I feel like a legend on a leash.

If things don't turn around soon, the newest team in the National Football League will be the LAVikings. To those who don't know, the Vikings' contract with Minneapolis/Metrodome goes through 2011. The Vikings have all but publicly stated they will move if the city does not build them a new stadium. There are a few problems. 1, the city of Minneapolis has had three giant projects in the past couple of years: A, the new Gopher stadium. B, the new Twins Stadium. C, the new 35W bridge. 2, the current economy. Where are Minnesotans going to come up with a billion dollars for a new stadium? Problem number three is the city of LA is desperate for a new stadium and they have promised any team who moves a brand new stadium. Check out their website:

http://www.losangelesfootballstadium.com/

Any team that moves to LA with that TV market and a new stadium will see the value of their team go up by 50% or more. People can say the Vikings are one of the original teams, they will never move. The Minnesota North Stars were one of the first few NHL teams and Norm Green moved them to Dallas in the mid 1990's because he wanted a new stadium. The Twin Cities is the 15th biggest TV market in the country so eventually they would get a new NFL team but the results would be catastrophic in the mean time. Another problem is our governor, Tim Pawlenty, says that he will veto any legislation on building a new Vikings stadium. I am not saying that the Vikings for sure will leave Minnesota but I would say the chances are now better than 50%. Yes, the cost of building a Vikings stadium would be very expensive in the short-run but it would also provide thousands of jobs, and having an NFL stadium is good for the Minneapolis economy. Think of how much local hotels, restaurants, bars, et cetera would lose if the Vikings move to California? I am also surprised that the local media - the radio stations, the newspapers, the TV stations, don't do more to pressure the local politicians. All the media would lose big money if the Vikes lost. I know the timing is not right but it is time the Minnesota congress work to build a new stadium. It's not like the Vikings have not given the state proper warning. They have been trying to get the legislature to build a stadium for about six years now. I guess in conclusion, Minnesota is not a Wild town. It's not a Twins town. It is first and foremost, a die hard Vikings town. The morale is bad enough right now in the cities, if the Vikings move to sunny California, we will be nothing more than a colder Omaha. Let's make it happen.

1. Can you feel it? The best sports time of the year - March Madness begins next week. I have bitched a lot about being unemployed but watching March Madness games will be very nice.

2. Currently listening to Stone Temple Pilots, "Sour Girl". Album: No. 4.