Have you noticed how little patience people have lately? No, you haven't? Oh it's probably because you don't have time to think about that. You have places to be, people to text, apps to download, stories to share, pictures to upload and things to twitter about. But let me tell you about a phenomena that has been taking place as a result of the technology explosion. Patience has gone out the window.
What will you wait for? A traffic light turns yellow, you speed up right? You don't have the time to waste precious moments at a red light. You're at the grocery checkout, you have 15 items and the lines are all long, sans the express lanes. The rules don't apply when time is of the essence, after all nobody's going to prosecute you for being "a little over". You're at the elevator at work or at your apartment building, you press the arrow and after 10 seconds, nothing happens. There's a likelihood its near, but time is too precious, you take the stairs instead.
These scenarios along with countless others are played out on a daily basis and in many cases are more neurotic than described. Yet, what is our big hurry? Why do we need to know everything when it happens, not after it happens? We don't. However, that's not the choice that most people accept anymore because unless you were born before 1950, you're likely caught up in the wave pool of every evolving changing lifestyles. If you were born before then, you might have the attitude of my grandparents, who often say I've lived this long without technology, I don't need it now. That is true, you can live without it for now, but it will die with that generation. Everyone else must accept that society will not wait for you anymore.
But there is still reasons to be patient and things worth waiting for. When's the last time you sent someone a letter? I challenge you to be different. Instead of sending that email or text, send a handwritten letter to that someone you care about. I promise it'll be worth your time and will last much longer than an email. Take the time to call someone. Texts are great, they save time and get the point across quickly. However, if you find yourself in a 20 text conversation, or maybe it's been 8 months since you've actually heard their voice, give them a call. It's virtually free on your cell phone plan and again, it'll go a lot longer than some words scribbled on a phone screen. Here's another thought, take a picture and print it out. Yeah, you can send it to them or tag them. But how many people actually send you a picture you can hold in your hands? Not many, people don't have the "time". Trust me, it'll be worth the wait.
While technology has certaintly improved and streamlined our world, there is still a place in this world for doing something that is worth the wait. Maybe next time you'll stop at the yellow light, wait at the grocery store, or take the elevator and use that time to think about what you might do with your next "waiting time".
All the best,
Brock
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Minnesota's Top 10 Sports Movies
While Minnesota may not be the first thing you think of when you ponder the greatest sports flicks of all time, there a few that hopefully come to mind. And if not, I've created this list as a helpful reminder. I had to scrape to find 10 that could fit within the criteria, so take Top 10 with a grain of salt, some of these movies shouldn't have the term "top" applied to them.
So, without further ado, here's the top 10 list of Minnesota Sports movies, ranked in order of least watchable to the most entertaining.
Honorable Mention - Miracle (movie not set in MN, but warrants a mention and if on the list, would be at least 3rd)
Sport: Hockey
Synopsis: The inspiring story of the team that transcended its sport and united a nation with a new feeling of hope. Based on the true story of one of the greatest moments in sports history, the tale captures a time and place where differences could be settled by games and a cold war could be put on ice. In 1980, the United States Ice Hockey team's coach, Herb Brooks, took a ragtag squad of college kids up against the legendary juggernaut from the Soviet Union at the Olympic Games. Despite the long odds, Team USA carried the pride of a nation yearning from a distraction from world events. With the world watching the team rose to the occasion, prompting broadcaster Al Michaels' now famous question, to the millions viewing at home: "Do you believe in a miracle? Yes!"
TCW Take: While the movie is not set in Minnesota, it's centered around Herb Brooks, who coached the University of Minnesota hockey team and is a legend in these parts. It's one of the greatest stories in all of sports, unless of course your Russian.
Minnesota Connection: Herb's wife Patti is in the movie as an extra in the stands during the U.S. vs. Russia game. You can see her positioned up and to the left of the actor who portrayed Jim Craig's dad in the movie, during many of his scenes during the U.S.-vs.-Russia game.
10. Major League: Back to the Minors
Sport: Baseball
Synopsis: Roger Dorn (Corbin Bernsen) now owns the Minnesota Twins as well as the struggling minor league South Carolina Buzz. So he decides to hand over management duties for the minor league club to former pitcher Gus Cantrell (Scott Bakula), and the fate of the hapless Buzz begins to change. Eventually, the Buzz take on the Twins, with Bob Uecker back delivering play-by-play in this third Major League movie.
TCW Take: Barf. The first Major League is one of the best sports movies around. The second one had enough laughs to make it watchable. They should have stopped there.
Minnesota Connection: In Roger Dorn's Minnesota Twins owner suite, a number 4 Lou Collins jersey hangs in a case, a reference to Timothy Busfield's character in Little Big League.
9. D3: The Mighty Ducks
Sport: Hockey
Synopsis: The Ducks return to their roots in the third installment of this series. Back home in Minnesota. The Ducks get scholarships to the prestigious Eden Hall Academy. Faced with a new uptight coach and the mounted pressure from the alumni board, Gordon mentors Charlie to victory in life and hockey.
TCW Take: Another film series that went too far. I vaguely remember seeing this and I vaguely remember caring.
Minnesota Connection: The name "Eden Hall Academy" is an amalgamation of the Twin Cities suburb of Eden Prairie and private schools Cretin-Derham Hall and Saint Thomas Academy.
8. D2: The Mighty Ducks
Sport: Hockey
Synopsis: Inspired by his own players, former peewee hockey coach Gordon Bombay decides to try out in the minor leagues. He becomes the star player for the fictional Minnehaha Waves, and is expected to make it to the NHL soon. However, after a career-ending knee injury, he returns to Minneapolis. Bombay is then offered a chance to coach a team representing the United States in the Junior Goodwill Games.
TCW Take: In the movie, Bombay gets caught up in the celebrity life and forgets about coaching and motivating the kids. It's the classic story of a Junior Goodwill Games coach getting caught up in the fame game. If I had a nickel for every time that happened.....I'd have a nickel.
Minnesota Connection: Seven out of 14 members of Team USA were born in the Twin Cities Metro Area (fictionally of course): Charlie Conway, Connie Moreau, and Jesse Hall are from Minneapolis; Guy Germaine is from St. Paul; and Adam Banks, Les Averman, and Fulton Reed are from the suburbs of Edina, Brooklyn Park, and Stillwater, respectively.
7. The Mighty Ducks
Sport: Hockey
Synopsis: Gordon Bombay, a successful Minneapolis lawyer, when, as the star player in his champion hockey team, he lost the winning goal in a shootout, thereby losing the game, and the approval of his coach. After being charged for drunk driving, the court orders him to coach a peewee hockey team, the worst in the league, Gordon is at first very reluctant. However, he eventually gains the respect of the kids and teaches them how to win. In the end he must face his old coach who still holds bitterness in Gordon's inability to make to win at the mature age of 9.
TCW Take: I hope you picked up on my sarcasm at the end there. Another ridiculous story line of a judge ordering a guy to coach a hockey team after a DUI. What happened to just community service or AA classes? It's the best of the 3 movies, mostly for its originality and not for its superb acting. The entire Trilogy is B material at best, but good enough for the kids.
