Thursday (talent trumps all) edition: Wha’ Happened?
Posted on April 24th, 2008 – 8:15 AMBy Michael Rand
Sports fans can get pretty righteous, climbing up onto high horses to decry various off-field transgressions committed by millionaire athletes. That indignation, of course, is often paired with a frustration over a losing season (see Love Boat, 2005), uneven performances (see Smith, Dwight) or a detachment afforded by distance (see Jones, Pacman). When raw ability comes into play, and the home team saves the day, the moral compass is tucked away. The Vikings have a name for their moral compass: A 77-page Code of Conduct that came out after the Love Boat fiasco. But if the last 24 hours have reinforced anything, it is that talent tends to triumph if there’s enough of it. The notion is summed up in today’s paper:
“The Vikings have a bit of a PR problem and this [signing] won’t help,” said Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, and an outspoken opponent of public funding for pro stadiums. “But it will help make the team better, and that’s what most fans will think about. … It seems fans are more forgiving when it’s a great player.”
That’s hardly breaking news (see Simon, Chris), but it is pertinent for review in light of the trade for and signing of defensive end Jared Allen. Fans want to forget one big number (2, DWI arrests during a four-month span in 2006) to focus on another (15.5, NFL-leading sacks last season). They want Malik Sealy and Jared Allen to be parts of separate conversations. Would the same be true if Allen had, say, six sacks last season? Part of the eagerness to put negatives aside in this case, to be sure, is Allen’s contrition and resolution not to relive those mistakes. He is engaging and up-front about it. There is a point at which past transgressions should be forgiven instead of constantly remembered and held up to the light. But there is also a place for skepticism — or at least the idea that it’s silly to pretend we want athletes with a squeaky clean record when really we’ll just take a winner. Talent is a hard thing to top. That’s why Pacman Jones has a new job with Dallas; that’s why Royce White, in limbo not long ago after being dismissed from DeLaSalle High and enrolling at Hopkins, just committed to the Gophers men’s basketball team; and that’s why Vikings coaches and fans are thinking about little else than how far a dynamic DE can take this team.
Fasola-link! An analysis of the NFL draft using performance vs. compensation. Turns out the middle of the second round is where it’s at. Everything is comin’ up Vikings!
23 Responses to "Thursday (talent trumps all) edition: Wha’ Happened?"
I’d have to check with Jon but was Simon, Chris a great player? I know he isn’t great anymore.
jama — that’s exactly the point. Would fans here have been so hard on Simon if he was a 40-goal scorer with the same reputation?
Okay, I just came across this and I know it can’t be right. Is Dwayne Wade dating Star Jones? I think I just threw up all over my computer.
Go down to about the middle of the page under “Elsewhere”
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080424/SPORTS03/804240400/1048
Rand
Ok, I misunderstood you. I didn’t really understand why everyone was so upset about picking up Simon. It’s not like it cost the Wild a 1st round pick. Granted it probably would have been nice to pick up a decent Center around the deadline but I will leave all that to Jon to cover.
By the way the Cowboys are getting a steal if it only cost them a 4th round pick for Pacman. I’ve already stated that I think he got a raw deal but if he is in any shape, he is a top 10 corner in the league. So I guess Talent covers up all indiscretions.
It’s tougher to have a Culture of Accountability when the Culture of Keeping Your Job and Making Money has the hammer.
Ladies of Dallas dancing establishments, get ready to have your bills paid!
I just find it funny that a politician is calling out an athlete about indiscretions. If anything, you’d think politicians and athletes would be on the same page…
Maybe Pacman was Clinet #10.
How can you watch this and not instantly fall in love with #69?
You’re right, you can’t.
It is easier to abide Jared Allen while Leonard Little still finds gainful employment. Ah, moral relativism. Sweet, sweet moral relativism.
I took a shot each time Leslie Frazier said “premier pass rusher” in his interview with Sid, and now I’m being escorted from the premises…
*Client
Which of you Access Vikings bloggers is going to the draft party? I can already here the chants of Jar-ed All-en when the Chiefs select #17. Well either the fans will chant or do keg stands.
Stu
Maybe it’s the state of Missouri that is causing all these DUI’s. It did try to make Annheiser-Busch it’s official state beer. You’d think the state would be a little more understanding and let these guys off with a stern warning.
Tony LaRussa is their state bird
It’s a moot point - if Chris Simon had been a 40-goal scorer, Doug Risebrough never would have traded for him, because it would have involved giving up something of value and thereby ruining Year Nine of his five-year plan.
Allen is moving from the state with the 13th highest percentage of drunk drivers to the state with the 3rd highest. That’s not a good stat. Also, congrats to Wisconsin for being #1!
Jon: I could actually feel the bitterness radiating from the monitor…
Who’s Doug Risebrough?
I think “Doug Risebrough” is the name of a computer housed within the Wild front office that is programmed to annually sign journeymen centers and defensemen. The computer is turned off near the trading deadline and is re-booted after the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The computer is turned off near the trading deadline and is re-booted after the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Too bad it’s “re-booted” and not just “booted”
It’s only Keith Millard 2.0. Nothing to be too worried about.
Jon - I agree Risebrough’s plan is wearing. But you have to give him and every hockey GM some credit, what with the masterful piece of confusion that is the NHL CBA and two-way contracts. We could say the Wild are using the Pohlad method of being only good at developing talent, but MLB (re: Yankees) doesn’t have a true CBA.
We heard all year from Risebrough that the Wild were just under the cap, and the team needed that wiggle-room because of two-way contracts in case of call ups. So was Risebrough really in a position to play rent-a-star? Or was he holding out hope that he could re-sign both Demitra and Rolston, or that trading Demitra (who would take him) would piss off Gaborik? Simon was a good player before he had to go peace and love on himself in order to stay in the NHL. In any case, what else was out there for this team in their cap considerations?
