Thursday, October 16, 2008

Conventional Wisdom and the ALCS

Conventional wisdom is not what it once was.  Conventional wisdom said the Rays were in a world of trouble going down 1-0 at home facing Beckett and Lester in games 2 & 3.  Conventional wisdom said that Lester was a sure thing in game 3.  Conventional wisdom says that Maddon has lost his mind by moving up his only ineffective pitcher to throw tonight in game 5.  Kazmir has been the only pitcher the Sox have been able to hit.  Sox nation has been rolling around chuckling over this move all day.  The back page of the Herald said something to the effect of Maddon is outsmarting himself and giving the Sox a chance.  

Here's what I've learned about conventional wisdom in this series.  It don't mean diddly.  Throw conventional wisdom out the window in this series.  Kazmir shuts down the already beaten sox tonight.  

And by the way, the Big Popout's post game one comments that the Rays have a different look in their eye after game one, suggesting they weren't ready for this stage, looks like it is going to turn out to be one of the single most moronic and foolish sports statements ever made.  This is how much good will Papi's career has brought him.  Multiple callers on WEEI calling for his benching for tonight's game.  What have you done for me lately, eh?  

Husky ball players do not generally do much into their 30's.  Mo Vaughn comes to mind.  

Sunday, October 12, 2008

“Franconomics”

Terry Francona has won 2 world series in 4 years and is 7 wins away from making it 3 in 5.  He is the most successful manager in Red Sox history and if he pulls off 3 in 5, isn’t he a mandatory Hall of Fame candidate?  Terry has his supporters and his vocal detractors, locally.  But how do you really size this guy up as a manager?  What are the guiding principles of “Franconomics”, and how are they working in practice?

 

Managers never get enough credit for managing the clubhouse and keeping the team on a united path over a very long season.  Huge egos, million dollar salaries.  Fragile psyches.  He is beloved by his players and they play their guts out for him.  You cannot give him enough credit for this.  Particularly in Boston, this is a HUGE part of his job.  And I don’t think anyone can do it better. 

 

There are a couple of principles that lay the foundation of “Franconomics”, but they can really be summed by one phrase.  Tammy Wynette said it first and Terry puts it into practice everyday: “Stand by Your Man”.  These four words tell you everything you need to know about Terry’s philosophy and what he is going to do in almost any given situation.  He’s going to stand by his man.  Whether it is sub .200 batting Pedroia in his first professional month or insulating his players as completely as possible from any kind of controversies with the infamous “We’re dealing with this in-house.”  He covers their butts no matter what.  And he stands by them no matter what. 

 

And it almost always pays off for Terry.  Pedroia, Drew, even Millar for Pete’s sake.  He sticks by the guys without exception and is almost always rewarded in the end.  Does this make Terry brilliant, a great manager?  A fortune teller even?  Or is he just really, really devoted?  Tammy Wynette style devoted.  He always sticks by them, always.  Put “Franconomics” into practice in a relationship and there would never be a reason to leave Brett Myers.  Terry’s team has had one of the highest payrolls and most skillfully run and well funded minor league systems for the entirety of his tenure. 

 

That’s right, he’s got the best players.  Or at the very least, very good players.  Perhaps Terry almost always pulls a face card when he doubles down on 11 because the deck is stacked in his favor.  Maybe standing by his men has been so successful because those men are some of the most gifted and talented in the majors.  Maybe because Terry sticks by everyone under any circumstances, he is not as prophetic as we might think. 

 

This carries over into everything he does.  Leave the starters in too long?  Sure, I believe they can work themselves into form.  Go time after time to dreadful relievers and stick with them a few batters too long?  Absolutely, they’re going to turn it around.  Sacrifice, are you crazy?  My guy’s going to get a hit, I believe, I stand by him.  He’s not gonna hit into a no out inning killing double play with men on 1st and 2nd and nobody out in a tie game in the eighth. 

 

Terry is a very effective manager for the Red Sox and perhaps no one could do a better job.  But he could really use a game managing intern.  The Red Sox would not have two World Series and be knocking on the door of a third without Terry.  Managing the clubhouse alone in Boston is that difficult.  But that doesn’t mean he is not making some game blowing gaffes that are not only indefensible, but unfathomable.  Unless, of course, you are just standing by your man, in every possible situation.  Don’t forget, this is the same man who put Pedro Martinez in relief into game 7 in Yankee Stadium in 2004.  The game was a blow out, the crowd were slicing themselves with razor blades A&E special style.  There was nothing that could breathe energy into that building. 

