Venckus speaks, Chaussee responds...

First off CLICK HERE to see the Fox News Interview with Favre...

Venckus, of the Tennessee Venckus', took some time out of his hectic schedule to give us his opinion. Lots of what he says is good. Take it away Schmenkus...

Chris:

It's hard to say much that hasn't already been said. I'll give you a couple of quick takes.

• For people concerned about Favre tarnishing his legacy....ummmmm....it's his legacy. If he wants to tarnish it, that's his choice. Spend more time worrying about your own legacy.

• For anyone that wants to go to the "interception" card, this article should be required reading. Really it should be required reading for anyone with a passing interest in Favre. And, keep in mind it was writtenbefore last season.
• CLICK HERE
  

You know, I like to go home with who brought me to the dance. Make no mistake, Brett Favre brought the Packers to the dance. Won a Super Bowl. Played through some crazy pain. Brought the franchise back from the depths. Made a play every time I watched him that I couldn't believe he made. Sometimes they were bad plays; more often they were great plays.

BUT....

I get it. I really do. It's professional sports. There is no loyalty. The Packers need to do what they can to ensure the viability of the franchise in the future.

So....is there a middle ground?

Absolutely. Give #4 his release. If the Packers don't want him, let him pick a team that does. If nothing else, Brett Favre has earned that right. And before anyone jumps up and down and says the Packers should get value for him in a trade, baloney! They weren't getting anything for him when he retired. And don't tell me that the Packers can't let him go because he could go to an NFC rival. Really? If the Packers are that worried about Favre’s ability to haunt them, then he should be welcomed back as the starter for the Green and Gold.

As for me, if Favre is released or traded, I hope I find myself sitting on my couch in February cheering for #4 in the Super Bowl. Even if he’s with the Vikings. After all, it was a hell of a dance.

Derek

Thank you Derek, nice job. I think you bring up valid points, except that whole thing about the queens. Not gonna happen.

Mike Chaussee responds to my response, and I think we can find a happy middle ground here. Maybe...

The post Favre liking the Packers wasn't necessarily a Dingleschputz thing.
That's directed at a lot of people. He's been around so long my 14 year old
has never known a game without Favre. That's amazing.

I see where you're coming from. I just don't see Favre winning it for us.
He hasn't done it in the clutch for five years. Okay, I'll give him a nice
toss in the Broncos game and he nailed the slant in the Chargers game...but
really, Jennings was the MAN on both plays. Other than that he's failed
when it counts for several years.

I don't know if Rodgers is the future. His injury history is scary. I
agree totally. But we have to find out. The team is young and has the
chance to be good for a long time...so dealing with this retirement thing
for another six years will kill us all. Just imagine, he comes back again.
We do our regular season thing, win 12 games, make the playoffs... then we
have to wonder if Mr. Wishy Washy is going to play NEXT year. Then, about
August he decides to play again..in the meantime Rodgers waits some
more..and then leaves. Then what?

Hey, best case scenario is that he comes back as a back-up. But that won't
happen. No way. His ego won't allow it.

I don't think this will last too long. Thompson and McCarthy can't afford
it. 4's got them by the balls. Ridiculous too. Anyone who thinks this
turnaround the last two years is because of Favre is dreaming. Thompson
built this team and McCarthy got the young and old guys to play together.
They're not getting any credit. Remember, with Favre running the show two
years ago we were 4 - 12. Then Thompson and McCarthy pieced this thing
together. All the while taking crap. Why don't they sign this? Why don't
they get Moss? Why don't they trade for that? And instead they draft
Jennings, they wait for Woodson, they trade for Grant. They cut ties with
Walker and Ahman. They look pretty damn smart to me.

But just because they didn't beg and plead with Favre to stay, just because
they didn't tell Rodgers that just because Favre retired doesn't mean he's
really going to stay retired and that Rodgers shouldn't really plan on being
the starter because all Favre has to do is get off his tractor and the job
is his, doesn't mean they should take all the heat for this.

Whooooooooooooooo. If nothing else a boring off season has gotten fun. I
love a little controversy.