Minnesota Connection: The courtroom scenes were filmed in St. Cloud and were dressed up to give it a more "hockey feel." This included adding small black circles that looked like hockey pucks near the ceiling architecture. Instead of taking them down, the "hockey pucks" still remain today. Also, in the movie, Adam Banks is often referred to as a "Cake Eater" this term is a reference people who live in the Twin Cities suburb, Edina. The term refers to one being rich and stuck up. "They buy their cake and eat it too."
6. Grumpier Old Men
Sport: Fishing
Synopsis: The spring and summer fishing season is in full swing in Wabasha, Minnesota, with the annual quest to catch "Catfish Hunter", the lake's largest catfish, consuming the fishing community. New arrival to Wabasha Maria Ragetti (Sophia Loren) has purchased the old bait shop with the intent of converting it into a fancy Italian restaurant. Max and John join forces to try and sabotage the restaurant and succeed to a point. In his quest to stop the restaurant from opening, Max falls for the owner and suddenly realizes what he really wants.
TCW Take: Congrats! We've reached the last sequel in this countdown, the best of the 2nd & 3rd run movies. Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon reprise their roles and continue to make each other miserable, while finding the silver lining in their friendships and life itself. The movie didn't win any acting fans over, but it's pleasant enough for a good laugh or too and quantifies the simple rural life.
Minnesota Connection: Upon entering Wabasha you will see a sign reading "Welcome to Wabasha, Home of Grumpy Old Men" as a tribute to the 2 films written by Mark Steven Johnson about his grandfather, Wabasha native Charles Gilbert.
5. Angus
Sport: Football
Synopsis: Angus is highly intelligent and steady on the football field. Faced with peer pressure and growing pains, he deals with his problems through lively humor and a boisterous attitude. Accompanied by his amusing and geeky best friend Troy, Angus spends most of his time living in the shadow of golden boy Rick Sanford, and admiring his secret love, cheerleader Melissa Lefevre. Anchored by an eccentric family, including his mother and grandfather, Angus must find himself in a riotous search for his true high school identity.
TCW Take: Less about football, more about the life of an insecure teenager. It'll strike a chord with anyone who felt high school was the wtf period of your life.
Minnesota Connection: The shots in front of the school and at the football game were shot at Owatonna High School in Owatonna. The marching band playing during the opening credits is the actual Owatonna High School Marching Band.
4. Little Big League
Sport: Baseball
Synopsis: When the owner of the hapless Minnesota Twins dies and leaves his grandson (Luke Edwards) the team in his will, the 12-year-old decides to manage the team himself. Aside from the obvious headline value of his move, no one seems to like the idea and the kid finds himself battling for his fledgling managerial career. Eventually, however, he wins the confidence of his favorite player (Timothy Busfield) and before long has the team playing like kids: for the fun of it, rather than the money.
TCW Take: Aside from the fact that its another ridiculous concept, it has just enough acting and subplots to keep one interested. Plus if you're a baseball fan you get to see Randy Johnson, Iván Rodríguez, Rafael Palmeiro (pre-steroid), Sandy Alomar, Jr., Paul O'Neill, Tim Raines, Ken Griffey, Jr., and Lou Piniella, some of the game's greats try their hand at acting.
Minnesota Connection: John Gordon, who played broadcaster Wally Holland, is the real-life voice of the Minnesota Twins. While his use of silly statistics (e.g. batting average against left handed pitchers faced at home for the first time in the last month of the season) is a parody, he did use his trademark home run call when he said "Touch 'em all, Mickey Scales!"
3. Iron Will
Sport: Dog Sledding
Synopsis: In 1917, Will Stoneman's father is killed in a mushing accident leaving Will to care for his family. Needing money for college and to save the family farm in South Dakota, Will decides to travel to Winnipeg, Manitoba to take part in a dog-sled race from Winnipeg to Saint Paul, Minnesota. With the aid of Ned Dodd, the young man prepares both physically and mentally for the harsh weather and terrain throughout the race. During the race, Will becomes popular with the newspaper media due to his strong courage in what he must do.
TCW Take: Historical in nature, entertaining and inspirational are all characteristics of this film. It's by no means an exceptional flick, but it captivates you enough till the end in one of those feel good underdog stories in that old Disney way.
Minnesota Connection: Much of the movie was filmed in northern Minnesota near Duluth. Many of Duluth's citizens were extras in the movie, a large number at the end of the race. Furthermore, the trains used in the movie were from the Lake Superior Railroad Museum (LSRM) in Duluth. Because they were actual operating trains, actors could not operate as engineers or the conductors. They were all volunteer employees of the museum.
2. Grumpy Old Men
Sport: Ice Fishing
Synopsis: Retired school teacher John Gustafson (Lemmon) and former TV repairman Max Goldman (Matthau) have lived next door to each other in Wabasha, Minnesota for decades, but have not gotten along since childhood. With not much else to do with their seemingly boring and lonely single lives except watch television and fishing, Max and John compete and argue with each other on just about everything, and partake in cruel (yet funny) jokes on one another.
TCW Take: This is is the most heavily influenced Minnesota movie on the list. The speech, jokes, ice fishing, and winter related things are all Minnesotan. It's a light hearted feel good comedy that is easy and fun to watch.
Minnesota Connection: Though many of the places mentioned in the movie (such as the local VFW and Slippery's Tavern) can be found in Wabasha, most location shots actually were filmed in other Minnesota communities. The only scene filmed near Wabasha was the "snow angel" scene, filmed in nearby Red Wing.
1. Field of Dreams
Sport: Baseball
Synopsis: An Iowa farmer hears a voice in his cornfield accompanied by a vision of a baseball field. "If you build it, he will come". He takes it as a sign to build a baseball diamond which would enable Shoeless Joe Jackson of the infamous Chicago Black Sox to play ball again and eventually get him to re-connect with his father. After picking up James Earl Jones character in Boston, the two are given another sign and must travel to Minnesota to find another clue from the mysterious voice in the corn field.
TCW Take & Minnesota Connection: One of the best, top 5 sports movies of all time, and the best of Kevin Costner's baseball flicks (Bull Durham, For Love of the Game). Although predominantly set in Iowa, a key character and subplot occurs in the iron range town of Chisholm, where Archibald Wright "Moonlight" Graham is from. Graham was a real person and ballplayer who famously appeared in just 1 Major league game as a defensive replacement in right field. After his career, Graham completed his medical degree from the University of Maryland in 1908. He obtained his license the following year and began practicing medicine in Chisholm, Minnesota, where just like in the movie, "Doc" served the people of Chisholm for fifty years.
Well there you have it. From 10 to 1, from unwatchable to epic, from comically bad to just comical, this list has bits and pieces of each. While some connections were looser than others, they all had a connection to the North Star State, Minnesota.
until next time, remember that popcorn directions should never be fully trusted.
Brock
So, without further ado, here's the top 10 list of Minnesota Sports movies, ranked in order of least watchable to the most entertaining.