 

Oh wait, sure there was.  Put in Pedro, in relief.  Get the “Who’s your Daddy” chant going, a couple of runs and the stadium is alive again.  There was no conceivable reason under the sun to put Pedro in that game, unless you had Tammy Wynette devotion for him.  If you not only believed that he could do it, but that he deserved a shot at Stadium redemption.  Only devotion could bring about that craziness.

 

And that finally brings us to last night, game 2, 2008 ALCS.  Terry’s star starting pitcher, Josh Beckett, just did not have it.  You could see it in the first inning.  You could see it in the second inning, the third.  You could see it on every pitch he threw.  You were watching Josh Beckett on a night when he would get one swing and miss from the Rays on a fastball.  One, on 93 pitches.  He just didn’t have it.  That’s why you have long relievers.  Either Wakefield or more likely Byrd were there for you, just for this eventuality. 

 

But Terry kept putting him back out there.  Terry didn’t even have someone warming up in the 3rd when Josh headed into trouble again giving up his 4th run and 2nd homerun.  Through four innings, the laboring Beckett had given up 5 runs, 3 homeruns and was getting scored on like (fill in your inappropriate metaphor here).  He clearly didn’t have it.  This wasn’t the best post season pitcher around; this was a guy who has not pitched regularly or well anytime recently.  Inning after inning Beckett kept going out to the mound.  I yelled to Terry. “He doesn’t have it tonight, Terry, get him out of there!”  He didn’t hear me.  Why, why, why would he do this?

 

Because Terry believed that Beckett was going to get it together.  Pitched awful against the Angels.  Has an injury of some sort.  Getting lit up like a Christmas tree by the light hitting Rays.  Showed absolutely zero signs of any effectiveness last night, whatsoever.  There was no reason in the world to keep sending him out there.  Particularly to start the 5th after the Sox had retaken the lead with 3 solo homeruns in the top of the 5th.  You’ve got the lead; you survived Beckett’s horrendous start.  Just put your bullpen out there and hope for the best.  Just don’t put Beckett out there to be further pummeled. 

 

But, he did, and here’s why.   He stands by his man.  Always and without exception.  Every single person watching that game last night knew that Beckett did not have it.  Every out he got was fortunate.  All 13 of them.  Again, he threw one fastball that garnered a swing and miss.  If that doesn’t tell you that Josh Beckett ain’t Josh Beckett, then I can’t help you.  But none of this comes into play with Terry.  He just stands by his man, under any and all circumstances.  This has nothing to do with logic or facts or even baseball knowledge.  This has to do with devotion. 

 

He stood by Josh Beckett until he finished with the following stat line.  4.1 IP, 9H, 8 ER.  Who leaves their starter out there into the 5th when he is getting killed until he has given up 8 runs?  Who sends him back out there for the 5th after getting back a one run lead?  Who I ask?  Well, I will ask and answer.  Someone that manages not based on logic, strategy or reason.  Someone who manages based on devotion.  Next time you see Terry leaving in some poor sap to get hammered, or has Junior Varsity Varitek swinging away into a double play.  Think of two things.  One, he can’t help it; this is who he is and what he believes.  Two, crank up “Stand By Your Man” on the sound system. It makes it easier to take, it really does.  At least you can understand the thought process that got him there.  He just hums the refrain when he has a decision to make. 

 

And you can bet dollars to donuts that he was humming that same refrain in his head last night when he put in Old Man Timlin.  Timlin has been awful for two years.  Horrendous this year, beyond words horrendous.  Timlin had not only not pitched since September 28, but here’s how his last month shaped up.  7.2 IP, 13 H, 8 ER.  That’s a 9.39 ERA, in case you were wondering.  His opponents’ batting average against him this year was .302 with an OBP of .363.  Enough evidence for you.  Many a Red Sox fan has known it was time to go to bed this year when Old Man Timlin showed up on the mound.  Just like last night and good thing too, because it was getting late. 

 

So, when would be a good time to show your devotion to ol’ Timlin.  How bout the 11th inning of an 8-8 LCS game?  If that’s not standing by your man, then I don’t know what is?  If you’re not going to use Paul Byrd when Beckett is doing his “Firestarter” impression early on, and you’re not going to use him in the 11th when you are out of pitchers not name Mike Timlin, why is he on the roster? 

 

“Franconomics”.  Someone should write a book.  Just send me some royalties.