Thank you Mike. Well thought out. You can tell we have probably been spending too much time on this the past few days. I will say though, the 4-12 season was on Sherman, not #4. Sherman sucked as a GM, good coach, great offensive schemes, but sucked at picking players. Especially Defensive ones. As for the Moss thing, sure they (TT) did not go get him, but man, could you imagine how last year would have turned out with Moss catching Favre's passes? I think we may have been in AZ if that were the case. Not sold yet on Grant, I think Jackson is the future RB of the Packers. Runs more like LT than Grant. Anyway, it goes on and on. If anyone else wants to chime in, BRING IT.

Until then, GET BACK TO WORK!!!!!!

Response to my opinion on the drama has been strong...

The response was almost immediate. TundraTalk nation has spoken. Okay, we can start with the queen fan of the bunch and his 'opinion'. Gene Principe, E-Town Sportsnet Principe's, lets us all know what he thinks, and his IQ with this little diddy...

I almost, stress almost, feel bad for all you Pack fans with the Favre mess..on second thought I'm actually enjoying all this in fighting...

Gene


Thanks Gene for that little nugget. We will see you next year with our regular bet (to which you still owe me one meal) and you will lose again.

The response that I knew I could count on was Marty. He is a born and raised Packer Fan. His dad was at the Ice Bowl (the day I was born I might add). He is a #4 fan just like me. We froze our beers off at the NFC Championship together with the Nordic One. So he definitely has the right to spout off. Marty take it away...


What? Marty Frey being pragmatic about the possible Brett Favre return?

I must be getting old since I can see merit in both points of view - but maybe something different is required in this case.

I get that Brett has "the itch" to play football.. 25 years of training camp in July just doesn't go away because of some arbitrary decision.
Salmon swim upstream to spawn in the spring - the swallows return to Capistrano - football players attend training camp in July... It's part of the rhythm of nature.

But the Pack does need to plan now for the future... I say Brett can come back to camp - if he wants to - and compete for the starting quarterback job.
Let's be realistic - Aaron Rodgers may be mentally ready to play right now. If he wins the starting job, so be it. But everyone knows that Aaron Rodgers is made out of glass. He broke his damn foot running out of bounds! Rodgers starts the season - gets a little dinged up about halfway through the season, but at about the 3/4 mark of the season he goes down with a season ending injury. Who are you going to call for his backup? Not some stone-cold rookie who is still wondering why there aren't any cheerleaders on the sidelines. No - you call on The Iron Man. Favre has stayed in shape, he's ready to play and comes in firing. The other teams haven't prepared to see him again - so they are off balance. Favre takes the Pack through the playoffs, into the Superbowl and wins it against the San Diego Chargers. Then he quietly retires to his farm in Mississippi to ride his tractor into the sunset..

Oh yeah - and the Bears and Vikings finish with 4-12 record, fighting for last place in the division.. Now we're talking..

Marty

Word as the kids are saying on the streets these days. Marty speaks wisdom and I hope this is how it plays out. Especially the queens going 4-12.

Next up we have an Entourage contestant, a good friend, and a former boss. As a boss he was VERY right to hire me, but in this case we will have to agree to disagree. Mike Chaussee is a lifelong Pack fan, as he points out, and has a problem with my logic. Mike....

I get your love for #4. And it's understandable for all the Packer fans out
there who only became Packer fans once #4 got there. But Favre is not
bigger than the team. And he obviously thinks he is. What the hell were
the Packers supposed to do? He dances around retirement for four
off-seasons, they don't know if he's coming or going or riding a frigging
tractor of throwing lawn darts. But all of a sudden he 'changes' his mind
and the world is supposed to stop for him. That's ridiculous.

I'm not anointing Rodgers. He'll never be as good as Favre. Favre in his
glory was one of the best players ever. But don't kid yourself into
thinking the Favre of the last four or five years was the Favre of the first
10. Not even close. He's playing to survive. He talks about not wanting
the ball with 2:00 left in the game. He talks about how he doesn't have
confidence in the team around him. Last year was his first come back drive
in like four years.

He made a couple of plays last year that I'll give him credit for. He had a
good year. But I can count on one hand the number of clutch plays he's made
in the last five years. I mean, down to the wire, need to have a play...and
he makes it.

In Philly it was Walker's fault. In St. Louis it was the line's fault.
Against the Giants it was that his receivers weren't open. B.S.!!! He had
every chance to win that Giants game...TWICE!!! We had the ball with 2:30
left and he threw three of the worst passes I've ever seen. 3 and out.
Then, the bullet to Jenni....oh, I mean the lob to the dude in the blue
helmet.