Honorable Mention - Miracle (movie not set in MN, but warrants a mention and if on the list, would be at least 3rd)
Sport: Hockey
Synopsis: The inspiring story of the team that transcended its sport and united a nation with a new feeling of hope. Based on the true story of one of the greatest moments in sports history, the tale captures a time and place where differences could be settled by games and a cold war could be put on ice. In 1980, the United States Ice Hockey team's coach, Herb Brooks, took a ragtag squad of college kids up against the legendary juggernaut from the Soviet Union at the Olympic Games. Despite the long odds, Team USA carried the pride of a nation yearning from a distraction from world events. With the world watching the team rose to the occasion, prompting broadcaster Al Michaels' now famous question, to the millions viewing at home: "Do you believe in a miracle? Yes!"
TCW Take: While the movie is not set in Minnesota, it's centered around Herb Brooks, who coached the University of Minnesota hockey team and is a legend in these parts. It's one of the greatest stories in all of sports, unless of course your Russian.
Minnesota Connection: Herb's wife Patti is in the movie as an extra in the stands during the U.S. vs. Russia game. You can see her positioned up and to the left of the actor who portrayed Jim Craig's dad in the movie, during many of his scenes during the U.S.-vs.-Russia game.
10. Major League: Back to the Minors
Sport: Baseball
Synopsis: Roger Dorn (Corbin Bernsen) now owns the Minnesota Twins as well as the struggling minor league South Carolina Buzz. So he decides to hand over management duties for the minor league club to former pitcher Gus Cantrell (Scott Bakula), and the fate of the hapless Buzz begins to change. Eventually, the Buzz take on the Twins, with Bob Uecker back delivering play-by-play in this third Major League movie.
TCW Take: Barf. The first Major League is one of the best sports movies around. The second one had enough laughs to make it watchable. They should have stopped there.
Minnesota Connection: In Roger Dorn's Minnesota Twins owner suite, a number 4 Lou Collins jersey hangs in a case, a reference to Timothy Busfield's character in Little Big League.
9. D3: The Mighty Ducks
Sport: Hockey
Synopsis: The Ducks return to their roots in the third installment of this series. Back home in Minnesota. The Ducks get scholarships to the prestigious Eden Hall Academy. Faced with a new uptight coach and the mounted pressure from the alumni board, Gordon mentors Charlie to victory in life and hockey.
TCW Take: Another film series that went too far. I vaguely remember seeing this and I vaguely remember caring.
Minnesota Connection: The name "Eden Hall Academy" is an amalgamation of the Twin Cities suburb of Eden Prairie and private schools Cretin-Derham Hall and Saint Thomas Academy.
8. D2: The Mighty Ducks
Sport: Hockey
Synopsis: Inspired by his own players, former peewee hockey coach Gordon Bombay decides to try out in the minor leagues. He becomes the star player for the fictional Minnehaha Waves, and is expected to make it to the NHL soon. However, after a career-ending knee injury, he returns to Minneapolis. Bombay is then offered a chance to coach a team representing the United States in the Junior Goodwill Games.
TCW Take: In the movie, Bombay gets caught up in the celebrity life and forgets about coaching and motivating the kids. It's the classic story of a Junior Goodwill Games coach getting caught up in the fame game. If I had a nickel for every time that happened.....I'd have a nickel.
Minnesota Connection: Seven out of 14 members of Team USA were born in the Twin Cities Metro Area (fictionally of course): Charlie Conway, Connie Moreau, and Jesse Hall are from Minneapolis; Guy Germaine is from St. Paul; and Adam Banks, Les Averman, and Fulton Reed are from the suburbs of Edina, Brooklyn Park, and Stillwater, respectively.
7. The Mighty Ducks
Sport: Hockey
Synopsis: Gordon Bombay, a successful Minneapolis lawyer, when, as the star player in his champion hockey team, he lost the winning goal in a shootout, thereby losing the game, and the approval of his coach. After being charged for drunk driving, the court orders him to coach a peewee hockey team, the worst in the league, Gordon is at first very reluctant. However, he eventually gains the respect of the kids and teaches them how to win. In the end he must face his old coach who still holds bitterness in Gordon's inability to make to win at the mature age of 9.
TCW Take: I hope you picked up on my sarcasm at the end there. Another ridiculous story line of a judge ordering a guy to coach a hockey team after a DUI. What happened to just community service or AA classes? It's the best of the 3 movies, mostly for its originality and not for its superb acting. The entire Trilogy is B material at best, but good enough for the kids.
Minnesota Connection: The courtroom scenes were filmed in St. Cloud and were dressed up to give it a more "hockey feel." This included adding small black circles that looked like hockey pucks near the ceiling architecture. Instead of taking them down, the "hockey pucks" still remain today. Also, in the movie, Adam Banks is often referred to as a "Cake Eater" this term is a reference people who live in the Twin Cities suburb, Edina. The term refers to one being rich and stuck up. "They buy their cake and eat it too."
6. Grumpier Old Men
Sport: Fishing
Synopsis: The spring and summer fishing season is in full swing in Wabasha, Minnesota, with the annual quest to catch "Catfish Hunter", the lake's largest catfish, consuming the fishing community. New arrival to Wabasha Maria Ragetti (Sophia Loren) has purchased the old bait shop with the intent of converting it into a fancy Italian restaurant. Max and John join forces to try and sabotage the restaurant and succeed to a point. In his quest to stop the restaurant from opening, Max falls for the owner and suddenly realizes what he really wants.
TCW Take: Congrats! We've reached the last sequel in this countdown, the best of the 2nd & 3rd run movies. Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon reprise their roles and continue to make each other miserable, while finding the silver lining in their friendships and life itself. The movie didn't win any acting fans over, but it's pleasant enough for a good laugh or too and quantifies the simple rural life.
Minnesota Connection: Upon entering Wabasha you will see a sign reading "Welcome to Wabasha, Home of Grumpy Old Men" as a tribute to the 2 films written by Mark Steven Johnson about his grandfather, Wabasha native Charles Gilbert.
5. Angus
Sport: Football
Synopsis: Angus is highly intelligent and steady on the football field. Faced with peer pressure and growing pains, he deals with his problems through lively humor and a boisterous attitude. Accompanied by his amusing and geeky best friend Troy, Angus spends most of his time living in the shadow of golden boy Rick Sanford, and admiring his secret love, cheerleader Melissa Lefevre. Anchored by an eccentric family, including his mother and grandfather, Angus must find himself in a riotous search for his true high school identity.
TCW Take: Less about football, more about the life of an insecure teenager. It'll strike a chord with anyone who felt high school was the wtf period of your life.
Minnesota Connection: The shots in front of the school and at the football game were shot at Owatonna High School in Owatonna. The marching band playing during the opening credits is the actual Owatonna High School Marching Band.
4. Little Big League
Sport: Baseball
Synopsis: When the owner of the hapless Minnesota Twins dies and leaves his grandson (Luke Edwards) the team in his will, the 12-year-old decides to manage the team himself. Aside from the obvious headline value of his move, no one seems to like the idea and the kid finds himself battling for his fledgling managerial career. Eventually, however, he wins the confidence of his favorite player (Timothy Busfield) and before long has the team playing like kids: for the fun of it, rather than the money.
