BORDER BATTLE

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

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…

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.

No matter which side of the fence you’re on, it’s a pretty uninspiring time to be a sports fan. The baseball season has all but had the proverbial fork stuck in it. The Brewers still don’t have any pitching. The Twins usually don’t either, and when their two aces do throw, the rest of the team doesn’t bring it at the plate. And no matter how the media spins it, NFL players missing MINICAMP practices is not newsworthy to the sports-viewing public. So what did happen last week that’s actually a tad bit interesting? There’s not a lot, but here’s a round up of some of the best links to MN and WI sports talk from the wide world of blogs.

• One Minnesota sports blogger reminded us that even though the Twins are having a crappy season, they sure know when to cut the strings on players. Check out the story for a complete rundown on former TC-bearers and how much they suck right now.
• Deadspin has some words on this year’s Harris Interactive poll results indicating America’s Favorite athletes. Coming in at #3 is the guy you love/love to hate: Brett Favre. For some reason, they couldn’t buy the credibility of this (along with Bryant and Bonds in the top 10), which is puzzling considering Favre has been in the top 5 of the poll consistently for years. Whatever.
• Finally, we learned the sad news of Onterrio Smith getting cut from the Winnepeg Blue Bombers. Out of Left Field has some thoughts on the news, noting the fact that an NFL pedigree does nothing for you in the CFL today. One has to wonder what Mr. Smith will do with himself now. No one in the NFL will touch him. The CFL said “no, thanks,” and the Arena Football season just ended yesterday. Maybe the Whizzinator folks are looking for a spokesperson.

Still over a month ’til NFL training camp starts. Anyone watching the other football?

Almost lost within the Fran Foley debacle, new stadium lobbying and last month’s NFL draft, is the fact that the Vikings power structure was missing a guy with the title of VP of Player Personnel, but with only half the responsibility. Never fear purple fans, as Mr. Wilf and Co. apparently found the perfect guy for the job on Tuesday: Rick Spielman.

Most recently seen providing his insight on NFL draft prospects with “Leatherman” and Co. on ESPN, Spielman brings a solid amount of NFL front office experience with five years with the Miami Dolphins (2000-2004), three years with the Chicago Bears and seven years with the Detroit Lions. Frankly, we can’t recall the Bears and Lions being good during that time, but we digress. The guy does at least have a verifiable resume. He played linebacker for four years at San Diego State before trying to make a couple NFL clubs in training camps, and no one can deny the fact that he is Chris Spielman’s brother.

So all is right in Winter Park again. Though we really wish we could be a fly on the wall for Mr. Spielman’s first “Triangle of Authority” meeting. The way we imagine it, they each sit on opposite ends of an oversized black marble table drinking lattes. Just think Dr. Evil’s lair in the Austin Powers movies.

Since we still have to wait a few years for outdoor Twins baseball in Minnesota, we must thank God for the Saint Paul Saints. Nowhere else in America is it possible to have as much fun at a minor league baseball (or whatever that league is considered). Whether the game is good or not, you can always look forward to some off the wall stunts, zany promotions and colorful play-by-play banter, making for a great outing for the entire family. But through all the great giveaways we’ve heard of, this takes the cake. Yes folks, if you attend Saturday’s Saints game you will receive your very own mini-Love Boat (Smoot and accessories not included). Pure genius.

Major rube points to anyone who manages to get one signed by a member of the 2005 Vikings.

Also this weekend:
• The Seattle Mariners (23-26) come to town for a three-game stint with the Twinkies (20-26). Young guns Hernandez and Liariano face off in what should be quite a duel tonight.
• The Brew Crew (24-23) heads to Philadelphia for a another three-game series with the Phillies (24-22), who will be looking for vindication after getting swept by Milwaukee about a week ago.
• The Violent Femmes at First Avenue, tonight. Com’on, Wisconsin band in Minneapolis - this is totally in our realm of coverage!

Have a fantasic (and law-abiding) weekend!

Everyone’s favorite former NFL executive, Fran Foley (that is his real name, isn’t it?) was supposed to be getting a decision on his contract arbitration at some point today after a fun little conference call involving lawyers from his party, the ‘Queens and an NFL counsel. While we could care less about that whole debacle, we are wondering just what the heck Mr. Foley is up to these days.

Could he be making up time at Colgate or The Citadel for some of the duties he owes from his stints on their respective coaching staffs? Or maybe he’s traveling to universities throughout the country giving resume and job interview seminars to recent grads?

We have a feeling that if he framed things right on his resume he could probably get a job alongside Isiah Thomas in New York. Framingham State College, two-year starter, basketball. Perfect!

If you’ve watched ESPN at all this offseason, you’d think the regular season was about three weeks away. During the months leading up to the draft their coverage was excessive, even to the biggest draftnik. Now mini-camps are upon us, bringing hyperbole-filled reports from a crew of b-level NFL “analysts,” Merril Hodge barking out nonsense and staged on-air fights between John “Mr. Garrison” Clayton and Sean “Remember Me?” Salsbury.

Apparently needing a little something to fill up space on that NFL page, CBS Sportsline has joined in the fun by releasing their power rankings three and a half months before the season begins. We’re not so sure if it’s fair to begin trying to do such a thing when new coaches have barely begun to implement their systems and rookies and free agents have only stepped on the field in shorts, but we digress. What we will say is that fans of both the Vikes and the Pack probably won’t agree with this much - particularly Vikings fans, who have made Braveheart-esque “victory shall be ours” Super Bowl predictions an annual pre-season routine.

We’ll be looking for NFL coverage about two and a half months from now. Until then, the only thing we’re interested in hearing from any major media outlets’ football guys is breaking news or a reference to “you’re with me, leather.”