 

NFL picks, HOME TEAMS in CAPS, 26-28-3 on the year. 

 

Bears -3 over FALCONS

SAINTS -7.5 over Raiders

Panthers +1.5 over BUCS

REDSKINS -12.5 over Rams

JETS -10 over Bengals

Lions +14 over VIKINGS        (they have to cover eventually, don’t they?)

Dolphins +3 over TEXANS      (it’ll take more than a year to recover from Sage’s insanity)

Ravens +4 over COLTS           (the new building is jinxed)

BRONCOS -3             over Jags (the Jags are this year’s “Cop Rock”.  Look it up if you missed it.  Whenever there is a new Bochco show, they always mention his former shows, NYPD Blue etc.  They never mention “Cop Rock”.  This bothers me.

 

Cowboys -5.5 over CARDINALS

Eagles -5.5 over 49ERS

Packers even over SEAHAWKS

Patriots +5.5 over Chargers

BROWNS +9 over Giants        It’s now or never Browns, and I’m betting on now.  

Thursday, October 9, 2008

League Championship Series

Nothing can prevent the pending circus that will be the Manny vs. the Sox World Series.  It is destined to happen.  Dodgers in 5.  Sox in 5.  Devil Sparkles finally get the rude awakening that we’ve all been waiting for all year.  Then let the craziness begin.  

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

There’s a Little Too Much Sage in that Recipe


 

There are endless reasons to watch to sports religiously.  Staggering athletic achievements, great comebacks, unbelievable coaching gaffes or even officials blowing games with insane calls.  When it all comes down to it, we watch because you can and will see something amazing that you have never seen happen before, if you watch long enough.  I remember not giving up on the Bills down 35-3 in the playoffs to Houston and seeing the greatest comeback in NFL history, a record which likely will never be broken.  This week, we had one of these I can’t believe what I just saw moments, one that every Texans fan will never forget as long as he lives. 

 

With 3:52 to go in the 4th quarter, with the ball and a 10 point lead, Sage Rosenfels completely lost his mind.  This wasn’t a mental lapse, or a poor decision, or even a split second blunder, this was a full onset of temporary insanity.  If Sage had committed a crime (sorry Texans fans, it does not count as one no matter how much it hurts) he would beat the charge with the insanity defense.  There is no other way to describe what happened. 

 

Having just kicked the living crap out of the Colts all day long, their nemesis that they have beaten just once in their history, it all came apart in the moment that Sage Rosenfels lost his mind.  They had scored 27 unanswered points at one point and were still safely ahead by 10 with under 4 minutes to go.  All you need to do is not give up a defensive touchdown and you are almost assured of winning.  The Texans had been beating up Peyton all day.  He showed no signs of putting up the two long drives necessary to beat the Texans in the time remaining.  It was over, just about.  The most significant win in Texans history.  A break out game for Sage who surely would have taken Matt Schaub’s job, he’s always played better anyways in his stints.  This could have been the game that won Sage a starting job.  He could have become a multi-millionaire and a celebrity.

 

But it all slipped away in the split second that Sage lost his mind.  With 3:52 go and the 10 point lead.  With the ball on a 3rd & 10.  Sage broke out of the pocket and started running toward the first down marker.  For a second it looked like he would make it.  And then three defenders began closing in on him like piranhas after Michael Moore falls overboard in the Amazon.  Sage could have slid.  He even could have dove head first and absorbed some abuse and all would have still been fine.  He was never going to make the first down either way.  Just go down, the clock continues to trickle down and Peyton gets the ball back with bad field position and under 3 minutes to go.  But something else happened.

 

Sage made a decision that will no doubt haunt him and everyone that loves him for the rest of his life.  Can’t you just see him in bar 50 years from now drowning his sorrows in discount beer and lamenting how he blew his one big chance to be a star when he lost his mind?  As the three defenders closed in, Sage decided that he was going to try to make the first down.  A noble choice, not the brightest given the situation, but certainly not insanity.  This is where it all went so wrong for poor Sage. 

