Here’s the complete conversation with John Loney, Rushford-Peterson High School Athletic Director, looking ahead to the possibility of spring sports. No question, there’s a lot of uncertainty right now.
Spring sports in Minnesota have been put on hold, just as many other sectors of the state have, due to the coronavirus. Just as spring sports athletes across the state were getting underway with practices they’ll have to take a short break. The Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) suspended all activities between Wednesday, March 18, through Friday, March 27.
Because of the Emergency Executive Order signed on March 15 by Governor Tim Walz, there will be no MSHSL activities and athletics at any of the member schools. That includes training, practices, scrimmages, and contests. Rushford-Peterson Athletic Director John Loney says students won’t have any organized practices with coaches after Tuesday, March 17.
Spring sports like baseball, softball, track, and golf are all on hold in Minnesota, thanks to the coronavirus. As of right now, they’re tentatively scheduled to resume on April 6. (photo from kfilradio.com)
“As of right now, we’re scheduled to return to school on March 30,” he said. The activities association says we can resume spring sports on April 6. I’m sure they’ll be gathering information and monitoring the situation leading up to that date.
“The one thing we have going for us here is the spring activities we offer are all outside,” Loney added. “They are also not quite as physical as basketball and football, where kids spend a lot of time running into each other.”
Loney is concerned about the fact that the recommended number of people in group settings keeps getting smaller to help control the spread of coronavirus, which could be a challenge for getting spring sports contests going once school resumes. Loney is still hoping to get at least some games in so the seniors can end their high school years on a positive note.
H-2A workers have been hard to find consistently in agriculture as long as I’ve been covering it, which is the better part of my adult life. I don’t have enough day-to-day experience dealing with this to know why on Earth we can’t seem to figure this out? Any ideas? Please leave a comment and let me know the whole story? And does this news from the USDA and Department of Labor actually help?
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced a partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to help facilitate the identification of foreign and domestic H-2A workers that may be available and eligible to transfer to other U.S. agricultural sector employers to fulfill critical workforce needs within the U.S. under existing regulatory authority during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For as long as I can remember, we’ve been struggling to get enough H-2A workers into the country consistently enough to make sure all our farmers can get their work done. Why can’t we figure this out? (Photo from agnetwest.com)
“Ensuring minimal disruption for our agricultural workforce during these uncertain times is a top priority for this administration,” Secretary Perdue said. “President Trump knows that these H-2A workers are critical to maintaining our food supply and our farmers and ranchers are counting on their ability to work. We will continue to work to make sure our supply chain is impacted as minimally as possible.”
“American farmers and ranchers are at the frontlines of maintaining the nation’s food supply,” Secretary Scalia said. “In these unprecedented times, it is critical for them to have the workforce they need. This new partnership between USDA and DOL will help support our farmers, ranchers, and American families.”
Background:USDA and DOL have identified nearly 20,000 H-2A and H-2B certified positions that have expiring contracts in the coming weeks. There will be workers leaving these positions who could be available to transfer to a different employer’s labor certification. The data, available on www.farmers.gov/manage/h2a, includes the number of certified worker positions, the current employer name and contact, attorney/agent name and contact, and the worksite address. This information will be a resource to H-2A employers whose workforce has been delayed because of travel restrictions or visa processing limitations. Employers should be aware that all statutory and regulatory requirements continue to apply. Employers are encouraged to monitor www.travel.state.gov for the latest information and should monitor the relevant Embassy/Consular websites for specific operational information.
Drones might not be a topic that a lot of non-farm folks would associate with agriculture, but they are becoming a lot more popular on farms across the country. Drones have been a big topic of discussion recently between the Federal Aviation Administration and farm groups like the American Farm Bureau. This is a copy of an article I just saw in their latest email blast.
The Federal Aviation Administration should revamp its drone proposal to provide flexibility to allow farmers and ranchers who cannot access the internet to continue using drones, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.
America’s farmers and ranchers embrace technology that allows them to be more efficient, economical and environmentally aware. Drones are an important precision agriculture tool they use to manage their crops and livestock and make important business decisions, the organization pointed out in comments to the FAA on its drone-related advanced notice of proposed rulemaking.
“Today’s farmers and ranchers are using precision agricultural devices to make decisions that impact the amount of fertilizer a farmer needs to purchase and apply to the field, the amount of water needed to sustain the crop, and the amount and type of herbicides or pesticides the farmer may need to apply,” Farm Bureau said.
