HometownSource Blogs

Following are opinions from Mille Lacs County Times  editor-sports editor Gary Larson, reporter Luther Dorr and former Times intern Logan Marxhausen who’s now on the sports staff at the St. Cloud State University Chronicle. Note: This feature is written on Monday each week.
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ASK THE SPORTS WRITERS

•Question:  What are your thoughts on Monday night’s  Vikings-Bears game?

-Dorr: The game ended a few minutes ago and it was a nice comeback but let’s face it – the Vikings lost to a team that has had a terrible season, one they beat by 26 points earlier. They lost to a five-win team for the second week in a row. Do you believe me now that the defense is terribly overrated? Jared Allen disappeared a few weeks ago and the Williams Wall has crumbled and fallen. On one Chicago reception three Minnesota defenders stood and watched the receiver roll from the Minnesota 8 to the 2. People will point to the Adrian Peterson fumble but probably won’t mention the fumble by Brett Favre in the first half when he wasn’t even hit. That cost Minnesota three points. Ben Leber dropped an interception on the second play of the game, Asher Allen had a personal foul penalty while covering the Vikings’ first punt of the game, Favre fumbled without being hit and then the punter had a 16-yard punt – all early in the game. And an extra point was blocked. The game shouldn’t have gone into overtime. The comeback makes things look better but it was another loss outside, on grass, in cold weather. The facts are the facts, like it or not. And where was Favre in the first half? A good chance for the No. 1 seed has slipped away and the No. 2 seed may be history. Read more »

By Jason Olson

SportsPrepZone Editor

ST. PAUL –-The Blaine-based U.S. Women’s National hockey team saved its final ‘home’ game against arch rival Canada for Dec. 30 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

Team USA came up short in a 2-1 loss to Canada, its sixth loss in a row to the Canadians despite out shooting them 41-27. and having several scoring chances fall short of crossing the goal line between the pipes.

American supporters shouldn’t be too discouraged with the effort Wednesday night.

Canada made the most of its chances and remained calm in its own end especially in the closing minutes when Canada’s Player of the Game, Colleen Sostorics, took an interference penalty with 1:15 left in the game. Team USA pulled goalie Molly Schaus for a 6-on-4 advantage, but they couldn’t find their way past Charline Labonte.

Canada came out on the attack, scoring two minutes, nine seconds into the game as Colleen Sostonic’s blast from the point was redirected past U.S. goalie Molly Schaus by Haley Irwin for her sixth point against the US this season. Team USA scored the equalizer at the 11:10 mark of the second period only to have Canada retake the lead 3:09 later. USA’s goal was scored by Karen Thatcher with help from Jocelyne Lamoureaux and Erika Lawler.

As one of the final legs on the Qwest Tour, a primer before the Winter Olympics in Vancouver which begin in February, the stop at Xcel comes at an interesting time for the U.S. squad. The Americans began the long run-up to the winter games by capturing the title at the Hockey Canada Cup Labor Day weekend before starting the Qwest Tour with a 6-1 win against the WCHA All-Stars Sept. 25.

Wednesday’s game was the fifth in a series of six matches before the Olympics against Team USA’ hockey neighbors to the north. Canada holds the edge in games this year, including both previous Qwest Tour meetings, the last was a 6-2 decision Dec. 15 at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta. Canada handed the U.S. a 5-1 loss in the title game of the Four Nations Cup in early November.

The Canadians have won three straight over the Americans, dating back to a 3-2 decision Nov. 6 in the prelims of the Four Nations Cup in Finland.

Team USA will continue to train at the National Sports Center in Blaine until January 23.

Attorney General Lori Swanson’s recent legal actions relating to the potential spread of Asian carp into the Great Lakes — she’s looking to clamp off waterways in Illinois to the exotic fish — is only one aspect of a larger challenge.

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), some seven species of Asian carp have been introduced to the United States.

Four of the exotic carp — the grass carp, black carp, bighead carp, and silver carp — often grace environmental publications.

These exotics, worrisome because of their feeding and reproductive gusto and the challenges they could present native fish, have already penetrated into the region.

A grass carp was caught in the St. Croix by commercial fishermen in 2006, and bighead carp have been caught in Lake Pepin.

According to a 2007 DNR study, no silver carp have been confirmed in Minnesota, though the carp has been found in the Mississippi River in southeast Iowa.

These carp are active and known for leaping from the water when disturbed, potentially imperiling boaters.

The study stated that there were no known populations of Asian carp in state waters yet — the individuals caught were pioneers, of sort.

Preventing Asian carp from infiltrating Minnesota waters presented a “daunting” challenge, the study concluded.

The window of opportunity for halting the migration into the lower Mississippi River in Minnesota by use of behavioral barriers — acoustic bubble curtains, for instance — was maybe closing.

Still, physical barriers in the river could prevent Asian carp from climbing the upper reaches.

St. Anthony Falls historically has been a natural fish barrier in the Mississippi River, for 10,000 years serving to block off the upper reaches until the river was opened to barge traffic in the 1960s.

