Sunday, September 19, 2010

Quick Hits: Volume XII

-There was much buzz regarding the GOP Senatorial primary in Delaware, where upstart candidate Christine O'Donnell upset Rep. Bob Castle, who has served nine terms in Congress. Since this stunning result, many have opined that the GOP blew it, and that the "moderate" Castle had a greater chance of winning in the general election than a scurrilous tea party candidate like O'Donnell. While I find myself back and forth on that debate, I am heartened by one key aspect of tea party candidates making waves in primaries all across the country. That is good ol' fashioned grassroots efforts can still have an impact in American politics. After it was announced that the National Republican Senatorial Committee would not assist in financing O'Donnell's campaign, Delaware's newest GOP Senate candidate raised $1.31 million dollars in a 48 hour span after her stunning victory.


-Within the next week or so, the Minnesota Twins will clinch their sixth AL Central division title in the nine seasons. What's amazing is the Twins still have an opportunity for best record in the American League (as of Sunday evening, they're only one game behind the Yankees), which would give them home field advantage throughout the AL playoffs. However, if they make it all the way to the World Series, the National League club will have home field advantage for the first time since the passing of that moronic rule where the league who wins the All-Star Game in July receives that honor in the Fall Classic. By the way, does anyone recall who was the winning pitcher for the NL in July's All-Star Game? That would be then Washington Nationals hurler (and now current Twins closer) Matt Capps.


-As a die hard (or long-suffering) Minnesota Vikings fan, I am not ready to pack it in for the 2010 season despite my club displaying an utterly inept passing offense through two weeks. Besides, I've always felt the Packers would win the NFC North with 12-13 wins with the Vikes getting in to the playoffs as a wildcard with 10-11 victories. Much of the blame for the first two games has been laid at the feet of QB Brett Favre, and rightly so. Through 11 games last season, Favre had thrown only three interceptions. He already has tossed four picks through the first two games of 2010. Would training camp have alleviated some of these issues? Possibly. But lest we forget, it was the Vikings organization who pinned all of their hopes on Favre returning this season and thus handled his renown waffling with kid gloves. Meanwhile, this past April, Donovan McNabb was available for merely a second round draft pick. Is it fair to say the Vikings made the wrong decision and thus should have pursued McNabb and cut ties with Favre? Not yet. But ripping Favre for not attending training camp (and mandatory mini camp) is an exercise in futility at this point. Zygi Wilf & Co. gave Favre carte blanche from day one, and the Vikings must now live with the consequences of that decision. We as Vikings fans must also, since none of us felt Tarvaris Jackson was ready to take the reins.


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