Ross Marrinson's Minnesota Vikings fan blog

Game 1: Minnesota versus Sacramento – Outcome: Minnesota wins 98-96

There’s nothing really to say about the second home preseason game versus the Bucks. Offense was better, defense was mediocre, Wolves emerged with a win in front of 73 fans. We sat in the sixth row. I heard Chris Richard yell, “Iso! Iso!” on multiple occasions, and heard every single superlative imaginable come out of Mark Madsen’s mouth. That man is a human high five. But the best part of the game was the announcement made last Saturday from the higher-ups at 600 1st Ave:

"Visit any participating metro Target Store on Saturday, October 25th for a FREE pair of tickets to the Timberwolves home opener on Wednesday, October 29th. The first 40 fans to visit guest services at any Target Store in the metro area will receive a free pair of tickets."

Continue reading "Two horrible defenses: Minnesota Timberwolves versus Sacramento Kings"

Preseason Game 1: Minnesota Timberwolves versus Chicago Bulls

All that needs to be said for this game is this: The Wolves scored nine points in the first quarter. And in the fourth quarter. That’s 18 points in two full quarters. Also, there couldn’t have been more than 3,000 people there. The lower half was almost full, and the upper level had fewer than 100 people. Most were napping. It looked like an Expos game.

Random thoughts on the game:

1)    Drew Gooden is massive. I don’t know if it’s the weirdly thin, long beard he sports, or if it’s his hugely rectangular noggin’, but Gooden was the biggest guy on the floor at any point. He didn’t play much, but he looks like a monster.
2)    Derrick Rose is already an unbelievable basketball player. His play is so fluid, seemingly so easy, that it’s almost like he plays like he doesn’t care. He’s already got tremendous vision and a solid – if not great – mid-range jump shot. He’s also bigger than I expected. Like two or three Corey Brewers. Outstanding penetrator, great passer, already a good defender. He’s a dynamic playmaker with an explosive first step that is rivaled by few, if any, in the league. He’ll average 16 and 6 this season, if not more. Talk about an embarrassment of riches: Hinrich, Gordon, Hughes and Rose. If the Bulls had any frontcourt, they’d be a top three Eastern Conference team.

Continue reading "Preseason Game 1: Minnesota Timberwolves versus Chicago Bulls"

An indication of the state of the franchise, I bought season tickets for the Minnesota Timberwolves for $129 last March. That’s right, $129 for 43 games…$3 per game.

Here’s the plan: I’m going to write a post-game recap after each game, but first, let’s go through the 2008-2009 roster.

Guards:

Randy Foye: After a season washed away due to injury, Foye is a score-first point guard who needs to greatly improve his penetrate and pass. He’s a decent – but not great – mid-range jump shooter who tends to get better as the game progresses into the 4th quarter. He’s a poor man’s Terrell Brandon, and that’s nothing to be ashamed of at this point. Foye’s absolutely part of the nucleus.

Continue reading "2008-2009 Minnesota Timberwolves outlook"

Welcome to the blog.

After a 3-3 start that has been about as angering as any .500 start in Minnesota sports history, let’s do some player analysis for this utterly shameful offense – the supposed “kick-ass offense” Brad Childress has been preaching for and praising ever since his coaching reign began three years ago.

I will rank each starter relative to other starters at the same position throughout the league.

1)    Poor
2)    Below average
3)    Average
4)    Above average
5)    Great

QB: Gus Frerotte: Below average – With all due respect to the career journeyman, Frerotte is one of the worst starting quarterbacks in the National Football League. (And he’s still better – at this point – than Brad Childress’s love child/desired leader of the kick-ass offense Tarvaris Jackson.) Only worsted by whomever the Chiefs, Lions, Bears, Raiders, or 49ers decide to start on any given week. Frerotte does have a strong arm and decent accuracy, but he’s nowhere near good enough to lead this team deep into the playoffs, or even into the playoffs. He’s a backup, in every sense of the word. Simple as that. It doesn’t help that the right side of his offensive line is decidedly mediocre, but Gus leaves much to be desired as the so-called leader of the offense.

Continue reading "Childressian offense"