Indeed, while some 123 fish species were known to inhabit the Mississippi below the falls in the past, just 64 were found above.

Currently, the venerable Coon Rapids Dam serves as a man made fish barrier, but should the dam be breached Asian carp could enter the Rum River at Anoka, potentially spreading upstream to Mille Lacs Lake.

The study suggested looking at possibly restoring St. Anthony Falls as a natural fish barrier.

Recently, a number of lawmakers mailed a letter to Swanson and the governor calling for state officials to renew action against the spread of Asian carp.

In the decade ahead, community leaders will have to be imaginative to hold on to their community’s uniqueness, because they will get less state aid.

Failure to keep its golf courses, parks, community centers, art centers and ball fields – all those quality of life builders – will result in boring, fenced-in neighborhoods surrounded by big box stores. Read more »

Republican gubernatorial candidate and environmentalist Leslie Davis has revealed that he is happy and optimistic.

Davis professes this upbeat mental state, despite being denied participation in a handful of gubernatorial forums and enduring other political travails, he explained in a press release.

“Once the public learns about the ‘Davis Money Plan’ that will create one hundred thousand well-paying jobs and balance the state’s budget with no cuts, no tax increases, and no new taxes, they are certain to make me their candidate of choice for governor,” said Davis.

“And that’s to say nothing about my great plans for public safety, energy, environment, health, education, agriculture, and transportation,” he added.

Davis is looking forward to forums and events scheduled for January.

Attorney General Lori Swanson filed a brief requesting the U.S. Supreme Court order injunctive relief in regard to the spread of Asian carp — a group of lawmakers, including Rep. Rick Hansen, DFL-South St. Paul, recently wrote the AG and governor requesting state action in regard to the invasive carp.

Swanson’s brief backs relief requested by the State of Michigan that calls for the closing of certain Chicago-area locks connecting Illinois waterways to Lake Michigan, the creation of new carp barriers, and other actions.

It’s feared the Asian carp will find its way into the Great Lakes through these waterways.

The exotic species, believed to have escaped from southern ponds during flood, could dramatically, negatively impact native fish populations, it’s feared.

“If they invade the Great Lakes, they will have access to the rivers and tributaries that feed into the Great Lakes, thereby threatening inland waters. This would be extremely destructive to Minnesota’s economy and way of life, where inland fishing is an important recreational and economic pursuit. Indeed, Minnesota is known as ‘The Land of 10,000 Lakes,’ and the recreational fishing in Minnesota alone is a $2.725 billion per year industry,” said Swanson’s brief.

According to the Attorney General’s Office, the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to consider the Asian carp matter in early January.

Former U.S. senator Mark Dayton, one of a crowd of Democrats running for governor, has recently been the subject of news stories relating to his health.

In recent comments on Facebook, Dayton acknowledged that he has suffered from mild depression for 44 years and that for a brief time in the Senate, ’slipped’ in his recovery from alcoholism.

“Now, through a regimen of diet, exercise, and medicine, I feel healthier and stronger than ever. I would not be campaigning for Governor, were I not very confident in my condition and my abilities. In February 2007, I spent a week at Hazeldon’s Renewal Center. I also feel confident in my sobriety, while recognizing my… progress will always be ‘one day at a time,’” Dayton wrote.

“These are deeply personal matters, and it is very hard for me to disclose them publicly. However, I believe that you and other Minnesotans have the right to know them, as you consider electing me your Governor,” Dayton wrote.

In the months ahead, people will have the chance to see and hear him and decide for themselves how big a concern his health issues are, Dayton goes on to explain.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reports that last week no Minnesota school reported any outbreaks of flu-like illness — the previous week two schools did.

Since last Wednesday the MDH confirmed one additional influenza A H1N1-associated death, bringing the total of such confirmed deaths to 51.

Besides no schools reporting any new flu-like outbreaks, none were reported from any long-term care facilities.

State Demographer Tom Gillaspy projects that Minnesota would narrowly lose one of its U.S. House members, go from eight to seven, based on an analysis of new population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Gillaspy calculates that Minnesota would lose to Missouri the last congressional seat by some 1,100 people.

“Basically, this is a dead heat,” said Gillaspy in a press release.

The census bureau estimates the population of Minnesota at 5,266,214 in July, a growth of about 36,000 over the previous year.

“Remember, these are just estimates by the Census Bureau and our chances of retaining eight seats are improving every day,” said Gillaspy.

“What will decide the issue is getting everyone in Minnesota counted in the 2010 Census,” he said.

Second District Congressman John Kline, R-Lakeville, is seeking a fifth term in the U.S. House.

“I am,” said Kline not unexpectedly when asked whether he planned to run again.

His campaign has raised at least $600,000 so far and he expect to spends about a million and a half dollars on his reelection, said Kline.

Kline expect 6th Congressional District Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, R-Stillwater, and 3rd Congressional District Congressman Erik Paulsen, R-Eden Prairie, and himself to do well next November.

