BORDER BATTLE

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.

While the Twins have been on a tear and there was an NBA draft last week, the biggest sports-related news to come out in Minnesota did not take place on a playing field or surface of any sort. Yes, we’re referring to the full-story on Eddie Griffin’s little “car crash” a few months back. Now we could sit here and run down the hilarity of it all for you, but that wouldn’t do the same justice as a video clip of the WCCO report.

If that isn’t enough, here’s some more in-depth reporting on Mr. Griffin’s transgression via the Strib.

It’s a bit interesting that this event took place back in March and the full picture just came out now. Oh wait, last week was ’sweeps’ week.

If there ever was a time to share your impressions, jokes, or what-have-you in the comments field, this must be it. To start it off: Will there be some sort of new ‘man law’ stemming from all this?

Another week of one major sport is another one that makes us a bit short on words. Nonetheless, here are the people who had a great one last week:

• Erik Johnson: The Bloomington, MN native was picked #1 in the NHL draft by the St. Louis Blues. Going first overall always rules. Now if only it weren’t in the league that has its games televised on the Outdoor Life Network…
• Justin Morneau: What can we say? The guy struggled early, fans doubted. Now he’s on a tear hitting like the player people thought he was a year ago. Last week’s big numbers: 3 home runs (including a walk-off), 6 RBIs and over .330 average. He’s on pace too hit over 40 dingers too.
• Kevin McHale: Last time we checked, the guy still has a job despite the trainwreck that awaits the Wolves next season. It’s been a best SUMMER ever for Mr. McHale.

The Brewers? Well, I guess Chris Barnwell got his first start at shortstop last week. Must’ve been awesome for him.

A few months ago, a Milwaukee-resident friend and I were discussing a rumor of new Bucks uniforms. The talk was that they were coming over the summer, but there was nothing concrete from any major sources. Then about a week ago, the Bucks made the announcement that they were getting a new logo and colors official, but still withheld the goods, instead building up the fans’ salivating anticipation for revelation during the 2006 NBA Draft. Well, we got word that the colors would actually be a fall-back to the red and green of the 60s and 70s Bucks teams and our fellow ‘Sconnie sports blogger over at Brats & Beer found an image of the new garb in hat form at an online merchandiser. As someone who hasn’t been an ardent NBA fan for a while and doesn’t get too wrapped up in uniform changes, I must say that if you’re a Bucks fan you gotta be pretty excited. The color scheme says “classic hardwood” (now Milwaukee just has to play like it). Even more importantly, you will now be able to feel somewhat comfortable wearing Bucks gear outside of the Bradley Center.

In other NBA news, the draft is almost a few weeks away. While the NBA draft doesn’t hold much interest for me compared to an adolesence filled with lotteries that featured the likes of Shaquille O’Neal and Chris Webber, there are plenty of hoop nuts that still get all crazy about the thing…at least through the lottery picks, I think. While they’ve probably been all over the net for a while, I scoured and collected some of the more thought out mock drafts for your draftnikin’ pleasure.

If you don’t feel like checking out the links here’s a brief synopsis: almost everyone has the scoring-desperate Wolves taking Rudy Gay (which I think is a good pick at #6) and the Bucks don’t have a first rounder this year as it went to New Orleans for Jamaal Magloire.

• NBADraft.net’s 2006 mock draft
• Inside Hoops mock
• CBS Sportsline’s two-man mock

Enjoy game one of the Finals tonight. I’m impartial but I like D-Wade.

Posted by Eric

No matter what team you back, there’s always draft picks and management decisions that make you cringe at the time they’re made, and some that make you want to cry/break something years later. This is one of them.

You may recall the not-so-phenomenal high school prospect that was drafted by the Timberwolves in 2003 by the name of Ndudi Ebi. At the time, the Wolves were a team full of scorers, with it looking like there weren’t enough balls to go around at times. This must’ve been enough for Mr. Kevin McHale to justify taking a major developmental project (physically and fundamentally developmental, that is). Well, yesterday I was taken back to that 2003 draft, with my attention centered the players picked in the two slots after Ebi was taken: Leandro Barbosa and Josh Howard.

Fast-forward back to today: Barbosa and Howard become pieces of two ball-clubs that go deep in the playoffs, both stepping up when their teams need them most. Ebi is down in the NBA’s Developmental League and not exactly setting it ablaze. And the Timberwolves…they have a whole lotta roster issues.

At least it wasn’t a bust of Tony Mandrich proportions.

Posted by Eric (yep, we’re letting you know who’s sayin’ what now)