 

He decided he was a hybrid of Jim Brown, Bob Beamon and Greg Louganis all at the same time.  Jim Brown because he thought he could get by all three defenders.  Bob Beamon because he thought he could jump a really long way if he hit the board just right.  And Greg Louganis because this was a face forward platform dive if I have ever seen one.  Only Sage didn’t smack his face on the platform, although he would have been better off if he had.  Sage jumped straight up into the air and once he was airborne he became a human crash test dummy.  First one, then the second and finally a third defender all nailed Sage as he now spun helplessly 5 feet in the air.  The ball, of course, dropped out and was returned for a touchdown.  Sage savagely came crashing to the ground his helmet smacking the ground Louganis on platform style.  And he watched helplessly as his career slipped away in the hands of the Colt defender storming down the sideline.  “What in the name of holy hell did I just do?” could be the only possibly thought going through his head.  He had made it 56+ minutes into a perfect game, a career and season defining victory.  Maybe he was just thinking something more along the lines of the carnival music as his scrambled brain tried to reboot.

 

If this wasn’t bad enough.  Sage had not one, but two more turnovers left in him for the conclusion of the game.  With the ball back and under 3 minutes now to go, with a 3 point lead, Sage again left the pocket.  Give him credit, this time he did not try to half pike over a litany of defenders.  He damn sure wasn’t going to try that again.  So as he rolled and approached the line of scrimmage, he slowed up.  Waiving the ball around like a pageant winner waiving a tissue in a parade to the passing crowd.  Sure enough, as he slowed up because he wasn’t going down field again, he was stripped from behind.  Colts get the ball.  Peyton takes them in for the go ahead score.  Sage gets the ball back one more time in desperation time and throws an interception to end all hope for Texans fans, all hope for his dream to be a starter, and any possibility of not being haunted by this moment for a life time. 

 

This was as mind blowing a turn of events as one will ever see.  Good quarterbacking is about good decision making as much as anything else.  Sage made just about the single worst decision a human being can make on a football field short of shooting a couple guys in the face “The Last Boy Scout” style.  It was just really sad.  We seemed to be watching the emergence of yet another come out of nowhere back up QB resurrection story.  Ah la Brady and Romo.  But no, it all came crashing down in that split second.  We feel for you Sage.  Everybody out there having a beer at the end of a tough day, raise your glass to Sage.  He’ll need all the support he can get.. 

 

 

Saturday, October 4, 2008

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

 

            Ah, baseball playoffs.  Football in full swing.  Foliage.  All that crap.  Forget Christmas, October is the holiday season for me.  Especially this October.  OJ’s guilty.  It only took 13 years, but here we are.  Was the OJ verdict one of those moments that we all remember where we were?  I certainly do.  I was a sophomore at Columbia University in one of the school eateries.  When the not guilty on all counts verdict was read, the packed room (maybe 150+ people) erupted into raucous celebration.  Screaming, high fives, hugs.  I never felt I quite fit in at that school from that moment forward.  It was surreal. OJ got away with murder for a variety of reasons, and it has left some of us sickened ever since.  Especially as he scoured every bunker, green, fairway and 19th hole for the real killers. 

            It seems appropriate to rehash, just briefly how it all went so wrong the first time.  First, outgunned prosecution made this case far longer and more complicated than it needed to be to grandstand during their time in the sun.  Second, Johnny Cochran, staggeringly brilliant attorney.  Staggeringly.  Third, jury selection.  Prosecution thought it would be a good idea to seat black women.  But studies consistently show that black women have utter disdain for the white women that black men left their black wives for.  In this case, the victim.  Fourth, failing to point out the painfully obvious.  The defense theory was that OJ was framed by a few racist members of the LAPD.  Hence the bloody glove and other DNA evidence.  It was the only way to counter it.  All the prosecution had to do to defeat this defense was to point out that the two primary people who would have had to be in cahoots to properly frame OJ had never met before the day of the murder.  That’s it, case closed.  Oh well, 13 years later and justice has been served.  Or, I guess we should wait for sentencing. 

 

I’ll fight my desire to get into the bailout, but I must say that I feel a lot better about our economy as it gives $100,000,000.00 to car race track owners.  You know, as long as it was absolutely necessary to save the economy.

 

On to the Sporty Sports:

 

Poor TBS.  They pay all their money for the entirety of MLB division series and they’re looking at four possible sweeps after getting three sweeps and a 3-1 series last year.  No wonder Buck Martinez was lauding Santana after two batters.  Two batters?  Are you serious?  The next five Red Sox reached base and put up four runs.  Poor TBS.  Has any manager ever so viciously gone after one player as Lou did after Fukudome?  He’s a .257 hitter with 10 homeruns on the season.  It’s not his fault you gave him all the money in the world.  He’s 0-8.  It’s not like he committed four infield errors.  Ouch for those poor Cubbies’ fans though.  Just one thought on you guys, do you really think it’s helping to turn on your team so fast?  I felt like I was watching an Eagles’ home game at old Veterans’ Field after a couple of early picks by Donovan.  If your players are just a tiny little bit extra nervous because you are going to rain boo’s down on them in the 3rd inning, aren’t you at least a small part of the problem?  It’s irrelevant though.  Nothing can stop the inevitable destiny of Manny versus the Sox for the series.  Not only will it be great theatre, but could there be a series Yankees fans would less want to see?  Their nemesis versus their greatest manager. 

