]
KG Talk on ESPN
January 6th, 2006, 1 Comment
Wolves on ESPN tonight. The ESPN crew talk KG.
Tim Legler: Don't trade KG.
Greg Anthony: Trade KG, he hasn't gotten it done. It's been ten years.
Stephen A. Smith: Trade KG, the front office hasn't given him enough talent to play with.
Greg Anthony is clearly insane.
Vikes Tab Childress
January 6th, 2006, 8 Comments
Former Philly O. Coordinator.
I know nothing about this guy. I'm just glad it isn't Jim Fassell.
From what I've read, the Vikes had some league people "holding their hand" on this one. I also heard Bud Grant was involved in the process.
I hope Mr. Childress is a no-nonsense type of guy. Good luck, Brad.
Update: Top [...]
SBG Talks Big
January 5th, 2006, 7 Comments
My husband SBG talks big, but he sat on the couch next to me and watched "Beauty and the Geek" with me again tonight. We also watched babies being born on Discovery Health Channel.
Now it's time for pictures of the cats.
Here is my big tough husband with his cat.
Here are Jags and Theo. We [...]
This Website is Doing Some Good
January 5th, 2006, 2 Comments
I talked to my lovely wife Lucy this afternoon and she informed me that one of her co-workers chastised her today.
It seems that her co-worker is one of the billions of people who read this site. She read that Lucy and I watched "Beauty and the Geek" instead of the T-Wolves last night. [...]
What an Upset Last Night!
January 5th, 2006, No Comments
Man, the T-Wolves win was big. (Did you think I meant some other game????)
I posted DORP numbers, my rebounding stat yesterday and pointed out that Dallas was one of the better rebounding teams in the league. Dallas outrebounded the Wolves 40-39, a seeming draw. However, DORP points out the continuing weakness. [...]
Trade Demand?
January 5th, 2006, 11 Comments
From the Strib:
According to a person with knowledge of the situation, [Vikings QB Brad] Johnson told Rob Brzezinski, Vikings vice president of football operations, that he wants to be traded if he isn't going to remain the starter.
Johnson is signed for three more years, so he can't just walk away. He seems too smart to [...]
Um, No
January 5th, 2006, 1 Comment
ESPN's Daily Quickie has this note:
Vikings Three plead "not guilty": In what will certainly be 2006's Trial of the Year. It's gonna make what Kobe's trial would have been seem PG-rated.
Kobe admitted to having sexual intercourse with his accuser. Since when does that qualify as PG? The Vikings debacle was a huge embarassment [...]
End of the Game Real Time Comments
January 4th, 2006, 15 Comments
Fourth and One at the 44. USC, ahead by five points with 2:11 to play goes for it and ends up short. The ball is in Texas' hands. Vince Young, who has been phenomenal all night gets one more chance. USC blitzes the hell out of Young, but Texas is moving the ball.
Is it me, [...]
Koskie Back to the Twins?
January 4th, 2006, No Comments
The Blue Jays, fresh off their acquisition of Troy Glaus, have offered Corey Koskie back to the Twins.
Koskie isn't the player he once was. His 2005 season was his worst season ever. He played just 97 games, hitting .249/.337/.398/.735. Yuck. Of course, his numbers (other than games played) are a helluva [...]
I’m the Boss
January 4th, 2006, No Comments
Got home from work tonight. Sat on the love seat with my obedient wife at my side. National Championship football game on one channel, Timberwolves on another. Lucy says to me, "Sweetheart, let's watch something we BOTH like, like we did last night."
I said, "My darling, what is it that we [...]
When is it Time to Say I’m Too Old for all This?
January 4th, 2006, 3 Comments
Former Buffalo Bills coach Marv Levy, 80, will return to the team to oversee the football operation, and president and general manager Tom Donahoe will be fired Wednesday, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports.
DORP Report
January 4th, 2006, No Comments
I thought I'd dump out the DORP numbers through last night's play.