TCW Take: Aside from the fact that its another ridiculous concept, it has just enough acting and subplots to keep one interested. Plus if you're a baseball fan you get to see Randy Johnson, Iván Rodríguez, Rafael Palmeiro (pre-steroid), Sandy Alomar, Jr., Paul O'Neill, Tim Raines, Ken Griffey, Jr., and Lou Piniella, some of the game's greats try their hand at acting.
Minnesota Connection: John Gordon, who played broadcaster Wally Holland, is the real-life voice of the Minnesota Twins. While his use of silly statistics (e.g. batting average against left handed pitchers faced at home for the first time in the last month of the season) is a parody, he did use his trademark home run call when he said "Touch 'em all, Mickey Scales!"
3. Iron Will
Sport: Dog Sledding
Synopsis: In 1917, Will Stoneman's father is killed in a mushing accident leaving Will to care for his family. Needing money for college and to save the family farm in South Dakota, Will decides to travel to Winnipeg, Manitoba to take part in a dog-sled race from Winnipeg to Saint Paul, Minnesota. With the aid of Ned Dodd, the young man prepares both physically and mentally for the harsh weather and terrain throughout the race. During the race, Will becomes popular with the newspaper media due to his strong courage in what he must do.
TCW Take: Historical in nature, entertaining and inspirational are all characteristics of this film. It's by no means an exceptional flick, but it captivates you enough till the end in one of those feel good underdog stories in that old Disney way.
Minnesota Connection: Much of the movie was filmed in northern Minnesota near Duluth. Many of Duluth's citizens were extras in the movie, a large number at the end of the race. Furthermore, the trains used in the movie were from the Lake Superior Railroad Museum (LSRM) in Duluth. Because they were actual operating trains, actors could not operate as engineers or the conductors. They were all volunteer employees of the museum.
2. Grumpy Old Men
Sport: Ice Fishing
Synopsis: Retired school teacher John Gustafson (Lemmon) and former TV repairman Max Goldman (Matthau) have lived next door to each other in Wabasha, Minnesota for decades, but have not gotten along since childhood. With not much else to do with their seemingly boring and lonely single lives except watch television and fishing, Max and John compete and argue with each other on just about everything, and partake in cruel (yet funny) jokes on one another.
TCW Take: This is is the most heavily influenced Minnesota movie on the list. The speech, jokes, ice fishing, and winter related things are all Minnesotan. It's a light hearted feel good comedy that is easy and fun to watch.
Minnesota Connection: Though many of the places mentioned in the movie (such as the local VFW and Slippery's Tavern) can be found in Wabasha, most location shots actually were filmed in other Minnesota communities. The only scene filmed near Wabasha was the "snow angel" scene, filmed in nearby Red Wing.
1. Field of Dreams
Sport: Baseball
Synopsis: An Iowa farmer hears a voice in his cornfield accompanied by a vision of a baseball field. "If you build it, he will come". He takes it as a sign to build a baseball diamond which would enable Shoeless Joe Jackson of the infamous Chicago Black Sox to play ball again and eventually get him to re-connect with his father. After picking up James Earl Jones character in Boston, the two are given another sign and must travel to Minnesota to find another clue from the mysterious voice in the corn field.
TCW Take & Minnesota Connection: One of the best, top 5 sports movies of all time, and the best of Kevin Costner's baseball flicks (Bull Durham, For Love of the Game). Although predominantly set in Iowa, a key character and subplot occurs in the iron range town of Chisholm, where Archibald Wright "Moonlight" Graham is from. Graham was a real person and ballplayer who famously appeared in just 1 Major league game as a defensive replacement in right field. After his career, Graham completed his medical degree from the University of Maryland in 1908. He obtained his license the following year and began practicing medicine in Chisholm, Minnesota, where just like in the movie, "Doc" served the people of Chisholm for fifty years.
Well there you have it. From 10 to 1, from unwatchable to epic, from comically bad to just comical, this list has bits and pieces of each. While some connections were looser than others, they all had a connection to the North Star State, Minnesota.
until next time, remember that popcorn directions should never be fully trusted.
Brock
Friday, February 4, 2011
Brock Vestrum: The Age of Individuality
Brock Vestrum: The Age of Individuality: "Never in the history of man has the human voice been more powerful than today. When I say powerful, I'm not applying any physical character..."
The Age of Individuality
Never in the history of man has the human voice been more powerful than today. When I say powerful, I'm not applying any physical characteristics, and this article is in no way related to American Idol. What I mean is, the power of one's ability to have their voice heard is higher than its ever been and seems to be growing daily.
This power is not just harnessed audibly, in fact, the actual that's not even the important part, it's the reach of the the spoken word that's important nowadays. This power is utilized through the advent of social media and the disappearance of traditional media, which is transforming our society into the age of individuality.
Let's look back just ten years ago. At the time I was graduating from high school, didn't own a cell phone, facebook was never heard of, Twitter was only found in the dictionary, and the Internet was still a relatively new concept that was more of an aid than the center of the universe it is today. During my freshman year of college, the most significant event in U.S. History happened, of course the terrorist attacks, dubbed 9/11. I remember that the news reached me in about two hours after it was first reported. I wasn't sleeping, in the shower, playing basketball, etc. I was in class, on campus, on the bus, back on campus, then finally a TV was playing near my 2nd class of the day. There is no way on earth if an event of that significance or even half that significance would get past me within a few minutes. Why? Unlike a decade ago, we are all wired into the system, because we are the system.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to paint a picture that we were in the dinosaur age, being in the middle of Minnesota on a tiny college campus probably didn't help, but cell phones were prevalent, everyone had email, and we downloaded music too. But we weren't all connected. Today people don't have to find information, it finds them, or let me take that one step farther, people are the information. A decade ago, when news broke, we all turned our TV sets on and listened to the paid experts. While some of those experts are still there, they are being beaten to the punch by anyone who's connected in the system. Have you noticed that news isn't news anymore, unless its breaking?
There are three giants in the Social Media movement, Google, Facebook, and Twitter, and then there's everyone else. There are some great sites out there besides these, and I could list off a bunch of them, but these three nodes are the left, center, and right lanes of the information autobahn (the super highway is too slow), that fuels this individualist movement. Words like tweets, status, and trending are all terms each juggernaut uses to feed society. One of the best ways to find out what is going on in the world is to check Google trends, it's an amazing tool that connects our world instantly. Real-time, rapid reactions. What are people going to say? We are fascinated with reactions. So much so that people's reactions often become the story, while the event plays 2nd fiddle.
We see this power in the news daily and is exacerbated by the famous, celebrities, athletes, and reality personalities. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't hear about someone who tweeted this or posted that. We live in a he-said, she-said society where one's opinions and thoughts hold more weight than ever before. In the past, the media may have had the option to run a person's comments or not, but today they are one and the same with me and you, just with more cameras and technical equipment, but all hanging on the whim of someone's keyboard.