 

Oh those cocky Angels.  They didn’t say it, but you could just feel in the air.  8-1 against the Sox during the regular season, it was going to be a romp.  Oops.  Chone, Hunter, Vlad, Teixeira, K-Rod.  This was their year.  From what I have learned from the announcers in this series, the entire concept of Angels aggressive baseball means going from 1st to 3rd.  So, Vlad the Impaler did nothing wrong when he shot the Angels in the foot with his absurd base running blunder in game one. 

 

 

Week 5 it is, how fast it all flies by.  Home teams in CAPS:

 

TEXANS +3 over Colts

 

We’ve seen this Colts team before with a beat up defense missing Bob Sanders.  They can’t stop anyone from running.  Nevermind, unheard of super fantasy sleeper Steve Slaton.  Texans finally start their season at home with a win.  This team is not done yet.  Just gotta win at home and go .500 on the road.  They haven’t been home yet, so this is their chance. 

 

RAVENS +3 over Titans

 

I have picked against the Titans every week so far and been wrong every week.  Gotta switch it up here, you would think.  I just can’t.  Little offense versus no offense.  No offense versus little offense, I can’t figure out which is which.  I just can’t believe in Kerry Collins.  When he came into the league, OJ was getting acquitted.  That has finally turned around this week and so will Kerry’s luck.  I don’t believe in QB’s whose career TD’s match or barely exceed their career INT’s:  176-173.  INT’s will exceed TD’s by end of year.  Albert “the headhunter” Haynesworth bad karma will catch up at some point. 

 

Joe Flacco is unflaccable.  I’m coining that phrase.  Arm strength, poise.  Terribly impressed with this guy who no one ever thought would be starting early on in his career.   Out of Delaware.  He’s got a cannon, and his head and heart appear to be in the right place.  He could be a top 10 QB within 5 years.  You heard it here first.  And when you have to do it with the Ravens’ receivers who like to be known either as Wingus and Dingus or the Mandrell sisters, that’s all the more impressive.

 

DOLPHINS -6.5 over Chargers

 

Why is it so hard to travel 3000 miles in the NFL and not play like crap?  I don’t know.  Maybe even with charters and private planes it's still really really uncomfortable to be cooped up on a plane for 5 hours when you are 6' 7" and 350 pounds.  I can't find any legroom and I'm 5' 10".  I think the Dolphins have something here.  Great left tackle.  Ronnie Brown is back to being Ronnie Brown.  And the power of positive thinking.  When was the last time you saw someone in Dolphins’ gear smile?  No really, when?  Coach, player, fan, anyone?  The smiles are back.  And Norv is ready to post his resume on the “ladders”.  He’s a $100K earner right?

 

PANTHERS -9.5 over Chiefs

 

Herm Edwards cannot win two weeks in a row.  It just can’t happen.  His team stinks, his coaching is worse and Coors Light is clamoring for him to get fired.  It’s coming. 

 

Redskins +6 over EAGLES

 

I’m sorry Jim Zorn, I was apparently wrong.  Skins are for real.  Santana Moss is resurrected.  Campbell can play.  The defense is defending.  Eagles are too beat up.  The four best teams in the NFL are all in the NFC East.  Name a team better than the Eagles, Cowboys, Giants or Redskins.  You can't.  Bills and Titans are off to great starts but would either be anything less than 3-5 point underdog on a neutral field against any of those four teams.  When has that ever happened?  Are these teams going to beat the snot out of each other to the point that it negatively impacts the playoff performance?

 

Bears -3.5 LIONS

 

Matt “many blessings” Millen is gone and the Lions are only a 3.5 point dog at home.  I know they will be giddy and flying around at 100 mph, but these are same dolts that Millen picked that can’t get out of their way.  Bears gave one away last week and take out their frustration on the hapless Lions. 

