December Blog

 

December Blog

"According to Jim" (Jim's rants & raves)

News, Notes, Facts & Opinions from the owner Jim Yanz (if you care)

JW's Bierstube in Oakdale hustling & bustling: Saturday, December 20, starting at 6:00, accordion extraordinaire Dale Grove appears for his annual "Christmas Special Plus." Sunday, December 21, "Authentic" Adrian Peterson or Jared Allen jersey will be given away at the 2 minute warning of the Viking vs. Atlanta game. Along with our usual drink specials & FREE tacos during the game! Sunday, December 28, same Vikings specials & another "Authentic" Adrian Peterson or Jared Allen jersey to be given away at the 2 minute warning. Must be present to win. You can sign up to win the jerseys daily!

 

Opinionated Beef: It bugs me when the so-called ignoramus "professional analysts" (many times former players) question the play calling or the route running on 3^rd down plays when the receiver doesn't always go beyond the 1^st down marker. They more than us Joe Six Packs & Monday morning quarterbacks should know there is a lot more to it than that. What coverage the defense is in, how far the cornerbacks are playing off, is there a blitz & how long does the quarterback have to throw the ball. How many times do we see a quarterback get hit a millisecond after he throws the ball? All the time.

 

Fact: The reason a receiver runs an eight yard out or pattern when it's 3^rd and 10 is because the defensive backs aren't dumb and are ready to pounce at the 10 yard mark making it extremely difficult for the offences to convert. In EVERY offense in the NFL, college, & high school, they are forced to take what the defense gives them & hope that the receiver can break an open field tackle & get the 1^st down, rather than risk a very low percentage play & sometimes a very likely interception

 

Beef #2: They'll show a Joe Theisman type compound fracture or a players arm or leg get bent backwards or nearly broke in half a dozen times, but they won't show a fan or a streaker run onto the field. I understand not wanting to encourage anyone else to be copycats & I definitely would not show a full monte streaker, but how many of us sitting at home secretly wish inside they would show what all of the hubbub was all about?

 

Beef #3: Speaking of copycats, How about the absurdity we see in the news every week? After certain terrorist attacks, they many times practically teach people how to make homemade bombs.

 

Gophers vs. Hawkeyes: Two Hawkeye fans were cited for engaging in sexual activity in a crowded Dome mens restroom. They stood out form the rest of the Iowa visitors, who usually hold off on the romance until they're back in the trailer.

 

Gophers vs. Hawkeyes II: The man & the woman involved were both from Iowa, but did not know each other. Each explained to police they were so drunk they thought they were on a Vikings Cruise.

 

Streaker Sighting!  Before noon on Saturday, November 29, 7 hours before the start of the Hawkeye Gopher game, HUGE Hawkeye fan JOHN BOLLARD('s friend) was seen streaking in the snow the full length of the par 5 #7 at Oak Marsh!

 

Opinion: Wouldn't having a classy, nice state owned casino in downtown St. Paul & Minneapolis & allowing just a couple of slot machines in every bar restaurant make the most common of ALL COMMON SENSE to help our fledging economy, but also help pay for our schools, education, roads, necessary welfare programs, police and countless other necessary areas in need?! By limiting it to just this simple of a plan would allow everyone to share the much needed wealth instead of having it in its now such disproportionate system. By limiting it, the hit to current casinos would be almost unnoticeable & the advantages to the rest of us (the state) would be "ENORMOUS."

 

Fact & Must Be Nice: It must be nice to be 7 foot 1 Minnesota's own Joel Pryzbilla. At age 29, he is averaging just 4.5 points a game & 8.6 rebounds a game. I guess those type of numbers demand 32 million dollars; in which he is currently in the 3^rd year of his 5 year guaranteed contract. Wow! 6.4 million dollars a year for 4.5 points! On an average of if he plays 150 games this year, that's almost $10,000 a point or $20,000 a basket.

 

Fact & Speaking of Joes: The last time an American League player won a batting title & Gold Glove in the same season before Joe Mauer did it this year was in 2004 when Ichiro Susuki did it with Seattle.

 

Fact: In a St. Paul Pioneer Press poll, nearly 90% of the responders blamed Brad Childress for their poor start.

 

Piling On: On another Pioneer Press poll when asked who would you prefer as the Vikings head coach, 85% chose former Viking head coach Mike Tice to 15% in favor of Bad, whoops, Brad Childress.

 

Speaking of Vikings: What's so hard to figure out on "Special Teams" that we need to put in our 1^st teamers. Wouldn't we rather put a little more energy at that point than put so much consistent pressure on our defense starting them off with deplorable field position time & time again? Makes sense to me.

 

Makes Sense to Me Part II: An 8 game college playoff system or at least a minimum of 4. There are several viable common sense options & scenarios while still maintaining & keeping the excitement & integrity of the bowl games. Go get'em Barrock!

 

What Might Have or Probably Should Have Been: Jeff Garcia as our short-term quarterback probably makes a difference of 2 games this year giving us a commanding lead & potential home playoff games. Jeff Garcia = 11 & 5ish to the 9 & 7ish that we'll be this year. At this point, we may as well let Tarvaris play but actually let him throw the ball other than 3^rd down & long; and see what the kid has. He couldn't do much worse than the below average Gus.

Overrated: One of the most overrated players in all of sports is the clueless oaf Bryant McKinnie.

 

Last Viking Tid Bit: If I never see another pass out to the flats to any of our fullbacks, it will be too soon.

 

Joke: One day long, long, long ago, there lived a (insert gender here) who did not whine, nag, or complain. (Comedic pause...) But this was a long time ago & it was just that one day. The end.

 

Congratulations: Dan Morrison of Maplewood Lanes on his 1^st 300 game!

 

Congratulations & Great Job: To all of the participating Bierstubes & especially all the volunteers who helped the needy or people alone on Thanksgiving. We were lucky enough to help around 150 people this year, putting our five year total to over 1,000 people. Once again, we thank all the volunteers & I would like to give special thanks to my wonderful wife Jodi who organizes & makes this event happen each year!

 

Dad & Mom Stories: I hope you all enjoyed a trip back to memory lane the past couple of months with some "Great" stories about my Dad & Mom. I know I did! Thank you all once again for your terrific contributions during the 25 year Larry Yanz Tribute. We had a resounding response & we appreciate all of you who shared your memories! One last reminder that you can submit stories about my Dad & or Mom until September 2009. Just hand it in to your respective Bierstube's manager or email me jimyanz@comcast.net. It is now time for me to move on & create some wonderful memories of my own.

 

The Bierstube family wishes everyone a very fun, healthy, safe & blessed Christmas & New Year!

Thank You for your continuing loyalty & wonderful support! God bless!!!