Hey, I love and appreciate what the guy did for the Pack. He definitely
brought us back from the pit of despair of the 70s and 80s...but at some
point it's time to move on. Especially when the dude friggin retired. He
retired!!! What the hell? Should the Packers have just stopped moving
forward just in case he changed his mind?

We should have known he was going to pull something like this when he didn't
sign his retirement papers. Hell, this was probably his plan all along.
Boo hoo, they don't coddle me like a baby anymore, I'm going to take my ball
and go home and play for someone else next year.

Come on back Brett. Please. We need you. We can't go on without you.
Here's your ball back. Everyone else who's here all off season, committed
from the start, working their asses off while your gardening will just watch
you strut in, take your ball and START THROWING INTERCEPTIONS. Then be
forced to talk glowingly about you and the legacy you are trying to ruin.

Nice.

And that's just another point of view from a lifelong Packer fan.

Mike

I get ALL that. really I do. I have gone over all that twice. BUT, Favre wants to play, I WANT TO WIN. These windows don't open all that often. It has been what? 10 years since we were even close? Okay give it to Rodgers fine. What do we do when it game three he breaks his ankle going to get a drink of gatorade? Favre is now playing with the Ravens. We got nothing. Let him come back another year then trade him. If he sucks, put in Rodgers, everyone gets what they want.

Trading Favre or letting him go is a no win situation. Really think about it, TT has a choice, AGAIN, start a guy who has NO NFL starts, No NFL wins, got hurt in practice once, came into a game in relief and lasted about two plays(?) then Favre had to come back in. OR you start a three time MVP, two time super bowl, one time super bowl winning, TD leader, Yards Leader, consecutive game leader, INT leader, he owns the record book, you get the drift. To me its a no brainer. He also was the only reason they won games that 8-8 season. They had nothing around him. Nothing.

I did not see the Greta interview last night, Damn Canada, so I don't know all what was said but I what I did hear is that I am kinda right. So what now. Now we have a mess, when if they just would have let him come back and keep all the shit under your hat we have a season that we all will remember, for better or worse.

In Philly it was Shermans fault, 4th and one with the best rb in the league and you punt? In St. Louis it was his WR's. Missing routes and knocking the ball UP in the air for someone else to catch. Against Dallas it was also MM fault, had he run the same game plan with Favre that he did with Rodgers we would have a W instead of a L. Against the Giants that was MM fault. Where the hell was Grant? Why was he calling for long passes and not running the ball or throwing the slants? Dude, I was there, I saw all the mistakes. Why the hell could we not cover Plax. ONE GUY!!

Favre does throw some crazy shit, I understand that. But I will put up with one or two of these 3 INT games for 14 games of W's. Which is what we got last year. I just want it to end. I am tired of it. Let him play, back up whatever. When fancy pants Rodgers gets hurt, and he will, Favre comes in and saves the day.

Oh and no one gave Strahan shit for not coming to practice in the off season, and look how that turned out. SB trophy.

I am sorry but this is how I feel. and the becoming a fan after Favre was a bit harsh. I after all played for the Packers in PEE WEE football. I hated the cowboys. AND I lived in GB.

I was born on the day of the ICE BOWL. So I think I get a bit of leeway.

Have a nice day, if you can.

Next up we have another GB naitive and Entourage participant. Hauserinskinov, of the TitleTown Hausers, has his opinion. Take it away Hauser...

You do not want my opinion coming from a GB media outlet that is sick of the Favre issue!

A really sad situation, too bad it ever had to happen.....but it just really might be time to move on!

How about them RoughRiders!

Hauserinskinov

Nice touch Hauser with the Go Riders. Buttering up the Canadians is always a good idea. I know as a former media member who lived in GB we hated the Packers stories when they were winning so I can only imagine what it is like now. Too bad. Just hang tough, it will be over someday and you can go back to doing your 'winter saftey kit in the trunk' story.

So where do we go from here? I guess we will find out in the next couple of days. I just hope it goes good for both sides. I am sure there will be more opinions coming so stay tuned. ONe thing is for sure. The queens will NEVER win a Super Bowl. Gotta love that.