Social Media is destroying traditional media, if it hasn't already. Actually, traditional media, ie radio, newspapers, evening news, is now becoming more of an outlet that reaches its members with the intent to provide in depth and expert analysis on what you're hearing from everyone else. Long gone are the days where newspapers broke the story. If there's a silver lining in the newspaper industry its that in order to stay in business you better have good content, and that means good writers. Because anyone can punch in 140 characters on a subject, but not everyone can write an article that truly captures the attention of its reader throughout.
Hopefully I turned a leaf or made you think twice, either way, thanks for listening. Now go do something old fashioned like read a book, (even if its from your nook).
Brock
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Circle me into Cooperstown
Thursday, January 6, 2011
It's about friggin' time. That was the sentiment around Minnesota early Tuesday afternoon after news that Bert Blyleven had finally been inducted into the Hall of Fame on his 14th try. Better late than never, Blyleven's hall eligibility was running out. If he didn't make it in this year, the next year was his last shot. Although the forgiving Veteran's Committee would have likely voted him in, that would have taken another 10 years or more. In fact most Veteran's Committee choices are posthumous, a bittersweet induction for the player's families. Fortunately, for Blyleven, he didn't have to wait until after the grave to get in, he even got to share it with his mother, who is still alive, and of whom brought him over to the states after Bert's birth in Holland.
Now that the debate of whether Bert is a hall of famer or not is over. I suppose there will be those naysayers that will still debate him, just now they'll change their discussion to whether he was deserving or not. Well he is deserving of this high honor and he shouldn't have waited this long to get in. It's funny how someone can only get 17% of the vote in his first year of eligibility, not throw a pitch in 14 years, and then somehow miraculously become a hall of famer. The question becomes what changed the minds of those voters?
Bert's biggest accomplishment's could not outweigh his negatives, or so it seemed. He had 287 wins, but also 250 losses, just a .534 win percentage. He had a career 3,701 strikeouts, but many we're quick to point out his 430 home runs allowed, both statistics are in the top 5. Let's compare another HOF's statistics as it relates to Blyleven's case. Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson hit 563 home runs, good for 13th. Jackson also finished with 2,597 strikeouts, of which places Jackson as the most prolific strikeout artist ever. However, most people wouldn't bring this up, or even know of it in the first place. Was it because Jackson played for the Yankees and predominantly winning ballclubs?
If Blyleven had won just 13 more games and got to that 300 mark, there's no doubt in my mind it would have taken Bert just 2 or 3 tries to get into Cooperstown, especially in the 90's voter's minds, before steroids ballooned and muddied statistics. After all, every member of the 300 win club is a hall of famer, except these 4: Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, Greg Maddux, and Tom Glavine, who have yet to claim eligibility but will all gain entrance upon eligibility (yes even steroid popper Clemens eventually). Yeah Bert had 250 losses, but you know who else had 250 or more. These guys, all Hall of Famers: Eppa Rixey (251), Don Sutton (256), Gaylord Perry (265), Phil Niekro (274), Walter Johnson (279), Nolan Ryan (292), Pud Galvin (310), Cy Young (316). These numbers essentially disappear from public knowledge after enshrinement.
Everyone remembers Bert's curveball and the ability to strikeout opponents. His 3,701 strikeouts are still good for 5th all time, only being passed up after retirement by Randy Johnson & Roger Clemens. This ultimately is the statistic that puts Bert in the hall and was the biggest headscratcher as to why he wasn't in. Of the 16 pitchers with 3,000 strikeouts or more, every Hall of Fame eligible player is in Cooperstown. The others will join them shortly: Johnson, Clemens, Maddux, Pedro Martinez, Curt Schilling, and John Smoltz.
No one has benefited more by baseball's increasing scrutinized statistics than Bert Blyleven. In the 80's and 90's wins, losses, and ERA defined a pitchers greatness. Today, with the advent of sabermetrics, Blyleven's statistics kept looking better and better when compared among the greats. His win's above replacement (WAR), used to show how many more wins a player would give a team as opposed to a "replacement level" or minor league/bench player at that position, was a career 90.1, good for 13th all time among pitchers, that's better than the 2 strikeout kings ahead of Blyleven at his retirement Nolan Ryan (16th) and Steve Carlton (17th). And I bet it wouldn't surprise you that every pitcher above him that's eligible, is in the Hall of Fame, would it?
Yes, Bert gave up the long ball often, 430 times to be exact, 8th on the all time list. But did you know that Robin Roberts, Fergie Jenkins, Phil Niekro, Don Sutton, and Warren Spahn all gave up more? Oh and they're all hall of famers. Yeah, he gave up a lot of long balls, but he also shut down teams just as good. Blyleven's 60 shutouts are 9th all time. Blyleven had 3 or more shutouts in a season 10 times with as high as 9 in 1973, everyone above him, Hall of Famers, in fact the next 13 players below Blyleven in shutouts are also Hall of Famers. See a pattern here? In order to really appreciate this, I took a former team of Blyleven's the Texas Rangers, his shortest stint with any team, and found that from 2003 to 2010, the Rangers have 59 shutouts...as a team. That's 8 seasons, 1,296 games, and pitchers that get loads more rest than Blyleven ever did. Bert's 60 shutouts, took him 685 games.
I think there's no question that Blyleven was never a 1st ballot Hall of Famer. He didn't dominate his era like most HOF players did. His 2 all star nods, 250 losses via too many bad teams, 3 plus ERA and penchant for giving up the long ball definitely cost Blyleven. But to take 14 years to do so, had to be torture, especially when after his 9th try, Bert's Dad passed away. I may be a homer for this article, but the facts are laid out above and you can write your own arguments. But for now, Bert can forever live in peace, for he has officially been circled.
As far as the broadcaster hall of fame, I would say don't get your hopes up!
bsv
the courtesy wave
It's about friggin' time. That was the sentiment around Minnesota early Tuesday afternoon after news that Bert Blyleven had finally been inducted into the Hall of Fame on his 14th try. Better late than never, Blyleven's hall eligibility was running out. If he didn't make it in this year, the next year was his last shot. Although the forgiving Veteran's Committee would have likely voted him in, that would have taken another 10 years or more. In fact most Veteran's Committee choices are posthumous, a bittersweet induction for the player's families. Fortunately, for Blyleven, he didn't have to wait until after the grave to get in, he even got to share it with his mother, who is still alive, and of whom brought him over to the states after Bert's birth in Holland.
Now that the debate of whether Bert is a hall of famer or not is over. I suppose there will be those naysayers that will still debate him, just now they'll change their discussion to whether he was deserving or not. Well he is deserving of this high honor and he shouldn't have waited this long to get in. It's funny how someone can only get 17% of the vote in his first year of eligibility, not throw a pitch in 14 years, and then somehow miraculously become a hall of famer. The question becomes what changed the minds of those voters?
Bert's biggest accomplishment's could not outweigh his negatives, or so it seemed. He had 287 wins, but also 250 losses, just a .534 win percentage. He had a career 3,701 strikeouts, but many we're quick to point out his 430 home runs allowed, both statistics are in the top 5. Let's compare another HOF's statistics as it relates to Blyleven's case. Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson hit 563 home runs, good for 13th. Jackson also finished with 2,597 strikeouts, of which places Jackson as the most prolific strikeout artist ever. However, most people wouldn't bring this up, or even know of it in the first place. Was it because Jackson played for the Yankees and predominantly winning ballclubs?
