Wilfs start pushing stadium
On Tuesday, while speaking to a group of Vikings fans in Austin, Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf made it clear that he and his brother Mark want to see the state address the issue of a new stadium – NOW! Not a couple of years from now when the economy might be better as the Metropolitan Sports Facility Commission proposed last week.
The Vikings have taken off their gloves and are gearing up for a bare-knuckle fight.
Zygi is right. The issue needs to be closely looked at by the legislature when it convenes in January.
As a fan, the Metrodome served me well. Three teams using one facility was economical and convenient.
But, when the state handed funding to the University of Minnesota ($138 million) for its TCF Bank Stadium and the cash-poor Twins ($245 million) for Target Field, it set a precedent.
With NFL-hungry Los Angeles starting construction on a new stadium and the Vikings off to an 8-1 start, it’s a perfect time for the Wilfs to start beating their stadium drum. The man behind the LA stadium has already said the Vikings are one of his teams of choice but he won’t make his pitch to the Wilfs until the season is over. I don’t think he’s going to wait that long.
This and that
•I’m surprised that the Minnesota Timberwolves are bogged down with an 13-game losing streak. The big fourth-quarter rally in the opener, their lone victory, gave fans some hope that the Timberwolves might be able to scratch out a few victories. What’s worse is that they’re not just losing, they’re getting clobbered.
New coach Kurt Rambis is going to stay with the triangle offense that works so well for the much more talented Los Angeles Lakers. The return of Kevin Love will be a boost.
•Mike Scioscia of the Los Angeles Angels won American League Manager of the Year honors., with Minnesota’s Ron Gardenhire placing second and the Yankees” Joe Girardi third. My ballot would’ve put Gardenhire first, Girardi second and Scioscia third. Gardenhire did more with less talent and Girardi guided baseball’s most-talented team to the World Series title without a hitch. Sometimes managing the best team is ta tough assignment.
•How good are the Vikings? I think they’re as good as unbeatens Indianapolis and New Orleans. Neither of those teams have as many play-makers as the Vikings. Look for New England to hand New Orleans its first loss Monday night.
This week’s football winners and losers:
College
Texas 44, Texas A&M 13
Pittsburgh 27, West Virginia 17
Alabama 20, Auburn 17
Oklahoma 23, Oklahoma State 20
Stanford 30, Notre Dame 24
South Carolina 27, Clemson 24
Georgia Tech 30, Georgia 27
LSU 17, Arkansas 10
Southern Cal 33, UCLA 17
Connecticut 30, Syracuse 17
Florida 34, Florida State 27
Arizona State 24, Arizona 23
Nebraska 20, Colorado 10
Kansas 27, Missouri 20
NFL
Green Bay 24, Detroit 20
New York Giants 27, Denver 17
Dallas 34, Oakland 16
Philadelphia 24, Washington 17
Buffalo 20, Miami 13
Cincinnati 34, Cleveland 20
Tennessee 27, Arizona 20
St. Louis 27, Seattle 24
Baltimore 24, Pittsburgh 23
Atlanta 40, Tampa Bay 17
San Diego 31, Kansas City 17
New York Jets 23, Carolina 17
San Francisco 30, Jacksonville 20
Indianapolis 27, Houston 21
New England 24, New Orleans 20
Vikings 31, Chicago 17
