Why did we expect more?

I've had a request to write a blog on my beloved Minnesota Vikings. I didn't want to start my blogs about the my favorite teams. There pathetic play is calling to me and other readers to write something.

There are so many things to rant about I don't know where to start. So, let me start with the offense, the skill positions, ha. The Viking wide receivers have got to be the worst group in the NFL, absolutely horrible. A great example of this is week 5 vs. the Saints. Peterson had only 32 yds rushing on 21 carries. 32 yds. against one of the leagues worst defenses, are you kidding me. I know the Vikings won this game but is wasn't because of how they played. It doesn't get any easier for the Vikings who play 5 of there next 6 games against strong run defenses.

To say the Vikings have tried to build the WR position through the draft maybe fair to say. They did spend two first round picks at the position. Both came from the same University, South Carolina- Steve Spurriers gamecocks. There first pick was Troy Williamson. I still don't why they drafted him at all. They knew he had an eyesight problem, depth perception, and couldn't catch a ball. As any Viking fan can tell you. Next came Sidney Rice, also from South Carolina. I think Spurrier has a spell on the Vikings.

Besides poor draft choices there are the free agents they have signed, Bobby Wade and Bernard Berrian. Bobby freaking Wade was there big free agent signing a few seasons back. I hated Wade at the University of Arizona and still hate him today. I'd like to say thanks to the Chicago Bears for letting them go. What were the Vikings thinking? Lets raid the Bears WR's because they have such a vaunted passing attack. Yes that vaunted Bears passing attack, can they even get the ball down by passing it? Alright, Vikings way to go, sign there free agents. Have the Bears even had a passing attack since the Ditka Bears of the mid 80's.

Poor poor Dante Culpepper, its to bad he wore out his welcome in the Twin Cities. This has given us Tarvaris Jackson, doesn't exactly strike fear into opposing teams. Then there is Gus Frerotte, I don't even say about this guy. A career back-up, who is now a starter, with only one play maker around him-(Adrian Peterson). Should we have really expected more than what we are getting from him, no. Frerotte is a nice back-up, fill-in for a half, but not a lead your team for the entire season. So far in 8 wks. as starter he is 143-246 with 1757 yds. 11 tds and 11 ints. and a passer rating of only 76.6. Is this honestly good enough, I think not.

Mike Mussina, Hall of Famer or not?

Is Mike Mussina a hall of farmer or not? My very first gut reaction was yes. After closer scrutiny of his career numbers he may not warrant an invite to the Hall of Fame. Mussina, who finished last season with his first 20 win season, at 20-9 with a 3.37 era.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he's just the fifth pitcher since 1900 to win 20 games or more in the final season of his career--and the first since Sandy Koufax in 1967. He's the only pitcher of the five to win his 20th game in his final start of the season.

With only one twenty win season in 18 stellar years, does this merit a HOF nod? In an era of steroids and the long ball. Mussina had only given up 376 career hrs with a 3.68 era during the same period. That works out to less than 21 hrs a season on avg., that is remarkable.

The most noticeable drawback for Mussina, would be lack of awards. Mussina has never once won a CY Young award, he has finished 2nd several time, but has never won the award. He does have 6 Gold Glove Awards to his credit. He 3 in a row starting in 1996-1998, 2001, 2003 and his last one coming this last season 2008.

Peter Gammons commented on the Mike and Mike radio program, that he will vote for Mussina. Who will be eligible for the Hall in 2013. Gammons believes we need to seperate this era's pitchers from pitchers of the pre-steroid era, i.e. Bert Blyleven. Who in my opinion deserves to be voted into the Hall of Fame.

While looking at Mike Mussina's 18 year career the question still remains. Does he get into the Hall of Fame? After looking at what he done gold gloves, world series rings, etc. I think, ultimately I think he will be this era's Bert Blyleven. He will be close with no cigar, a bridesmaid but never the bride, just like most of his career.

Is Cuban guilty or not?

On Nov. 17, 2008- Billionaire Mark Cuban was sued by U.S. regulators over claims he made illegal insider trades four years ago is shares of Internet search company Mamma.com Inc. These charges are civil not criminal at this time, but could change depending on Cuban's compliance.

The SEC's complaint focuses on a series of phone calls and messages between Cuban, the Company and his broker. Scott Friestad, the SEC enforcement official overseeing the case, is quoted as saying. "It is fundamentally unfair for someone to use access to nonpublic information to improperly gain an edge on the market."

In his blog Cuban has stated that the SEC claims stem from a " gross abuse of prosectorial discretion" and " are infected by the misconduct of the staff of its enforcement division." Cuban is also quoted in his blog- "I am disappointed that the commission chose to bring this case based upon its enforcement staff's win-at-any-cost ambitions." "The staff's process was result-oriented, facts be damned. The government's claims are false and the will be proven to be so."

Currently the agency's suit seeks to impose unspecified fines and confiscate gains from the trade. This being a civil suit could turn to criminal. Cuban should tread lightly, the SEC doesn't just come after anybody, ask Martha Stewart.

If Cuban Complies with the SEC and pays the fines. How does this effect him and his attempts to by the Chicago Cubs? MLB baseball owners are already up in arms. They are just looking for a reason-any reason to not allow him to purchase the team. I think either way Cuban is in between a rock and a hard space. The purchase of the Cubs may be a pipe dream at this time or ever.

Sorry Mark but you should have practice what you preached. In 2006 he started a website http://www.sharesleuth.com/ aimed at exposing securities fraud and corporate misdoings.

Free agency in Major League Baseball

Ever wonder why Major League Baseball has the problems it has? I do every winter, when teams go out to fill there hole's through free agency. This winter is a perfect example of the money problems that plague baseball.

How does the Commissioners office expect other teams to be in the same ball park. When money being offered by the rich teams, could be as much as 15-25% of the value of there entire franchise. How can the have nots expect to be competitive with the haves when they can't match the money?

This winters big free agent is C.C. Sabathia, no question or argument, one of the great lefties in the league. The Brewers make a great offer of $100 mil for 5 years. This is out of the stratoshpere of an offer for a club in a small market. Then we have the New York Yankees, a team that lives in the stratoshpere, comes in a makes an offer of $140 mil over 6 years. WOW! This more than the Mets paid for Santana last year. How about the Yankees blowing any other offer out of the water. The Yankees just eliminated all but 5 or 6 teams from making an offer on him.

Now I'd like to say that the way the system is set up I have no problem with how these teams operate. How do the small market teams compete? I know there are some competitive ones, but will really win a title or play at a high level year in and year out.

I would just like to remind the Yankees of a great player with a huge contract. Alex Rodriquez, what has it got you? Thank you to the Texas Rangers for trying to compete at a level that they have never been at.