#-1: Lynx (Last Week: -2). This week featured four teams that had undefeated weeks, and yet all four of them had cracks in their armor you could pick on if you wanted to. In the end, due to the stakes involved, I am giving the top spot to the Lynx, who are up 2-0 in their best-of-5 semifinal series against Washington after taking the first two games at Their Home Away From Home Away From Home, Williams Arena.
But it's actually a return home for starting Point Guard Lindsay Whalen, who (of course) played at The Barn for Minnesota her playing days. She returned for the playoffs, this series, after busting her hand. And even though she didn't light up the stat sheet, her return has been instrumental to holding serve at home against the Mystics. Washington, after getting wiped out in Game 1 Tuesday by 20, dialed up their long-range shooting in Thursday's Game 2. In particular, deep-range specialist Kristi Toliver and Forward Elena Della Donne (25 points for both players) were able to shoot the Mystics to a two-point lead in the middle of the fourth quarter. (The only way the Mystics were going to win this series is by living or dying by the three.) That's when Head Coach Cheryl Reeve reinstalled Whalen, who played only 28 more seconds than second-string PG Renee Montgomery.
Monty continued to struggle running the offense and defending the perimeter. But Whalen was a whirling dervish the rest of the quarter, leading the Lynx on a 20-8 run and a 93-83 victory. She scored seven points in the last 4:45, had seven assists, finished with a +21 and saved the team's ass. I have underestimated Whalen's vital role in setting the team's offense and motivated her teammates and the crowd. Maybe I shouldn't do that again.
Game 3 is this (Sunday) afternoon; if necessary, Games 4 and 5 are Tuesday and Thursday, respectively. As another sign that women's professional basketball suffers indignities men's pro sports probably don't need to even worry about, the Lynx aren't the only team in this series that have to improvise home floors. Game 3 will be played at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. I believe this used to be called the Verizon Center, and before that the MCI Center. But, if there is a Game 4, they'll have to go to the campus of Georgetown and play at McDonough Gymnasium. I swear, I have been in that gym, when I visited my sister and saw the Hoya women's basketball team get throttled by 50 by visiting UConn. McDonough seats only 2,500 people, and I fear for the league that even for a WNBA postseason game, there will be empty seats there.
And why can't the Mystics play at Cap One? Blame Ed Sheeran.
#-2: Gopher football (Last Week: 0). Again, I don't want to go overboard. Middle Tennessee St. is not a bad non-BcS program, and even though they have, like, one good player, teams from this school in the past have acquitted themselves well. Also, this game was played at TCF Bank Stadium, so maybe a 34-3 thrashing of the Blue Raiders isn't that impressive. But a 3-0 record is. So are the special Goldy helmets the squad wore for the game. But now we're going to see how good this team is now that the non-con is out of the way. And I think their first opponent is an appropriate gauge -- home to Maryland, a team that probably won't compete for a New Year's Six bowl, but did run over and through Texas a couple weeks ago. That game, however, will be played on the 30th; Minnesota is now on a bye.
I think moral victories are largely useless, but don't tell that to the sold-out crowd at Bronco Gym or to Rachel Roberts of the Idaho Statesman. Respect for the support. Nevertheless, the U. has finished the non-con with a perfect 11-0. And so the meat grinder called the Big Ten Volleyball League begins Friday, with a date vs. Michigan at Maturi.
#-4: Vikings (Re-Entry!). There just can't be decent news without a turd in the bowl, can there, Vikes? I was pleasantly surprised at how thoroughly the Vikes beat Adrian Peterson and New Orleans Monday. (For his part, Peterson was on the field to carry for the first two Saints offensive plays of the game but after that was benched for the rest of the drive and finished with six carries for 18 yards -- and some words for Saints Head Coach Sean Payton.)
Sam Bradford looked really good! The Quarterback who set an NFL record for Completion Percentage last year was a hyper-efficient 27-for-32 for 346 Yards and three Touchdowns, two of which went to Stefon Diggs. And Adam Thielen (who I have in both of my fantasy football teams) finished with 157 Yards. Yes!
Then no! Late word came in that Bradford is out because of the knee that he has had two major operations on in his career. I don't remember any big hit on Monday that could have led to this diagnosis, so I have to assume it was a non-contact injury. Which means that his legs are not that much better than Teddy Bridgewater's. I knew this shit was going to happen. Case Keenum will have to manage a game for the ages in order to pull off the upset of the Steelers in Pittsburgh.
I swear they're not going to win more than three games this season.
#-5: Twins (Last Week: -3). I saw on a tweet a few days ago that the Twinks had a better-than-70% chance of reaching the American League Play-In Game. But after a 3-3 screening week, they are now only a game ahead of the Los Angeles Angels Of Anaheim Angels Of Los Angeles Angels Of Anaheim. ... They had San Diego for two games and Toronto for four in this homestand, and I said last week that two or more losses this homestand will be a disappointment. Well, they've lost the last two to the also-ran Blue Jays, so it's a disappointment, verging on disaster.
My friend had comp tickets to Friday's contest vs. Toronto, which had a "Big Sexy" promotion where, if you buy a ticket in a special section, you get a t-shirt featuring Bartolo Colon and the aforementioned nickname given her. I really, really want him to succeed; at his best he's the second-best Pitcher on the team. But although he lasted six innings, he struck out only one batter (who was trying to bunt the runner over), and he was responsible for the winning run in the 4-3 defeat (which, to be fair, came in with a pair of defensive lapses courtesy of the infield), and if you can't strike batters out, you can't succeed. And in a prime opportunity to make hay at Target, these guys are now back in a dogfight.
Worst of all, after today's (Sunday afternoon's) series-ender against the BJ's, they have their final roadtrip, and it's a big, three-series one. The Nine immediately go to the Bronx to begin a three-game series against the Yankees, then visit Detroit for four beginning Thursday.
#-6: United FC (Last Week: -4). Hmmm. I did not see Wednesday's match in Vancouver, but they got their asses kicked 3-0, and since the Loons registered only two Shots On Goal against the Whitecaps, some fans said this was the most unacceptable loss in what has been a humbling first season. So maybe the club got the message, because last (Saturday) night they won for only the second time on the road, overcoming coughing up yet another Goal early in the game (this time it was the Ninth Minute; against Vancouver it was the Fifth) to beat the Impact, 3-2, on an Abu Danladi Goal (he subbed in for Christian Ramirez, who recently returned from injury) in the 89th off an Assist by the very productive Ethan Finlay. OK.
Saturday they return home to Das Bank v.1.0 since the Gopher football team has the week off. They host FC Dallas. Hmmm ... the game starts at 7, and I have offered up the ticket for sale because my alma mater's game is that day. But it's scheduled at 2:30, so conceivably I could get to the match after the football game's over. Now do I want to even try to go from downtown Minneapolis to TCF Bank if I won't make it for Opening Kick?
#-7: Gopher soccer (Last Week: -1). Well, somebody has to be the rump of the WMNSS, and it will be for the U. footballers, who clearly have to rebuild after their breakthrough last season. Beginning B1G play yesterday (Saturday) in Madison, they got beat by Wisconsin in Overtime on a, wait for it, a Penalty Kick. The Referee said that Defender Tori Burnett fouled in the Gopher box, and Dani Rhodes deposited from The Spot past Minnesota Goalie Kailee Sharp in the 97th Minute to end the match. Sigh. It is their second loss of the year, and the other loss, to California-Santa Barbara, also ended on a PK.
They open up the home portion of their conference slate with a special Thursday night game against Michigan.
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