Some people think I’m strange for my renaissance fencing interests, but at least I don’t combine my odd combat tastes with horseback riding like Jordan and Stephanie do!
September 2, 2010
August 29, 2010
Vikings beat Seahawks 24-13 in 3rd preseason game
I didn’t get to watch this game, so I’m depending on the nice folks at the Star-Tribune to fill in the details for me:
Brad Childress has taken to describing the Vikings’ offense as being “in flux.” Exhibit A came with 4 minutes, 22 seconds left in the first quarter of the Vikings’ 24-13 preseason victory over Seattle on Saturday night at Mall of America Field at the Metrodome.
Wide receiver Greg Camarillo, who arrived on Wednesday in a trade with the Dolphins, caught a 12-yard pass from Brett Favre on third-and-8 to put the ball at the Seahawks 6. The play looked to be perfectly executed. Afterward offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell admitted there was one problem: Camarillo wasn’t in the right spot when he made the catch.
That’s what happens when two receivers, Camarillo and Javon Walker, arrived in the past five days, beating the quarterback to town by only a week. That’s what happens when another receiver, Percy Harvin, plays in his first preseason game after participating in only six training camp practices because of issues with migraines. That’s what happen when the starting center, John Sullivan, remains sidelined by a calf injury and the starting right guard, Anthony Herrera, is shifted to center and a rookie, Chris DeGeare, takes over at guard.
So, with all that flux, how the heck did they win the game?
Is Haynesworth going to live down to expectations?
Mark Craig doesn’t think the Washington Redskins are going to get anything like their money’s worth from a mega-paid player this season:
Other than not being a billionaire, here’s another reason I couldn’t own an NFL team: Albert Haynesworth. The Haynesworth-Mike Shanahan feud, to me, reached an even more serious level now that Shanahan announced Baby Huey won’t play with the first-team defense in Friday’s preseason game against the Jets. The third preseason game is really the only important preseason game the NFL has. It’s when coaches and players actually try to simulate an NFL contest.
If I’m an NFL owner, I cut my losses with Haynesworth right now. He’s not worth it. The $100 million man was a major disappointment as a happy camper playing in the 4-3 last year. Now, he’s a cancer who hates the 3-4, doesn’t practice and plays with the scrubs.
Haynesworth isn’t the difference between the Redskins finishing last or first in the NFC East. He’s simply not worth the headache.
August 24, 2010
Sidney Rice has hip surgery, won’t be ready to play until November
In what many are claiming is a contract-related move, Vikings wide receiver Sidney Rice had hip surgery yesterday for an injury he took in the NFC Championship game:
There has been a lot of controversy concerning that injured hip of Sidney Rice, primarily questions about when the injury happened and why it wasn’t reported until a Twitter-related confession from his agent.
Rice was at the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colo. No, not to try to pull John Elway out of retirement but to have his injured hip examined by a new set of eyes. Rice confirmed to the Star Tribune he had surgery that is expected to sideline him for the first half of the 2009 season.
What makes the situation curious is that Rice, whose contract calls for $550,000 for the 2010 season, went through minicamp without any obvious hindrances and now needs surgery. The injury is said to have happened during the NFC Championship Game vs. the Saints in January.
If he had been in a scenario that would need surgery, the team clearly would have preferred to have the procedure done much earlier so that he would be ready for the start of the season. As it stands, he could be sidelined until November.
This is a very odd development: as John Holler points out above, this is an old injury and if surgery was required, it could have been done earlier in the year. If the Vikings had indicated that they weren’t willing to pay Rice extra for the breakout season he had last year, it could easily be interpreted as a deliberate move to punish the team for being unwilling to reward Rice.
Update: The Vikings have signed Javon Walker, who played with Brett Favre in Green Bay:
Walker worked out for the coaches Friday and, contrary to Walker’s recent body of work, there seems to be enough left in his 31-year-old body to give them depth at a position that has none.
We’ll see. Until Walker has a chance to prove himself, it would be a shame to see him move ahead of younger players such as Logan Payne. Payne, 25, played in two games with Seattle in ‘08 but has potential. Walker is a household name with a Pro Bowl past, but he also has been beaten down by injuries and off-field trouble the past four seasons.
The last pass Favre threw to him was in the ‘05 season opener. Walker tore an ACL on the play and has had only one productive season since. Heading into that season, a rift developed between Favre and Walker because Favre publicly criticized Walker’s decision to stage a contract holdout. The Favre-Walker relationship obviously has been mended because the Vikings never would bring in a receiver Favre didn’t want.
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August 23, 2010
San Francisco 15, Vikings 10
Last night’s preseason game had a brief cameo appearance by Brett Favre, who only completed one pass to Adrian Peterson, and then took a big sack. Favre got up smiling after the sack, so he wasn’t hurt by it, but it was Peterson’s man who got through to Favre. Peterson needs to be better at picking up blitzes in order to stay on the field in third down situations (Chester Taylor used to do third down blocking, but he’s with Chicago this year).