Drones are changing the way farmers do business every day on their operations. (Photo from technologyreview.com)
The two main problems with the proposal are: it would ground many drones that farmers and ranchers currently own that do not meet the rule’s specifications and it would prevent many farmers and ranchers from ever operating a drone because of a lack of access to broadband.
Farm Bureau had several suggestions for improvement.
FAA’s proposal would require drones to connect to the internet and transmit their remote IDs. But on the 29% percent of farms and ranches without access to the internet, this would be impossible. And while Congress, the FCC and USDA have acknowledged this problem and are working to increase connectivity for precision agriculture equipment, the proposal fails to take this challenge into account.
“Requiring drones to connect to the internet and broadcast a signal would remove one of the newest tools in the toolbox for farmers and ranchers during a time when they have already seen a drastic 50% decline in net farm income in the last four years,” Farm Bureau said.
Farm Bureau is recommending an either/or approach that would allow the drone to send a remote ID signal through an internet connection if available or broadcast a signal if the internet is unavailable.
As for the limited remote ID requirement, Farm Bureau reiterated its call for FAA to provide an alternative method for operators to signal their location when the internet is not available. Another option is removing the requirement that the drone must connect to the internet since the drone must operate within 400 feet of the ground station and cannot operate beyond visual-line-of-sight under the limited remote ID requirement.
The proposal’s lack of definitions for “internet” and “sufficient signal strength and coverage” is also problematic.
“In rural areas where internet connections drastically fluctuate, drone operators need clarity on internet connection speeds that qualify for the standard and limited remote ID requirements,” Farm Bureau said.
The group’s final recommendation was that the FAA establish a position on its Drone Advisory Committee for an agriculture, forestry and rangeland representative.
“Farmers offer a unique perspective on their use of drones because they often operate a drone in more remote areas. Many of the concerns included in these comments could have been discussed during DAC meetings if there was representation,” Farm Bureau said.
Here’s the complete conversation with Arlan Suderman of INTL FCStone on the commodity markets reaction to the coronavirus outbreak.
Coronavirus headlines and the commodity markets. It’s been a while since we’ve seen the commodity markets this reactive to news headlines on an almost daily basis. While it’s not unheard of, one commodity expert says it’s been over a decade since the markets have been hit this hard by the news. Arlan Suderman is the Chief Commodities Analyst for INTL FCStone, talks about why the news coronavirus headlines seem to be playing havoc in the commodity markets.
“I think that’s a question a lot of people have these days,” Suderman says. “It’s a valid point to discuss.
Arlan Suderman, Chief Commodities Analyst at INTL FCStone says the commodity markets have been hit hard by news reports surrounding the coronavirus, as well as the resulting “fear outbreak” from people all over the world.
“I was initially downplaying the market reaction in January,” he recalled, “before doing some research at the end of that month. This is the type of virus that’s going to trigger a lot of fear in people. When you have that much fear, the fear of the coronavirus headlines will be worse than the threat of the virus itself.”
He points out that when people get afraid, they stay home, they don’t travel, and they don’t go out in public as much. That’s been the case in China as everywhere the disease has hotspot outbreaks, everybody stays home.
“Shanghai, a city of millions of people, is now a ghost town,” Suderman said. “Now we’re seeing pictures of that in lots of other places, including Italy.
“When people stay home and don’t go out, they tend to consume
less food,” he added. “That includes consuming less meat and a lot more
starches. Overall, it does tend to change consumption patterns a lot.”
People also consume less energy in these situations as they aren’t driving a lot while airlines are also canceling flights as people don’t want to travel. Less consumption in the energy markets hurts the biofuels markets as well.
Even things like shipping commodities get much more complicated as people are staying home, thanks to the coronavirus headlines. That’s been the case in China and is becoming prevalent in other countries too.
“People didn’t show up to work,” he said. “Ports become
congested, ships don’t get unloaded, and shipping slows way down. That’s lost
demand you likely don’t get back. You may get some of it back, but not all.
Easter. The Resurrection. We’ve all heard the story about Jesus rising from the grave and being taken up to Heaven after appearing to His disciples and many other people over the next 40 days. I remember wondering in my younger years if there was any evidence to support these claims? Is there any logic at all to believing that a guy named Jesus was strung up on a cross and then returned from the dead?
Just in time for Easter, let’s figure out if there’s any logical possibility that this resurrection thing could be true?
