#-1: Twins (Two Weeks Ago: -2). Since we were last here, the Twinkies went 8-6. It was bad early, when they lost three in a row, but they've turned it around since, winning five in a row until last night. This looked like the month where the team could have made a move because they were playing teams in their own division, in particular home-and-away three-game series against the armpits of the Central, Cleveland and Kansas City. Well, they went 6-6 in those twelve games (and had to sweep the Royals in K.C. this weekend to reach .500), so this month should be regarded as a blown opportunity. Yet, because of our geographic affiliation, we still somehow remain 4 1/2 games behind Detroit. They host sturdy Texas this weekend, then the dreaded White Sox come to town for the week.
#-2: Vikings (Re-Entry!). That was an auspicious start by Brett Favre, huh? Dan Cole, "The Common Man," noontime host for sports-talk radio station KFAN has been bitching that his first play wasn't a 70-yard bomb to Percy Harvin but a handoff. It's the preseason, so who cares, but he does have a point. Another point that's skewed by the fact that it's the preseason: Tarvaris Jackson outplayed the Reckless Gunslinger. Could that be why ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that there's a "schism" in the locker room over who should be QB, with even some players supporting Sage Rosenfels, who didn't even frickin' play in Friday's game against Kansas City? (And why call it a "schism?" Did they elect a gay bishop?) Um, that's not good. Vikings nation has to hope Favre plays at least competently in the first half Monday at home against Houston. No, Jackson seems to have proven that he might not be able to win games, but so far, Favre hasn't demonstrated he can even manage one, at least not yet. This drama, though good for Minnesotans' egos, will not go away quietly.
#-3: Lynx (Two Weeks Ago: -3). Lost six in a row, and nine of 10. What the fuck happened to this team? I can tell you the Lynx have the worse defensive FG% and 3PT% in the WNBA. Teams are shooting 38% from the perimeter against them for the season, the highest in the league by far. And in the last 10 games, the team has shot only 41% from the field while opponents have shot at a 47.5% clip. Jen Gillom's run-and-gun offense may have run out of gas. They have three games this week: a nearly must-win game against Western Division cellar-dweller Sacramento at home Friday, at Washington (who are in the middle of fighting for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with Chicago) Sunday afternoon, and a very important game at San Antonio, the team they're currently tied with for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference, Tuesday. Should Owner Glen Taylor threaten that he'll fold the Lynx if the team doesn't make the playoffs? That might light a fire under their butts.
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