Archive for Blatant Homerism
Heading into their “rematch” (I put that word in quotes because anyone who sees this game as having any semblance of a rematch just doesn’t get it) of last season’s NFC Championship game against the Saints, the Vikings’ primary area concern shouldn’t be about the need for another serviceable cornerback or how to best prevent Brett Favre taking a similar beating as he did in the previous game , they should be far more worried about the team’s unresolved issues regarding the heartbreaking loss at the Superdome last January which is disturbingly manifesting itself in a vocalized display of oral fixation.
In an article published in today’s Star Tribune about how the team has dealt with that brutal loss, despite the fact the Vikings far outplayed the Saints in many facets of the game (a quick look at the statistics certainly qualifies this notion, except for the whole, you know, fumbling, turnovers and, ahem, horrendous twelve men in the huddle penalty), and how no matter how hard the players, coaches and staff have tried to move on from it, the experience has nevertheless been a thorn in their side the entire offseason. What’s uncanny about the statements from several Vikings is the shared and common thread by which they have chosen to articulate their emotions: most of the quotes in the article seem to illustrate that these players appear to have regressed to the first of Sigmund Freud’s psychosexual stages of development: the oral stage.
As a biased Vikings fan, I will try to leave my opinion out of it, but during an appearance on Dan Patrick’s radio program, when prompted, Adrian Peterson asserted that he, not Titans running back Chris Johnson, is the best running back in the NFL.
Let’s go to the quotes (via Access Vikings):
Peterson told Patrick that he thinks Johnson is “just awesome,” but when asked if he was the better running back Peterson responded, “Yes. Yeah. Yeah,” adding, “I play the game to be the best player and that doesn’t change my mindset at all.”
In a ridiculous statement that even a Vikings rube like myself has no choice but to disagree with, Peterson also maintains that Johnson is not faster than him.
“No, [he's] not faster, stronger, anything,” Peterson said. “You’ve got to understand you’re talking to a guy … that’s just the mentality that I have. I have ultimate respect for the guy and he’s a heck of a player. I remember at one point and time me talking on the phone to Chris Johnson. He was telling me, ‘I’m just a big fan of yours. I like your style.’ Some [of the] advice that I gave him was, ‘I play this game to be the best player ever to play the game. That’s my mentality.’”
I suppose Peterson is entitled to his opinion and it’s not like having faith in one’s abilities and aspiring to the best – as long as it doesn’t move into the realm of overconfidence – is ever a bad thing. Also not a bad thing: A.D. not giving Johnson any tips about ball-handling. Just saying.
And sure, a thorough statistical analysis may be in order and that may help us ascertain which one truly is the best running back, but in the end it doesn’t really matter: by season’s end, we all know who is going to be the best running back in the league: provided an opportunity to excel with the Buccaneers after being cut by the Titans , there is no doubt in my mind that LaGarrette Blount has a punching chance at being the best back in the NFL. And if you think those are either fighting words or a cheap shot, well, you’re right either way.
Peterson says he’s better than Titans star [Access Vikings]
Ain’t no stopping the Minnesota Golden Gophers football team now!
In the interest of the mistaken idea that humiliating fellow members of a squad magically inspires team unity and the reasoning by senior center D.J. Burris that “tradition has to start somewhere,” no matter how idiotic, for the first time, despite the claim by the upperclassmen that it was a long-standing ritual, every freshman offensive line player was forced to sit down in a makeshift barber’s chair and be on the receiving end of a hideous new haircut.
I suppose dire straits require desperate measures. Try these stats on for size (via the Star Tribune): the Gophers were dead last in rushing yards in the Big Ten, allowed the most sacks in the Big Ten which ranked them 113th out of 120 major college programs. Not pretty. But neither are the haircuts, which I have no reason not to assume that this will propel the Gophers football program up to the upper echelon of the Big Ten. I guess the only thing left for Gophers Nation is to book their tickets and reserve their hotel rooms for New Year’s Day, 2011, in Pasadena, right?
Really bad hair day might be right look for U offensive line [Star Tribune]
Okay, that’s likely not going to happen – I’m pretty sure that in light of his past, Chmura crossing state lines would somehow be a violation of Megan’s Law.
But seriously? Javon Walker? Yes indeed, it is being reported by numerous outlets that Walker has in fact signed a contract with the Vikings. But how does that move make any sense at all? Via Access Vikings:
The Vikings worked out Walker on Friday. The Vikings have depth issues at wide receiver with Sidney Rice still on the physically unable to perform list and Percy Harvin suffering from migraines. Rice said last week that it’s “up in the air” whether he will be ready by the season opener Sept. 9. Rice said he still feels pain in his injured hip.
Good numbers in 2004, sure, but Walker got into only three games with the Raiders last season – the Raiders! – starting none and accumulating no receiving stats, although he did get credited with one fumble. How much can this guy have left in the tank. Well, at least the Vikings are doing Favre a solid by bringing in one of his old buddies from his Green Bay days. Oh…wait. On second thought…
Report: Vikings to sign Javon Walker [Access Vikings]
Former Favre receiver could be joining the Vikings [Pro Football Talk]
Yay!