Now, GET BACK TO WORK!!!!!

NEXT: Mike Chaussee shows up...

Okay, in our 12 part series of posdcasts, designed to form me a posse, Mike Chaussee, of the Bismarck Chaussees, sits in and makes his play to become a, well um, PLAYA. Nice, I truly am a wordsmith.

Anyway, Mike came prepared. He had his man laws studied, he knew his Packer stats, and he said pretty much the right things. He even explained why he hates man tears.

I am not sure what to do about you guys so far. No major smak running. Mike ran not one bit of smak. Well, except at viqueen fans. They deserve every bit of smak they get. Oh, and Mike does a great job on explaining why the suck and why it is soooooo much fun to hate the queens.

Anyway, CLICK HERE listen to Mike on TundraTalk or just click the link up on the right.

Next up on the list is the Nordic Man. Get ready big man, get ready.

Oh, and just in case you noticed that I have not commented on the retirement of the greatest wrestler of all times, Ric Flair, oh I have not ignored it, I am just compliling my thoughts. I will address this next week. Man Number 4 AND the Nature Boy retire in the same year. Big losses for professional sport. Big losses.

Okay, I gots things to do so why don't all of you GET BACK TO WORK!!!!

Impromptu flight, NHL Playoffs, and Marty on Leno...

Okay, yesterday I had the, ahem, priviledge, to go for a flight to get some video of a train crash. Now, I don't generally like to fly but I won't usually try to get out of it. It is just that these flights, unless you are in a helicopter are not fun. In fact, back in Green Bay once, I was sent over to Austin Straubel to jump on a plane to get vid of a plane crash (usually two every year around the EAA) and before I could even get out of the NBC mobile commisary the pilot was telling me to go back and get someone smaller because, and I quote, "There ain't no way in hell you are gettin' in my plane."

So you can imagine my caution when I get the call to head over to Regina Flying Club to jump on a plane. I asked him how big the plane was and the assignment editor told me that a guy from Global TV is also going so it will be plenty big. Okay, no prob. Well I get over to the airport and I scan the runway and I don't see anything bigger than a Cessna. Not pleased.

I ask the guy inside which plane we are going on and he points me to this three seater job right in front of the window. Great, this is going to suck. Now if you have ever been in one of these planes you know that the wind pushes them around like an anorexic in a wind storm. So you need to have a bit of a strong stomach. Not only do I have that to contend with but I have to shoot video also. Not conducive to the lunch I just finished eating.

So I am running all kinds of scenarios through my head on how I can get out of this. So I ask him how much the assignment editor told him I weighed. The pilot said that David told him that I weighed 220. Well, yes I did weigh 220, BACK IN HIGH SCHOOL. That's right 1986 was the last time I weighed 220. Needless to say I informed him that I weighed considerably more than that and he then assured me that we were still okay for the flight. Damn.


He tells me to get in the front, which I do and I promtly break the seat. It now reclines a bit more than it should. The pilot also tells me not to bump the controls, which are conviently about an inch from my feet and my knees. Nice. Every time he tried to turn right he hit my knee. I am sooo dead.

Then he turned the thing on. That is when I started to think that this was my last assignment. This thing rattled and shook like Lindsay Lohan looking for her next fix. I was thinking that I needed to call and tell Donna goodbye and to make sure that she gives my signed Brett Favre football to the right person. I kept thinking about that old Canadian show called ENG where they were traveling on a plane up in the bush and the plane crashed and a reporter died along with a producer. All I knew was that I did not want to go out like this.

He got the bad boy off the ground and I immediately got into take a nap mode. When in doubt, sleep. I just did not want to be that guy who pukes on a plane. I could only imagine what that would be like in such a small shitty plane. It took about 40 minutes to get to the train derailment. After we got there the pilot was told that we had to stay up wind of the toxic chemicals and at about 5500 feet. Great, nice way to make pictures. So as you can see in the picture I was sitting on the right side of the plane. The crash was on the to the left of the pilot. We swung around so it was out the right sid of the plane and that left me with a huge ass camera and no way to see what I am shooting as the viewfinder is on the left of the camera.

