Allow me to take a moment to step away from the arena of sports and broach a topic much more important. The events in Charlottesville, VA have again shown that our United States are just as screwed up as the Middle East, North Korea, or a myriad of African nations, to name a few examples. We are not better then them, despite our significantly higher level of development and wealth. We are people with as many problems as they, often many of the same ones too. Sports can be a wonderful distraction from bombings and shootings and all manor of tragic events but at times, probably more often then we would like to admit, we have to take off the goggles and see what is happening in this world we live in.
Over the last 24 hours or so, I've heard from radio and tv people both local and national that things should be different now. "It's 2017" they say, as if the calendar has any actual impact on who people are. We live in an America stained, nay soaked in the blood of the unborn. People hide behind the word choice as some kind of comfort, well if you don't want a child, make the choice to keep your legs closed and your pants on. If that's too indelicate in your opinion, well I won't apologize because political correctness and moral relativism are doing as much damage as those choices I just eluded to so blatantly. Change comes from confrontation of a problem, I don't like when it happens any more then anyone else but it still has to happen in the off chance that the sinking ship can be salvaged.
This will fall on deaf ears, less then that probably, it won't even reach many in all likelihood. But I won't shy away from it. It is all those deaths, the fact that we are no less brutal then the Aztecs, the Romans, the Nazis, that has us again at a point of self inflicted tragedy. I'm a sports loving rube, but I can't ignore the latest saddening and enraging event that has happened in our borders, by our own citizenry. Come what may from this, but I would rather stay a no body with my integrity intact then become like so many that I watch and listen to at the cost of my morality.
This is still a summation of the last week in sports for the region so I'll just get on with it, because there really isn't a great way to transition from things that matter to things that are distraction.
Timberwolves
The Pups rolled out some new gear late in the week. They're a great change from what they had been playing in and selling, even though few knew that their look was in need of an upgrade. In even better news, they still haven't tossed aside young Andrew Wiggins for that brat Kyrie Irving. Though there were still some subjective waves made by the owner when he was discussing the coming contract extension with Wiggins & wanting to get a face to face meeting with him before committing the cash. I think it's a business decision more then anything and that it shouldn't be a problem but in the milk toast, PC world of today some don't see it that way, but that doesn't apply for me.
Vikings
On the Purple front, they got through scrimmage number one without any injuries to key players. So that's positive. The negative far outweighed the positives on Thursday night though. Whether it was the "so leaky it might sink the ship" run defense or the bull fighter techniques the the offensive linemen seemed to be employing, the ghosts of 2016 seem to have followed the team out the Northern New York. I'm trying to keep in perspective that there is a limited amount of information that can be gleaned from less then a half of football but the picture will become clearer over the next two week. I for one am hoping that the clarity can be like a dawn.
Twins
Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in. Not that I'm complaining, because a step in the right direction and finishing around .500 would be a tremendous step in the right direction. So after selling a couple useful players for guys that may never make a meaningful impact, the team has continued to push forward, winning games along the way. I wouldn't be surprised if they shipped Colon off before the waiver deadline passes just to add one more warm body to class A. That's speculation though, over the last week they've been winning games, including a four game sweep of the Brewers. It's enough to draw some attention away from Football for a few more weeks.
Bison
All the Fall sports teams are back on campus and hard at work in preparation for the coming season. Early in the week, word came out that Jeff Illies was seen on crutches and it was later reported that he will be out for about a month with a strained MCL. The ensuing days were quiet on the injury front, and I can only hope that the injury meter stays flat lined for the next 9 - 10 months, give or take a few weeks.
RedHawks
The hot start out of their break has not only fizzled, it's pretty much gone over a cliff. They've won 1 game in the last 8 and then came the news today that manager Doug Simumic was being relieved of his duties. The timing is unexpected to say the least, but from what is being reported it isn't due to any medical issues with the skipper. As one who grew up going to Redhawks games, I think it will be strange to see someone else leading the team but things almost always come to end, as this once again demonstrates. In comparison to the breaking news, the losing streak pales. So thanks for the memories and be well manager!
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