Tarvaris Jackson took over at quarterback after the first series, and played the remainder of the first half. The Vikings’ offensive line didn’t show great form, allowing another sack of Jackson (that was Chris Clark’s man getting the sack) and allowing several hits on him as he released the ball. The defensive line wasn’t its usual dominant self either, as the 49ers were able to score the first points of the game against the Vikings’ starters. E.J. Henderson got his first start after coming back from a late-season injury that many thought might be a career-ender. The defensive backfield had a different look to it, with cornerback Antoine Winfield only playing one series, then giving way to second-round pick Chris Cook. The other corner was manned by Lito Sheppard and Asher Allen playing alternating series. Jamarca Sanford started at strong safety, then alternated with last season’s starter Tyrell Johnson.
Joe Webb, who the Vikings originally planned to convert to wide receiver, made a strong case for sticking on the regular season roster:
Webb, a sixth-round pick out of Alabama-Birmingham, completed seven of 14 passes for 47 yards in the fourth quarter and, more important, ran for 53 yards on three carries, including a 48-yard touchdown with 1 minute, 54 seconds left. He then showed his inexperience by getting sacked on the final play of the game for a safety.
The Vikings likely won’t get much of a look at Webb on Saturday night in their third game of the preseason against Seattle. It will be the Vikings’ exhibition home opener and, as is usually the case, the starters are expected to play into the third quarter. That will include Favre, who must get settled back into this offense after missing the first two weeks of training camp.
The problem for the Vikings is that they plan to carry only three quarterbacks on the roster, and Favre, Jackson, and Sage Rosenfels all returned from last season. Webb could be a good quarterback — given a year or two of seasoning — but he’s looked too good in his brief opportunities to risk trying to sneak him on to the practice squad, which may mean the Vikings need to hold a regular roster spot open for him.
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August 22, 2010
Patrick Reusse defends Brad Childress
Star-Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse thinks that Vikings coach Brad Childress is being blamed for success:
Legions of Vikings loyalists gave all credit for this tremendous season to Favre, and ignored the four seasons of roster adjustment that had taken place with Childress.
Last week, Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports carried the water for an unnamed, disgruntled Viking, including a pair of quotes that were alleged to shine light on the Favre-Childress relationship:
“Brett thinks Childress has no clue about offense,” and “Brett just doesn’t trust him.”
The second quote was part of the anonymous Viking convincing Cole to offer this observation: “Childress’ presence, not Favre’s ankle injury, was one of the biggest reasons Favre was hesitating . . . after Childress visited Favre on July 19, Favre’s desire to return declined.”
Surely, this was sweet music to those vocal Childress critics among the Purple Faithful . . . a group that would insist even after a Vikings Super Bowl victory that it came in spite of the coach.
Childress isn’t the sort of coach who inspires delirious displays of loyalty by either players or fans: he’s not a mediagenic personality, but you (generally) don’t hire a coach because he looks good on TV. Coaches are hired to get the best possible results from their players. Some of the best coaches in NFL history have been less-than-cuddly to both players and reporters . . . others appeared to spend as much time on camera as they did on the practice field with their teams.
On the only chart that matters: the team’s record, Chilly has done pretty well (6-10, 8-8, 10-6, 12-4). Getting to the NFC Championship game is very good . . . losing in overtime to the eventual Super Bowl champions shows that the team had what it took, except luck.
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August 4, 2010
QotD: Keyshawn keeps his priorities straight
For as much as the network has made fun of Favre over the last couple of years for his decision to keep playing, when he speaks — or texts — people listen, and ESPN became “All Favre All the Time” Tuesday. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., almost every minute of coverage was devoted to Favre and, considering that ESPN employs just about as many NFL people as the league itself, it had a variety of people to draw from.
Steve Young thought he would play three or four more years. Mike Golic said the Vikings are a borderline playoff team without Favre and not a Super Bowl contender. Trent Dilfer was “shocked.” Andy Reid said, “I’ve been asked that question once or twice.” Antonio Freeman said he won’t believe it until Sept. 9 when the Vikings play and Favre isn’t there. Mike Ditka said, “He’s a 40-year old 17-year old.” Jon Gruden said he is “one of the toughest human beings to ever walk the planet.” Keyshawn Johnson talked about himself.
John Holler, “With Favre, everyone has an opinion”, Viking Update, 2010-08-04
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Favre retirement story switches again
Yesterday, the sports news was full of the “Brett Favre is retiring” meme. Today, we’re back to “Of course he’s going to play”. Favre denies having sent any text messages announcing his decision:
Brett Favre told ESPN’s Ed Werder in Hattiesburg, Miss., on Wednesday that he has not made any decision about returning to play for the Minnesota Vikings this season and says he will play if healthy.
Favre’s agent, Bus Cook, said in a statement to the NFL Network on Wednesday that the quarterback has an appointment with Dr. James Andrews next week and will know more at that time. Andrews performed surgery on Favre’s ankle in May.
Favre denied sending text messages to Vikings teammates and club officials that might have indicated he had decided to retire.
Favre told ESPN that he has decided to play for Minnesota in 2010 if his surgically repaired ankle heals but said the fact he has not been able to decide his future reflects his level of concern about regaining his health.
