Author: David Shama

The last few weeks have been a case study of how varied the roller coaster of emotions can be for Minnesota Vikings followers.  After the Vikings lost at home to Philadelphia in late October their record was 2-5.  Coach Brad Childress had a career Vikings coaching record of 8-15. Through the last 10 games of 2006 and first seven games this season his record was 4-13.  The Vikings appeared to have a quarterback puzzle with no pieces that fit and an offense not capable of producing many more points than their turn-miscues-into-touchdowns defense.

The talk shows and e-mailers suggested that Childress leave town and quarterback Tarvaris Jackson could be on the same airplane.  A lot of media joined the rock throwing, suggesting that the Vikings didn’t have a plan to win and there was speculation the season might end at 4-12, or 5-11.

The pit party for the Vikings was too soon.  The first lesson to be learned is don’t judge a season until it’s over.  The second lesson is to allow a second year coach like Childress to have time to see what he can accomplish before trying to terminate him.

The 6-6 Vikings are an improving group but it will make things a lot saner around here if fans and media understand this is not an elite team.  Jackson is playing better but a second year quarterback has a lot of potential for growth.  The wide receiver corps (bless them for their downfield blocking) rates with the least talented and effective units in the NFL.  The right side of the offensive line is still a project (kudos to guard Anthony Hererra for his improvement) and the secondary can have pass coverage issues, particularly in man-to-man coverage.

Before the season I targeted the Vikings for a 7-9, 8-8 or 9-7 record.  With a talented running game, opportunistic defense and four upcoming opponents with a combined record of 18-30, I will luck out on my prediction.

Of course only a playoff spot for the Vikings will satisfy the masses.  With the team playing better and so many mediocre NFC teams, it just may happen.  As of today in the 16 team NFC there are five teams with 5-7 records and three with 6-6 records. The NFL’s legacy of parity is alive and flourishing.

State political leaders made it known earlier this week that a Vikings stadium most likely will not be part of the 2008 legislative agenda, but yesterday owner Zygi Wilf issued a statement to the media that said he looks “forward to advancing” the issue during next year’s session. “We appreciate the willingness of Minnesota’s state leaders to meet with the National Football League this week and address the state’s stadium situation,” Wilf said. “The seriousness of the stadium issue has risen to a priority at the league level. The Vikings and the NFL understand and respect the priorities and pressing issues facing the state, but at the same time the stadium issue needs to be resolved in the near future. Construction costs are rising significantly each year that we delay and there is an urgency to reach a solution. We are confident that state leaders and the Vikings will work together to reach a solution, just as many other NFL cities have done in recent years. We look forward to advancing the stadium issue during the 2008 legislative session.”

Former Vikings assistant coach Dean Dalton told Sports Headliners that Detroit was not a “confident” football team in its game against the Vikings last Sunday.  He said the Lions’ performance was “sloppy” in their 42-10 loss.

KFAN talk show host Dan Cole suggested on his show earlier this week that Childress could be the NFC’s Coach of the Year.  Wade Phillips of Dallas (11-1) and Mike McCarthy of Green Bay (10-2) are favorites.

You can be sure the Vikings will be following Thursday night’s game in Washington D.C. between the Redskins (5-7) and Chicago (5-7).  Those two teams along with the Vikings are on a list of several Wild Card playoff contenders in the NFC.  Plus, both come to Minneapolis to play the Vikings in the weeks ahead with the Bears here on Monday, December 17 and the Redskins visiting on Sunday, December 23.

The Vikings are at San Francisco on Sunday to play a 49ers team (3-9) with less than imposing stats. San Francisco averages an NFL league low 13.1 points per game (New England is first at 39.1).  The 49ers average 231.7 yards in total offense per game, last in the NFL.  The 49ers are also last in passing per game at 145.1 while the Vikings are just ahead at 164.5.  The 49ers are 27^th among the 32 NFL teams in rushing per game at 86.6 yards per game.