After all, who in their right mind would believe something like this? Well, I’ve come across a lot of interesting writings during my almost 50 years on this Earth that cement my faith in Christ. I just thought I’d share a few of the more interesting ones with you as we draw closer to Easter.
Before we talk about Easter and the resurrection, let’s get the gruesome stuff out of the way first. I found out something about crucifixion I didn’t know. It’s not the wounds to the hands and feet that end up killing people. They suffocate.
A website
detailing the science of the crucifixion makes it even clearer. To inhale, the
diaphragm must push down to enlarge the chest cavity to bring air into the
lungs. To breathe out, the diaphragm pushes up, contracting the lungs, which
then pushes out the air. As Jesus hangs on the cross, the weight of his body
pushes down on the diaphragm, bringing air in. However, to breathe out, Jesus
would have to push up on His nailed feet, causing excruciating pain. The
difficulty surrounding exhalation is nothing but a slow, cruel form of
suffocation.
And to be even more correct, the nails more than likely went through His wrists. If a nail is driven through each of the hands, they couldn’t support the full weight of a human being. The soft tissue of the hands would simply rip away from the nails. Those nails in His wrists and feet pierced major nerves in both His arms and feet. Imagine the agony. The Romans knew what they were doing. It was brutal.
As the victim continues to suffocate, carbon dioxide begins
to build up. As carbonic acid builds in the blood, the body instinctively
triggers the desire to breathe. At the same time, the heart beats faster to
circulate whatever oxygen is available. The decreased oxygen damages the tissues,
causing the capillaries to begin leaking watery fluid from the blood into the
tissues. This results in a build-up of fluid around the heart and lungs. The
decreased oxygen also damages the heart itself, which leads to cardiac arrest.
Remember John 19:34? “Instead, one of the soldiers pierced
Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water?” It was
the watery fluid that built up in His tissues, lungs, and heart. It makes more
sense now. It’s not a made-up fairy tale and there’s a logical reason it
happens.
Long story short, Jesus was dead when He was brought down
from the cross.
Let’s go with the “swooning” argument that says Jesus wasn’t
dead, He’d just fainted. Think about what He would have looked like during His “appearances”
to His disciples after “returning from the grave.” He would have been a bloody
mess, leaving a trail of blood behind Him, limping, bones would have been
showing through the skin in His back after the flogging, and he wouldn’t have
presented the kind of resurrection picture that the disciples would suddenly
have been willing to die for. They would have run in fright from that horrible
sight. Period. I would have. Did you see “The Passion of the Christ?” He would
have looked like walking raw hamburger. Roman guards were savage animals when
they put people to death.
The disciples were transformed after seeing the risen Jesus multiple times. They were suddenly ready to travel to the ends of the Earth to spread this new Gospel (Good News) and to die for it, if necessary. How do you explain their transformation from a group that was cowering in an upper room to suddenly ready to evangelize the world?
Maybe it was a “mass hallucination,” as some have said. Come on. People don’t have “mass hallucinations.”
Jesus’ own brother James didn’t believe He was the Son of
God until after the resurrection. You don’t change your mind and write an
entire book in the Bible unless you’ve seen something radical. He saw his
brother back from the grave.
How do you explain the conversion of Paul? He once killed
Christians and was so transformed after experiencing Christ by the side of a
road that he eventually became one of the greatest (if not THE greatest) apostles
in history.
The conversions of James and Paul have me convinced they saw
something radical. They saw the risen Christ. Remember “Doubting Thomas?” He
touched the hands and the side of Jesus, where the wounds were. They didn’t see
a “ghost.”
Hundreds of witnesses saw the resurrected Christ. There are
too many things that line up to convince me it’s real. There are enough
historical documents about a man named Jesus who walked the Earth and claimed
to be the Son of God. Either He was completely insane, or He was exactly who He
claimed to be.
Don’t believe it because I say it. Look into it yourself. There has to be more to life that the 80-some years we spend on Earth, right? I believe it takes more faith to believe in the “Big Bang” and that we’re all here by coincidence than it takes to believe in intelligent design. Jesus Himself said, “you will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart” (Paraphrasing). Why not take a look? Is there a better time of year than Easter? After all, Easter has to be more than just the occasional chocolate bunny rabbit.
Blogging. What’s it all about? Every time I sit down to
write a blog post, I freeze. Writer’s block is not something that happens to me
very often, but in this case, I’m not sure what’s interesting enough in my life
and the lives of others around me to write about.
