Nov/071
Delmon Young…we got him!
To be fair, the pitch really should have been called a ball... The ump undoubtedly learned his lesson.
Nov/070
Another record breaking rookie
The Thunderdome has seen its share of records broke in it. As Minnesota fans, we should be used to the fact that records have been, and will continue to be, broken on our clock. Often, its a washed up veteran breaking out of a 100 year slump, or a young rookie busting out of his proverbial shell. This time it was Antonio Cromartie returning a missed Longwell field goal attempt for 109 yards, but this time we would not be left in despair.
This time it was our turn to savor the juicy helping of Adrian Peterson. The rookie decided he would treat us to a healthy dose of 296 yards and three TDs, breaking the single-game rushing record previously held by Jamal Lewis who ran for 295 yards only a few years ago. Ironically, it was once held by Walter Payton who ran for 275 yards against none other than our Vikes in 1977.
As I watched, I was reminded of not too long ago when another rookie sensation was lighting up the Thunderdome and breaking down defenses like it was childs play. We called him the "Superfreak", now some people call him a team disease. Randy Moss came to the Vikes to prove something much like A.P. is doing now. I can only hope that this time we play our cards right and keep this young man here for the long haul. I would hate to see us trade him away in seven years for a mediocre linebacker and a first round pick that does not pan out.
The best is yet to come with the man they call "All Day". He is on pace to break Eric Dickerson's record of most yards gained in a season as a rookie (1,808 yds) and possibly the most yards ever gained in a season (2,105 yds) also held by the rec specs king Eric Dickerson, although that would require more yards than he is averaging.
Either way I cannot say that I have been this excited about a player since Moss came our way in 1998. Lets hope A.P. can take our team to the next level.
Nov/071
Al Jefferson – See what HE can do!
The Timberwolves start the post-KG era tonight at 7 p.m. at Target Center against the best team in the NorthWest division - the Denver Nuggets. Although tonight is just one game in a season that almost definitively will result in another Timberwolf absence from the playoffs, it does serve as an early litmus test for the new centerpiece in our extremely young lineup - Al Jefferson. Tonight will be a test for our new "star" as he bangs around with the likes of Nene, Marcus Camby and Kenyon Martin for 48 minutes. Jefferson is likely to supply what we have been missing during the KG era - Low post scoring. In other words, easy buckets. We have been a jump-shooting team for 15 years, but now with Jefferson, Craig Smith and Chris Richard, we are a smashmounth team that will score in the paint and get a lot of easy baskets off offensive rebounds and breakdowns in defensive rotation; which is probably just what a young team needs.
Despite the new look, I think the greatest source of optimism is the attitude of our new Big Ticket. Jefferson seems to be every bit the team player that KG was, at almost half the price.
Late Wednesday, Jefferson accepted that $65 million deal against the advice of his agent. On Thursday, he made an astounding statement for a professional athlete, saying he didn't deserve a maximum deal approaching $80 million because he hasn't proven himself yet.
He will earn $11 million next season and will receive a $1 million raise every year for four years after that.
"I wanted to get in my head, get in my heart that I'm going to be here," he said. "They traded for me. They traded one of the best players in the NBA for me. I felt this is where I needed to be. This is where I want to be."
Here is great article from the fish rap factory-west side of the river-that tells more of the story.