An embarrassing Gopher Hoops streak ends at 20

Attended the festivities at The Barn last night watching the Tubby-led Gopher's end the 20 win streak the Illini had over us (that is a shame.) The first half - ugly. The second half - better but not pristine. The saving grace? Defense. Souhan has an article where he talks about the man defense Tubby used and he quotes Westbrook as saying that the difference between Tubby and Monson's defense might be that: ''I think Monson's defense, maybe he wanted to let the other team score." Sure felt that way under Danny-boy.

This was the first game I had been to in a while where I was so impressed by defense and coaching. Tubby is doing something special here. Loved that he plays his bench (more because he has to) for example, after the first 3 minutes and things going kind of sideways, Tubby replaced all 5 starters. You can see the moves Tubby makes and when something works, he tries it again like when Hofarber hit a 3 (his first since Hopkins v Minnetonka - at least that's how it has felt he has been in quite the slump) the Gopher's came back down the court and ran a play for him to take another 3 pointer (he clanked it) but I liked the call.

My Cambria Countertop Player of the Game is Ralph Sampson III. While he had one FG (yes, 1) he did get to the line going 8 for 10 and grab 7 rebounds. Exactly what you want from the young rising star.

That Pesky Califormia Housing Bust and Minnesota Part Deux

So, Target is laying off 600 workers, not good. Also in today's (yesterday's news); BBY moves to the 'involuntary' plan. If you're following at home, if you took the buyout, you get paid for the same amount of time if you didn't take the buyout just that you don't have to go to work for 1.5 months. Call me "Minnesota Fats."

Switching gears...

Stenerud, I know you've said this before, but Howard Sinker (Twins blogger on Strib.com) is the man. What makes him even more impressive is that he does it "on the side," as his day job is to run/manage the Startribune website. Anyway, he had a good post today that got me sort of excited for spring training. As usual, I think he nailed it in terms of how this crew is feeling...

1) Rotation looks very solid, especially if Blackburn and Perkins continue to mature a bit
2) Bullpen is a question mark, but he is optimistic, largely based on the return of Crain
3) A new deal for Kubel would be great as the guy is our 2nd most prolific HR hitter and should continue to improve
4) Delmon has the potential for a nice year if he stays on his 2nd half of 2008 pace
5) The left side of the infield makes him (and us) queasy
6) The Twins tied for a division title last year, and open Target Field in 15 months...it's time to get fired up!

http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/sinker/2009/01/21/finding-a-level-of-optimism-for-2009/

The Greatest Photo of My Lifetime

FTLOSBW Recongizes History

It's January 20, 2008 and normally we would be celebrating KISS frontman Paul Stanley 's birthday but today . . .

Rejoice

Thanks Wildcats...

Random

First, who put up that link to the shredding company videos? AWESOME.

Also, to add to the non-sports hijinks today (slow sports week, I guess), there's this: http://www.amazon.com/Playmobil-3172-Security-Check-Point/dp/B0002CYTL2/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top, which has produced what has to be the funniest bunch of snarkity snark product reviews ever seen on Amazon.

I especially liked this one: "I like the basic idea. I applaud Playmobile for attempting to provide us with the tools we need to teach our children to unquestioningly obey the commands of the State Security Apparatus, but unfortunately, this product falls short of doing that. There's no brown figure for little Josh to profile, taser, and detain? Where are all the frightened plastic Heartlanders pointing at the brown figure as they whisper "terrorist?" Where are the hippy couple figures being denied boarding passes? And shouldn't someone be forcing a mother figure to drink her own breast milk?"

My pledge to you and all of Viking land.

If the Arizona Cardinals win the Super Bowl, I, RedTigerShark, will suspend my Vikings fandom until the Vikings reach the Super Bowl. I think that the very least I am owed for approximately 29 years of fanaticism, is that 2 of the franchises generally looked at for futility, the Cards and the Bucs, do not win Super Bowls before the Vikings. Call it what you will. Call it jumping off the bandwagon, I don't care. I call it being slighted and the butt of a very unfunny joke.

Now before you dismiss this as just sour grapes about the loss two weeks ago, I would like to point out that if the Cards win the Super Bowl, it will be the second year in a row that the Vikings have thrashed the eventual Super Bowl winner late in the season. As I am sure you all remember, the Vikings beat the Giants 41-17 in week 12 last year and they beat the Cards 35-14 in week 15 this year. This does not happen to every team, only ours.

This rant also applies if the Lions or Saints win the Super Bowl before the Vikings. Obviously, their threat is not as eminent. The Cards still have to win two big games for it to happen, but I felt the need to get this down in writing and on the record.

Regards,

RTS

Shhhhh, there is a team that is winning in Minny

Yesterday I watched the end of the PSU/Gopher hoops game from the Barn. When I tuned in there were 10 minutes left and the game was already over but I watched until the end to see who was doing what and came to appreciate the 'team' effort that Tubby has instilled at the U. Heard a quote from an interview where he said that the game was about teamwork and he tells players that the ball might be in their hands to take a shot and score the points but at the end of the game everyone gets credit for the win. Love it. Love it. Love it. The win moves the Gophers to 15 and 1 with a 3 and 1 record in the Big Televen.

Team is now on the road for 2 in a row at Wisconsin on Thursday then to Northwestern (on Saturday, I think.) Hey BG, you gonna root for your Wildcats in this one too because they "need it more?" Say what you want about spending 6 years at school there or blah, blah, blah, I'm holding you personally responsible every time the U falls to NU whether it is hoops, football, or cup stacking (yeah, she goes to the U now, is the world record holder, and plays on the women's hoops team.)

Blyleven for the HOF

Gents,
Apparently, Jim Caple (who we can all agree to like, since he seems to love MN) has recently decided that he WILL vote for Bert Blyleven next time around. He hosted a chat today, which I randomly stumbled across.

Check it out...I just skimmed it, but it appears people are generally in support, except for a couple of knuckleheads from NY. Also, funny comment by Caple about how people started adding a "but from MN" caveat to their hometown line, which he classifies as "Oh so Minnesotan" but something that he loves.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=24485

Jan, hope the parenting is going well!

P.S. Nice win for Gopher hoops last Saturday to fend off an 0-2 start.

Pohlad dead

This is literally the only thing that could justify posting over Jan's story. Now I'm not going to jump up and down with glee, but I will ask the question this is a good thing for the organization right?

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3812007

FTLOSBW Lands top Recruit

On Saturday January 3, 2009 at 2:30pm, FTLOSBW landed its youngest and most highly anticipated recruit when Ilsa Olsten Peterson entered the world. The 9 pound, 21.25 inch Lady FTLOSBWer will no doubt bring a whole new perspective to both the blog and to Jan's daily life.