Blogging about sports is a good place to start. Watching the Timberwolves play the Miami Heat and realizing just what a dull and uninteresting franchise they are. Notice I didn’t use the words “professional sports” in front of the word “franchise.” I’m honestly not sure they qualify. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a team revamp virtually their entire roster and not reap any kind of rewards.
Is Karl-Anthony Towns the right guy to lead the Timberwolves for the next several years? Great offense. LOUSY defense. Doesn’t appear to think he commits fouls at all.. and hurts the team with his constant bellyaching. (Photo from onlinegambling.com)
I suppose I need to give them time. We’ve already given them
decades and gotten a couple of good seasons for all of our patience. Where have
you gone, KG? Can I ask an honest question? As good as the big KAT is, IS he
the right guy to lead this franchise into the future? Fantastic offensive
talent. Lousy and disinterested on the defensive end. This is a team that
cannot play a lick of defense. Great to score 137 points, unless you give up
140 to the opposition. It’s still a loss.
The NFL Combine is in full swing and I couldn’t be more blasé to the whole thing. Why am I so uninspired about the Vikings and their potential future draft choices? What direction is this franchise going in and how are they going to disappoint their fans next? I mentioned this in an earlier post, but I think it bears repeating; WHY do you want to be a running team first and spend so damn much on a quarterback and two wide receivers? I’m getting a bit of a mixed message here.
Still trying to figure out the direction of this franchise, especially with the head coach and general manager going into the last year of their contracts. (Photo from bleacherreport.com)
By the way, isn’t the NFL a passing league now? And if that’s
the case, does Zimmer’s insistence on running the ball mean the game has passed
him by a little bit? Not saying it has or it hasn’t. Just reading the tea
leaves here.
On to other topics. What’s up with the coronavirus outbreak? Have you seen the hysteria surrounding the “Pandemic?” I’ve been looking behind the headlines and am finding out that the coronavirus fatality rate appears to be three percent. My South Dakota/Minnesota math tells me that 97 percent of the people who are infected appear to actually survive? If that is the case, WHY are we hearing about a “global epidemic” in every major news outlet, making it sound like the second coming of the plague? What don’t I know about this?
Why am I still on social media? I was just perusing a short time ago and couldn’t believe how much the current president is being skewered over the coronavirus. And before you get snippy, I didn’t vote for him. If I blamed presidents I didn’t vote for as much as the current political left does, NOTHING would get done. Ever. Didn’t vote for Clinton either. I’d give my kingdom for a reliable third-party candidate or possibly a middle-of-the-road Democrat. The current list of Democratic presidential candidates are all bat-crap crazy. Not sure the incumbent is a great option either.
I really enjoyed social media when it was first ramping up.
After all, I’d just left full-time media for the first time in my adult life
and it was my only outlet to keep doing what I loved. I really don’t enjoy it
much anymore. Have we as a society ALWAYS been this spiteful and vindictive? Is
social media just a convenient outlet for all that vitriol we’ve been saving
up? Frankly, the behavior of grown adults on social media is the same thing we
all remember growing up during the turbulent teenage years.
Well, there you go. Almost 700 words later and I guess the writer’s block is gone? I do welcome comments when I’m done blogging. You don’t have to agree with me. Just don’t be a jerk about it. Let’s be adults and educate each other about the things we don’t know. Be willing to listen to other people’s point of view once in a while. You and I both might learn something. Think I’ll try this blogging thing again really soon.
Bethel basketball took on St. John’s in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men’s basketball matchup on Saturday afternoon. What a doozy. Bethel came into the game with 16 wins on the season while the Johnnies had 22 wins at tipoff. Both teams put on quite a show for a packed house at the Robertson Center.
I don’t know for sure if the team’s were nervous going into the game but they played like it early on. They both had already qualified for the MIAC playoffs which began the following week. But, the Johnnies and the Royals put up a lot of shots in the first half and I lost count halfway through the period as to the number of bunnies that both teams missed under their respective baskets. St. John’s led a low-scoring game, 26-25 at the half.
The tempo and the number of made baskets picked up dramatically in the second half. The Johnnies outscored the Royals by six points (47-41) after halftime, thanks to a combination of deadly three-point shooting, key free throws, and a couple of iffy officiating calls very late in the game. Irregardless of whether you thought the calls were good or not, St. John’s capitalized and came out of there with a hard-fought MIAC win.