Indeed, he thinks Republicans nationally will do well, pointing to predictions of some pundits suggesting Republicans will gain seats and even retake the U.S. House.

“That’s a dream very few of us could have six months ago,” said Kline, speaking to reporters at informal Q and A session in a St. Paul coffee shop, about taking back the House.

“And it’s a dream now that’s starting to have legs,” he said, adding that Republicans have started talking amongst themselves of possibly recapturing the House.

Kline points to the public’s reaction to health care and other issues as tipping momentum to Republicans.

Talking health care, Kline characterized Democrats’ handling of the health care debate in the Senate as “grotesque.”

He guesses the House will vote on the Senate health care bill, once passed, instead of a conference committee bill.

Changing the Senate language at all in conference committee could mean supporters would not be able to get the conference committee bill through the Senate.

It’s that close, Kline said.

“I don’t think it gets a Republican vote,” Kline said of action in the House.

Asked who was the leader of the Republican Party, Kline questioned whether the party had a single leader.

Rather, there’s a number of voices, which Kline believes is healthy.

“But there isn’t ‘The Voice’ of the Republican Party,” he said.

Kline is a “big fan” of Gov. Tim Pawlenty and said he has encouraged the governor to run for president.

Talking for a moment about Bachmann, Kline said the congresswoman has become a national voice for Republicans.

“She certainly has a very ardent following,” he said.

Bachmann has lots of admirer among her congressional colleagues, Kline said.

“She’s unafraid to speak up,” said Kline.

According to a poll released today by Public Policy Polling, a firm out of North Carolina Republican activists tag as Democrat-affiliated, Bachmann leads DFLer Maureen Reed 53-37 percent and DFLer Sen. Tarryl Clark 55-37 percent.

But the pollsters added that Reed’s and Clark’s numbers could improve as voters become better acquainted with them.

Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty in a Newsweek interview expressed regret over a 1993 vote he took as a House member prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation.

The vote dealt with the Minnesota Human Rights Act.

In the interview, Pawlenty is quoted as saying the statute was “overbaked.”

“I said I regretted the vote later because it included things like cross-dressing, and a variety of other people involved in behaviors that weren’t based on sexual orientation, just a preference for the way they dressed and behaved,” Pawlenty is quoted saying.

“So it was overly broad. So if you are a third-grade teacher and you are a man and you show up on Monday as Mr. Johnson and you show up on Tuesday as Mrs. Johnson, that is a little confusing to the kids,” he said.

“So I don’t like that,” said Pawlenty.

Testing their hacker skills against each other, 15 of the nation’s top non-domestic terrorist techies faced off in a battle for government jobs.

And arguably the most important government jobs — security.

Cyber-security has been a growing concern for nations all across the globe, with fears of a cyber-terrorist attack growing exponentially with the development of new technologies.

In this CNN story detailing the hacker conference, it specifically makes the point that our defense against new-age terrorists will likely be in the hands of teens or early 20s Americans.  They note that fact is nothing new, as the average age of a controlperson for the Apollo 17 mission was 26.

Once the stuff of fictional movies, we’re realizing the prognosticating abilities of talented, yet unknown writers, artists and futurists like Sophia Stewart, the ALLEGED mind behind the Matrix trilogy and the Terminator films.

Christmas is my favorite holiday (Halloween is a close second because of the horror movies of the same name).

But, for me, it is not a faith-based holiday.

In fact, the date of Jesus’ birth has been concluded by some scholars to be in the spring, based on biblical references to shepherds watching over their flock day and night.

But that is besides my point, which is that I find myself, as an agnostic, easily offended when people use the holiday to promote Christian values over those of other faiths.  There is almost an air of superiority that exists when people of faith talk about the holiday and the moral lessons it provides.

I imagine it is very difficult for a person of faith to temper his/her moral superiority complex, but it’s just as difficult for a non-believer to temper his/her inclination to adopt an intellectual superiority complex.

I will keep my complex in check if you will do the same with yours this holiday season.  I will also spend money on non-essential goods to boost the economy.

Following are opinions from Mille Lacs County Times  editor-sports editor Gary Larson, reporter Luther Dorr and former Times intern Logan Marxhausen who’s now on the sports staff at the St. Cloud State University Chronicle. Note: This feature is written on Monday each week.
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ASK THE SPORTS WRITERS

•Question:  The Vikings bounced back from their loss at Arizona by handling the Cincinnati Bengals 30-10 Sunday at the Metrodome. Your thoughts on the game? Read more »

Grumpy Old Man
My addiction to college football began when my dad bought me my first subscription to “Sports Illustrated” when I was a seventh-grader in 1959. That was just before University of Minnesota Coach Murray Warmath  took the Gophers to back-to-back Rose Bowl games in 1961 (lost to Washington 17-7) and 1962 (beat UCLA 21-3).

Those were the days when the Big Ten Conference was regarded as college football’s best conference. That stature, which took hold in the early 1900s, continued through the 1960s and 1970s before other conferences began to overshadow the Big Ten in the 1980s. Read more »