We fly by a couple of times and as I am holding the camera in my lap and shooting the pilot is looking through the viewfinder of my camera to make sure I have the crash in frame all the while still flying the damb deathtrap plane. Great. He flew by three times and I knew I had all I needed and I was also getting a bit queasy from the hair pin turns. So I said lets go back to Regina. The Global guy in the back asked if we could go by a couple more times, ass. For some reason they decided to send up a guy who had never run a camera before. Brilliant. For all of you who don't know, including the Global camera guy, you don't zoom in when you are shooting from a plane. If you zoom in you will not have steady video. Well he did a lot of zooming and had no usable video.

We got back in one piece and my video was fine. No puking for me, but man did I go straight for the junk food when we hit the ground. I needed something to make me feel good. Moral of the story, don't fly in a plane that you are bigger than and don't zoom in whilst you are in the air shooting something on the ground.

Okay, now on to my predictions for the NHL Playoffs. Whooooooo, I love this time of the year. I know Robby DuPuis of the Minneapple DuPuis used to just buy cable once a year during the playoffs. I am going to make this short and sweet because I need to get a call into Mike Chaussee so I can put him on TundraTalk the Podcast.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

(1)Montreal vs Boston(8) - Okay not fond of either of these teams so I will just pick by the ranking and go with the Canadiens.

(2)Pittsburgh vs Ottowa(7) - Now we all know that I always pick the team with a former Gambler on it. Ty Conklin plays for the Penguins so thus I pick the Penguins. I want to see a former Gamblers name on the Stanley Cup. Sorry Mitch.

(3)Washington vs Philly(6) - Again, not to concerned with this series but I do know that Washington has been hot lately and Philly has not. But I am going to go with Philly just because.

(4)New Jersey vs NY Rangers(5) - In the battle of New York I will take Hauser's team. Not fond of the Devils, they are evil.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

(1)Detroit Red Wings vs NashVegas(8) - Okay, we all know that I hate the Dead Wings and their crappy red jerseys, but I am thinking that they will deal Nashville a loss in the first round.

(2)San Jose vs the Godless Flames(7) - Screw the Flames. Sharks in 4.

(3) Minnesota vs the Colorado Avalanche (6) - We all know that the Avs will give the Wild the Finger. Jeff Fingers name on the Cup would be AWESOME. Avs in 6.

(4)Anaheim vs DallASS Stars(8) - Here is another series that I wish both teams would lose. I will go with DallASS because I do not like the Ducks. Pronger is an ass.

Okay there you have my first round predictions. Call your bookie and put all you have on Colorado.

Last but not least I will leave you with this video. I have been wanting to put this up for a while but have not had time. Here is Marty Frey on Leno being questioned by Arsenio's freakishly large hands.

Enjoy.


Marty Frey and A Hall from hamiltongbp on Vimeo.

Now, I got stuff to do so GET BACK TO WORK!!!!

Min Dhariwal steps up to the plate...

Here it is the first of many TT with a podcast to go with it. Today I start my interrogation of the guys who are finalists to make my posse. Up first is a dude who I used to work with at A Channel.

He is also one of the dudes that made the final list without having to state his case. I guess we will find out if he passes the test.

Okay, here are the rules of the TundraTalk Podcasts. There will be twelve podcasts. All finalists will get pu to fifteen minutes. Believe it or not there will be a method to this madness. All finalists will get a multiple choice, a Bon Jovi Lyric, a movie quote, and the rapid fire segment. Not only that they will get a few minitues to smak the other participants and to make thier case as to why they should make the crew.

Well, without further ado, CLICK HERE and listen to Min on TundraTalk. Next up on the show will be another underdog, Mike Chaussee. Mike start studying, you are gonna need it.

Here is the order for the Entourage Podcasts...

Here is what Sonja Heitsusan, of the Dead Moines Heitsusans, said about my truck getting broken into. Welcome to the dialogue Sonja. It is about time....

Chris –

Long time no talk to. I was reading about the truck break-in. At least the A-hole didn’t steal the entire truck. My car got stolen a year ago. The dude slit the rag-top, stole everything inside (I mean everything, shoes, books, gloves, etc) and told police he picked up a prostitute and had SEX in the car!!! Needless to say, I wished he would have totaled the car, but the police caught him going about 100 MPH down I-235.

