Through the season's first 50 games, The Minnesota Twins defense have committed just 12 errors which, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, breaks the old record of 17 set by the 2006 Boston Red Sox and the 2009 Philadelphia Phillies. That's pretty amazing when you think about it. Not only did they beat the record, but by almost 1/2!!! The Twins have always been known to teach the fundamentals throughout their organization down through the years, especially during the Tom Kelly/Ron Gardenhire regimes.

   A baseball team with a solid defense always has a chance to win, because it gives a team's pitcher confidence that, even if he has a bad game, the defense will be there to possibly save some runs for him. That's got to be a big confidence-booster, and incentive to pitch better. Plus, when the team plays better defense, the mental errors seem to disappear as well. A lot of teams envy the Twins and the way they play fundamental baseball. It's easy to see why - their rock-solid defense is a real weapon, and a big reason why they're leading their division by 5 games over the Tigers.

   As the Twins have opened the inaugural season at the new Target Field in Minneapolis (to great success, so far), the team has responded well to the new park, the fans, the new members of the team, and have embraced playing outdoor baseball once again in the Twin Cities. And let me say, it's been a long time coming.

   The Twins, as far back as I can remember, have always been a team that starts slow, sticking around in the division until it's almost too late, then finishing strong to win the division. That was the case in the magical season of 2006, when they went into the All-Star break floundering, then finished with an amazing turnaround, winning with .700 baseball the 2nd half of the season. This year, however, has seen an amazingly strong start, with the Twins, after a doubleheader split with the Orioles, at 20-11, leading the Tigers by 4-1/2 games in the American League Central, and with the third-best record in the major leagues, behind the Tampa Bays Rays and the Yankees, both in the American League East. The reasons are many, including plenty of run scoring, more power than expected, and the return of Francisco Liriano to something akin to his 2006 form. Also, the pleasant surprise of Jon Rauch, filling in as closer very nicely for the injured Joe Nathan. Rauch has 8 saves already, with a 2.25 ERA in 11 appearances.
   In addition to all the offense, the Twins, per their blueprint throughout the organization, have stressed the importance of fundamentals, which has resulted in nearly mistake-free baseball so far. The Starting pitching has been holding up relatively well, but little nagging injuries have cropped up. As long as the Twins stay relatively healthy, the sky is the limit for this team. The only team with a chance to contend with them in the division  is the Tigers. Where the team is at when the All-Star break rolls around will go a long way to deciding where they'll finish come post-season time. I see the Twins running away with the division by the end of August. We'll see - it's a LONG season, a season to which I'm very much looking forward.
   Too bad Herb Carneal didn't live long enough to see the completion of Target Field. I have a sneaking suspiscion, however, that 'ol Herb is looking down and smiling on this team.

More Royce White drama…is it final this time?  Local news reports broke a new story in the Royce White saga Monday, revealing that the indecisive and troubled freshman is to leave the U of M basketball team for the second time.  The Star Tribune posted a great article and video for the story.  If you watch the interview, this time Royce is talking with his lawyer following his court appearance today. 

The court date stems back to accusations of a laptop theft in Territorial Hall, right in the heart of campus.  The first time White left was a couple of months ago, after another theft case at the Mall of America.  Around this time, White posted some YouTube videos discussing his future, and then quit.  Eventually it seemed things were slowly being sorted out, and most recently, Royce was even practicing with the team.  By the way, it was odd seeing White back on the sidelines.  It was also unfortunate to see junior guard Al Nolen there with him (academic ineligibility).  But now, when asked about his future in Minnesota, Royce says he plans to withdraw sometime this week.  But going right alongside his unpredictable nature, Royce said he would return to the U only if Tubby let him play on Saturday vs. Penn State.  Even though Royce says that’s not realistic, my thoughts are how could he even say that? 

For everyone out there who believes Royce should play because he’s a superior athlete, keep in mind there are always other things to consider.  Sports are about passion, heart, dedication, and commitment, especially on the collegiate level.  While I’m not going to say Royce doesn’t have heart and a commitment for the game, he hasn’t showed it at the University of Minnesota.  One of the biggest reasons I love Gophers basketball, apart from the great leadership of Tubby Smith, is because it’s college basketball.  There is so much energy and heart, and it’s obvious to see at any Saturday morning game in the Barn.  Even in a year that’s maybe just not destined to be, I will still go to any game I can get to—and I know that’s the case for other members of “Gopher Nation.”  But for the time being, it looks like the White saga is over…or should I say it’s to be continued?