TEAM
ORP
oORP
DORP
LA Lakers
31.2%
24.1%
7.1%
LA Clippers
31.6%
24.9%
6.7%
Philadelphia
29.8%
24.7%
5.1%
Dallas
31.7%
27.0%
4.7%
San Antonio
31.8%
27.4%
4.4%
Denver
32.1%
28.0%
4.1%
Cleveland
30.7%
28.0%
2.7%
Golden State
31.8%
29.8%
2.0%
Charlotte
29.1%
27.2%
1.9%
Miami
26.5%
24.7%
1.8%
New York
28.5%
27.3%
1.2%
Houston
26.6%
26.0%
0.6%
NO/Oklahoma City
27.8%
27.6%
0.2%
Phoenix
25.2%
25.2%
0.0%
Detroit
26.4%
26.7%
-0.3%
Indiana
25.0%
25.8%
-0.8%
New Jersey
30.4%
31.2%
-0.8%
Orlando
29.6%
30.4%
-0.8%
Chicago
25.2%
27.3%
-2.1%
Toronto
30.1%
32.3%
-2.2%
Seattle
26.4%
29.1%
-2.7%
Utah
25.8%
28.8%
-3.0%
Sacramento
25.8%
28.9%
-3.1%
Portland
25.8%
29.0%
-3.2%
Washington
28.5%
31.8%
-3.3%
Milwaukee
24.0%
27.8%
-3.8%
Boston
24.1%
28.8%
-4.7%
Minnesota
24.6%
29.3%
-4.7%
Atlanta
25.3%
30.1%
-4.8%
Memphis
27.7%
33.5%
-5.8%
The numbers have changed some since December 17th, when I compiled the league numbers and explained DORP. One thing that hasn't changed is that the T-Wolves are near the bottom. Dallas, tonight's opponent is near the [...]
National Championship
January 4th, 2006, 12 Comments
Tonight's Rose Bowl pits Number 1 USC v. Number 2 Texas in a battle of unbeatens. If you are a college football fan, this is the matchup you had to want, I would think.
Me? I don't care too much. The peak of my college sports interest was when, well, when I was in college. My [...]
I Got Nuthin
January 3rd, 2006, No Comments
The Twins have done pretty much all they are going to do for a while and we've chatted about the Batista signing enough.
The Wolves have been playing like crap and haven't played since Sunday.
The Vikings are done, Tice is out.
What's a blogger to write about?
Well, I turned the TV last night and "Beauty and the [...]
That Has Got to Hurt
January 3rd, 2006, 6 Comments
Turns out rookie punter Chris Kluwe spent the final weeks of the season punting through a far more serious injury than almost anyone knew.
Vikings athletic trainer Chuck Barta revealed Monday that Kluwe tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right (punting) knee Dec. 4 in Detroit. The injury originally was called a sprain.
Kluwe, who will [...]
Seth Does it Again
January 3rd, 2006, 2 Comments
Our guy Seth Stohs starts off 2006 with a bang, providing a great interview with Chris Coste. Coste is a Fargo native whom I watched regularly when he was with the F-M Redhawks of the Northern League. Coste has been playing in the minors for several years. Seth played college baseball with [...]
Lucy on The Tice Firing
January 2nd, 2006, 3 Comments
I was out running errands with Lucy today and I asked her if she knew about the Tice firing. Understand that my lovely wife could not care any less than she does about these types of things. She said, why did they fire him? Because he lost a few games? Big [...]
Personal Privacy
January 1st, 2006, 4 Comments
Over at Founded on Dissent, I discuss William Safire's aversion to wiretapping.
26 Points
January 1st, 2006, 5 Comments
I remember a basketball game I played in high school when I was a junior. I went into the fourth quarter of the game with 12 points. I remember at some point in the fourth quarter dribbling up the court and took, and made, a top of the key jumper. Back in those days there [...]
Mason Extended
January 1st, 2006, No Comments
Mason got his extension. From the Strib:
The deal, which is expected to be finalized Tuesday, calls for $1.35 million annually in guaranteed salary. Mason will earn another $300,000 in retirement and deferred compensation. The performance incentives [for Big Ten Championships, national rankings and graduation rates] could push the value of the deal over $2 [...]
Tice is Out
January 1st, 2006, No Comments
A tough day for Mike Tice, for sure. I do feel bad for him.
But.
I do applaud Mr. Wilf for doing what had to be done. I've been a Vikings fan for over 30 years. I want the Vikings to do well. I am convinced that this is the best thing for the club. I believe [...]
2005 Readership
January 1st, 2006, No Comments
In 2005, SBG, the Mag had 92,069 hits from 59,512 unique visitors. My counter shows "unique visitors" but I also watch the hits, because I want to know if people are coming back or reading comments.