So, the moral of this story, it can always be worse. At least you don’t have to power wash the INSIDE of your truck J

Hope all is well -

Sonya Heitshusen

Yup Sonja, I am glad he did not steal the truck. That would have sucked to 8 hours away and not have wheels. As for the cops arresting him for going 100 on I 235, I thought that WAS the speed limit.

Reggie chimed in on the Entourage Podcasts...

I didn’t see Tony Mutz on the list. Considering the situation he is in, it is imperative that a fair man like yourself would put in a placeholder for the time being. Don’t be a dick like Tupac, look where that got him. Dead! Yeah that is right, Ray Lewis didn’t shoot him either.

Also, you visit a friend and subsequently get your “truck” (hauling grain now?) broke into. Sounds pretty suspicious to me, how well do you know Mr. Blashill?

Thanks for allowing me to make the short list, but give up on the I hate the Vikings shit. To you it may be a religious experience, but to me it is an opportunity to get a good nap on Sunday’s during the fall. Yes they are overpaid representatives of our loyalty to the team, but I will be able to walk when I am sixty and they will be zealots of our past entertainment.

I look forward to your litany of questions, however I am concerned with the tone of “smack down” references. If you recall, my role is one of practicality. I don’t smack down anyone for sport.

Finally, because you knew me before I was 18 it is permissible to call me Reggie. All others will refer to me as Reg or Mr. Rudolph. Also, your entourage should have cool nicknames. Like Nordic Man-that is a bad ass nick name, just hope he lives up to it.

Reginal Rudolph, General Manager
McLean Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Thanks Reg, errr Reggie, I hope you get yours during the podcast. You might want to start with the smak because it will help. The bit about Cory sounded suspiciously like smak to me. No I do not haul grain, but I do haul ass. Whoooooooo!!!!! As for Tony, like I said, not sure how to get a hold of him in Iraq. I don't even have his email let alone his digits. I am sure he would hold his own if he was able to participate.

So here it is!!! As chosen by my 5 year old out of my Packer hat given to me by Dwayne Mandrusiak, who got it from Red Beatty the Packers equipment guy. McKenna cannot read much, let alone your names so there was no bias involved in the order that she chose.

So start studyin' your Bon Jovi and your man laws because you are gonna need all your wits about you for this one. Oh, and a bit of Jager might help.

Here it goes...

1. Min Dhariwal
2. Mike Chaussee
3. Nordic Man
4. Trev Doroshenko
5. Reg Rudolph
6. Derek Venckus
7. Cory Blashill
8. Robby DuPuis
9. Mitch Davis
10. Marty Frey
11. Chad Weiser
12. Shawn Hauser

The Entourage Competition is back after a brief hiatus...

Okay, I have taken the appropriate time to mourn the loss of Number 4 so it is time to get back to the business at hand. Discussing the important things, the things that really matter in the world. The things that all of you, TundraTalk Nation, are talking about around the water cooler, or keg, whichever type of place you work at. That's right Me picking an Entourage.

Over the past few days the entries have come fast and furious, after a gentle prod. There are a few of you who are dragging your feet, or just waiting to get the last word. Which I might add is not a bad strategy. So either you are lazy or smart, however you choose to look at it. Robby DuPuis, Shane T Keller, Trevor D, and Min, we want to hear from you.

First up this week is Mike Chaussee, Bismarck ND Chaussee's. I worked with Mike at KXMB. My first real TV job. If you can call it that. I still to this day remember Mike standing over the news wire, back when it still was a separate printer that spit out news independantly, and completely going apeshit when the news of Reggie White going to Green Bay came accross. I made fun of him that day. Come to think of it I made fun of him a lot. Like shooting fish in the barrel. Anyway, that was a monumental day, and like some people who can tell you where they were when JFK was shot, or the day of the moon landing, I can tell you that I was in the KXMB news room making fun of Mike Chaussee on the day Reggie White went to Green Bay to lead the greatest team ever to a Super Bowl. Nice. Mike take it away...

Of course I want in.

Here's the deal... first of all I was the one who showed you the way to Green Bay (at least in the NFL spirit kind of way). I'm a Packer fan, and was before you found the light.

Secondly, I'm the original DINGLESCHPUTZ!! That has to count for something. I said 'yes' to Romine. Together we made fun of the entire Reiten family. I listened to you sing that insane Beaver song. We went on stories together in a freakin' drug van (you drove, does that put you in my entourage?). I have now seen the Barenaked Ladies in concert.