 

Falcons +7 over PACKERS

 

Can someone please tell Aaron Rodgers that he is never going to be able to break Jon Favreau’s record of 9023 straight starts.  If you’re hurt, sit down.  He will never succeed if he continues to see Brett Favre in his rear view mirror.  If he plays this week when his shoulder is not ready, which by all accounts it is not, he has Brett in his head, and Brett causes enough trouble in his own head. 

 

GIANTS -7.5 over Seahawks

 

Another east coast trip for the Seattle MASH unit.  That just don’t seem fair.  Matt would be safer espousing conservative perspectives on the View.  You can’t pick against any NFC East team right now, unless they are playing each other and you have to. 

 

BRONCOS -3 over Bucs

 

Offensive guru Mike Shanahan has dreamed of this team for years.  Weapons galore on offense.  No defense.  Broncos get back on track here.  I think he secretly enjoys it.  

 

Patriots -3 over 49ERS

 

Pats have not lost two in a row since 2002.  And after that second loss, they ripped up the muddy pit that was in the middle of Gillette and replaced it with field turf.  This team is still talented and the 49ers are still, well, not.  Pats have to win one of these west coast games as they set up shop on the left coast for 10 days.  And this one is all the more likely.  There is a long list of people that hate Bill Belichick.  Does anyone hate him more than Mike Martz?  Billy drank his milk shake real good.  Martz will throw the kitchen sink, but I think the Pats defense will prevail. 

 

Bills -1 over CARDINALS

 

COWBOYS -16.5 over Bengals

 

Are Carson and the Bengals smart enough to leave him on the bench for this one?  I don’t think so, but it won’t make any difference.  Did Jason Garrett lose his mind last week?  What the heck happened.  I think this is a big negative for Princeton.  Just recently kicked out of the top spot by Harvard in the US News and World Report rankings and now this.  Jason Garrett, with his massive offensive line, stud running back Marion the Barbarian, super slick speedy back up Felix Jones, called 10 running plays last week.  And 2 of them were to TO.  He gave the ball to Marion Barber 8 times last week.  His offensive line has been mauling people.  I expect this kind of brain fart from the Cowboys coaches during the playoffs, not here.  The Cowboys defense also played like a sieve, but this was amazing to watch.

How good are the Cowboys though?  The onside kick goes through Sam Hurd's hands or the Cowboys likely march down and kick a winning field goal.  This week they could leave Marion and Felix in the locker room, play with ten men, while Phillips and Garrett engage in a game of Battleship, and still win by 20.  Sorry Bengals.  Odds on Marvin Lewis surviving the season?  

 

JAGUARS -4 over Steelers

 

SAINTS -3.5 over Vikings

 

This is our Monday night game.  Can you say low ratings?  Is this just me?  AP is a joy to watch and the Saints generally throw it all over.  I don't know, this game just don't do it for me.  Might AP turn into the next Barry Sanders?  No, not in that way.  I mean stuck on a go-nowhere team for the entirety of his career.  I never get these teams that think they can win with a steaming pile of dog crap under center.  Of the last 16 Superbowl champs, 12 of them were Quarterbacked by Brady, Peyton, Favre, Elway, Young and Aikman.  The others, Eli and Roethlisberger also quite good.  And the two that buck the trend were Brad Johnson and Trent Dilfer.  Dilfer had a historically great defense and Brad Johnson also had a great defense, and the advantage of a head coach who knew his opponents better than their own coach.  The point is that great QB's win superbowls.  Very good QB's can also.  And piles of dog crap QB's do not.  There will not be another dog pile QB to win a superbowl now that the rules favor the offense so blatantly.  So if your QB stinks, start looking for someone.  Or, do it the Minnesota way:

What are the yahoos in Minnesota thinking.  "Well, we've got a great O-line, superstar running back, good run D.  We could be a serious contender.   What about QB?  Eh, just go with Tavaris, sure he can't throw the ball in the ocean from a boat.  If we get in trouble we have Gus "I am most famous for concussing myself" Frerotte.  QB's are overrated, we'll just fudge it at that position."  I really don't get it.  By the way, during the brief stints when Frerotte was a starter, here's the list of QB's that took his job, Trent Green, Charlie Batch, Brian Griese, and Daunte Culpepper (the Miami one, not the one who could play).  Can we just go ahead and add John David Booty to that list now, or should we wait?  That list doesn't bode so well for JDB.  I hope Tavaris has a silver tongue because he will be selling insurance for a living very shortly.