Taxpayer Support of Stadiums

A few weeks back Gov. Dayton announced that increasing taxes will not be an option to help fund a new Vikings stadium. Recently, a number of options have been floated that include a heavy gamble proceed angle. For more than three decades tribal casinos have held a monopoly on gaming in Minnesota. With that monopoly tribes in Minnesota have been able to improve their reservations - granted some have done better than others. Today the Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com/politics/statelocal/133748223.html, had an article talking about the new proposed ideas of a casino downtown and allowing the two race tracks in Minnesota to have slots with the revenue going to pay for sport stadiums and school funding.

Personally I don't care if Minnesota keeps the Vikings but I do care on how the new stadium is funded. For years I thought the NFL and the players association missed the boat by not requiring that 10% of all TV revenues be put in a kitty for updates to stadiums. That being said, if a new Vikings stadium is the catalyst to breaking the tribal gaming monopoly I am all for it.

I also found this article, of all places, on Politico - http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1111/68160.html - to which I think it is about time as well. Taxpayers for years have subsidized professional stadiums and when teams cannot sell out they have not been able to watch the team they subsidized per NFL rules. While I can understand why the NFL has a rule that they want the stadium sold out because that is where they get a lot of revenue. At the same time, I wonder how much TV revenue is lost by not showing the local game. I say that as long as taxpayers subsidize the stadiums then no more blackouts.

Outdoor Football

Watching tonights football game between the Vikings and the Bears was enjoyable for many reasons. The biggest reason is that Minnesota football is back outside. I recall growing up going to the Met and watching the Viking games on television when they played like Purple People Eaters. Let's face it, the Dome has made the Vikings soft and the fan base even softer.

The snow, freezing drizzle and the announcement of the 50 greatest Vikings of all time is just what Bud Grant ordered. I am just glad that they didn't drop Grant at halftime. I know there will be a push for a new Vikings stadium and the Dome will be the catalyst. If Vikings are serious about a new stadium then let it be an open air stadium. Although 54,000 Viking fans could not fill the TCF Bank Stadium tonight; granted weather may have played a factor.

Call your local legislator and make the case for a new stadium by using proceeds from a Racino.

The Year of the Raven

After a nice long weekend and reading that the private sector is creating jobs while good ole big government is not perhaps the man in charge will realize his economic philosophy is not working. That being said the NFL starts another season on Thursday when the Minnesota Vikings travel to New Orleans to take on the defending Super Bowl champs. So what do people think?

Let's start over in the AFC East where Owens bolted from the Bills for greener pastures in Cincinnati. Tom Brady will try to make it a go this year and Randy Moss is hungry for a Super Bowl ring. With all that said, no sophomore slump will take place in New York as the Jets will roar and win the AFC East.

Pittsburgh Steelers will have a tough time this year taking the division let alone making the playoffs but having Big Ben's suspension reduced by 2 games could help. The loss of Leftwhich will really hurt them. The Cleveland Browns will be the doormat of the league this year especially after losing their rookie running-back to ACL tear. The division will come down to a re-vamped Ravens O and Bengals. Carson Palmer has the weapons to have a Peyton Manning style season but is he the same quarterback before the knee injury suffered in the playoffs? Even with Ed Reed out the Ravens will take the division as the O will get the D 20-24 pts a game.

AFC South will continue to be dominated by the Colts. The Jags will fair well as they always play the Colts tough but it won't be enough to overcome Manning. The Texans could make things interesting if Foster can improve on Slaton's numbers and Walter and Owens come back in prime form from season ending injuries. The Titans may figure out a way to get into the playoffs as a Wild Card team but losing some keep members on D may prevent that.

The AFC West had a clear cut winner in the Chargers before Vincent Jackson held out. Without Jackson the Chargers offense may struggle this season as they will have a rookie running back carrying the load for the first time in 10 seasons. The Raiders showed promise in the pre-season but a lot of answers were still left unanswered. If the O can get on track then they may break .500 for the first time since their Super Bowl appearance. The Broncos are not going anywhere this year and may be the doormat of this division.

