With Old Man Winter set to hit the stage, there's no better time of year to stop and admire the Minnesota sports landscape.Go ahead and insert your clever little punch line here. There are many. We've heard them all.
In a city with four major sports teams and a D-I college, you'd think that there'd be at least a little bit of good news.
Not so fast my friend.
Minnesotans are stuck in neutral—and going backward.
We longingly watch Tom Brady hook up with Randy Moss and remember the 1998 season—Moss' rookie year, when he caught 17 TD passes from Randall Cunningham.
The 1998 Vikings set the record for most points scored in a regular season. Under head coach Brad Childress, the 2007 Vikings are 2-5...and looking more and more like (gulp) a Les Steckel team.
Coach Chilly and his "kick-ass" offense have rookie phenom Adrian Peterson—and that's all. No quarterback. No wide receivers.
Oh how the mighty have fallen.
Across town at Target Center, the Timberwolves prepare for life after KG. The folks at First Avenue would like the general public to believe that they didn't have a choice in dealing Garnett and starting from scratch—but that's not the whole story.
Look at Joe Smith, Troy Hudson, Marko Jaric, giving away first round picks like Halloween candy. Trick or Treat? Looks like the trick's on Wolves fans.
The plan is to build with young talent, stockpile draft picks, and go the way of the young Chicago Bulls. Here's hoping Kevin McHale's master plan works this time.
(He's got to be due eventually, right?)
After missing the playoffs, the Twins find themselves facing an offseason of uncertainty. Torii Hunter is a free agent and will roam center field in a different yard next year. Worse still, the best pitcher in baseball becomes a free agent after next season, which begs the question:
Do you trade Johan Santana and blow up the team?
The Twins have a track record of grooming players and then letting them go. Last I counted, David Ortiz has two World Series rings—but we didn't need him; he couldn't become the singles hitter we wanted.
The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers aren't close to legitimate. New football coach Tim Brewster has one win in his first season. A loss to DI-AA North Dakota State has "Gopher Nation" as confused as a baby in a topless club.
Here's hoping Brewster can recruit as well as he says he can.
On the hardwood, Tubby Smith was brought in to turn the program around. Again, though, it'll take time.
Our one glimmer of hope comes from the Minnesota Wild. The Wild made the playoffs a year ago, and no team got off to a better start in '07-'08 season.
But they've hit a speed bump.
After going undefeated in their first nine games, the mighty Wild have lost four in a row. A groin injury continues to plague Marian Gaborik, and fellow countryman Pavol Demitra has followed suit with one of his own.
This team will be a playoff contender...if the Wild have a couple of good masseuses on staff.
Deep tissue therapy, anyone?
Anyway, that's it. There's no light at the end of the tunnel. Minneapolis has become a town that doesn't keep its superstars and can't produce a winner.
And the "Minnesota nice" act is wearing thin.
Think your teams have it bad? Ours continue to try to sell hope...only no one is buying.
comments (9) write a comment »
write a new comment
11 months ago
Wow... didn't realize it was that bleak. Brewster isn't the answer on the football front. Think the Gophers need to make a bigger splash... something along the lines of what the did in signing Tubby Smith, who I think will recruit players Minnesota didn't stand a chance with previously.
I still don't understand the T-Wolves recent trade with the Heat. I wouldn't give the mascot for Antione Walker, much less Ricky Davis.
The Twins need to ask MLB to switch to the NL Central, where they could rattle off 6 consecutive pennants with Mauer, Morneau and Santana.
Thanks for the read, good to have you on board.
from 11 months ago
I also don't much value in acquiring Antoine Walker. I think McHale could've moved Ricky Davis for more closer to the trade deadline. In face, if I were McHale, I'd rather cut him loose than keep his jelly donut driven work ethic around all the young players.
The prevailing rumor was that McHale wanted to dump Mark Blount who wasn't co-existing well with Al Jefferson (who in turn signed a 5 year contract extension yesterday).
It's time for Minnesota to bring in one to two hard working veteran players to nurture these guys.
11 months ago
As a San Francisco sports fan I can relate. We've got the Warriors (0-1 so far) and Sharks (almost always good to make the playoffs but that's it), but our once proud football and baseball teams are a joke--and looking like they'll get worse before they get better.
11 months ago
Doug,
Truly fantastic article. You discuss the plight of the Minnesota sports fan in a way we can all relate with.
Every city falls on hard times, and right now things indeed are not looking good for all of you in Minneanapolis. Like everything in life though, it's only a matter of time before the pendulum swings around, and things will be looking up for the proud members of the Gopher State once again.
It must be really painful watching Moss excel with the Pats right now. That triple threat offense back in 98' was one of the most exciting I ever saw, even as a Niner fan who witnessed our weak secondary getting lit up by Moss/Carter/Reed. I don't think we'll ever see a deep threat aerial attack quite like that one...
Remember how Randall Cunningham was a carpenter before that season? That team surely was something...too bad it had to end on such a low note (let's not get into the details as I'm sure you'd like to forget).
As for the Twolves: what can you say, this franchise has never been managed well. Not ever. That said, you should take pride in the fact that you got to watch KG for all those years. He's a special player who really committed himself to that organization during his stay. Like they say, all good things must come to an end, so I hope you have some good memories.
I think you have the right idea in getting behind the Wild, who are clearly the city's best team at the moment. Every team's going to have losing streaks so I wouldn't let that kill your spirits. The Wild are definitely legitimate and I'm guessing they'll make another playoff run this year.
Thanks for the great read Doug!
11 months ago
AD deserves better than Minnesota. Send Peterson back to Texas!
from 11 months ago
Back to Texas? He grew up in Palestine, but I thought he played college ball at Oklahoma?
Regardless, nice read Doug... the only positive I can find is Minnesota's new football facility that is being built. Other than that, I feel sorry for the fans up there. Hopefully things will change.
11 months ago
I'm not knowledgeable about the other teams in the area, but the Twins are not bad off. The Twins have a great pitching staff which is going to surprise people next year and the offense is no longer in the hands of Terry Ryan. I see that picture as on the rosier side of gloom.
11 months ago
Must be very warm in Minnesota all year long with only fair weather fans there. I guess having hometown pride and sports columnists that can offer something other than a whine is a thing of the past. It is always so easy for those that sit on the sidelines to be critical all the time.
11 months ago
Just because a person, sports columnist or fan, looks at and discusses the teams records...trades...stats.....doesn't mean they don't have pride and follow the teams....win or lose. Minnesota fans are way more than "fair weather" fans....we follow our teams through good years and "not so good" years. Come on up to one of the games...and just watch us cheer them on. The weather isn't warm here year round, but the people are the best.
write a new comment