Here’s a file photo from a recent Bethel University men’s basketball game. I saw the Royals drop a hard-fought game to St. John’s on Saturday, 73-66. It was one of the more entertaining Bethel basketball games I’ve seen in a long time. (File photo from Bethel basketball website.)
Physical strength in the post played a big factor in the St. John’s win. Johnnie’s center Zach Hanson scored a game-high 19 points (8 of 17 shooting) on the block, with Bethel unable to stop his running hook shots in the lane. The big Johnnie completed a double-double with 10 rebounds. Colton Codute added 17 points and Jubie Alade, one of the smoother guards you’ll see in the MIAC, added 12 points.
Bethel basketball senior guard Jack Jenson likely needed an oxygen mask after the game. He played 38 of the 40 minutes in the game, including all 20 minutes of the second half. Jenson finished as the top scorer for Bethel with 14 points, while forwards Isaiah Carver-Bagley and Chandler Wellman each scored 13 points.
Three-point shooting along with free throws were likely the difference in the game. Bethel outshot St. John’s overall, but the Johnnies held a nine-point advantage outside the arc, making 6 treys (18 points) to just three (9 points) from long range for Bethel basketball.
Free throws were also a big advantage for St. John’s, much to the irritation of Bethel fans on hand. St. John’s was 15 of 21 at the stripe while the Royals made just nine of 14 tries.
The one place the Royals had more success on offense was in the paint, outscoring the Johnnies 48-36. In this case, it was outside shooting that made the difference in the game for both teams.
Both teams are getting set to open up the MIAC playoffs during the week ahead.
National Grain Bin Safety Week is February 16-22. Rural Fire Departments spend a lot of time practicing rescue operations in case someone gets stuck in a bin. (Photo from The University of Saskatchewan)
Grain Bin safety. I know you as farmers get tired of the topic. We hit it hard once a year during National Grain Bin Safety Week. But, there’s a reason we in the farm media hit the topic hard. People still get hurt or killed every year, no matter how long they’ve been in the business of farming. Farming is a dangerous profession; the most dangerous in America.
Really, it only takes a moment for tragedy to happen. I can’t imagine what it’s like to know that a family member died by being crushed under a mountain of grain and not being able to breathe. But I know of someone who lived through the nightmare. She’s the current governor of South Dakota.
National Grain Bin Safety week is February 16-22 this year. National Grain Bin Safety Week is a subject that hits home for South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, who grew up on a farm in Hamlin County and lost her father in a grain bin accident…tape
She says farmers and ranchers work with dangerous equipment every day…tape
While you may not think you have time to slow down, Noem reminds producers theirs aren’t the only lives affected if something tragic happens…tape
Noem encourages producers to evaluate safety procedures and equipment on their farms and ranches and to make adjustments when needed.
Older farmers aren’t the only ones hurt in accidents. Twitter was recently ablaze with sadness over the loss of a young man who’d barely lived around twenty years. It only takes a second for life to change forever. It’s worth taking a few extra minutes to be safe. I know how the grind of farming wears on patience. It’s worth it to your family members to have you come home a few minutes later, especially if it’s the difference between life and death, which it certainly can be.
Water quality is a hot topic of conversation in Minnesota right now, with the state’s farmers at the forefront of the discussion in award-winning fashion.
Two Minnesota farmers are being recognized for their commitment to agriculture, water quality, and wildlife. Randy Schmiesing of Stevens County, as well as Tom Cotter of Mower County, were recently given the new Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) wildlife endorsement at the Pheasants Forever National Pheasant Fest in Minneapolis. Schmiesing and Cotter are the first farmers in the state to receive the endorsement.
“Conserving our natural resources for future generations to enjoy has been a lifelong goal and commitment,” said Randy Schmiesing. “We are proud to be one of the first farms to be certified by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture for the wildlife endorsement through the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program and encourage other farmers to pursue this wildlife endorsement and reap the many benefits it achieves.”
Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen presents Tom Cotter of Mower County with his Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program wildlife endorsement. (Contributed photo)
Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen presents Randy Schmiesing of Stevens County with his Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program wildlife endorsement (Contributed photo)
MAWQCP launched the wildlife, soil health, and integrated pest-management endorsements in December as additions to the 10-year certification a farmer or landowner receives in the program. The certification program partnered with various non-profit organizations like Pheasants Forever and the Minnesota Soil Health Coalition, as well as state agencies, to develop the endorsements.
