Titans @ Vikings

I know exactly what you’re thinking right now. “Is this guy serious? Does he really expect anyone to watch the 0-3 preseason Vikings in a game where the majority of players will be available at a grocery store near you within a week?” You may also be wondering why I’m sending this email so late, given that the game is tonight. Well, I was out of town, but now I’m back. Hopefully jet lag won’t get the better of me and I’ll manage to stay awake for the whole game. But I need you to enthrall me with your delightful conversational skills in order for that to work.

Yes, the Vikes have looked scarily bad this preseason. The all-important third preseason game which is supposed to give the best indicator of the “real” offensive power of this team turned out to be a bust. Like last year, it appears that theVikings are a mediocre team without Adrian Peterson, Ponder is really not an NFL QB, and Bill Musgrave really is an incompetent, boring, predictable offensive coordinator who has not business keeping his job. But, it’s too early for me to start judging and this may turn out to be a better season than I currently expect. Fire Bill Musgrave. {oops, did I say that out loud? I didn’t mean to. It’s too early to judge}

Well then, why should you come? One word. Beer.

Geoff has offered to bring me a Winnipeg beer to taste and I have several other interesting beers for all of you. Come for the beer and the company and we’ll have the game playing in the background.

Vikings @ 49ers

Things are looking a little scary for the Vikings after their horrible performances in the first two preseason games. I actually lost interest and at the urging of my kids switched from the Vikings game to an Elvis movie (well, it was his death anniversary that day) after half time. From what I read after the game, I made the right decision.

Of course, the coaches and players are saying “it’s just preseason and no one gives a damn” and “obviously we lost – Adrian Peterson is not playing” etc.

This week, the starters plan to play into the third quarter and Adrian Peterson WILL be playing, at least for a while in the first half. If Ponder and his new crew of receivers don’t dominate that first half, this season is doomed to be another series of head-shaking wondering of what might have been. It may be earlier than usual before we start chanting the Vikings unofficial tag line of “There’s always next year.”

Unfortunately, I will not be around to see what happens. I have to make a quick trip to Copenhagen, Prague, and Dublin. It isn’t as fun and exotic as it sounds. I’ll be barely spending 24 hours in each city and I’ll be back here by Wednesday night. Basically I get to Copenhagen on Sunday, fly to Prague on Monday, fly to Dublin on Tuesday and fly back to Duluth on Wednesday. I’ll spend more time inside hotels evaluating their convention space than I will in the open air of those cities.

Vikings @ Bills

This is my annual intro message to you all. Welcome to another season of football and to the 10^th year of this list.

If you receive this message, you are still on (or have been newly added) to the (in)famous VINeR (Viking Information Network by Rajiv) list that will update you on my annual Vikings frustrations as well as whether my 110-inch screen is open for the upcoming Vikings game of the week. And, to clarify again, that’s pronounced WINNER (not “WHINER”).

Most of you long-timers on this list have seen all this information before.  There are no changes this year. This email list was started primarily to let people know whether I am home watching the game or not so people could drop by if they were so inclined. It has been going for ten years now. It has evolved into a weekly rant from me on how the game went and how I expect it to go the upcoming week. As is completely normal, my expectations for the 2013 season are tempered by the fact that (a) they overachieved beyond all expectations last year, and (b) the NFC North will clearly be the strongest division in football this year and NO team will get through the schedule without multiple losses within the division.

First, the basic annual housekeeping message:  Really, no one is forced to be on this list and you will not be hurting my feelings one bit if you drop me an email asking to be removed from this weekly list. However, historically (and remember that this is the TENTH year that this list has existed), this is not a high-traffic list and you should not get more than one message a week from me.  Please let me know if your changing interests and allegiances have resulted in you wanting to be dropped from this list. If you think there is someone who ought to be on this list, feel free to forward this email on to them and they can contact me to get added to the list.

It would be appreciated if you dropped me an email letting me know you are coming – just so I’m motivated to shower and get out my pajamas before the game – but if you find yourself free one afternoon, feel free to drop by. I am almost always watching the game (unless I tell you otherwise). Often, I watch the game alone. Sometimes one or two people show up, and rarely, there is an unexpectedly large group. So, prepare yourself for any eventuality!

For the usual crowd, the same 110-inch screen should keep you happy. In the event of an unusually large crowd, there is also the small 73-inch screen downstairs. Plus, if you’re not so interested in the game, there’s a ping pong table downstairs and also some PS3 games.

Of course this is a preseason game. The only reason to watch is that this is the only preseason game where the starters will see significant time. The biggest question mark on the team continues to be Christian Ponder. We have more depth and talent at most other positions than we did last year. And NO, I do not expect Adrian to reach 2000 yeards this year (if you were wondering what I think). During the first half, we’ll see if Ponder really has established any sort of rapport with his new receiving corps. I was at last week’s game and I was impressed with the “raw” Cordarelle Peterson and look forward to his kick returns. Otherwise, just come for wine, beer, and company. If you let me know in advance that you’re company, I can make sure there’s food for you and so you don’t have to worry about dinner.

Hope to see you tonight (sorry for the late email) or sometime this season.

Let the fun begin.