BORDER BATTLE

We’re still alive, but taking a much-needed break from all things work, including blogging. You’ll just have to look elsewhere for a few days to find out who the latest Viking was to get arrested.

Check back next weekend before the NFL season kicks off. We’ve been getting involved in a blog project with a major media company that we’ll tune you into as well.

Have a good Labor Day weekend and go Twins!

Yesterday marked the celebration of an annual ritual, a ritual in which young boys and grown men alike wait in lines down the blocks of video game shops at midnight to purchase the latest edition in the hallowed Madden video game franchise. The release of the game has become a cultural phenomenon or even an unofficial holiday of sorts to the legion of Madden fans (so is it any coincidence that the ad campaign for Madden ‘07 was even built around a “Maddenoliday” theme?). With this year’s release, the hype may have reached an all-time high and though we haven’t played it, we must say the gameplay looks astonishing.

In addition to adjustments and additions to game play, the main thing the Madden faithful looks forward to is new rosters, complete with rookies, free agent acquisitions, and new player ratings based upon conjecture of players’ improving or declining skill. Thanks to the Tecmo Blog — which does a fine job of exclusively covering all things Tecmo Bowl and other football games — we present the rankings of your Packers and Vikings squadsin Madden 2007.

Coming in at #18 is the Green Bay Packers. Madden’s unconditional love for Favre surely played a bit of a role here, but we wouldn’t argue with the individual rating of 88 that Favre received when Brad Johnson is sitting right behind him at 87.

And the Vikes? Look way down at #27 with the following explanation for validation:

“Sure they have a lot of 90s, but they all play offensive line. You can try your luck with Chester Taylor (85) and Brad Johnson (87). Personally I’d rather pass. And if you were hoping that Tavaris Jackson might be fun to sub in, don’t hold your breath, he’s saddled with 73 speed which is less than backup Mike McMahon’s.”

Ranking criteria is at the top of the rankings page. If you’re a bitter fan of the purple, please be reminded that itwould be better to complain to “Madden” producers rather than the Tecmo Blog — they’re simply summarizing the talent levels in the game.

Personally, I can’t wait to see Favre connect with Jennings on bombs all day over Fred “Double Coverage” Smoot. Madden rules.

Posted by Eric

Four months ago, the Twins were looking like a team with no spunk or consistency, while our neighbors from the South side of Chicago were busy tearing up the AL. Boy, a lot can change in four months. The Twins found a young ace sitting in amongst a glut of inconsistent pitchers, gained an injection of energy via some unheralded youth, and received the type of performance from “M & M” that they’d been envisioning for the last two years. At the same time, the White Sox started to slow down and fell right into a neck-and-neck race with the hottest team in the majors during the months of June and July.

Fast forward to today. After a winning two games of an auspicious three game homestand against this Sox team that held a two game lead in the AL wild card, the Twins find themselves half a game back. While Minnesota fans sit on the edge of their seats, there’s plenty of reason for opimism about our chances of capturing the wild card come October. Consider the following:
• After what looked like a lumber slump in three consecutive losses against Toronto, the Twins regained their batting prowess against Cleveland, just in time for the vital Chicago series in which they scored seven runs twice in the three game series.
• While the Twins were breathing down the White Sox neck the past couple months, they’ve had to look over their shoulder to keep an eye on some Sox of the Red variety. Luckily, Boston dropped all five games of their recent series against the Yankees and now look like a ballclub that’s just about spent.
• When ace Francisco Liriano went on the 15-day disabled list, baseball pundits began to forecast doom and gloom for the Twins’ playoff chances. On Sunday, doctors delivered the positive news of a healthy Lirano arm, which hopefully signals some sunny days ahead for the Twins. Don’t expect to have him available until mid-September, but a healthy Liriano when it matters most is really all fans can ask for.
• Perhaps most importantly, the Twins face teams with a lower combined win percentage than either the White Sox or the Red Sox. The next two series: at Baltimore, at Chicago, and home against Kansas City.

With over a month of baseball left to play, a lot could happen in determining the winner of the AL wild card — or even the winner of the AL Central. You may want to get out your calendar and circle September 29, 30, and October 1. It could all be decided right there in a final series against none other than the Chicago White Sox.