“Many conservation practices targeting water quality also have benefits for other conservation goals, such as wildlife,” said Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. “With the help of organizations like Pheasants Forever, we want to recognize farmers who are making efforts to protect our numerous natural resources in Minnesota.”
“Pheasants Forever appreciates the opportunity to work alongside the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and other partners in highlighting the new wildlife endorsement through the MAWQCP at Pheasant Fest,” said Tanner Bruse, Agriculture and Conservation Programs Manager, Pheasants Forever. “It’s our honor to be a part of the recognition of those implementing conservation practices that represent a win-win scenario for their operation, soil, water and wildlife. We congratulate them and thank them for their stewardship.”
Certified producers who achieve an endorsement will receive an additional sign for their farm and recognition for their conservation excellence.
Certified farmers and landowners interested in an endorsement, or those interested in in earning a certification in water quality, can contact their local Soil and Water Conservation District. They can also visit MyLandMyLegacy.com.
About the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program
The Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program is a voluntary opportunity for farmers and agricultural landowners to take the lead in implementing conservation practices that protect our water. Those who implement and maintain approved farm management practices will be certified and in turn obtain regulatory certainty for a period of ten years. The program is available to farmers and landowners statewide. To date, the program has certified 832 farms totaling 566,862 acres.
Sports on any level is never dull. However, professional sports continues to leave me “confuzzled,” as the kids say. Take the Houston Astros “apology tour” press conference they held to start off their spring training to address their sign-stealing scandal. Or WAS it a scandal?
Stealing Signs scandal and the “apology”
Straight from the horse’s mouth right here. Fast forward to about 2:25.
I can remember standing in a batter’s box in both high school (South Dakota calls it American Legion baseball) and amateur games in my youth. I’ll just come out and say it point blank. I would have LOVED to know what pitch is coming. Yes, you still have to put the bat on the ball. I understand it’s one of the hardest things to do in all of sports. But you can’t tell me for one second that knowing what was coming wouldn’t SUBSTANTIALLY improve the odds of at least making solid contact?
Look, I’ll admit I’m not the most perceptive person the Good Lord ever decided to put on this Earth (my wife is currently laughing hard at that statement). How’s that for honesty? Help me out. Were the Astros apologizing for doing something wrong? After all, the reporter in the video clip asked Crane about “cheating.” Crane’s response? Call it “whatever you want.” Seriously? You can’t even use the word “cheating?”
Sounds like someone was apologizing for getting caught. And I don’t think I’m off on that at all. If it “didn’t make any difference in our games,” as you say, then why keep doing it?
Minnesota Wild
Okay, let’s dive into this a little bit. The Wild fired their head coach, which didn’t surprise too many people. I think that’s a relatively safe statement. However, only in Minnesota do we make coaching changes when the team is PLAYING WELL? Seven wins in your last ten games to put you right outside a playoff spot? Here’s a video of the press conference from KAAL TV in Rochester.
I get that Bruce wasn’t coming back. Having watched multiple games over the course of his almost four years here, the guy did an amazing job considering what management gave him to work with. And the new head coach is some guy named Dean Eveson? That’s an improvement over a coach that’s won more than 500 games?
Good luck, coach. His first interview with the St. Paul Pioneer Press has him preaching accountability among the Wild players? I’m honestly not sure some of the older veterans know the meaning of the word. Let’s start with my old buddy, Ryan Suter.
Sports news never ceases to amaze me. Just as their climbing back into the playoffs, the Wild decide to fire Bruce Boudreau? Seriously? He’s one of the least of their problems.
Ryan Suter, who I’ve had a problem with almost since he walked in the door, and Zach Parise are both an albatross to the organization because of their ridiculous contracts (thank you, Chuck Fletcher). However, at least Zach plays hard. Suter looks disinterested to me on the ice. I hope I’m wrong. Oh well, at least he gets paid a lot, right?
Would it be a good thing for this middling franchise to make the playoffs this year? They need a serious influx of young talent that can score goals consistently. They also need a number one goalie. God bless Devyn Dubnyk. I can’t imagine trying to go through the grind of an NHL season worried about the health of your wife and the future of your family. On the ice, however, he looks distracted. I’d like to see Stalock take his spot, at least for the rest of the year.
Oh well. You don’t have to agree with me. Just venting.
