Monday, August 28, 2006

Boundary Waters Part I

Sorry for the long absence, but Ambular and I have been out gallivanting around in a canoe in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Here is a brief review of our trip, to be sung to the tune of Gilligan’s Island. Soon, I’ll post pictures and a bit more detail about our adventures. Thanks again Matt, Katie, Hans, and Jenny.

Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale,
a tale of a fateful trip.
That started from this northern path,
aboard three tinny ships.
The mates were might rowing men,
the women brave and sure.
Six adventurers set out that day for five day tour,
a five day tour.

At time the waves were very rough,
Lake Bald Eagle tossed.
If not for the courage of the fearless group their canoes would be lost,
their canoes would be lost.

Each night their canoes set shore on enchanted campsites.
With beautiful views, and fire pits.
A bear cub, and its mom?
The latrine,
The rodents and gourmet meals…

Here on our canoe trip.

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

I New It Had To Be Too Good To Be True

Every August, hope spring-eth eternal for the Viking faithful. And by mid month... well...
Koren Robinson Arrested for Drunk Driving... his year... make that career could be over. (At least Maurice Clarett will have someone to "get his goose-on" with and talk about what could have been.)

Koren's Boozing

+

1st Round Pick Chad Greeway done for the year.

=

Another promising, yet ultimately unsatisfying, year of Vikings football ahead.

And somewhere Mike Holmgren flashes a knowing smile.



"Told you so..."

Friday, August 11, 2006

Big Papi: My Favorite Mistake?

I try to avoid blogging about sports. There are enough sports writers out there that do it better (or at least more often) than me, and far too few interesting topics to go around. But I just caught David Ortiz’s Sunday Conversation on ESPN and cannot help myself. I’ll try not to make a habit of it.

With the perfect knowledge of hindsight, the Twins made a huge mistake letting David Ortiz go. No doubt about it. Big Papi is a one man wrecking ball at the plate. He’s a legit MVP candidate and once of the best clutch hitters of all time. Bill Simmons compared him Larry Bird, and deservedly so. How could the Twins have given up on this guy? National commentators scoff at the Twins for waiving him.

But it is not as simple as it seems. The Twins may have stifled Ortiz, fighting is natural swing tendencies. But they did not miss out on some sort of “David Oritz era” of Twins baseball. David Ortiz would not have become the player he is today if he was still a Twin. He would have been a career .290, 25 home run, 90 rbi designated hitter. I know the Twins would jump at the prospect of those numbers from the DH spot, but those are not the eye popping 40-55 home runs and 110-150 rbi that fans around the world have come to expect from Big Papi.

I maintain that Ortiz needed to be waived by Twins. It gave him a change of scenery and a burning motivation. Most importantly, he needed Manny Ramirez lurking behind him in the order. Or any smart opposing teams would have walked him every other at bat. David Ortiz needed the bright lights and big stage. Without the Yankee / Red Sox rivalry and Game 6 A.L.C.S. home run he is a just a “good player” instead of “one of the best late inning hitters baseball has ever seen.”

With the Twins, he was little more than an injury prone, inconsistent hitter. He had five and half years of ups and downs, nagging injuries, and mediocre glove-work. He maddened fans by showing signs of promise, but never putting it together for any extended period of time. Nothing about him screamed “MVP.”

Just as Michael Jordan would not have become the mythical figure he is today if he hadn’t played for the Bulls. And it is pretty clear that Derek Jeter would not be a super star if he didn’t play in New York. In the same ways David Ortiz would never have become “Big Papi” if he stayed with the Twins.

Finally, it is a stone cold truth that the Twins would not have been able to pay him the money he could have demanded. It is nice to dream about the idea of David Ortiz as the most popular Twin since Kirby. But that just would not have been the case. For all the reasons above, I’m not disappointed the Twins waived Big Papi.

Now I realize that this post might be a thinly-veiled attempt at rationalizing a poor decision by my favorite baseball team. But whatever actually motivated me to write this, I just wish that the national media would stop inferring that the Twins organization was “out of its collective mind” for waiving David Ortiz. It’s not that simple.

Here's a great article about... "The Curse of David Ortiz"

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Sven Sundgaard: Sum'tin Like a Svenomenon

I can’t deny the overwhelming crush of people who keep seeking out the “Great Swedish Hope.” Their voices (well, their typing) are strong and clear: “We need more Sven.” But what is it that compels so many people to google “Sven Sundgaard?”

Is it his oh so trendy spiky hair? (He deserves a walk-on roll on the OC.)

Is it his easy going Swedish style? (Just like Swedish meatballs: void of spiciness, but still appealing.)

Or could it be his boyish looks?

Are people settling bets about his age? (25 by the way… that’s right ladies young, single, and “he’s rich bitch.”)

Is it his blog? (We all know how much hot ass I’ve had thrown at me after I admitted that I have a blog, right Ambular?)

I know that many of you have stumbled across my humble blog in pursuit of Sven. So what gives… what is you fascination with the “Svenomenon?”

+ Sven, or someone who claimed to be Sven, read my blog and posted a comment. Sven, if you stop by again… I was just wondering if my post assisted the development of the “Svenomenon” nickname. I’m just curious, and would love to brag about the expanding influence of The MN Life. Keep up the good work… Barlow who?

Sunday, August 06, 2006

Dine and Dash?

Last night, Ambular and I went to one of the best restaurants around… “Mike and Jenny’s.” The food was terrific and the company was entertaining. PW, Nancy, Gates, Bridgette, Ambular, and I showed-up, drank wine, and ate delicious food.

Except for a freak neighborhood dumpster fire, the evening could not have been better. Mike and Jenny have a sweet apartment. It has an updated kitchen, refinished floors, and a nearly completed nursery. It fits them perfectly.

The kitchen is worthy of a chef. Jenny whipped-up a summer dinner fit to be served in the finest local restaurants. Vegetables, cheeses, grilled chicken, and my favorite: melon wrapped in prosciutto. The food was so good the lively pre-dinner conversation ceased once it was served. A hush fell over the room, except for the consistent "mmmmmmmmmms" offered after the first taste of each dish.

After more spirited conversation and another glass of wine, Jenny rolled-out some spectacular blueberry cobbler. Warm and yuMMMMmmmmy. It was all so very good. I felt like I had skipped-out on a check.

Many thanks Mike and Jenny, well mostly Jenny.

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