Most recently, the Gophers have suffered hard-hitting losses to Michigan State and Ohio State, respectively--with a win over Northwestern that came in between.  Michigan State was their first home loss, and like many other college basketball teams, they continue to have troubles on the road, with 7 total losses.  Next up is Penn State led by the talented Talor Battle.  And then the Gophers finally return home next Thursday vs. Michigan.   

Speaking of Gopher Nation, Gopher football head coach Tim Brewster just received a two year extension.  Whether I like it or not, Brewster will be the Gophers head coach for the rest of my academic career.  And I guess I don’t really know what to think, at least now.  The past two years, the guy (and the rest of the team), has got me fired up about Gopher Nation and the best stadium in college football, only to let me down.  As my knowledgeable, yet opinionated friend Joel says, “So many false promises.”   But I’m also realizing that these things take time, and Brewster may achieve glory and success someday here.  Just a few years may be too quick to judge, but he also has only two years left to win my Gopher football pride back.

This whole Joe Mauer things has really caught fire the past couple days, and no official word on his future with the Twins seems to be out there.  What I will say is this.  Last Wednesday, I hopped on over to Cretin-Derham Hall for the taping of Homecoming with Rick Reilly, where he interviewed Joe.  It was an awesome show, with Joe’s family and around 4,000 other Twins fans.  He definitely gave some hints at staying, and when Reilly asked him if winning or staying in Minnesota was more important, Mauer put it simply:  “Why not have both?”  Yeah…I think this one is going to be ok.

In the Gophers second consecutive Big Ten matchup on the road Sunday, they again fell. Earlier this week, Minnesota fell to one of the more experienced and accomplished teams in the nation at Michigan State. For the second best team in the country last year, the Gophers put up a fight, but came up short, losing 60-53. But yesterday it was the team from the lower end of the Big Ten's totem pole that brought Tubby's team down. With the excitement of the Vikings game, my carefree attitude towards Indiana's prowess, and not to mention being deprived of the Big Ten network, I didn't watch the game. But on my way back to the suburbs for one more home cooked meal before classes began, I caught word that the Gophers were trailing near the end of regulation. Monday morning brought news that Minnesota lost in overtime, 81-78. In some ways it was surprising, in other ways... not so much.

The Gophers aren't even half way through their conference season, and it already seems there have been more disappointments and lost chances on what could have been. From Royce White to the fallout in Anaheim in the 76 Classic, this season didn't kick start like it appeared it would. And that's a huge let down for me and the rest of Tubby's fan base. Just when I thought Gophers basketball could ease my football woes, more trouble ensued off the court, and as a result, had an effect on what happened on the court. Mbakwe and White are still out, and it seems unlikely that they will ever have a spot in the lineup this year. This team is already deep with a variety of unique talents and skill sets, but kind of like the Vikings, it seems this was their year to capitalize. Unlike the Vikes, the Gophers do not have a strong shot on going deep in the Big Dance. In fact, I'm starting to wonder if the Gophs will have a chance to dance come March.

But at the same time, there is time (always a great thing to have), undeniable talent, and of course, Tubby Smith. All of these things reassure me that the Gophers are far from being done, and are still one of the top contenders in the Big Ten. Not to mention, this is college basketball, and from everything I've gathered in my college career, anything can happen. I feel teams always play hard and more than anything, for the love of the game. This energy and passion only increases as the season moves on. I was working during the Michigan State game this past week, but I heard that the Gophers didn't go down easily. This Saturday, Minnesota has a huge opportunity against Michigan State again, this time at the Barn. The Gophers are still undefeated at home, and are sure to be hungry for some revenge. If this season is about opportunities, this is a decisive one the Gophers don't want to regret.

That's it for the Kid on Campus. Stay tuned for more Gopher sports updates, and the word around Dinkytown.