Divisional Winners – Chargers, Colts, Ravens, and Jets with the Titans and Bengals making the Wild Card. The Ravens will represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.

The NFC won't be so much a crap shoot as each division has a clear winner with few dark horses.

The Cowboys are the class of the NFC East with the Giants a close second. McNabb going to an aging Redskins team will do little but get them a high draft pick next season. The Eagles are in rebuilding mold with a young QB and a second-year back.

The NFC North goes to the Packers. Rodgers has looked near MVP like this pre-season and with another year under his belt in the O; watch out. The Vikings will go as far as Favre goes which may be only until Thursday. The Bears could be the most interesting as Martz takes over the O. The Lions are one year away from actually competing for the division.

New Orleans Saints won't experience the Super Bowl hangover that so many previous winners have. Brees comes out slinging with 4 TD's against the Vikings on Thursday night. The Falcons will give them a run for their money but in the end the Saints D wins out. Panthers and Buccaneers are both in re-building mode and will not factor this year.

With the changes in the desert and Alex Smith finally getting back to back years with the same O Coordinator, the 49ers are the front runner in the NFC West. The Rams will rely on overused Jackson to shoulder the load as the rookie attempts to learn under fire. The Seahawks will battle the Browns all season for the overall number one pick.

NFC Divisional Winners – 49ers, Saints, Packers, and Cowboys with the Vikings (if Favre holds up) and the Giants rounding out the playoff picture.

It will be the Packers going to the Super Bowl. Once at the Super Bowl the Ravens will eke out a last second win as Ed Reed picks off Rodgers bringing back memories of the INT return for a TD by the Raiders when they defeated the Vikings in Super Bowl XI.

Two weeks to go, will the Vikings get a new stadium?

The Minnesota State Legislature heads into its final two weeks of the current session today. Right now Minnesota is facing a budget deficit of $1 billion which could balloon to $7 billion by 2013. Despite stark budget cut proposals, legislation is going to be introduced to discuss the Vikings stadium issue. House Ways and Means Committee chair Solberg sent a note to DFL and Republican legislators on Sunday to announce options that will start the discussion. In the note Solberg stated that timing is good in the respect that "low interest rates, a good bidding climate and a 40 percent unemployment rate in [building] trades, now is a good time to talk about construction jobs" (http://www.startribune.com/politics/92626709.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUsZ).

The lease on the Metrodrome expires next year and officials with the Vikings have stated no extension would be agreed to unless a new stadium deal is set. It has been reported that that the Vikings are willing to put up a third of the cost. The total bill is being floated around $800 Million. Is this type of investment worth it to the citizens of Minnesota? Has public funding for professional sports team come to an end? What effects will ripple through the economy in Minnesota if the Vikings were to leave for another state? Would the Vikings give up the naming rights money to the State?

Minnesota Vikings and the Dallas Cowboys dance today for the right to play the New Orleans Saints

Special Sunday edition of the Hamburg Post!!!!

 

In just a few hours the fate of Minnesotans will start as the Minnesota Vikings take on the Dallas Cowboys. It will be a good game to watch from a fan standpoint of the NFL but may be a bit nerve wrecking for Viking fans. The Cowboys are riding high on a four-game winning streak which contains wins over New Orleans, Washington, and Philadelphia twice while the Vikings come in losers of 3 of their last 5. Many are saying that the Vikings have righted the ship with the scoring down in the second half of the Bears game and the dismantling of a Giants team that quit playing in week 14 of the season. The big advantage the Vikings have is they are playing at home and they defended their turf this season very well with an 8-0 record. The Cowboys finally won a playoff game last week in convincing fashion over the Eagles. It was the first win by the Cowboys in the playoffs in 12 years.