Here are my stats, month by month.
Month
Hits
Visitors
January
2852
1885
February
4717
3418
March
6411
4896
April
6184
4604
May
5849
4216
June
10867
7034
July
7841
5155
August
8059
4886
September
6716
4210
October
10744
6011
November
10726
6113
December
10882
6910
As you can see, June was my biggest month in terms of vistors, but [...]
Then, They Played the Second Half
December 30th, 2005, 1 Comment
Damn. Got home from dinner and checked the box score. 107-87 loss to Orlando. KG ended up with 29 points, 11 boards, 4 assists.
When I left, it was 70-67. The Wolves were outscored 37-20 the rest of the way. Crap.
KG and Wally combined for 53 of the 87 points. [...]
Some Clarification on the Batista Article
December 30th, 2005, 11 Comments
I talked about how many outs Batista made relative to Cuddyer, but I didn't explain what "OUTS" meant (mainly because I didn't read the glossary at B-R.com).
Outs, as defined there, equals AB - H + CS + GIDP + SF + SH. In 2003, Batista had 670 PAs and made 512 outs. In 2004, Batista [...]
Halftime
December 30th, 2005, No Comments
Halftime of the Wolves game. Wolves down eight. In true couch potato form, I fell asleep on the couch before the game started and missed the first quarter. Lucy and I are going to osteria i nonni for dinner at eight tonight so I'll miss the end of the game. The [...]
Can I Get a Show of Hands?
December 30th, 2005, 10 Comments
All those in favor of extending Glenn Mason's contract after next year right now, stand up and holla.
Correlation
December 29th, 2005, 16 Comments
The Tony Batista signing has brought out some interesting comments throughout the Twins blogosphere.
Over at Twinkie Town, the masses have been engaging in a long running discussion about the value of Mr. Batista, given his ability to hit home runs and make a huge number of outs. One regular poster even wrote this:
Batista is significantly [...]
Artest or Palmeiro?
December 29th, 2005, 4 Comments
Our friend AMR states that he'd take Artest and Raffi Palmeiro (for the Twins). I don't know where Raffi'd play, but I would not be adverse to signing him on principle.
So, who would you rather take: Artest or Palmeiro?
What Would you rather have?
Artest for the Wolves
Palmeiro for the Twins
Heavens to Top Jimmy, a sharp stick [...]
Wolves and Artest
December 29th, 2005, 9 Comments
The Wolves are interested. How do you feel about him playing in Minnesota? He's making $6.5 million, a pretty low number, so any trade would either not include Wally Szczerbiak, or would be a multi-player deal. Time is running out for KG. Do you do this deal and make the run [...]
The Decline of KG
December 29th, 2005, 6 Comments
Sooner or later, it's going to happen. KG is going to go into decline.
Although he's not yet 30, KG has already logged a tremendous number of minutes in the NBA -- over 30,000. He's sixth in minutes played among active players, trailing only Gary Payton, Clifford Robinson, Dikembe Mutombo, Shaquille O'Neal, and P.J. Brown (by [...]
Top 10 Twins Moments of 2005
December 28th, 2005, 5 Comments
Hello, SBG fans, and welcome to the top 10 Twins moments of the year. This list is a compilation of the most memorable moments of 2005. Not all of the moments are good, in fact, a lot of the moments are not so good. After all, this was a season of disappointment.
I compiled this list [...]
Jeff Reardon Charged
December 27th, 2005, 3 Comments
Jeff Reardon, 50, was charged with armed robbery after walking into a jewelry store in Palm Beach Gardens, FL on Monday with a note saying he had a gun and the store was being robbed. He fled with $170 in cash and was arrested a short time later.
Twins fans will remember that it was Reardon [...]
Long Cold Winter
December 27th, 2005, No Comments
The shorthanded Minmesota T-Wolves dropped their sixth game of the last seven to the previously struggling Phoenix Suns last night. KG filled up the stat sheet and Wally lead the team with 27 points, but right now, this team isn't very good. I heard this morning that the Wolves are one three [...]
Out
December 25th, 2005, 10 Comments
The Vikings lost to the Baltimore Ravens 30-23 on Christmas night, and were officially eliminated from the playoffs. I'm not surprised.
I had figured that the Vikings would end up 9-7 and out of the playoffs. With Chicago looming in the final week, 8-8 is not out of the realm of possibility. I [...]