It should be an interesting first weekend for the 2009 NFL Playoffs. Of the four games being played this weekend, three of them feature teams that played each other in Week 17 of the NFL season. I have been a fan for over 30 years, and I can never remember anything like that happening. Sheer coincidence, for sure, but it makes for some interesting matchups, nonetheless. 

NFC:

Green Bay at Arizona - right now the Packers are probably the hottest team in the NFC. After all, they ended the season on a 7-1 roll after starting out 4-4. Arizona, after beating up on the Vikings, has been on somewhat of a slide, and injuries are piling up for them. Anquan Boldin, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Antrel Rolle and Calais Campbell are all hurt. This game is in Arizona, however, and when the Cardinals are playing at home anything can happen. They are 4-4 at home, but 6-2 on the road. In the Week 17 contest,  Green Bay won 33-7, with the Cardinals resting a majority of their starters. However, the Packers are the better team, even though the Cardinals (4) are seeded higher than the Packers (5).  Their offense is playing much better, and the defense seems to have bought into Defensive Coordinator Dom Capers' 3-4 scheme.

Prediction: Packers 34, Cardinals 24

Philadelphia at Dallas  - here is a matchup that should make for an exciting game. Arguably, the Cowboys have the hottest QB in the league in Tony Romo - when was the last time a QB threw for 300 yds. twice in one season against the Eagles? The Eagles have some problems on defense, and  Brian Westbrook just returned from injury, so Donovan McNabb is going to have to do a big share of the work. However, he has DeSean Jackson to throw to, so things aren't ALL bad. In the Week 17 game, at Dallas (which the Cowboys won 17-0), both teams were playing for the division title, and the Eagles had a shot at the No. 2 seed.  So what happened? Philly came out and laid a complete egg. The Cowboys offense is 2nd in the league in total yards per game (399.4), and the Eagles' defense is 12th in total yds. given up (321.12) and 19th in total pts. per game given up (21.1). I see this as a high-scoring game. Both QBs are going to give it all they got, and the Cowboys win in a shootout

Prediction: Cowboys 38, Eagles 32

AFC:

New York Jets at Cincinnati - this game is a tough one to predict - the Jets are a hot team (winning 5 out of their last 6 games), and the Bengals have gone flat since midseason. What was working before for the Bengals (run, run and run some more) has stopped working, and they've had to rely more and more on their practically non-existent passing game. Since beating Detroit on Dec. 6th, Cincinnati has gone 1-3, beating only the weak Kansas City Chiefs, and then only 17-10.  They have 8 players on injured reserve, and playing on the memory of Chris Henry can only take them so far.  The Jets are a run-first team (No. 1 in the league in rushing yds. per game at 172.3), and their defense is solid if not spectacular (No. 1 in three categories: total yds. per game at 252.3, total passing yds. per game at 153.7 and total pts. per game at 14.8). In the Week 17 game, Cincinnati rested most of their starters in a game the Jets HAD to win (and did 37-0) to make the playoffs. I see the Jets continuing their winning ways, IN SPITE of rookie QB Mark "The Sanchize" Sanchez.

Prediction: Jets 24, Bengals 17

Baltimore at New England - this game is the most interesting of all. The Patriots just lost their inspirational leader (WR Wes Welker) for the rest of the season, and are going to have to lean on Randy Moss even more to carry the receiving load.  As any Vikings fan will tell you, if Moss isn't involved in the offense, he tends to become disinterested.  So, that bodes well for the Patriots.  Their running game is becoming a who's who of the geriatric scene, with Fred Taylor and Kevin Faulk both 33 and Sammy Morris 32. Ageless LB Junior Seau is still playing at 40, too.  The Ravens are a young team, and have had a ton of injuries over the past month. RB Ray Rice and RB Willis McGahee are the best 1-2 touchdown-machine tandem in the league (14 for McGahee, 8 for Rice - I had Rice on two of my Fantasy Football teams), and 2nd-year QB Joe Flacco is one year wiser and one year better. Of course, the Patriots have Tom Brady, and they're at home. This one will be a well-fought close game. In a slight upset, the Ravens move on, the Patriots stay home.