The big question for Cowboy fans is if that win over the Eagles was fluke or something of better things to come. Personally I think the win took place because Romo didn't have any blonde waiting in the stands for him. I wonder if the Viking front office asked for blonde celebrities to show up today. Probably the most striking thing about the Viking season this year is the lack of production from Adrian Peterson. Yes, AP did average 4.4 yards and amassed 1,383 yards on the ground but both of those numbers are down significantly from last year. AP has even seen less carries this year as well. To compound that, AP, outside of the Giants game, has not averaged more than 4.0 yards per rush since the Lions game back in week 10. Why is that? The key to victory is AP. I understand that Favre was brought in here to lead the Vikings to the promise land but the guy is 40 years old and in the twilight of his career.

Now, Favre may bring some hope but he has never beaten the Cowboys in the playoffs. Favre is 0-3 against the Cowboys. The Cowboys lead the playoff series 4-2. Only time will tell if Favre can erase the donut hole or if Romo will implode as he has done in previous playoff games. The game is slotted for a noon start here in Minnesota. Should be a fun day of football with the Jets taking on the Chargers later today. Another caveat as we approach game time, history has shown that at least one home team during divisional playoff weekend has lost their game. I do not see the Chargers losing to the Jets. Guess we will see if tradition holds or if it gets bucked. Let's play some football!!!!

Sen. Day’s decision evokes “revolving-door” controversy

Today is Monday December 14^th and it is negative 9 degrees Fahrenheit outside right now; ugh. At some point last night or this morning snow fell as I was awaken this morning by the beeps of a bobcat. A lot took place over the weekend: the Vikings put it to the Bengals, Tiger lost a major sponsor, Sen. Liebermann switches stance on health care reform away from the Democrats, the Senate passed a $1.2T budget filled with pork, and President Obama gave himself a B+ rating. Really a B+? Anyway, that is entirely different topic than I'd like to discuss today. Last week Sen. Dick Day (R-Owatonna) was be lambasted for his decision to leave the State Legislature of Minnesota to lobby for a group, Racino Now, wanting a Racino in Minnesota. While Day will not officially leave office until the first part of January, many suspect he is already working as a consultant for the group looking to lobby Minnesota Legislatures during the upcoming session.

Minnesota does not have any laws that require a "cooling off" period for Legislators to become lobbyist or take other private industry jobs that may benefit from their connections. In a statement released last week by Sen. Day he defended his actions by saying, "Anyone who knows me knows that a Racino at Canterbury Park has been one of my top legislative priorities for 12 years, since 1997 when I first proposed the idea to fund a new Twins ballpark…Now I have the opportunity to work full time toward this end, and I look forward to traveling throughout the state to talk to Minnesotans about the many ways we will all gain from these two Racinos" (http://twincities.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2009/12/07/daily22.html). The other Racino location that Sen. Day refers to is Running Aces Harness Park located in Columbus Township.

While the laws of disclosure are rather limited or non-existent for Minnesota Legislatures, there is a ban on gifts that lobbyist can give a Legislator but that does not include campaign donations or hiring the Legislator as a consultant. I can see where a potential conflict of interest can exist but Sen. Day has never hidden his belief that Minnesota can benefit from adding a Racino to the business district; potentially adding $250M to the state confers. Should Minnesota add more disclosure laws to ensure our state politicians act ethically? Rep. Karla Bigham (DFL-Cottage Grove) and Sen. John Marty (DFL-Roseville) are two members of Minnesota's Legislator that plan to introduce "revolving-door" legislation that would "require legislators who retire or lose election to wait two years before they could accept a lobbying position" (http://www.minnpost.com/stories/2009/12/09/14123/days_move_puts_focus_on_legislatures_weak_lobbying_rules).

Is two years to much? Is two years too little? Should a lifetime ban be put in place? Keep in mind that elected officials in the Legislator is really a part-time job which many view it as just that. I know from personal experience that the only time I hear or see my State Senator is when it is politically convenient for her. Despite your view on a Racino, how should Minnesota react to lack of a "revolving-door" policy? Or should the focus be on the full disclosure of activities?