Tarvaris Jackson isn’t the happiest man in Minnesota today (but then again, he probably didn’t take the story seriously yesterday either).
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August 3, 2010
Badminton, as described by professional sports announcer
H/T to Mark Frauenfelder for the link.
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Brett Favre announces his retirement
Either he’s really worried about that ankle, or he’s upset that his intentions are being taken for granted . . . and this will certainly shake things up in the NFC North. Bleacher Report has a quick summary:
Brett Favre began to inform Vikings officials Monday night he will not return for his 20th season, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune and Jay Glazer of FOX.
Favre reportedly told teammates and coaches that his ankle has not responded and he doesn’t plan to play this year. Favre is expected to issue a press release later Tuesday and the team hopes he changes his mind.
If the retired-then-unretired-then-re-retired Favre doesn’t change his mind again, the happiest man in Minnesota today is Tarvaris Jackson.
Update: ESPN report:
Update, the second: Of course, for some people this news means that the sad-sack Vikings will be lucky to beat anyone this season. Apparently the only thing that matters for success in the NFL is your quarterback: running backs, wide receivers, offensive line, defence, they’re all immaterial compared to the quality of your quarterback.
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July 31, 2010
Vikings training camp opens
The Minnesota Vikings opened training camp yesterday at Mankato. Not attending, as expected, is quarterback Brett Favre. Two players started camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list: cornerback Cedric Griffin (recovering from a torn ACL) and wide receiver Sidney Rice (hip injury from the NFC title game).
Pat Williams reportedly lost 18 pounds over the off-season, prompting coach Brad Childress to say “Pat’s big enough to eat hay and (poop) in the street. I’m not sure how he lost those 18 pounds, but I’m happy he did.”
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July 27, 2010
It must not be Favre-centric enough yet . . .
. . . now instead of playing the “will I/won’t I” game, he’s tossing out the notion of playing for another decade:
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre figured he was “done” playing football at 40 years old immediately after the NFC Championship Game, but now isn’t ready to say whether he will return for 2010, retire — or maybe hang around for another decade.
In an interview published today in USA Today, Favre compared the latest left ankle surgery he underwent 10 weeks ago to “doin’ patchwork on a your truck or lawn mower.
“If you do enough patchwork, eventually you’ve got to a get a new one,” he joked. “Hell, you gotta quit sometime. Then again, maybe I will be doing this when I’m 50 years old, who knows?”
While I expect Favre to decide to play just after training camp breaks (as he’s on record as hating to attend, and arranged to sign with Minnesota at that point last year), I could do without the constant public indecision . . .
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July 22, 2010
Swordplay is hard work
Peter Saltsman visits Toronto’s Academy of European Medieval Martial Arts (AEMMA) and finds that there’s not much “play” when you’re just starting to learn how to wield a sword:
I was hoping this courageous group of historians and hobbyists could teach me to fight like they do in movies such as Robin Hood, Macbeth or the new Pillars of the Earth series. In the movies, it looks so easy. The sword fights I know are the perfect harmony of choreographed bravado, hyperbolic grunting and dramatic pauses for someone to say “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”
To the disappointment of my eight-year-old self, real medieval combat is nothing like that.
“They’re not really trying to hit each other,” says Cal Rekuta, a Senior Free Scholar at AEMMA, of cinematic battles. “Stage fighting is the art of looking dangerous. We’re actually studying how it was dangerous.”
I was in over my head. When a man dressed in a full suit of chain-mail armour — armour he weaved himself — talks about danger, he probably means it.
I visited AEMMA once, several years ago. It was quite an enjoyable experience, but I’m more interested in later-period swordwork than most of their membership at that time.
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July 8, 2010
QotD: Golf
I am at peace with my decision. Never again will I experience the thrill of taking out a driver on the first hole and watching as my ball sails high, higher, before settling gently onto the ladies’ tee box. Not once more shall I, in search of a wayward shot, be obliged to march into woods, or swamp, or marsh, or parking lot, or that fairway two holes over, or pro shop. Nevermore shall I shank it, pull it, hook it, slice it, flub it, duff it, lose it left, lose it right, sky it, top it, worm-burn it or — most humiliating of all — just plain miss it.
I have tried, at great cost to wallet and sanity, to become not lousy at golf. I have read books and watched Internet tutorials. I have invested in pricey irons and massive drivers and hilarious pants. I have taken a number of lessons from a number of golf pros. One of them went to the trouble of videotaping my swing so we could view and analyze it together. I remember catching his expression out of the corner of my eye as the tape played — he had the look of a young child watching someone beat a baby panda to death with a baby koala.
Scott Feschuk, “Let us now bid my game a sad farewell: Never again shall I shank it, pull it, hook it, slice it, flub it, duff it, sky it, or just plain miss it”, Maclean’s, 2010-07-08
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July 3, 2010
More swordwork today
As I expected, the larger turnout of fencers yesterday prevented me from repeating as high a finish as the last two tournaments, but there’s more happening today. The morning tournament was a double-elimination, but the afternoon was a much briefer single-elimination. At least with double-elimination, you can recover from a mistake (theoretically).
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