Prediction: Ravens 31, Patriots 23

After watching the Vikings lay an egg at Arizona a couple weeks ago, I began to seriously doubt that the Vikings were as good a team as they seemed.  It wasn't so much that they'd lost, but the WAY they lost. The Cardinals outplayed them in just about every facet of the game. The team looked sluggish, uninterested and totally flat.  So, as a result, I wanted to see how the team would react last Sunday against the Bengals before proclaiming them 2nd-seed material.

Suffice it to say, they convinced me.

The Vikings pretty much dominated the whole game, especially on defense. The Vikings' defense held QB Carson Palmer to 94 yards passing, and RB Cedric Benson to 96 yards rushing. Having Antoine Winfield back in the secondary, even with the loss of E.J. Henderson for the season the week before, was a HUGE boost to the team. He played with abandon, like he hadn't been gone for the last six weeks. He made the whole defense better, a big shot in the arm for a team that had looked stale the previous week.

On offense, RB Adrian Peterson seemed to run with a purpose again, something that seemed to be missing from him the past several games.  He ran hard, strong, and there seemed to be an extra bounce in his step, especially on a couple of runs to the left, in one case when he literally OUTRAN two defenders to the corner and sprinted down the sideline.

With WR Percy Harvin out because of migraines, QB Brett Favre didn't have quite as many weapons at his disposal, Instead of carrying the load offensively, like he had done lately (not by design I think, but by opportunity, with teams preparing to stop Adrian Peterson at all costs), Favre merely "managed" the offense, which is the reason most people believe he was brought in for in the first place.

Now the Vikings go on the road for two games, playing at Carolina and at Chicago, before finishing the season with a home game against the New York Giants. As of Sunday, after winning the Cincinnati game, the team clinched a playoff birth, and with a win next Sunday against the Panthers (or a Packer loss at Pittsburgh), the Vikings can claim their second-consecutive NFC North crown. Their ultimate short-term goal should be to secure the 2nd seed in the playoffs, something that's definitely within their grasp. One or two more wins on the season should do it. So that means playing well on the road the next couple of weeks. 

This team is well-rounded, balanced and they play LIKE A TEAM. There don't seem to be any egos, and there are most certainly NO SCHIZMS in the locker room. This is a team that most times plays with a purpose, and having Brett Favre healthy this late into the season can only help their chances.  I look for them to win out, go 14-2 and head into the playoffs with some serious momentum.  Just what they need to make a run to the - dare I say it? - Super Bowl.

Bring on the Panthers!

If you haven’t seen the show Bully Beatdown you really have to check it out. It is a reality show on MTV that MMA fans will absolutely love.  Jason “Mayhem” Miller is the host of the show. If you don’t know Mayhem he is a very good fighter but is probably better known for his multicolored hair and boisterous personality. He is bit out of the norm even for MMA standards but always comes off as a likeable guy and the whole bit plays perfectly in the show.

 

The show is about guys who have been the victim of a bully who has picked on them and in most cases physically assaulted them on several occasions.  I don’t know how many people are writing into such a new show but they sure have been able to find some picture perfect bully’s. Most of these morons are really big guys who get off humiliating people who are physically much smaller than them and then bragging about it. Miller along with the victims pay the bully a visit and offer him a chance to make $10,000 by fighting someone his own size.

 

The deal is the bully has to fight an MMA fighter in the cage for two rounds with the potential of winning $5,000 for each round. In the first round there is no striking only submissions are allowed. The bully starts with $5,000 but looses $1,000, which goes to the victim, every time he gets submitted for up to 5 submissions or all his money. The second round is an all or nothing kickboxing round for $5,000. If the bully survives the round he gets the $5K, if he gets knocked out, a referee stoppage, or quits the victim gets the money. In almost all of the cases the victim ends up with the bulk of the money. 

 

One thing that really makes the show enjoyable is that after getting beat up in front of a big audience the bully usually seems to have a change of heart. I think that physical combat is a very emotional experience and getting dominated is an experience these guys have never felt before.  On many of the shows the bully often promises that the “feud” is over and it seems to be sincere. I assume that some of these guys mean it and some of them change their minds a week later but it really makes for an entertaining show. Check it out.