Vikings success could raise your taxes

I know that Viking fans has longed for the day that their beloved team would be good enough to hoist the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the season but it may have come at the worst possible time for Minnesota taxpayers. With the economy still running near the cliff of insanity, unemployment high, and a mounting debt in Washington D.C., taxpayers – not just in Minnesota – ought to be worried. The 9-1 start by the Vikings is the best in recent memory and they do look like a team that can compete for the NFC title. Along with that is the fact that the lease the Viking has with the Metrodome runs out at the end of the 2011 season. Zigi Wilf and his associates have already made it clear that staying the Dome, as is, is not an option.

While Zigi may say he wants to keep the Vikings in Minnesota, let's face it, Zigi is a business man first. Right now there is a group in Los Angeles that is courting the NFL for a franchise. At last look the mock up the proposed stadium had Vikings colors. I am not saying; rather just saying. Anyone that has owned a business near a stadium will attest that having a professional sports team nearby boost the bottom line. In a time where people are struggling, I can see some Minnesota Legislators making that argument when proposing a new stadium for the Vikings. At the same time, Zigi will play the move card at some point during the discussion. Actually, I think he already has without even saying it by saying that a lease extension is a non-starter.

Are taxpayers ready for a Legislative session that discusses raising of taxes to provide funds for a new Vikings stadium? Let's face it Favre cannot play quarterback forever and soon the Vikings will be turned back over to T-Jack. What then? Will Viking fans continue to support the team with sellouts if the team stumbles in a couple of years? I doubt it. Don't get me wrong, the notion of the Vikings playing in any other state is insane. Then again I do identify more with the Los Angeles Lakers than their former home in Minnesota. Now if the Vikings go on to win the Super Bowl imagine the leverage it will give Zigi and the organization to strap the Minnesotan taxpayer over the barrel.

Or is there another way to fund a stadium? Does the State Legislature have the guts to take on a powerful lobby group and risk the loss of a key political donor to keep the Vikings in Minnesota? The donor and lobby group I refer to is the Native American lobby. The notion of a Racino has been floated around for several years and each year it gets voted down. Now, if the proceeds were to save the Vikings – what warm-blooded Minnesota State Legislature would vote against that? Especially if Favre delivers the Lombardi trophy. Or will the taxpayers of Minnesota be saddled with another heavy handed tax to provide another wealthy businessman a place to house his pet project?

NFL Sunday is back!!!!!!

Yesterday the National Football League (NFL), yes they had a Thursday night game, kicked off the season with some exciting games. Even though the Vikings were trailing at half, they were able to come out in the second half and put 24 points on the board. While Favre didn't put up huge numbers, Adrian Peterson showed that the extra pounds put on over the off season will not slow him down or effect his running. Peterson scored three times, including one 64-yarder that was benefited by at least three miss-tackles, and rushed for 180 yards. The team to beat in the National Football Conference (NFC) will not be the Vikings or the Giants it will be the New Orleans Saints. Granted they played the hapless Lions on Sunday.

As long as the Saints can keep Drew Brees healthy their shot at taking the NFC title will be firmly planted. Brees hooked up for six touchdowns and 358 yards against the Lions. Fantasy football owners are smiling this morning by that performance. Good thing for Direct TV and their NFL package as it enabled me to see the incredible pass reception and touchdown by Brandon Stockley who rumbled 87-yards to put the Broncos over the Bengals. For those that missed it or didn't see the reply the pass brought back memories of Franco Harris catching a ricochet pass for a touchdown against the Oakland Raiders. Just when Bengal fans thought their D had stopped the Broncos and sealed victory the tipped ball found its way into the hands of a Bronco.

Although I am in the lead in one of my fantasy football leagues, looks like I may win in all my leagues this week too, the Houston Texans offence really let me and other fantasy football owners down yesterday. Nearly every fantasy football rag and website projected a breakout season for the Texan offense. Now the Texans were facing a Rex Ryan Defense that has a knack of shutting down high potent offenses. Thankfully for one of my fantasy football teams I had Matt Ryan to use this week instead of Matt Schaub.

In another upset the Arizona Cardinals appear to have fallen into the Super Bowl loser hangover category. Neither Fitzgerald nor Boldin had a catch for the most of the first half and the player with the most catches was running back Hightower. San Francisco Giants do not have a stout defense but one would not have noticed that as they put the clamps on the Cardinals offense. The day ended with an exciting game between the Bears and Packers.

