Sporting the Twin Cities

-- Andrea Jackley

Ah, the season is upon us and it’s the best time of year to be a sports fan. We are at the threshold of football season—one of the most anticipated events in America. We are also at the cessation of baseball’s regular season, treading water into the playoffs. Here’s what we have to look forward to.

The Twins

Our Minnesota boys of summer have fought their way through the rough-and-tumble world of September baseball. This year’s American League wildcard race has proven to be one of the toughest in recent memory, with contenders like the reigning world champion Chicago White Sox, the 2004-05 champs (and undisputed Yankee-whooping heroes) Boston Red Sox, the sneaky Los Angeles Angels, the Toronto Blue Jays and, of course, the scrappy Minnesota Twins. Not surprisingly, the hunt for October has made George Steinbrenner’s farm system, otherwise known as the rest of the MLB, very interesting.

After witnessing a dismal start—the Twins were a disheartening 9–14 after the first month of the regular season—Minnesota fans have been reinvigorated by what has become an almost Cinderella-story season.

The Twins have been consistently putting up top individual numbers, with ace pitcher Johan Santana frequently leading the league in wins-losses, ERA and strikeouts; with hometown hero Joe Mauer threatening to become only the second starting catcher to ever win a batting title; and with young slugger Justin Morneau working his way up the charts with a knack for home run hitting and RBIs.

As a team, the young crew battled through the toughest division in baseball to reclaim a spot among the top. If nothing else, the Twins are proving to the Twin Cities that they are absolutely deserving of their shiny, new 2010 stadium.

The Vikings

Are you ready for some...change? The Vikings, still reeling from the embarrassment of last year’s antics on Lake Minnetonka, have done a little housecleaning. Along with the departure of star quarterback Daunte Culpepper, running back Michael Bennett and safety Corey Chavous, the Vikings traded up-and-coming head coach Mike Tice for seasoned professional and self-proclaimed tough guy Brad Childress. The hope is that Childress will impose some much needed discipline and focus.

While Childress is known for his impressive offensive coordination, it’s the Vikings defense that will most likely be attracting attention during the start of the new season. The talk of the town is Minnesota’s plan to implement the famed Tampa-2 defense, coined for ex-Minnesota defensive coordinator Tony Dungee’s success with the strategy in Tampa Bay. After the loss of first-round draft pick Chad Greenway to a knee injury in the Viking’s first preseason game, this team’s defense might need all the help it can get.

Childress also plans on employing the ever-popular West Coast Offense to boost starting quarterback Brad Johnson and newly-acquired former Raven Chester Taylor, whose running should open up the Viking’s offensive passing game. Second-round draft pick Tarvaris Jackson (QB) displayed a stellar arm and some quick moves in the pre-season, igniting rumors of a possible second-string spot in the line-up for the youngster.

Gopher Football

The legacy of disappointment that the University of Minnesota’s football program has built is amazing. And sorry folks or fans, but Coach Glen Mason hasn’t been the cure-all administration we were hoping for. Over the past 10 years, the Gophers have indeed managed to scrape a little bit of their image off of the sidewalk, but without much—let alone a Big Ten title, or even a Rose Bowl appearance—to show for it.

Over the last three years, Gopher fans have watched three running backs rush for 1,000 yards or more—offensive opportunities that seem to have been wasted. But perhaps Mason’s biggest failing has been with in-state recruiting. With hometown prospects like Marion Barber (Wayzata) and Dominique Barber (Wayzata) to choose from, one has to wonder where the coach’s mind has been.

Cretin-Derham Hall, one of the best high school football programs in the state, has become a virtual pipeline of talent for schools like the University of Notre Dame — almost two-thirds of their line-up are from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa.

I certainly don’t have all the answers for our ailing Gophers, and I try to keep a positive outlook. But an abysmal start in California didn’t help matters. Bryan Cupito looked OK but missed two passes. Starting defense had over 300 yards rushing against them in the first half alone.

While I certainly won’t accuse Mason of being a "Wacker," and he did prove himself as a decent professional football coach (with an ego to match the National Football League players’), claims that the Gopher football program is “still in its developmental stages” will no longer cut it. It’s time for results. Let’s hope that, unlike Mason at this year’s annual Minnesota State Fair appearance, the Gophers show up on game day. In the meantime, I’ll keep looking forward to a return to campus in 2009.