 

 

Ross “The Boss” Ogden

As was predicted, the Gophers are heading to the Insight Bowl for the second year in a row, and it will also mark their third trip to Arizona in the past four years.  The Gophers will play Iowa State at 5 p.m. on New Year’s Eve (December 31^st).  Iowa State comes in with identical records overall and in conference play (6-6, 3-5).  It should be quite the interesting matchup with the Cyclones coming from the Big 12 conference and not having played Minnesota in over a decade. 

 

Here, at the beautiful Sun Devil stadium in Tempe, Minnesota will again have a chance to finish strong and prove wrong any naysayers.  But this has been and could be tough, as the Gophers haven’t won a Bowl game since 2004, where they beat Alabama in the Music City Bowl 20-16.  Since then, the Gophers have gone on to lose another Music City Bowl, and then two consecutive Insight Bowls.  It is the second Insight Bowl in head coach Tim Brewster’s third year, and it’s one he expects to win this time around.

 

Last year, the Gophers were man-handled by a far superior Kansas team, losing 42-21.  But, Kansas came in at 8-5, while Minnesota entered at 7-6.  This year, the Gophers and Cyclones look more evenly matched, and should provide for, at the very least, a better game to watch.

 

In a season that was marked by ups and downs, from the loss of Eric Decker to the electrifying win over Michigan State on Halloween without him, the Gophers need this win.  It would put a nice finishing touch on a season full of both bright and dark spots.  Even more, it would get Gophers fans “energized again,” just like the cheesy Cenex man says on the big screen during those dull moments at TCF Bank stadium.  While a Bowl win wouldn’t necessarily lead us to the Rose Bowl like Brewster has said, it would reverse a trend of losing mediocre Bowl games and put us on the road to recovery. 

 

After three straight losses for Tubby Smith’s squad, the Gophers bounced back at full strength on Saturday afternoon, putting the Ivy League kids from Brown in their place.  To be honest, it did almost look like the Brown kids were out of place.  The final score was 91-55. 

 

Again, it was an all around team effort for Minnesota, with no one stealing the show but the team as a whole.  Six Gophers had over 10 points, with junior Blake Hoffarber scoring 13.  Although streaky at times, Hoffarber drained three from downtown, reaffirming his natural 3-point abilities.  Senior captains Lawrence Westbrook and Damian Johnson each added 12.  Freshman Rodney Williams was electric as usual, showing his freakish abilities with a massive alley-oop to get the crowd going.  He finished with 9 points.

 

What’s really amazing to me is how Tubby uses all of his weapons.  No player was on the court for more than 25 minutes on Saturday, and everybody gets a piece of the action.  To be honest, I don’t think there’s one single player that stands out as ‘mediocre,’ or ‘eh, good enough.’  Tubby really likes to change up who runs the floor, too.  Junior veteran Al Nolen, sophomore Devoe Joseph, and even freshman Justin Cobbs are getting ample playing time, and I think this is crucial.  When you have a new point guard on the floor, the tempo and style of the game changes, and this can throw the opposing team off—and that’s what Tubby’s doing.  Plus, I think he needs to see how newcomer Cobbs fits in the Gopher’s offense.

 

Senior Devron Bostick was even back on the floor Saturday, after violating team rules and having to ride the bench.  Junior Trevor Mkwabe was still visible on the bench, and freshman Royce White was nowhere to be seen.  White recently plead guilty to a crime that occurred at the Mall of America over a month and a half ago.  It’s still a big question though, whether he will return and be a part of Golden Gopher basketball.         

Going into Sunday night's game against the Cardinals, the Vikings were pretty healthy. The only major injury issue they've had to deal with has been Antoine Winfield's foot injury. Brett Favre has had his bumps and bruises, but nothing serious.  Other players have had issues as well, but nothing really serious. So who knew the Vikings were going to take their lumps against the Cardinals, and lose an extremely valuable member of the defense in the process?

Vikings' linebacker E.J. Henderson was lost for the season for the 2nd year in a row, this time to a broken left leg after trying to tackle Cardinals' running back Tim Hightower in the fourth quarter of the Vikings' 30-17 loss in Arizona. Last year, Henderson was lost in the Tennessee game to a toe injury.