Jay Cutler did his best effort to give the game to the Packers and while the Packers did finally pull ahead when Rodgers found Jennings the score should have been much worse. The Packers did not make the most of the charity of Cutler which could prove troublesome down the road when they face more potent offenses. Tonight football fans get two Monday night games with New England/Buffalo and San Diego/Oakland. The games will prove important to many fantasy owners with studs like Rivers, L.T., T.O., Brady, and Moss playing tonight. On a personal note, I will be up late tonight watching my beloved Raiders try to recapture the "Just Win Baby" mystique against the Chargers.

While I am optimistic that the Raiders will score more points than last year, I am a realist to understand that if the defense is not able to stop the run the season will be another long one. At the end of the season last year the Raiders showed signs of major improvement under Tom Cable. Hopefully they will continue that tonight against the Dolts (Chargers). I will be rooting with reserved optimism tonight. At the end of the day the NFL is here and the season is underway!!!!!

The Favre Circus has landed

Well the years, months, and days of speculation have ended for Viking fans as Brett Favre is at Winter Park in a red #4 jersey. The circus has finally come to town. The road has been a long one, even taking a detour to New York for a year, to obtain the missing link the Vikings needed to be a contender. To gauge the impact that Favre will have on the success of the Vikings is still unknown but the impact on the local economy is already evident.

Within hours of the announcement 2,500 season tickets and 8,000 single tickets were sold. Star Tribune reported a spike in traffic of their website from the average 100,000 hits per day to over a million hits as the news broke. Favre #4 jerseys are sure to be a hot retail item as well that will assist local stores suffering from the recession.

Zigi Wilf gave Favre a two-year deal worth $25M. Favre will see $12M this year and $13M next season. Intrigue continues as the Vikings most likely will not carry four quarterbacks for the season. Both Jackson and Rosenfels have been reported to demanding a trade if Favre became a Viking. Both quarterbacks will have to wait though. Favre is 39 years old and will turn 40 turning the football season that combined with his shoulder and arm issues may force the Vikings to keep four quarterbacks.

Neither Jackson nor Rosenfels looked overly impressive during the first preseason game. Rosenthal did have decent numbers but it was against scrubs. Jackson on the other hand was completely horrible. Taking the two of their performance into consideration, shock should not be the order of the day.

In questions from the media, Jackson and Rosenfels tried to play off the signing by attempting the high road. “It’s something that wasn’t a total shock. Obviously this had been three months in the ongoing sort of thing. So for me personally this wasn’t what I was hoping for,” said Rosenfels in reaction to Favre showing up at Winter Park. While Rosenfels has it right that it wasn’t a total shock, his timeline suffers. The deal to bring Favre goes back over a year when Favre announced his retirement from the Packers only later to change his mind; thus being traded to the Jets.
Jackson responded to the Favre intrusion by saying, “I really don’t have a reaction. I’m just taking it day by day right now.” The only day by day action that Jackson will be taking is how to hold the clipboard or get the Gatorade for his elder. The potential biggest loser in all this is John David Booty.

John David Booty is still green, per NFL standards, and has been regulated to throwing a collection of stiffs since joining the NFL. Booty did score a few dollars I am sure for giving Favre #4 and taking #9. At the end of the day, Booty may be the happiest though. If the rumors are true about Jackson and Rosenfels demanding trades if Favre is signed, Booty may find himself the #2 based on attitude alone. Then again Coach Childress has a hard on for Jackson and by trading him or letting him go would be admission of poor judgment.

Now that the circus is done, the question remaining is how far will the Vikings go? The speculation in Viking faithful heads has to be similar to those purchasing lottery tickets today for the Powerball; if I win what will I do? Well the Vikings appeared to have “won”.

Get your Popcorn: Farve circus coming to town.

