First of all, a programming note: I had planned all along to compile the survey for the week starting with the day of the week the first day of the year started with. Since a year contains 365 or 366 days, that would leave me with an extra day or two at the last survey, and we obviously are at that point now. I decided that, to treat myself for a hard year's worth of weekly surveys, I would keep that promise and not do my next survey until seven days of the following year has past. Therefore, the next WMNSS will be some time around Friday, January 7, 2010, and every Friday thereafter for the whole year. Besides, I need the extra day to recuperate from this daily commitment.
#-1: Gopher men's basketball (Last Week: -1). Finally, a tough win against a quality opponent. They open Big Ten play with a win for the first time in three years by coming back from an early second-half deficit and beat Penn St. and the Barn by five. And the Gophers have now won six in a row (all at home) with the help of Lawrence Westbrook's 18 points in the second half, which included draining four threes in the back 20 minutes. But they now have to leave their insulated coccoon at Williams next week: They play at Iowa and fourth-ranked Purude next week. Now we'll see how good this team is.
#-2: Wild (Last Week: -2). A 2-1 week -- a pair of 4-3 victories to start out, followed up by a 4-2 loss to nemesis Anaheim. Mikko Koivu still looks good. And Guy Latendresse is looking more and more like he can stick in the NHL. Congratulations to the five guys who will be in the Olympics in February: Koivu, Niklas Backstrom, Antti Miettinen, Martin Havlat, and Marek Zidlicky. The first three will play for Finland, the last two for the Czech Republic. Not to sound like a Republican, but where are the Americans? This week: Well, they have a New Year's Eve game at home tonight against Los Angeles, then host former Head Coach Jacques Lemaire and his new team, the New Jersey Devils, New Year's Post, then do back-to-back games at Chicago and vs. Calgary Tuesday and Wednesday.
#-3: Timberwolves (Last Week: -3). I was at last night's loss to the Bastard New Orleans Jazz and it was so frustrating. They led at half by one, but Jazz Head Coach Jerry Sloan made some adjustments which led to many plays where a Jazz player was all alone under the basket. Those defensive breakdowns, plus some hot shooting, gave them a lead of up to 17 points as late as 4:40 left in the game. But this is an underachieving Jazz team meeting a Wolves team I'm now convinced has talent; they then ripped off 11 in a row after that deficit, and with the help of back-to-back threes by Kevin Love, got as close as three points. Unfortunately, late turnovers, more screens leading to easy jams and layups, and missing 10-of-26 free throws (61.5%!) doomed them to a 107-103 loss.
That ended their 1-2 week. I don't know if they've turned a corner yet, though I don't think they're the worst team ever in the history of the franchise. One troubling sign: First-round draft pick and supposed point man for the next decade Jonny Flynn has been pulled by Head Coach Kurt Rambis more than a starter should. And at least for last night, when his veteran replacement, Ramon Sessions, was running the offense, they played better. They have three this week: A New Year's Night game against Orlando, then they immediately fly out to Indiana to play the Pacers Saturday night, then at home to Golden State Wednesday.
#-4: Gopher women's basketball (Re-Entry!). Two cold spells, the first at the beginning, the second in the back half of the second half, doomed the Gophs to an eight-point loss at Purdue to start conference play. Think about the current state of the program this way: Is there really any difference between this team and the team the year before Brenda Oldfield put the pieces together? I don't think so. So why isn't there more scrutiny over this team? At least they get to go home for their next two conference games, against Iowa and Northwestern.
#-5: Wrestling (Re-Entry!). They held the lead after the first day of the Southern Scuffle in Greensboro, N.C. But against programs they usually leave eating their dust, they coughed up that lead and finished second to ... Cornell? Two Gophers were able to win their class, but the Big Red had three, including grapplers ranked fifth and sixth, win their weights, so they made the Gophers eat their dust. That shouldn't happen. It just shouldn't. They have one bout this week; the fifth-ranked Gophs host #2 Iowa St. this Sunday afternoon at 2. I expect a loss. But at least no one will show up, because Minnesota sports fans will be in the middle of witnessing another fucking Vikings disaster that exact same time. And speaking of the Vikes ...
#-6: Vikings (Last Week: -4). ... who's to blame for that abortion of a loss to Chicago? Antoine Winfield, for failing to stop that long bomb that ended the game? Adrian Peterson, for coughing up the fatal fumble that led to the winning score the very next play? The special teams, which allowed a blocked PAT that caused the tie, and also was gashed repeatedly on returns? Or Head Coach Brad Childress for installing a stalled offense in the first half? Or, all of the above? With the loss, the New Orleans Saints, now looking very vulnerable, were given home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. The Vikes also handed over the steering column to the Philadelphia Eagles and said, "Here, why don't you take the driver's seat?!" Because of their third loss in four games, they now have to win and hope the Iggles lose to Dallas in order to reclaim the second seed and next week off. Thanks for nuthin'.
All of this is leading to opinions that Brett Favre should just run the offense the way he sees fit. The second half is strong proof that he should, but I don't think so. This was just one game in his now-regular late-season slump. And the bottom line is you have to be able to run the ball. They go all West Coast offense where they pass to set up the run, and that permeable offensive line will allow Favre to be tossed on his ass a dozen times against the Giants on Sunday. You give the ball to Favre and the offense will come to a halt. And they will lose. And they will become the fouth seed after a first-round bye seemed a birthright. And they will get upset by the Packers next week. We Vikings fans know how this sad tale shall end.
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