The Cardinals' defense pretty much dominated the previously-high-powered Viking offense for most of the night. Except for an early TD pass to TE Visanthe Shiancoe, and a late TD pass to WR Percy Harvin, the Cardinals harassed QB Brett Favre enough to make him throw two interceptions, his first since a mistake-free November, and he was sacked three times. He now has 26 TD passes and five interceptions, still an awfully good ratio. Kurt Warner, the other "old man" on the field, fared much better, going 22-32 for 285 yds, 3 TDs and no INTs. Arizona's receivers Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald Jr. were pretty much open all night, and the Vikings' defense never seemed to adjust in the second half. Tackling was a problem too, as the Vikings let players get way too many yards after the catch.

RB Adrian Peterson had one of his worst games as a pro, netting only 19 yards on 13 carries (one of them being an eleven-yard run). He was essentially shut down the whole game.

The Vikings have two of their prime defensive players out. Winfield is still not playing with what has been called a "foot injury", and now Henderson goes down. The Cincinnati Bengals come to town next, no easy task. The Bengals are 9-3 and leading the AFC North by 2-1/2 games over the Baltimore Ravens (depending on whether the Ravens win in Green Bay tonight, it could be 2 or three). They have a punishing ground game with Cedric Benson, and QB Carson Palmer is injury-free and playing like he did in 2007.  However, the Bengals have become a run-first team, and that could be to the Vikings' advantage, knowing how well they play the run. The Bengals might come out and try to prove they can run the ball.

The Vikings' task will be to try to shore up the big hole created by the loss of Henderson, as if their defense wasn't already hurting with the absence of Winfield. It looks as though Jasper Brinkley will get the nod to fill in Henderson's spot, unless they pick someone up, which is probably unlikely. 

At 10-2, the Vikings still hold at least a 2-game lead over Green Bay in the division (the Packers are 7-4 going into tonight's game with Baltimore), and it could be three before the night is over. With the Saints' overtime win in Washington yesterday, the Vikings are solidly entrenched in the number 2 seed in the NFC. Things could definitely change over the next few weeks, especially with the changes in the Vikings' defense taking place right now. The Bengals will be a big test of the team's fortitude, cohesiveness and will to win.

Let's hope they right the ship in time.

For Golden Gopher football, it’s time to play the waiting game. For a disappointing season that ended in a loss to rival Iowa and a .500 record, some good may actually come at the year comes to an end.  Time will tell however, because it is still unclear if Tim Brewster has led his squad to another Bowl game. If he has, chances are it will be another Insight Bowl in Tempe, Arizona.

So the inaugural year at TCF Bank Stadium has come to a close.  It was a great place for Gophers fans of all sorts.  Now that the season is over, we will have to wait until next fall to get back in the “Taj Mahal” of college football.

In many ways, Golden Gopher basketball is playing the waiting game too.  With three of their players out, the big question is when will they come back?  It seems Tubby is playing it safe by not jumping at the opportunity to put his players back on the court.  He is still carefully judging the issue of freshman Royce White.  Many wonder if White is even cut out for playing for the Gophers.   Although Tubby has a mission to win here, he knows about following rules and setting an example for the University of Minnesota.  

Things were looking up this Thanksgiving for Tubby Smith’s most talented team of his Minnesota career.   Unfortunately, the Gophers suffered two losses to finish out their weekend in Anaheim at the 76 classic. Minnesota, now unranked, came up with a huge upset over No. 10 Butler on Friday night, but fell back to reality as they lost to Portland and then Texas A&M. 

While Thursday’s Gophers looked fresh and ready to take home a 76 Classic championship, Saturday and Sunday’s Gophers looked out of synch and forceful.  Nothing was giving on the offensive side of the ball.  Jump shots and shots from beyond the arc were problems in both games, and although big men Colton Iverson and Ralph Sampson III played well Thursday, they didn’t execute in the next games.  To be fair, Portland was a solid team that challenged the Gophers in a lot of different ways.  Before beating the maroon and gold, they took out UCLA, which is never an easy task.  Defense remains a priority on Tubby’s court, but until things start rolling on the offense, the Gophers could fall again.   As one of the deepest teams in the Big Ten, many were left wondering where that depth went over Thanksgiving weekend.   Next up is Miami in the Big Ten/ACC tournament.