I am a huge Vikings fan.  I could not be happier that Wilf traded and ponied up the dough for Allen.  This trade not only makes the front 4 the best, but it makes the linebaker core just below average to slightly above average and the DB's from slightly above average to what could be the best in the league.  Now the corners don't have to cover soooo long while the line puts pressure on, and the LB's don't have to blitz all the time because the front 4 will put pressure on and get sacks.  The one guy who is the happiest could be Ray Edwards and Kevin Williams.  Now, the problem is the offense.  The running game is the best in the NFL.  Between Adrian Peterson, Chester Taylor and the feet of T Jack and the "Minnesota Moving Company" leading the way...more records will fall in the future.  If somehow someway...T Jack can figure out how throw efficiently.  Look at some past Super Bowl teams...Baltimore - Trent Dilfer...Tampa Bay - Brad Johnson...there are teams that can get to and win a Super Bowl with a less than spectacular QB.  Berrian will help and Rice needs to step up.  it will be up to the "offensive genius" that is Brad Childress to get his young QB to play above his level and out of his mind to get the Vikes well into a playoff run....SKOL VIKES

I am a big Big Ten football fan.  I don't care what the experts say, the Big Ten is the best conference in football.  They have the oldest rivalries, the best rivalries and almost all of them play for a trophy.  I love Big Ten football.  I am completely floored by the fact that Michigan can't find a head coach.  Michigan is one of the best programs in the nation and could be the best job.  I started looking at it more closely and found a couple of reasons.  First and foremost, the pressure involved.  You could have a 5 year career that has a notional title, during that time you are a combined 53-7 and you lose 5 years in a row to Ohio State and you will get fired.  That's pretty tough to be that successful and get fired.  The TV contract with the Big Ten Network is a travesty.  If you are on the Big Ten Network nobody can see the game unless you have satellite.  I didn't really see too much Big Ten football all year long.  Another thing is that most of the best coaches that could be in Big Blue are in a stiuation they love.  Les Miles can do no wrong at LSU, Rutgers is now nationally legit no chance there, and the other coaches you could bring in are less than average.  If I were Michigan I would go after Jim Harbaugh.  He is a Michigan alum, young, great coach and understands the history that is Michigan football.  But does he have the experience to head up a program like Michigan???  I think so, and Michigan can do no better than Harbaugh.  The only other way I see Michigan going is to wait on Harbaugh for a couple of years...bring him in as an assistant, hire some poor slob to take the reigns for a couple of years, when he fails fire him and promote Harbaugh.  Probably too long to wait for the Maze and Blue.  They need someone like Harbaugh to run this team.

Its that time of year again...time for the biggest rivalries in sports.  I don't care about the "major sports".  Tobacco road is good, Michigan-Ohio State is cool, but the Beanpot Tournament wraps up Monday and in 2 weeks what could be the best rivalry in sports.  The University of Minnesota versus St. Cloud State.  If everything holds, it could be 1 v 2.  These two schools aren't as close as the tobacco road but they sell out both buildings and the fans are crazier than the Cmaereon Crazies.  College hockey has some of the best rivalries.  Boston and Boston College, Minn. and St Cloud St, Minn and North Dakota, North Dakota and St Cloud St, Denver and Colorado College, New Hampshire and Maine.  Just to name a few.  Alot of small schools have division I programs and the fans eat it up.  Just look at the attendance figures, granted college hockey is mainly a midwest and east coast thing, but I think the attendance figures speak for themselves.  Some of these schools don't just sell out, but sell more than their capacity with standing room only tickets.  The Fox Sports family do a great job letting the regional affiliates broadcast college hockey games.  If you've never had a chance go to one of these rivalry games, you will get sucked in immediately.  Playoff time is rolling around and it just gets better.   And jsut look at the rosters in the NHL, there aren't just a couple of college players, there are a bunch of them making impacts.  Matt Carle, Matt Cullen, Mark Parrish, Paul Kariya, Zach Parise, Paul Martin and Jordan Leopold jsut to name a few on top lines in the NHL.  In college basketball and football its too predictable, the top team plays a team that is out classed and stops all over them.  In hockey its different, the lowly team can ride a hot goalie and play well and not just win one game over the top team, but pull off a weekend sweep.  I challenge anyone to just watch a game and try to get into it a bit and you will see...COLLEGE HOCKEY RULES...AND HAS THE BEST RIVALRIES IN SPORTS