And for those of you dying to keep track of his every movement, KSTP-TV has a helicopter in hot pursuit following the Brett Favre Motorcade. I don’t know how long it will last, but they are chronicling the wondrous moments as they happen with live video here.
Jesus.
There is only about 15 minutes left in the flight – after which I’m sure Brad Childress will chauffeur the Gunslinger over to Winter Park – but why don’t you go ahead and follow along right here? Crazy stuff.
What a time to be alive. The only thing that would make this more compelling is a Moon Pie.
It looks like the three-man contingent the Vikings sent down to recruit Brett Favre to return to Minnesota for one more season worked and it appears they will be bringing back some precious cargo to the Twin Cities…
Yep, by all accounts, and according to a report from the NFL Network, it appears Favre is coming back to sling the old football around for another year.
Via Access Vikings:
According to NFL Network, the quarterback is on a plane headed to the Twin Cities. This comes after three Vikings players, Jared Allen, Steve Hutchinson and Ryan Longwell, went to visit Favre in Mississippi and convince him to return.
Apparently it worked.
And then there’s this which was sent to the Star Tribune as an e-mail alert from Brett Favre’s official site (which is currently down):
“Stay tuned for breaking news from the Minnesota Vikings today on Brett Favre’s possible return. Visit the Vikings.com and Officialbrettfavre.com for more information.”
Yeah, right. Possible return. I wasn’t going to say that I told you so, but yeah, I told you so.
Report: Favre heading to Twin Cities [Star Tribune]
Vikings send three to visit Favre [Star Tribune]
Favre Watch back on full alert [NFL Network]
What was already going to be a hotly-contested three-game series between the Twins and the White Sox at Target Field might have a little more sizzle to it if inflammatory comments made by White Sox bullpen coach Juan Nieves during a radio show on Sunday gets back to the Twins clubhouse.
Courtesy of Minnesota beat writer LaVelle E. Neal’s Twins Insider blog on StarTribune.com comes news that Nieves, during an appearance on a radio program called “Coaches at the Cork” on Chicago’s 670 The Score (audio here, at about the 27:00 mark), admitted that he considered informing his pitchers to “smoke Mauer” in order to incite a brawl with the Twins, who currently hold a three-game lead in the AL Central over the Pale Hose.
“I’ve even thought of telling guys, ‘Hey Thornton, smoke Mauer, see if you can start a fight,” Nieves said. “We’re not afraid of anybody.”
While I have no doubt whatsoever that the ChiSox are not afraid of the Twinkies, I do have to question the wisdom of a member of a major league coaching staff practically admitting he would like to put a bounty on an opposing player’s head in order to start a bench-clearing brawl. Stuff like that should certainly be cause for concern in the Commissioner’s office as well as the locker room of the umps who will be working this series in Minneapolis.
As a Twins fan, I want to say, “OH NO HE DI’INT,” but as a baseball fan, I’m all for it. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with adding a little fuel to the fire, especially in an already bitter rivalry.
Either way, tonight, it’s on. It’s on like Donkey Kong.
“In this corner, wearing black and white trunks………” [Twins Insider]
(Yawn)
Just like he did last year, Favre has initially indicated to the Vikings that he will stay retired, citing mental and physical wear and tear. Reports state that he began informing Vikings personnel late Monday evening that he’s not returning for another season.
(Yawn)
Via the Star Tribune:
Favre has been unwilling to commit to playing a 20th NFL season, in large part because he has felt his left ankle has not responded the way he hoped after undergoing surgery in late May. However, many assumed Favre was simply buying time, as he appeared to a year ago.
In that case, Favre told coach Brad Childress he was retiring days before training camp opened but then changed his mind on Aug. 18 and joined the Vikings after one preseason game.
(Yawn)
Once again, don’t allow him to set that hook in your mouth like you’re some big ol’ fat catfish. He just wants to make his return even more heroic, more headline-grabbing. Don’t believe the hype and don’t give him the damn attention.
Oops. I guess I’m already complicit in helping Favre achieve what he set out to accomplish with this latest move.
Damn you, Brett Favre!
Favre ready to call it quits [Star Tribune]
“License to kill armadillos by the government of the United Nations. Man, free to kill armadillos at will. To kill, you must know your enemy, and in this case my enemy is a varmint. And a varmint will never quit – ever. They’re like the Viet Cong – Varmint Cong. So you have to fall back on superior intelligence and superior firepower. And that’s all she wrote.”
An interesting little story about how Brett Favre spends his summer vacations – besides waiting long enough to get surgery so he can avoid training camp, that is – comes courtesy of Bob Sansevere of the Pioneer Press who relayed an account told to him by Brad Childress of exactly what went down when the Vikings head coach visited Favre on his palatial estate in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, which is, according to Childress, “a big enough place where he can be doing anything from cutting wood to shooting water moccasins.” Sounds grand.
All the amusing, backwoods hick goodness follows.