The Vikings are No. 1 in the NFL in rushing offense and defense.  The Vikings are averaging 176.8 rushing yards per game, while giving up only 70.5 rushing yards to opponents.

Adrian Peterson’s 6.5 yards-per-carry average is the highest individual average in Vikings history. Robert Smith’s 1997 average of 5.5 yards per carry ranks second. The team’s overall 5.6 yards-per-carry average this season is also the best in team history, exceeding the 2002 team’s 5.3 average.

Peterson leads the NFL in rushing with 1,197, almost 200 yards more than Willie Parker of Pittsburgh, 1,093.  The two games Peterson missed because of injury made his chances minimal for gaining 2,000 yards on the season.  He would need to average about 200 yards per game in the last four games to reach the 2,000 yard level.

Vikings first year wide receivers coach George Stewart deserves credit for the development of rookie wide receiver Sidney Rice.  The 21-year-old second round draft choice from South Carolina has established himself as the team’s best long ball threat. He has four touchdown catches, including one each in the last two games.

Gophers basketball coach Tubby Smith will inspire the crowd by announcing “Let’s Play Hockey” prior to tonight’s Minnesota Wild home game against Philadelphia (the Flyers first trip to St. Paul since February 2003).

The Flyers general manager is Paul Holmgren, the former St. Paul Harding High School, Gopher and North Star player.  There’s speculation Holmgren will be the next USA Hockey general manager for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.

Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League announced on Monday that 37 of Canada’s best junior-aged hockey players (born in 1988 or later) have been invited to participate in Canada’s National Junior Selection Camp from December 10-14 in Calgary. The Wild’s 2007 first round draft pick, Colton Gillies, was among the 37 players invited to camp. https://www.hockeycanada.ca/

With the Twins committed to budget restraint more than some other organizations, it’s hard to believe that reliever Joe Nathan, 33, will be re-signed to a new contract before or after the 2008 season.  Other teams are probably more willing to give him more years and money than the Twins.  Nathan’s salary was $5,250,000 in 2007, according to espn.com.  The Twins options include trading Nathan now but also waiting until the July trading deadline and determining whether the club is in contention.  If not, Nathan might be a valuable pick up for a contending team looking for bullpen help.

Billy Martin Jr., the son of the famed baseball manager, is one of Nathan’s agents.  The younger Martin was just a little kid when Martin first coached and then managed the Twins in the late 1960s.

You have to wonder what the late season energy levels will be and whether injuries can be avoided by Boston’s big three of Kevin Garnett, 31, Ray Allen, 32, and Paul Pierce, 30.  On Sunday, when the Celtics were playing their third game in four days, Garnett played only 23 minutes in an 80-70 win over Cleveland.  Boston has a league best 14-2 record but it’s a long way to April and the playoffs.  Give the Celtics credit, though, for playing great team basketball and still showcasing their big three.

Garnett’s former team, the Timberwolves, has the poorest record in the NBA at 2-14. The worst record in NBA history is held by the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers who finished 9-73. The Wolves have played without starters Randy Foye and Theo Ratliff, and now are without head coach Randy Wittman for an indefinite period because of back surgery today.

Six wins used to qualify a major college football team for a bowl game but with the expansion to a 12 game schedule that’s no longer true.  Among the six win teams not headed to bowl games are two from the Big Ten Conference, Iowa and Northwestern.  Both finished at 6-6.

With the Star Tribune no longer offering a Sunday TV publication, a suggestion for the sports department is to publish a schedule of televised sports for the week on its sports pages.  Even a grid in small type would be helpful.

Local author Ross Bernstein has a new book, “More Frozen Memories,” that includes over 750 photos and text about Minnesota high school, college and pro hockey. Content includes histories of the boys and girls state tournaments, plus the Wild, North Stars, Fighting Saints and Moose.  There are also chapters on all of the state’s college and university teams.  Bernstein has written 40 books and can be contacted at ross@bernsteinbooks.com. Visit his Web site for more information including details on book signings, www.bernsteinbooks.com.