You can't have a game of the week this weekend and it not be the Twins and Tigers.  Fox and ESPN what are you thinking?!?!?!??!  You are insane not to have the two hottest teams in baseball playing.  Granted, no Liriano, Santana or Bonderman on the mound, this is still the best of the weekend.  A couple of wins and the Twins are back in the race...a couple of wins and the Tigers can separate themselves.  Instead, they have the Cardinals and Cubs.  WHY????  Just because Joe Buck's old man, rest in peace Jack you were the best, was with the Cards forever we have to visit a team totally out of it and a team that is barely in it.  The Twins are in 3rd in the AL Central and would be leading the NL Central.  Hey you stupid Execs, GET IT RIGHT JUST ONCE!!!!!

The best soccer games ever are every four years.  I love the World Cup.  The best players in the world, smaller countries pulling upsets, and especially the sportsmanship.  These men are playing for the love of the game and for their country.  There are some real high emotions and very hard play out on the pitch.  However, you see guys get tackled hard and get hurt, but the opposing player or team is almost always there to help him up or just slap his hand and everything is cool.  You see Ronaldinho runnin' around with a mile on his face...guys clapping for great efforts from both sides.  It is truly refreshing to see a sport that is so loved and empasioned by the fans...hooligans everyhwere, and they men playing in the game don't let it take over the game or their emotions.  The sportsmanship is what is making this great.  you don't see this in too many American sports.  Football players late hit and stand their and taunt...baseball players show up opposing pitchers when they crush one...NBA players run a defender over and just go the other way...you don't see alot of that in the World Cup...in fact in the games I've seen, and I've see alot, you hardly ever see it.  It's the reason I love the World Cup

The NHL is ini probably the best place it can be after coming off the strike year.  I really like the fact that college hockey players are making an immediate impact.  Guys like Matt Carle, Denver, Ryan Poultany, Minnesota , Ryan Malone, St Cloud State, and many others have made sudden impacts for their pro clubs.  Carle is on the top power-play line.  Its a good thing to try to expand the fan base of the NHL.  Being from Minnesota I've seen the great college hockey that is played...but I don't see the same fans translating into the pros because the kids don't go anywhere.  Now, you can see the the kids leave college and go to the pros and are making teams and making an impact.  There are plenty more players who have made and still are contributing to teams.  The concept of college players isn't new.  Brett Hull, Paul Kariya and Chris Chelios all of whom are great players and all played in college.  Fans and especially teams are seeing more interest in the college players.  The top 5 in the upcomong June NHL Draft could be all not only North American but they could be all college players.  So if you are an NHL fan in an area that doesn't have college hockey...you need to watch some.  The next 30 goal scorer for your team could be playing at St Cloud State, Bemidji State, New Hamshire or Ferris State.

Its that time of year again.  When dreams of young men come true by being drafted.  Everyone knows about the the first round guys and some of the second round guys.  There are some sleepers that aren't getting much play in the draft blogs.  One guy i really like, call me a homer if you want, is Greg Eslinger.  The guy did it all on the offensive line for the Minnesota Gophers.  He pulls better than any center and he reminds me alot o####uy that left a few years ago...Ben Hmailton.  he was considered undersized but he has been a staple of the Broncos O-Line for a few years now.  Eslinger is smart and will pick up the game quick and will be an assett for whoever picks him. 