Last night Joe Buck had Brett Favre on HBO to discuss his future in the NFL. Brett Favre pulled no punches when he said, “it makes perfect sense as far as coming back because it’s an offense I ran for 16 years. I can teach the offense” when asked about unretiring to become a Minnesota Viking. Coach Brad Childress had invited Brett Favre to the OTA’s but Brett felt it be a better idea to stay away. Brett thought multiple “media frenzies” would detract from the team, plus Brett said, “If the arm is not up to par when the time comes. I can’t play. I went through it last year. I gutted it out, but it affected me and it affected our team. I won’t go through that again.”

Brett admitted that he had arthroscopic surgery 2.5 weeks ago to repair a torn bicep tendon on his throwing arm. The healing time is reported to be four to five weeks. So, it does make sense that Favre not showing up at OTA’s would have done nothing more than expand upon his need for media attention. The interesting question that wasn’t asked or touched upon during the interview was whether Brad Childress put a time line on his decision to join the team as reported by ESPN.

Brad Childress previously had stated that no such deadline was imposed upon Favre as reported by two ESPN reporters. With the air clear that Favre, depending on arm strength, will become a Viking is how will this improve the chance of making it to the Super Bowl? Does the addition of Favre automatically move the Vikings up the ladder on potential Super Bowl contenders?

I don’t think so. The move not to re-sign Matt Birk will be one of the reasons why the Vikings will not be in the Super Bowl. Favre will improve the chance that the Vikings will score in the 4th quarter though. Being a gunslinger he will put the ball in places that a normal quarterback will not. The other reason is that the Vikings will need to win the division to make the playoffs and that will not be an easy task this season.

The Chicago Bears trading for Cutler puts them at the top of the heap. Word from Bear OTA’s is that Cutler and Hester are clicking in midseason form. If that is happening now, watch out when the season starts. There is no one in the NFL that can stay with Hester one-on-one. Granted Foote does not have the same numbers of Peterson, he is solid enough to rip off the tough yards to keep the chains moving.

The benefit that Favre will bring is twofold. Blackout worries will be no more and it will add fodder for those Viking/Packer families. The next question is will Paul Allen have a new color man? Will John Madden park the Madden Cruiser at Winter Park?

Favre Flu displaces Swine Flu in Minnesota

A day after Trent Dilfer reported receiving a text message from Brett Favre on whether he will return to the NFL in 2009 the “NO” appears, at least right now, to be a maybe. Coach Brad Childress will be meeting with the ageless veteran Favre at an undisclosed location later in the week according to the pundits on ESPN. The Favre fever has temporarily replaces Swing Flu in Minnesota.

Many pundits feel the Vikings are a quarterback away from a Super Bowl Champion. Now, the brain trust went out and signed Sage Rosenfels to come in and compete with Tarvaris Jackson. If the Vikings wanted an older quarterback why not go after someone like Garcia (who has signed with the Raiders)? Favre broke down as the season wore on while Garcia, and others, remained stout as the season wore on.

Granted the signing of Brett Favre will increase ticket sales and get more national television coverage. What happens after 2009? Will Favre be willing to come in and teach Jackson or will the blinders be on? I know many bleeding purple are foaming at the mouth as the rumors swirl about Favre wearing a purple 4. Buyers beware with Favre. Now if Percy Harvin can hook the hold man up with some good pain killers, then the Vikings decision to move forward with Favre signing may give them the upper hand in the NFC.

I understand that Viking fans want to win the big game after four gut wrenching chances and a missed field goal in the NFC Championship game, but at what cost? Adding Favre could mean adding John Madden. While, being a loyal Raider fan, I acknowledge the wealth of knowledge that Madden has stored away in his cranium, but are Viking fans prepared to hear Madden’s man-crush of Favre. The Madden cruiser will become a mainstay at Winter Park. Watch out Paul Allen!!!!

Favre is no doubt a Hall of Fame quarterback and a proven winner. With all that in play, the Vikings are best to not go down this road. If Childress does decide to bring in Favre, I will, like the rest of America, sit back and watch the circus that will take place. Not to mention the divorce rate increase between Minnesota and Wisconsin football fans.