If Blyleven had won just 13 more games and got to that 300 mark, there's no doubt in my mind it would have taken Bert just 2 or 3 tries to get into Cooperstown, especially in the 90's voter's minds, before steroids ballooned and muddied statistics. After all, every member of the 300 win club is a hall of famer, except these 4: Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, Greg Maddux, and Tom Glavine, who have yet to claim eligibility but will all gain entrance upon eligibility (yes even steroid popper Clemens eventually). Yeah Bert had 250 losses, but you know who else had 250 or more. These guys, all Hall of Famers: Eppa Rixey (251), Don Sutton (256), Gaylord Perry (265), Phil Niekro (274), Walter Johnson (279), Nolan Ryan (292), Pud Galvin (310), Cy Young (316). These numbers essentially disappear from public knowledge after enshrinement.
Everyone remembers Bert's curveball and the ability to strikeout opponents. His 3,701 strikeouts are still good for 5th all time, only being passed up after retirement by Randy Johnson & Roger Clemens. This ultimately is the statistic that puts Bert in the hall and was the biggest headscratcher as to why he wasn't in. Of the 16 pitchers with 3,000 strikeouts or more, every Hall of Fame eligible player is in Cooperstown. The others will join them shortly: Johnson, Clemens, Maddux, Pedro Martinez, Curt Schilling, and John Smoltz.
No one has benefited more by baseball's increasing scrutinized statistics than Bert Blyleven. In the 80's and 90's wins, losses, and ERA defined a pitchers greatness. Today, with the advent of sabermetrics, Blyleven's statistics kept looking better and better when compared among the greats. His win's above replacement (WAR), used to show how many more wins a player would give a team as opposed to a "replacement level" or minor league/bench player at that position, was a career 90.1, good for 13th all time among pitchers, that's better than the 2 strikeout kings ahead of Blyleven at his retirement Nolan Ryan (16th) and Steve Carlton (17th). And I bet it wouldn't surprise you that every pitcher above him that's eligible, is in the Hall of Fame, would it?
Yes, Bert gave up the long ball often, 430 times to be exact, 8th on the all time list. But did you know that Robin Roberts, Fergie Jenkins, Phil Niekro, Don Sutton, and Warren Spahn all gave up more? Oh and they're all hall of famers. Yeah, he gave up a lot of long balls, but he also shut down teams just as good. Blyleven's 60 shutouts are 9th all time. Blyleven had 3 or more shutouts in a season 10 times with as high as 9 in 1973, everyone above him, Hall of Famers, in fact the next 13 players below Blyleven in shutouts are also Hall of Famers. See a pattern here? In order to really appreciate this, I took a former team of Blyleven's the Texas Rangers, his shortest stint with any team, and found that from 2003 to 2010, the Rangers have 59 shutouts...as a team. That's 8 seasons, 1,296 games, and pitchers that get loads more rest than Blyleven ever did. Bert's 60 shutouts, took him 685 games.
I think there's no question that Blyleven was never a 1st ballot Hall of Famer. He didn't dominate his era like most HOF players did. His 2 all star nods, 250 losses via too many bad teams, 3 plus ERA and penchant for giving up the long ball definitely cost Blyleven. But to take 14 years to do so, had to be torture, especially when after his 9th try, Bert's Dad passed away. I may be a homer for this article, but the facts are laid out above and you can write your own arguments. But for now, Bert can forever live in peace, for he has officially been circled.
As far as the broadcaster hall of fame, I would say don't get your hopes up!
bsv
the courtesy wave
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Minnesota Sports Misery Rankings - December edition
This month's edition features each team's ranking with a song reference that's relevant. Since it's December, I'll take a page out of the Counting Crow's and you can decide if it'll really be a LONG DECEMBER, with reason to believe that maybe next year will be better than the last. So without further ado, here are the 7 local sports teams starting with the most Optimistic to the most Miserable.GOPHERS BASKETBALL - "You're the Inspiration" - Chicago
Record: 9-1
Rankings: 20th ESPN/USA Today, 21st AP
The Gophers are off to one of their best records in years and with the lack of entertaining teams in the area, all eyes are aimed at the Barn where the Gophers hope to bring some glory back to the frozen north. They are THE best team in Minnesota that's currently in-season and for that are the inspiration that Minnesota sports fans desperately need. The team packs the most talented roster Tubby Smith has produced thus far. The starting 5 of Nolen, Joseph, Hoffarber, Mbakwe, and Sampson III have proved their worth in the non-conference and are poised to show the Big Ten what they're really made of. That's the hope at least. The Nolen injury (out 6 weeks) could be a big problem and we'll continue to monitor that.
HIGHLIGHTS: The Puerto Rico Tip-Off was an early test against high profile teams and the Gophers were expected to do well, but not favored to win it all, which is exactly what they did. Wins over North Carolina and West Virginia, two big time programs, solidified the Gophers as contenders for the Big Ten and NCAA Tournament, not just participants.
LOWLIGHTS: On November 29th, the Gophers reminded us all what the definition of humble is. Their home loss to Virginia, an ACC foe, but a regular ACC bottom feeder, was a wake up call that nothing is going to be easy and no team should be taken for granted.
OUTLOOK: The Gophers finish their non-conference slate at home against Akron and neighboring South Dakota State. Neither team should be taken lightly. Akron nearly made the NCAA's last year after an OT loss to Ohio in their Championship game. South Dakota State is 7-2 on the season and have already won on the road against a Big Ten team this year, at Iowa November 14th. Big Ten season starts on the road against Wisconsin on December 28th, then the madness really begins!
MINNESOTA TWINS - "Waiting in Vain" -Bob Marley
Record (2010): 94-68 AL Central Champs, Lost in ALDS to Yankees 0-3
Rankings (Hot Stove): 6th FoxSports.com
The Twins have been relatively quiet this offseason so far. The biggest noise made so far is the trade of JJ Hardy to the Baltimore Orioles (not too mention the dumping of Brendon Harris) for right handed Minor League pitchers Jim Hoey and Brett Jacobson. Getting rid of Hardy seemed to be a foregone conclusion when it was announced the Twins won the exclusive rights to strike up a contract with 26-year old Japanese shortstop Tsuyoshi Nishioka.
HIGHLIGHTS: The trade of Hardy and impending signing (hopefully) o
f Nishioka rids the Twins of a player that underperformed and was riddled with injuries in his only season in Minnesota. Ron Gardenhire finally won the coveted AL Manager of the year award for a brilliant season directing the Twins to another postseason with a banged up roster. This award is for the regular season only, otherwise Ron Washington would have picked it up. Our Ron gives us a chance to win every year, whether you think he's the right man for the job or not. If his playoff struggles continue, that could cost him a job, but for 162 games, I'm not sure how many really great managers there are out there, and we have a good one right here, and the Twins have elected to keep Gardenhire on for another 3 years at least.LOWLIGHTS: Today's news was a little somber as a long time Twin has departed and is heading to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Matt Guerrier signed a 3 year contract with the boys in blue and has spent his entire 7 year career with the Twins. A durable workhorse out of the bullpen, and a great character guy in the clubhouse, the Twins will definitely miss his contributions.
