Seriously? You are putting my Badgers on Peacock? What the heck did they spike the Philly cheesesteaks with at the Comcast corporate cafeteria with? What's wrong with USA network? It's not the Big Ten's fault that Comcast can't run a profitable streaming service that nobody asked for. I might have to go to Buffalo Wild Wings again to watch the Badgers.
Maybe they have a deal with Peacock? Are you sure those wings are chicken?
Meanwhile, while I'd normally do a Very Special Comment about the disaster last Thursday night, thankfully another sports team I love ended a streak, and I'm in a better mood. We'll talk about that later.
Did it involve Royce Lewis?
Emphatically yes. I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYPPPEEEEEE! and ready to pick some games. Watch me work.
Michigan Wolverines (-18.5) vs. Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat The Gophers struggled to get by the Cajuns, but thankfully dodged the bullet in the second half. But this week is going to be a huge increase in difficulty. Michigan has been criticized in some quarters for playing an easy schedule, but they won all of their games, and starting next year when our new Big Ten members join us, the easy schedule complaint goes away. The Wolverines play bully ball at a higher level and with better athletes. So while PJ continues to come up with new slogans and designs for oar branded merchandise for Goldy's Locker Room, Michigan will win in decisive fashion. Wolverines 60, Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 10.
What, you have a problem with merchandising? Let's see what ol' Peej can do to sell what happens tomorrow. It won't be pretty. Michigan 38, Gophers 7.
Buttgers Scarlet Knights (+13.5) vs. Beloved Wisconsin Badgers The Badgers ended up playing well to get by Purdue, but losing Chez Mellusi is a tough blow. Rutgers is improving and will now get a full share of BTN revenue. However, they still aren't there yet, and the Badgers have been bedding in well to Fickell's changes in how the program runs. Mordecai's running ability is a nice X factor, and the Badgers defense stood tall when Purdue made their rally in the 4th quarter. Wisconsin should win comfortably after a close 1st half. Badgers 42, Scarlet Knights 17.
That sounds right. They will miss Mellusi for sure, but not this week. Badgers 34, Scarlet Knights 14.
Taylor Swift Kansas City Chiefs (-3.5) vs. Minnesota Vikings I got nothing against Taylor Swift, and I get she's just supporting her boyfriend, but this whole thing of featuring her all the time during the past two Chiefs games is too much. Let the lady watch the game in peace, and may CBS keep that to the pregame and postgame only. The Vikings got it done in the second half against a game Carolina squad. It goes without saying that the Chiefs are going to be a much tougher out than the Panthers, even though the game is downtown. If the Vikings defense had trouble stopping Baker and Bryce Young, then stopping Mahomie is going to be a tall ask. Chiefs 34, Vikings 14.
I don't see the Vikings having an enjoyable afternoon, either. Chiefs 34, Vikings 20.
Glorious Green Bay Packers (-1.5) vs. Las Vegas Raiders The Packers came out flat last week, and that was an unacceptable coaching performance by the coaching staff. The good news is that the Raiders are led by a moron in Josh McDaniels, who clearly learned from his former boss in New England about how not to keep his word to a team about accepting a head coaching job. Jimmy G will be good to go, and it looks like the Packers are going to be healthier going into this game. What I want to see is some fire, some deep balls connect, and for the Packers to actually be able to stop someone running the ball. The Raiders are not a good team, and the Packers should win this one. Also, the good news is that this is one of the only times this year I have to listen to Troy Aikman continue to get paid millions of dollars every year despite never offering any insights at all. Packers 28, Raiders 0.
Aikman has a good point, but you never saw it because he wore a helmet. I think this will be much more difficult than you do. The Packers will not shut out the Raiders. But I do think the Packers will have enough firepower to win. Packers 31, Raiders 23.
And now, it's time to talk about the Twins and how proud I am. The Twins came into this postseason facing a stat that is almost beyond belief, yet has haunted the franchise for almost two decades. 0-18 in playoff games since Game 1 of the 2004 ALDS against the Yankees. For Twins fans like me, any regular season success would lead to getting swept out of the playoffs, often finding new and exciting ways to lose. A missed call by Phil Cuzzi in 2009 at Yankee Stadium, getting swept by the A's in 2006 despite having the Cy Young, MVP, batting champion, and a Gold Glove winner, getting manhandled by Didi in 2017 and 2019, losing to a Houston team that had a losing record in 2020, and the damn 2008 AL Central tiebreaker against the White Sox. So when I attended the first game of the Wild Card against the Jays on Tuesday afternoon, I knew that despite my optimism about this team, things could go wrong.
But then a funny thing happened. Royce Lewis hit two home runs, Pablo Lopez pitched very well to validate why we got him from the Marlins, Michael A Taylor made some great catches, and Carlos Correa delivered on his contract by making one of the best plays I've ever seen in person. Myself, Kirko, and 38,000 others stood tall and created an incredible atmosphere all afternoon long. Once Johan Duran closed out the game, there was an overwhelming feeling of joy, excitement, and relief. Finally, my beloved Twins had won a playoff game. No more jokes about how the Twins can't win in the playoffs. I must admit that when the Twins won, I teared up. Not of sadness, but of joy. Finally, the Twins were just another team fighting for a title, without the baggage of a streak that will take something to be broken.
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| Shout a hip hooray! |
And on Wednesday, the Twins finished the job and swept a postseason series for the first time in team history, and won a playoff series at home for the first time since the 1991 World Series. As I watched Duran strike out the final batter, there was joy and excitement. No longer would I watch my beloved Twins in the playoffs without fear. While Houston is going to be a tough ask in the ALDS, the Twins have already given their fans the one thing I asked of them. We aren't cursed in the playoffs, and we are just another team trying to advance. No more pressure. From the bottom of my heart, thank you Falvine, thank you Rocco, thank you Royce, thank you Correa, thank you Taylor, thank you Pablo, and thank you Sonny. The pain of October baseball in my childhood has gone away, and a new era of Twins baseball has begun.
Enjoy your football this weekend, and let's go Twins. Ben out.
1 comment:
Oof. Benster was frighteningly close to nailing to the Wolverines-Gophers game.
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