And finally, I knew you when you were just a cocky know-it-all with no real experience, and I let you think you knew something anyway. Oh, and I helped end your little crush on Marci Narum (hehe)!!

Mike

Okay, you were doing fine until you mentioned Marci Narum. Wow, there is a blast from the past. We used to make fun of Marci pretty regular. No crush for me. Ughhhhhh, I get bad shivers just thinking about her. Come to think of it we made fun of a lot of people back then. Mike Kopp? He was easy to mess with. How about little Timmy Reiten. Love that guy. Now he is in charge at KX. Big man on campus. No longer the morning cut in guy. That dude is funny. Not sure what the Beaver song was or is. Man I am soooo losing my memory. For the record, yes I was a know it all rookie, but I was a likeable know it all rookie. Just being a Packer fan puts you in the running. Good work, well except the hehe thing. I believe nowadays the kids are using LOL. Come on, get with the times.

Nick Chase, of the US ass kicking attorneys office Chase's, drops some wisdom on me...

Ding, ding, ding

Burgess Meredith: What are we waitin' for?

Nick Chase

Nice Nick, quoting Rocky. I can understand what you are saying. So, Nick, back at ya. How about this one..

"I wake up every morning and piss excellence..." Ricky Bobby

Yup, I love that movie. Lots of things you can learn from Talladega Nights. In fact I think that that will be one of the first movies I put in our super cool SUV limo DVD player for us to watch as we cruise from one happenin' party to the next. That and Red Dawn. NEXT!!!

Next up is old school. In fact most literally, High School Old School. Chad Weiser, of the Microsoft loving Bellevue Washington Weiser's. Chad represents the previous entourage that I had and makes a strong case saying that he was in the original and therefore has really never left. Good point Chad, good point. Take it away...

Well Mr. Peterson,

I am here to be the first to call you an idiot in every paragraph to follow, since that seems to be the most important qualification for your Entourage.

You are clearly the Man and have always been the Man! Idiot! I shudder to think that we took a future war hero through the car wash in my El Camaro, but I guess we were just toughening him up for his future decorated career.

To bolster my candidacy, I want you to remember who had your back way back in the day when your goal in life was to piss off the principal of our High School for personal entertainment. Remember when you wore a zebra outfit head to toe along with American flag shorts over your sweats so everyone at the high school girls basketball tournament knew who was the head referee in the house. Idiot! Questions of your patriotism for wearing a flag on your ass flew around town. Who had your back? That's right, your Homey C-Dub.

I led your Entourage before you knew you had an entourage. Who was writing lyrics by your side for North Dakota's first white boy rap group? Who was writing screenplays and playing best supporting actor in some of your Oscar-winning directorial masterpieces? Idoit! Remember Bonanza, Star Trek Wars, Crossfire, Dance Party. Who sent you love letters when you were away fighting fires? That's right, me and my future wife. We all loved you and still do.

Bottomline is I know this job. I know how to run with the Man, play the game, drink beer, eat Brats, pretend I like the Packers, live with 3 females (not including the cat), and still kick ass. Friendships run deep. You know I got your back and will play my role.

I'm your utility infielder, I can do a little of everything. I'm definitely down with some other Homeys covering the side and back exits though. You always need 5 dudes for any of those potential street fights as well as to control the uncontrollable papparazzi.

If it helps my candidacy, I'll pick up and move from the Emerald City (future former home of the Sonics and current home of your favorite Seattle Seahawks) to the home of our lovely neighbors to the North and next Super Power based on the current trend in exchange rates. Plus, my wife says I need a different job anyway. I will wait for your phone call!

Bud Weiser

Check out that name. Bud Weiser. Yup, being named after a beer, no matter how bad a beer it is, has GOT to give you a leg up. Chad, good work. Being willing to pick up and move also really bolsters your candadacy. Also, if I remember correctly you were there at the time of my LAST fight. That's right, it is all coming back to me now. Main street Hazen. Some a-hole had been calling me out for about a month and I finally decided to take him up on his offer so I stopped got out and picked him up by the shirt, threw him against his car, and was about to pop him in the grill when his buddy hit me in the back of the head, then ran. All the while, you sat in the Escorche watching and getting my back!!! You were on probation from that sordid little incident at Target in Fargo so you could not get in any trouble. IDIOT!!! Yeah, Chad, this is bringing back lots of memories. It is true you were the leader of the original Entourage which included Bryan Powell, Shannon Just, Reggie Rudolph, and sometimes Steve Schoenrock. Yup, you were a natural leading that crew. Plus, you got us tickets to Wrestlemania 19 at Safeco Field. That was huge. Nice job Chad.