Another guy is Derrik Martin from Wyoming.  A cover corner who may not have blazing speed or great size, but he is a football player.  Should be a good nickel or dime guy.  Watching tape of him I've seen good ball skills and cover skills.  Maybe not the fastest but he closes well.  there is more to being a great corner than just speed and size...you need a guy who can play the game and understands it.  Martin is that kind of player.  I think he is very valuable in the 4th round. 

Finally, being a Vikings fan I have to say what I want the Vikes to do.  If there is a RB available they need to jump on a guy like Maroney.  Inside, outside, catching theball out of the backfield, this guy can do it all.  Truly the full package at RB.  The only other way I can see them going is trading up to get. A.J.Hawk.  Take the RB and get the LB in the second round.  There is depth at the LB spot and guys will be there.  Another pick I ould like to see is trading some later round picks to get into the late first to early second to get Jason Allen as the heir to the FS position. 

Brett Farve is killing the Packers.  I know that its hard to retire from a sport that you love.  Its hard to quit a job that you truly love and spend your entire life working toward.  He has done it all...Super Bowl Champion, MVP, Ironman of the sport.  A great career.  But, Brett, its time to make a decision.  This team cannot go into the draft without your decision.  Its time to stop being a selfish #### and make a decision.  I really don't know what you are waiting for.  No, the Packers haven't done alot to inprove their team from last year.  With a top ten pick in the draft they can get an impact player.  Javon Walker doesn't want to be a Packer anymore so there is potential for another high draft pick if they trade him away.  Yes, it would hurt the receiving corps, but I think that might be part of what is happening.  Maybe Brett doesn't want to be on the same team as Walker.  Has anyone thought of that possibility?  We know what happened between them with the holdout...is that what Brett is waiting for??  what ever he is waiting for he needs to let the Packer organization know and now.  He is holding the organization hostage.  They need a backup QB to help Rodgers along if Brett doesn't come back.  Its a bad play if they sign one now and he decides to come back.  BRETT ITS NOW OR NEVER...EITHER RETIRE OR NOT ITS TIME TO PUT UP OR SHUT UP.

Everyone is going to be talking about the draft and who will be the next picks after the top 4 are gone.  I'm here to tell you that it could get very interesting before that, starting with the top pick, Houston.  The Houston Texans are on the clock and shouldn't just listen to trade talk, but need to start calling teams about trading out of the top spot.  The Texans need more than just a skill position.  I know what you are thinking, its Reggie Bush...a Bush only comes along once in a life time.  Trading this pick willhelp the team so much more than Bush.  Take a look at this possibility...the Texans get pick 4, John Abraham, maybe 3rd and or 4th round pick...Jets get pick 1.  The Texans need offensive line help in a major way.  David Carr could be a decent QB if he wasn't on his back.  A better defensive line would help as well.  BUILD A TEAM IN THE TRENCHES.  Everyone says it, teams that actually do it succeed.  Texns could do more for their team if they trade the pick.  If they cut the deal with the Jets, draft D'Brickshaw Ferguson and and draft lineman and running back depth later in the draft I will become a Texans fan.

          There are rumors all over the internet and other sports publications that Daunte Culpepper will not be a member of the Minnesota Vikings next season.  There are many reasons to keep and trade Daunte.  I think he should stay.  A QB with the skills of Daunte is hard to find in this league.  just look around the league and the quality of QB's.  There is a huge decline in the talent at the position.  The new coaching staff in Minnesota needs to show Daunte how to read a defense.  Daunte has all the skill needed to play the position, just not the brains.  Another reason is marketing.  Daunte is the face of the Minnesota Vikings.  Unless the Vikings get the first pick in the draft to market, there is no other player to market this team.  A team needs someone to be the face of the franchise.  T-Wolves have Garnett, Twins have Hunter, the Wild have Gaborik.  All these teams, including the Vikings, have success mareketing their teams with that face.  Daunte needs to stay.  He is one of the best skilled QB's in the league and the face of this franchise.   The Vikings more than likely couldn't do any better