OUTLOOK: It's only December, meaning there's still another 3 months until spring training, but the Twins have a lot of work to do. The biggest of which is deciding on whether to re-sign Carl Pavano and Jim Thome, 2 veterans that proved that each has a lot left in the tank and is worthy of their place on the roster. Pavano is openly shopping and may be more interested in the highest bidder. In just 1 and half seasons though, he's created a loyal mustache following unlike anyone else in the league and would be a sad sight not to have the Stache at Target Field next year. Jim Thome did everything but upset Twins fans last year. I challenge you to find a Twins fan that has bad things to say about Thome. Despite the fact he turned 40 this year, and had about half his normal at bats, Thome still led the Twins with 25 homeruns. He's got a lot left in the tank and has the enthusiasm and energy that ballclubs love to have in the clubhouse and on the field. He's also earned a big raise from last year. The question is whether the Twins want to pay that raise or let Thome get it from someone else. For now, we'll take a cue and relax with Bob Marley as we wait in vain on the Minnesota Twins.
GOPHERS HOCKEY "Where are You Going?" - Dave Matthews Band
Record: 9-7-2 overall, 6-6-2 WCHA
Rankings: 17th USA Today, 19th US College Hockey Online
The Gophers find themselves in middle ground right now, not out of it by any means, but
certainly not leading the way either. And they haven't proven anything lately, since Thanksgiving, the Gophers are 2-3-1, with consecutive losses to an inferior Minnesota State team. Where are you going Gophers Hockey? We would all like to know.HIGHLIGHTS: Their weekend series against UMD grants a little hope for a 2nd half surge. The Gophers took the first game and split the 2nd, walking away without a loss to a team ranked in the top 5 in the nation, let alone the WCHA.
LOWLIGHTS: The back to back losses to the Mavericks of Minnesota State definitely sting. To leave Mankato without even so much as a tie will keeps Minnesota from joining the upper echelon of the WCHA.
OUTLOOK: The Gophers schedule is about to get a whole lot harder. They have non-conference games versus two teams ahead of them in the rankings in Ferris State and Union, followed by amatchup with the USA under 18 team. Then they're back in WCHA action, but on the road against conference juggernaut North Dakota for a pair. Will the team that showed its grit against UMD show up in the near future, or will the team that showed its weaknesses against Mankato come to play. Gopher Fans hope for the latter.
MINNESOTA WILD "Pass Me By" - Frank Sinatra
Record: 13-12-4, 3rd Northwest Division, 13th in Western Conference
Power Rankings: 22nd ESPN, 22nd Sports Illustrated
The Wild can be crooning with Franky lately as everyone near them, including anyone close to Nickolas Backstrom, has passed on by without much of a problem. On November 19th, the Wild were 10-6-2 and outperforming their expectations, giving the #1 hockey fans a lot of hope that the Wild were more than we thought they were. Since the 19th, the Wild are 3-6-2 and have fallen back to where many predicted they would be.
HIGHLIGHTS: The Wild have are coming off a 4 game road trip where they went 2-1-1. The two wins came against Los Angeles and Phoenix, both of whom are ahead of the Wild and in the thick of the playoff race.
LOWLIGHTS: Unable to keep momentum going from the 2
wins above, the Wild finished their road trip by getting blown out by Anaheim, a good team, but comparable to Los Angeles and Phoenix. The legs could have been weary from the long trip, it'll be interesting to see if the wins were a fluke or something they can build on.OUTLOOK: Pierre Marc-Bouchard is back after missing over 100 games because of a concussion. This is a good sign for a team hoping to fight for a bottom playoff spot. The Wild's next 3 games are against losing teams, at Ottawa and a home and away with Calgary. This will be a great time to take advantage of the schedule, as the end of December brings in power playoff teams Colorado, Detroit, Columbus, and San Jose.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS - "Till I Collapse" - Eminem
Record: 5-8, 3rd in NFC North, 10th in NFC Conference
Power Rankings: 21st Sports Illustrated, 26th ESPN
The chorus of Eminem's song begins like this: Till, the roof comes off, till the lights go out, till my legs give out, can't shut my mouth...Well I'm hear to say that all of these things have come to pass in the last month for our Vikings and we can all save our voices for next year. The roof literally came down during the huge blizzard last weekend, forcing the Vikings to play a "home game" in Detroit of all places. The team's playoff lights went out with there loss to the Giants, and BrettFavre's legs finally gave out.
HIGHLIGHTS: For the 1st time all year, the Vikings won consecutive games, albeit to two non-playoff teams, the Redskins and Bills. But we need to find a silver lining in what might come down as the most disappointing season in recent memory, if not the Vikings entire history.
LOWLIGHTS: Too many. The team has 8 losses, meaning the best finish will only end up at .500. The "home loss" to the NY Giants was deflating, because a 9-7 record would have at least kept things interesting, even though it's likely a team needs to be 10-6 to make the NFC playoffs sans the eventual and pitiful NFC West Champ. The pressing need for a QB was highlighted after T-Jack failed to perform anything worthy of an NFL starter.
OUTLOOK: 3 games remain for this lame duck team. The next game is Monday night (Dec. 20th) at another new home for the Vikings, the University of Minnesota TCF Bank Stadium. The Metrodome roof collapse could actually turn out to be a blessing in disguise. With the Vikings out of the playoffs and Favre's streak over, the team doesn't have a lot to be press worthy of, until the roof collapsed! Media coverage from around the world have focused on Minneapolis and the first outdoor NFL game here in 29 years. The logistics of moving the Vikings toTCF Bank stadium in less than a week are amazing. What normally would take months to schedule and organize, must be done in 6 days, including clearing multiple feet of snow and preparing a stadium built for Fall weather. Green Bay might have the frozen tundra, but the Vikings will have their own frozen ground, playing on a non-heated surface. Regardless, there is still buzz in this town about the game and the Vikings, just the recipe needed for a team desperate to keep their fans (and the legislature) interested in Vikings football beyond 2010.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES "You Can't Always Get What You Want" - Rolling Stones
Record: 6-19 5th Northwest, 13th in Western Conference
Power Rankings: 23rd Sports Illustrated, 25th ESPN
If Mick Jagger was talking about the 2010-11 Minnesota Timberwolves, he'd be dead on singing to the tune of this classic hit. If an NBA game only lasted 3 quarters, the Timberwolves would be in the conversation of a playoff spot. The Timberwolves have had no problem getting double digit leads, but they've had all the pain in the world, keeping those leads and finding a way to the W column in the box score. On November 17th, the T-Wolves were 4-9, not great, but at least enough to keep people interested. Since then, the Wolves have gone 2-10 and have reminded everyone that there is still a long way to go.