Had Terrell Owens been apart of the ‘Purple and Gold’ we might as well have shut the team down and had The Real World: Minnesota Vikings. The latest fiasco to come out of Winter Park? Newly sober/inspiring story Vikings starting reciever Koren Robinson was arrested in Nicollet County Minnesota after he was clocked in his BMW going more than 100 mph in a 55 mph zone. Robinson’s blood alcohol level was tested and measured at 0.11 percent. Robinson was charged Wednesday for fleeing from police, which is a felony, along with two DWI charges and three other misdemeanors. The 3 year, $12.7 million dollar man was on his way back to training camp to Mankato, Minnesota.

This was an incredibly unfortunate event for the new regime and for Vikings fans everywhere. Robinson was the one player that fans would be shocked to hear this happened to. “KoRo” was taking some relapse prevention classes to ensure that this season would go smoothly. After all, Robinson had a lot going for him this year and was such a great story of inspiration for people everywhere afflicted by drinking problems. Just last year he was selected to NFC Pro Bowl team, and this year was suppossed to be more than promising for the new Vikings star.

Once again…we’ll have to wait for next year.

Posted by The Mayor

Image courtesy of Deadspin

• Liriano is placed on the 15-day disabled list. What, me worry?
• Bump ponders the presence of the Human Delusion Hormone in Quarterbacks on both sides of the border. Let’s just say Favre doesn’t look like the fool here.
• The following sequence of events has virally unravelled (right under our noses): Dr. Z writes column disparaging the greatness of Brett Favre’s career. Packer journalists and bloggers write venomous rebuttals. People of Wisconsin begin march to SI offices with beer and weapons in tow.
• Purplepride.org has lots of pretty pictures of Vikings training camp.

While Joe Mauer’s bat has cooled off ever so slightly, the BWE-worthy material keeps comin’ on in. Although he’s known as a shy guy off the field, to the camera he’s anything but, as demonstrated by the cover of last week’s Sports Illustrated. If the casual baseball viewer didn’t know Mauer before the All-Star break, they sure do now.

It wouldn’t be fair to only focus on Joe with the week his roommate — and other half of the “M&M” duo — had against the Royals. Mr. Morneau brought it to the house in the four game series in Kansas City, going 6-for-16 with two doubles, a homerun, and 10 RBI. Now batting .321 with 29 dingers and 99 RBIs, Morneau has even found himself the subject of a little MVP candidacy talk as of late. My counterpart may have put best it earlier in the season with the statement “as Morneau goes, so do the Twins.” Let’s hope the engine doesn’t run out of steam.

If you weren’t one of the 61,000 fans that filled the stadium for Green Bay’s annual “Family Night” intrasquad scrimmage, nor had access to the locally broadcast, you’re in luck. Someone out there in the legion of Packerdom was kind enough to edit the televised footage down to just the plays (no junk in between) and upload the video clips to YouTube. The links below will take you straight to the playback on YouTube.

Packers Scrimmage part 2 of 3

Packers Scrimmage part 3 of 3

The Mayor’s got a fever and the only thing that can cure it is watching guys in purple prance around a football field. Here’s the sermon:

SKOAL VIKINGS…lets get this thing going! The Football season has officially begun and Vikings fans across the globe are rejoicing at the positivity that is rolling with this team. Granted it is only the first week of camp and the true Minnesota pessimists are not yet out in full force, but the aura in Mankato seems a little different this year. Is it that this is finally going to be the year we drop the ‘Queens’ title and truly become the Kings of the NFL? Hell no! But with an owner in his second year, a totally revamped coaching staff, adding the best offensive lineman in the NFL, and the makings of a sound defense, it is a step in the right direction.

Offensively we may not be as exciting as previous years, but a better offensive line with guard Chad Hutchinson and returning center Matt Birk here for the 2006 season, good things may soon follow. Brad Johnson is no spring chicken, but at 37 (38, August 13th) he is no dinosaur either. He is only one year older than Brett Favre and one year wiser. Seriously Brett,
is this really the most talented team you have ever played on?

Brad Johnson will not be calling this the most talented team he has ever played on, but it is not the worst. Just like our site, better things are yet to come and thanks to everyone who has visited us and written to us. I hope everyone feels as we do that it is time for a good ol’ home on the web for Minnesota-Wisconsin rivalries and hopefully we will fill that small niche in your life.

Until next time, get those chorizos ready for the tailgate grill…