Archive for October, 2009

Some comedian once had a bit called “the five stages of drinking.”  Or maybe it was “the seven stages of drinking.”  I forget how many stages there were.  Point is, it was funny, and it has inspired me to create my own bit called “The 10 Stages of Favre Grief.” 1.  Shock.  “He really went and did it.  He signed with the Vikings.  The Minnesota Vikings.  From Minnesota.” This is the worst feeling you’ve ever had in your life.  Worse than the time you got back to her hotel room and found out she was a circus clown.  All you [...]

In the wake of his departure from Minnesota, Darren Sharper blasted the team’s defensive approach, saying it was too conservative, and didn’t allow “playmakers to be playmakers.”  The implication being that, had the Vikes utilized him better, his interception numbers would not have dwindled as dramatically as they did, going from 9 in 2005 all the way to 1 in 2008. Some – like me – laughed at Darren’s arrogance, and suggested his drop-off in performance had less to do with the Vikings’ scheme than his own diminished skills. I guess the joke is on me and the other scoffers, [...]

In an interview with his buddy Jon Gruden, Brett Favre laid some advice on Packer fans that I think they would do well to heed. “It was 16 great years,” Favre said when asked what he would like to say to the people who once loved him but now hate his guts.  “I hope they enjoyed it, they appreciated . . . that run as much as I did.  You can’t take that away.  You just have to let it go and just move on.” Hear that cheeseballs?  Just let it go and move on. Sounds easy, but of course [...]

Folks living in or near Eau Claire, Wisconsin will get a rare treat Monday night – the opportunity to witness the ritual destruction-by-fire of a real life Brett Favre jersey. The sacrifice will take place in the parking lot of the Milwaukee Burger Company during the Vikings-Packers game.  Proceeds, say the proprietors, will be donated to charity. Originally, event planners had intended to have a giant bonfire and invite folks to toss their Favre stuff on, like the nuts did with their Beatles crap after John said they were bigger than Jesus.  But the authorities in Eau Claire, fulfilling their [...]

The Vikings aren’t going to be anywhere near 100% healthy going into Monday night’s highly-anticipated showdown with the Green Bay Packers. Thursday’s injury report listed a total of 9 players, including the most important one at least from a drama standpoint, quarterback Brett Favre. Favre seemed to have injured just about every part of his body by the end of Sunday’s grinding victory over the 49ers, but the report only lists a bad foot.  “I’ve never been as beat after a game as I was the other day,” Favre admitted. “I had nothing left, so that had a lot to [...]

The Vikings consider the antiquated, largely despised Metrodome to be an albatross around their necks.  But at least they’re trying to make the best of a bad situation, by wringing every revenue opportunity out of the dilapidated old stadium that they can. To that end, the Vikings have entered into a naming rights deal with Mall of America.  From now on, the field upon which the Vikings play will be called Mall of America Field at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.  The deal will be in place until February 2012 – which, not coincidentally, is when the Vikings’ lease at the [...]

On Thursday, Brett Favre faced the assembled Wisconsin media for the first time since forcing his way out of Green Bay.  To say the Wisconsin scribes and TV folks had a lot of questions saved up would be an understatement. Of course most of those questions centered around Favre’s departure from the Packers and tales of his desire for revenge against Ted Thompson. According to certain writers, including Peter King, Favre’s deep urge to stick it to Thompson for replacing him with Aaron Rodgers before his time was up was a main motivating factor behind his signing with the Vikings.  [...]

Percy Harvin missed two games of practice last week with migraine headaches.  Then he went out on Sunday and ran a kick-off back 101 yards for a touchdown, contributing mightily to the Vikings‘ hard-fought win over the 49ers. Clearly, the loss of practice time didn’t hurt Harvin – for one week.  But, given the difficulty Brett Favre has had generating consistent chemistry with Percy and the other receivers, it would not be good for Harvin to make a habit of skipping practice. Unfortunately, that matter may not be in Harvin’s hands.  According to a Star-Trib report, Harvin’s migraine issues go [...]