BORDER BATTLE

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

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.

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…

Last week was a great one for a lot of folks of the professional sports ilk. The Minnesota Twins swept the Chicago White Sox, temporarily tying them for second place in the AL Central. Dwight Smith was reunited with his Tampa Bay pal Mike Tomlin after signing with the Vikings. And the Brewers added another agile racing sausage to the stable for their classic seventh inning stretch entertainment. But no one had a week quite like A.J. Hawk.

The burly linebacker from Ohio State must’ve had plenty of bubbly around (or at least the champagne of beers) as he married his fiancee Laura Quinn and signed a 6-year, $37.5 million contract within a matter of days. Laura might even deserve the “Best Week Ever” title for that as the marriage — conducted in a Green Bay law office — was likely snuck in before that contract signature to assure she receive all of the great benefits that are available to NFL wives. But the fact that A.J. Hawk did not have to wait any extra days to get to camp and start hitting people is an intangible that should not be overlooked, and is thus the extra ingredient that solidifies his “Best Week Ever” status.

Marriage. Making millions. Hitting people. It doesn’t get any better for a linebacker.

Over the past few days, the Brewers added a new racing sausage, A.J. Hawk got hitched in a Green Bay law office, and the Twins left Ozzie speechless with a three-game sweep in the Windy City. But that’s all history now and tomorrow brings the beginning of one of our favorite times of the year (the diehard fan’s unofficial start of the NFL season): training camp.

It’s that time of the year where you waste away more time at work than usual reading about sports even though there aren’t even games being played yet, and trading season predictions with friends that are either brutally negative or “drinking the Kool-Aid.”

And the headlines will be more intriguing this year for us as fans, even though neither the Pack or Vikes will get much attention from the national media. Both teams have new head coaches, plenty of new blood, and a few positions that will be decided by heated battles. Packer players will ride to the field on childrens’ bikes. Vikings players will get arrested off the field. Favre is still around. Vikings fans still hate Favre. Packers fans will be optimistic about a turnaround. Vikings fans will foolishly think playoffs. And temperatures will rise until opening kickoff.

It’s all gonna be awesome.

The weekend’s almost here and we have just the medicine to get you through your drudging Thursday afternoon. No it’s not an ice cold ale, but it is a local sports links round-up!

• Apparently all the superstars throw themselves a public party when they land in Mpls. Now, for only $10 you can stand around in the same room as *drumroll*…Mike James!!!
• Thousands of stockholders descended upon Green Bay this week to see how their “investment” was doing. There were no dividends paid this year.
• If you’re frustrated by the Brewers’ inconsistent play, you can always harken back to what happened in a game on this day thirty years ago.