HIGH
LIGHTS: Since wins are hard to come by, let's highlight a couple players standing out this season. Michael Beasley and Kevin Love are quickly on their way to stardom. Don't give up on Beasley just because the Miami Heat did. The Heat had to cut him with the entrance of the Big 3. Beasley is proving why any team would be glad to have his services. His 21.2 points per game are good for 15th in the league. Kevin Love on the other hand is establishing himself as the new Rebounding King in the NBA. Love posted the first 30/30 game in 28 years and hasn't let up all year, averaging 15.2 boards/game, which is far and away the best in the league (2nd place Zach Randolph 12.3).LOWLIGHTS: There are a lot to pick from with the recent stretch of losses, however I'll highlight 2 from the same team: the San Antonio Spurs. At 20-3, the Spurs are the best team in the entire NBA, but for 6 of eight quarters the Minnesota Timberwolves were better. On November 24th, the Wolves, led by Kevin Love's 32 points and 22 rebounds had the Spurs on the ropes and led by as much as 20, and 11 to start the 4th quarter, ran out of gas. The Spurs forced an OT and held Minnesota to just 3 points for the win. Just a week later, the Timberwolves met the Spurs in San Antonio for another game. The Timberwolves hung with the Spurs in the first half and amazing spurted away in the 3rd quarter, building a 15 point lead to start the 4th. Again, if only they played 3 quarters. The 4th quarter was all Spurs, erasing the lead and taking the game by 6 points, despite a great effort and 28 points by Beasley.
OUTLOOK: The Timberwolves play 5 of their next 6 games on the road, where they can claim only 1 victory. This stretch will really test their wits and pride. The season is a loss in terms of the playoffs, but the team can win over there fans with aggressive energetic play and reasons to believe that with another high draft pick, the team can return to the playoffs sooner rather than later. Love & Beasley have done just that, now is the time for Webster, Ridnour, Darko, Johnson, and Flynn to live up and make the rest of us believers.
GOPHERS FOOTBALL "Killing Me Softly" - Roberta Flack
Record: 3-9, (2-6) - Finished 10th in Big Ten
Ranking: 86th Sagarin Football Rankings
The Gophers Football team finished off a dreadful season where they fired long time loser head coach Tim Brewster, lost to FCS foe South Dakota, and had a 9 game losing streak. The Gophers were headed toward a 1-11 record, but found strength at the end of the season to avoid double digit losses by winning the last 2 games and finishing 3-9. After the season, Gophers AD Joel Maturi promised the fans and boosters he'd be bringing in a big name coach,
just like he did with Tubby Smith in basketball. So when the news arrived the Gophers were hiring Jerry Kill, Maturi all killed us softly with his choice. Kill's Northern Illinois Huskies came in and beat the Gophers at TCF Bank stadium in what turned out to be an audition for his future. The Huskies finished 10-3, but lost in the MAC Conference championship game to Miami (OH). Maturi is a MAC guy and its no surprise he couldn't land a big name coach. That and Minnesota is just a tough place to recruit players, let alone head coaches.HIGHLIGHTS: The biggest win on the season was saved for the last game. On November 27th, the Golden Gophers pulled off a golden upset of border rival Iowa 27-24. The Hawkeyes, ranked 24th at the time, finished their season by losing a heavily favored game, regulated Iowa to a mid-tier bowl, after early season hopes of smelling the roses. The Gophers won back the pig, Floyd of Rosedale, and did what Brewster couldn't do, win a trophy game. The loss in the least gave Gophers fans something to hold onto for the long cold, bitter winter ahead.
LOWLIGHTS: The hiring of Kill by the numbers looks good. The guy has won every where he's gone. The problem is he's gone from High School to Division 2, to a mid-major Division 1. This is by far his biggest job and he'll be seeing the best talent day in and day out come the Big Ten schedule. UNI's strength of schedule this year was 122, compared to the Gophers 38th. Kill will have to win to attract recruits, a task that has come with many difficulties at the U.
OUTLOOK: The Gophers will be starting a new era next year, not only will it be Kill time, but there will be a new QB under center for the first time in 5 years. Adam Weber graduates after setting many school records, mainly based on the fact that he played so many games to accumulate those stats. Regardless, he was a fine quarterback, not flashy, but consistent. Marquis Gray is in line for the job, he's waited more than most people would and he'll bring in a mobile style contrast to what we've been seeing with Weber. Whether that and Kill's coaching leads to more wins, I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Well that's it for the 3rd installment of the Minnesota Sports Misery Rankings. I'm sorry I couldn't bring you any better news, but I hope you found the silver linings you were looking for.
Until next time, remember when shoveling, lift with your knees.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Like most things in life nowadays, Google is at the center of virtual travel. You can pinpoint a location down to the foot. In fact, you can even end up on the map itself if you happen to be lucky enough to have the street view cam car catch you. I'll get to that in a little bit. Google's map features are so incredible they make you forget that Mapquest even existed. I can vaguely remember the days when someone asked me where something was and I told them the address and said to mapquest it. Little did I know that google would swallow Mapquest, as they did Yahoo and everything else in their path. On top of being able to search for any address in the world, Google gives you the option to view the maps politically, via satellite, the terrain, in real traffic time, and maybe the most visually impressive, Google Earth. The Google Earth view allows you to view the landscape and terrain of any spot on Earth with buildings and other landmarks projected in 3D. However, I rank the Satellite view as the most appealing feature.
I consider myself to be a connoisseur of geography. Next to sports, I eat up all the information I can get on world geography. Maybe that's odd, but I just find it interesting to learn about the different countries and cultures there are out there. And to realize that life exists in many different ways outside of the US. Back to the satellite view. Have you ever wondered about those tiny dots on the globe that you need magnifying glasses to see in many cases? Well often times those dots are tiny countries, islands, and ultimately someones home land. I implore you to pull up Google maps and find one of those tiny dots, then hit Satellite view and zoom in. You may be interested to find houses and roads exist in the craziest of places. Yesterday, I took a jaunt through the Tanzania, I had heard of a spot where the highest density of elephants in the world was, the Tarangire National Park, I saw mainly desert for most of the virtual trip, but then all of a sudden I stumbled onto a huge pack of elephants.
The Street view option is amazing too. It's like someone has given you keys to a car that can drive anywhere in the world without the need of a passport. Almost every major city in the world has its city streets street viewed by Google. Just drag and hold the little yellow man on your left, if the street or road lights up blue, you're good to go. Plop the yellow man (or woman) down and begin sightseeing. A couple months ago I took a trip up the Highlands in Scotland, I've always wanted to go there, and still do, but for now I'll settle for the virtual trip. I've never been to Australia, but would love to go someday, in the meantime, I visited Ayers rock a couple days ago. I drove as far as I could, then used pictures to get to the large sediment rock in Western Australia.
I could go on and on about places I've been. I love to travel, but current economic times put discretionary spending on travel as a low priority. If you find yourself in this situation, don't fret, always keep your goals in front of you and if you really want to get there someday, determination will see that you do. But for now, take a virtual tour, its free and you just might find or stumble upon something you had no idea that existed. And maybe that makes you more worldly or you find it interesting like me. Or maybe you can take a virtual break from a stressful reality. Whatever your choice may be, I hope your travels bring you joy and a new sense of awareness of the world around you.
That's all for now. Happy traveling and don't forget to bring 2 forms of ID with you when you travel!
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