Welcome to the Thunderdome
I'm assuming the game I attended last night was as boring in person as it was on t.v. For once I actually didn't think we were going to lose. I mean, how bad are the Bears? Wow. Here are some other thoughts from festivities at 34 Puckett Place last night:
- Did it get louder or did I get older? Now I remember one of the reasons why Gauck's parents stopped going to the games. Between the fireworks & the AC/DC I thought I was at the KQRS booth at the fair.
- As I entered the game moments before kickoff with apparently everyone else and was being patted down for the now requisite terrorist search, the security guard angrily asked his buddy - "Why the hell do people all come 2 minutes before kick off?" I commented "Because they're busy getting drunk." And how right I was. People were loaded. Now I remember the second reason Gauck's parents stopped going to the games.
- Best dressed: some dude was head-to-toe Tinky from TeleTubbies, purse and all. He said he lost a bet. I say he wears it for the comfort.
- Best cheer: "Packers suck."
- Worst cheer: "Cooper sucks" which was yelled by some doorknob during halftime as they were presenting trophies to the All-State high school football team. Oh, and Minnesota Mr. Football (who committed to Notre Dame) was actually booed.
- Worst fans: the two Bears idiots behind us.
- Best fans: me and Roedel
Well, we are 8-6. Our dreams have come true, we actually have a football team that we have to care about in the post-season.
5 Comments:
Sure the game was not exactly a model for offense, but overall I enjoyed it, most likely because I never get to see the Vikes. Some pointless ramblings:
1.The annoucers were off the Vikes bandwagon by the 3rd qtr. They were basically mocking their chances in the playoffs and discounting the 4 prior wins. I prefer Thiesman to Jaws as a commentator. I like how Jaws can disect a play, but his delivery and tone drive me nuts. He and Kornhieser seem to clash too.
2. T-Jack needs to improve his decision making. The pick where he ran into the back of the lineman and then put it up was terrible.
3. Chad Greenway is a pile on-er. He did not make a lot of tackles, but he jumped on a lot of piles and seemed to be the first guy off the pile. Someone needs to tell him those don't count as tackles.
4. T-Jack did have a couple of nice balls with some touch on them. The 2 that come to mind, the pass to Kliensausage and the screen to AP in the first half. I thought it was going to be overthrown but he led him perfectly.
5. The worst thing that could have happened to Kyle Orton is having to take the field. That game probably cut his career a little bit shorter than if he had been allowed to sit on the sidelines. Oh, and I found Barriero's mustache, it is on Orton's mug.
6. The highlight of the game, at the end when they went through all the teams the Vikes just knocked out of playoff contention.
December 18, 2007 at 10:41 AM
Per,
You are spot on about why my parents no longer go to games. That said, they still "own" the seats and sell them off every year, so if you guys (you, Roedel, Stanch et al) want to split up the season, let me know. You've sat in the seats before - 6th row behind the Vikes bench.
Anyway, it seemed pretty rowdy in there last night. The combo of the holidays, a light work week, stupid bears fans and overall drunkenness probably made it pretty fun. That said, all the punting got old.
I'm just psyched/impressed that the Vikes were able to win ugly when they clearly weren't playing well offensively. Chuck, that throw to Kliensausage was gorgeous - Alshouse actually called me after the last horrible pick and said: "How can he throw that perfect ball to Sasser and then throw the last two picks? Yuck." Bottom line is we got the win despite 4 turnovers, which rarely ever happens. Big thanks go to Lovie Smith for rolling Orton out there.
BTW, how ridiculous does he look? Get a haircut and a shave, dude. Seriously. Also, how stupid did Rex Grossman look on the sidelines...carrying a football all over the place with his headphones on. I texted Wass and told him Grossman looked like an 8-year-old on Christmas morning.
Defensive highlight: Winfield chasing down Hester on that reverse for no gain. Awesome.
Funny how the announcers who were all talking about how T-Jack has "grown up" were completely throwing him under the bus by the end of the game. They should have consulted this group for advice. A big sign that he has improved, however: when he went out with that brief injury, I actually found myself worrying, and hoping he was okay...and was relieve when he came back in.
So, it's us, New Orleans and Washington for the last playoff spot. Washington plays us, then has Dallas at home. New Orleans plays Philly at home then at Chicago. Bottom line, we really need to win out, although 9-7 will hopefully get it done, especially if we beat the skins.
It's fun caring about your NFL team in Dec.
December 18, 2007 at 11:36 AM
Agreed with you both- that the touch exhibited on the throw to Kleinusedtobeafactorbutnowjustablocker made my heart pitter, patter with hope.
I hate this Monday Night crew (oh how I pine for the Michaels, Gifford, Dierdorf days)- especially Kornheiser, who brings absolutely nothing to the table...did he watch football before this gig?- all he does is make general statements and recite stats that someone hands him to support his case- with absolutely no insiight... I really hate him. I'd rather listen to Dennis Miller.
As bad as Jaws' onscreen persona is- at least he played the f_ game and knows what he's talking. I actually thought he made a good point about TJack... great skills, but needs to improve his footwork and throw from a stable platform- this should improve his accuracy greatly- even when he completes the pass he rarely leads receivers properly, putting it on the right hip etc., there were too many throws last night that were either outright misses, or the receiver had to make adjustments for the catch that seriously sacrificed their after the catch yards... e.g.the would-be touchdown to Rice that TJack pulled short and right because he was uneasy in the pocket.
I think he can develop- and I'd like to see what he can do with another offseason of learning....he's still very young.
December 18, 2007 at 4:42 PM
I see we're all pretty much on the same page on the game so I'll just summarize: team in progress; a win's a win; QB shows potential but also youthful inconsistency; Orton's a major league goof; Bears have fallen harder than any "just played in last year's Super Bowl" team ever; 9-7, lose by 21 in Seattle.
rts - I think Jaws is much more interesting than 95% of football analysts. I actually learn things from him. Agreed that I don't like the way he delivers the end of his big points, though. Does this quick trailing off of his voice and it's annoying. But you must have a short memory, because Thiesman was BRUTAL. Sullen, inevitably wrong about any judgment call, zero sense of humor. A Domer, in other words.
I kind of like some of Kornheiser's comments. He actually speaks his random, insightful thoughts, about player psyches, emerging patterns, momentum changes and other things fans think about when watching a game. He could do x's and o's but knows that's not what he's there for.
The one thing that should have been noted but wasn't was that AP "struggled mightily" and still wound up with 4 yds. a pop with 2 TDs. They briefly talked about how we went back to our bread and butter, but they didn't mention that the o-line and AP wore down the Bears D.
Highlight for me was Tirico immediately expressing on national TV my exact thoughts on being surprised AP didn't go around right end for a 98 yard TD a la Tony Dorsett.
December 18, 2007 at 6:21 PM
While not a fan of Jaws as a commentator (Like I said he is great breaking down a play, better fit in the studio), he does not even compare to the 2 I hate the most, Boomer Esiason and Paul MaGuire.
Paul Maguire is the anti-christ of annoucing. You want to talk about a guy who is always wrong and adds nothing, he is your man. I swear I once heard him praise a defender who just got pancaked as someone who was getting down and dirty trying to clog the hole. Good luck with that while breathing out your ear hole and forgetting the last 60 seconds of your life. Also he starts every replay with "Watch this" or "Watch what he does here" and inevitably the film contradicts what he says. The guy is an idiot.
On a more positive note, Jan I am glad the Vikings won so you can maintain your ability to attend games.
December 18, 2007 at 7:49 PM
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