Winter Sports Season

With the Purple making an extended run this year I have kind of been able to avoid thinking about the dreaded Winter sports season in our great state.

However, the lame month of FEB forces me to at least pay a little attention to our pathetic sports scene until March Madness hits...so I have watched, and I have some thoughts.

1. GOPHER HOOPS
People are starting to question Mr. Tubby, but I don't think that's the right thing to do. Sure he has some faults, but the guy is a proven winner and has been dealt a tough hand this season. Take away 2 PF types that were both expected to contribute heavily and lose your starting PG because he can't make it to class for the entire 2nd half of the year. I don't know many teams that can overcome those kinds of losses. But I'm not providing excuses - this team should have about 3-4 more wins than they do right now. How many times have they been cruising and then lose a large lead in the last 10 minutes because apparently we freak out and forget how to run an offense at that point. I love watching our 30 second stall then give it to Westbrook and let him jack one up...fun to watch. The team just lacks hustle so many times and the "strength" that was our defense from a year ago is now a major weakness because we don't seem to stop anyone!

Tonight is probably the last worthwhile game to watch for the season on this club. WIS is actually a dog tonight at Willum...it's a last chance for hope. I guess there was the cliched players only meeting and we have some lineup changes coming...plus we play Sconny well, so there might be a chance. Other than tonight, I'll tune in for the B10 Tourney in hopes of a miracle...then we can rock the NIT. The sad thing is, I'm really not that optimisitic for the future at this point...let's hope they prove me wrong.

2. GOPHER HOCKEY
Now I really can't break down hockey, but this team is terrible. Coming in expecting conference title possible national title this season...then we're a bottom tier WCHA team?!?! WTF? Donny really hasn't been "coaching up" his club lately...it's been a bad run and it's over for this season. The question is, is Donny done? Smart people continue to say he can not be fired but a resignation is possible. I think it's time - mediocrity is not an option with this club...they continue to recruit extremely well, so a new leader might be able to come in and turn this thing around in a hurry. Thanks for the memories Don - I'll never forget watching 2 titles being won at Sally's...good times...but it's over.

3. WOLVES
Well, we made a blockbuster yesterday...Darko is here! Had to give up the always annoying Brian Cardinal. I still hold out a little hope for this team, but it's tough to watch. What has changed from the KG + nobody days is that we actually have some young talent that people want and that might actually improve and be a quality club down the road. Once again, nothing is really worth noting from this club until after the lottery and the free agency period this season. The 2010 free agent crew, which has been talked about since about 2007, needs to land a couple of solid pieces in MN. Then hopefully a top 2 or 3 lotto pick (keep losing!) and we might have something. I think the most Rubio will help this team is by being traded, so hopefully there are still some takers out there on this guy. A lot of things are riding on where our lotto pick ends up again...doesn't it seem like we say this every year?!? If KAHN says we're 3-4 years away, then we're probably 5-8 years away. If you're desperate and nothing else is on...check it out. Otherwise, wait until the Lottery.

4. WILD
The one club with a glimmer of hope. How about a GM that makes some proactive trades to get better!?? How about a team that isn't just "accumulating assets" and is actually trying to rebuild and win at the same time? Now I'm not expecting much of a playoff run out of this club, but I feel confident that we have the guys in the front office and the guys behind the bench to make something good happen. It's kind of fun to watch when we're not trying to win 2-1 every night! I'm expecting the club to sneak in and snag an 8 or 7 seed this year and then try to make more of a push in 2010-2011.

I'm kind of excited to watch the USA-CANADA game on Saturday night. I haven't been excited to watch a hockey game since the last Wild playoff run, so it's a weird feeling. I don't think we have a great shot to win, and even if we do it's hard to call it another "Miracle", but it should be a fun watch either way. Maybe the club can talk the Holy Cross radio team into simulcasting the game...then it could feel even bigger than Lake Placid in 1980! I still think that might be the most hilarious clip I've heard in a long time, well...that and the bowling guys talking about how the Spanish are taking over.

So the good news is that the horrible and sad Winter sports season in MN is almost over as P & C report next week and we can be on a 100% Twins vibe (and Gopher Spring Football, of course) through the sunny months until it's time to prepare for TCF Part II this fall. Which is only about 200 days away from welcoming in South Dakota to the Bank...let the countdown begin!