Speaking of Wrestlemania, next up is Ivy, of the Moorhead Minnesota Ivy's, who also attended the big show at Safeco...

You know I'd always have your back whether you bought me a sweet ride and let me drive you around Regina as an official Entourage member or not. You've assembled a pretty fomidable assemblage. And of course I would tell you when you are cracked when necessary.

I'm sitting here at my eldest's hockey practice. Still don't and likely never will appreciate this game but he loves it and has some nice skill for his first year. He just slid a forehander in.

You are having a mid life crisis or something. Did you ever find what you were looking for in the first place?

Hope all is well on your end!

Ivy

Okay, glad you took time from your kids hockey practice to respond. That is dedication. BUT, ME, MIDLIFE CRISIS? I think a person first has to be at MIDLIFE before he can do that. I am only, uh, errr, 40. Okay, got me on that one, BUT I am not out buying a Vette. The cool car I want is an 71 El Camino. That does not say Midlife Crisis, it says "I am serious, but I like to party."

Ivy seems to be intimidated a bit by the other competitors so maybe he can be an alternate. Still not sure that saying that I am having a crisis is gonna get you points. Calling me an idiot, yes, crisis no.

We still have a few more people to hear from so this may take a bit more time. PLUS Blashill has indicated that he is working on a prize of sorts for the final list. Something that I do not want to say because I may jinx it. It sounded huge.

So If you have not made your case, get R done, and if you have already made your plea and want to add to it, go right ahead. I think that if someone broke off a video explanation that might be huge. YouTube is where it is at right now. Let me see it.

Now, GET BACK TO WORK!!!!

Packers vs DomeQueens...Who wants some?

Okay, just wanted to drop you all a note. Especially those who claim to be loyal to Barney's team. Grown men wearing purple and stupid braids. At least cheese has a function. Braids, the only function in that is to prove that you are very effeminate.

As Hamish, I believe it was, in Braveheart said to William "Where ya goin'" and Wallace said back "Ahm goin ta pick ah fight". Well that is what I am doing today. Pick a fight. As you all know, the Packers are 3-0 and on their way to glory. They are of course led by the greatest QB of all time, Number 4, Brett Favre. He is on a mission this year to win at all costs. Name a record and he owns it. Even most interceptions. They of course are headed to the baggie dome this weekend to teach the DomeQueens a lesson or two. For instance what a real QB looks like, what a winning organization looks like, and for most of the queens what a Super Bowl ring looks like.

I was at Costco last night and some idiot in a pickup truck drove by and yelled "Go Vikings". Well we all know he is an idiot because of what he said. I was flying the colors, as I do everyday, and he just felt so compelled to come up to me and run his mouth. That is just like a queen fan. A Packer fan will not run his mouth unless he is provoked. We know we are great, we do not have to tell everyone about it, it just shows. So I was forced to tell him good luck, because he really is going to need it this weekend. Number 4 is going to destroy the ChokeKings D. You know what it is queen fan? To quote a great man, Sean Elliot of the Madison Elliots, "You just hate us, because you ain't us." Word up.

Okay here comes the fight. Scott Dahl, of the Minneapple Dahls, sent me a note last night. Not your normal note that says "Hey how ya doin'? How's the kids?" Nah, he had his back up and was a bit defensive. He wanted to bet me on the game this weekend. Now, I do not need to bet to show my loyalty to my team. I bleed Green And Gold. I know Mike Chaussee, of the Bismark Chaussee's, and Mitch Davis, of the Regina Davis', feels the same way. But, if you are going to come at me, and if you want some come and get some.

I do not know what my problem is, but I know way to many people who like the purple stupid team. Dahl, Rudolph, Keller, Ivy, Principe, Ellingson, Nordic Man's lovely wife (this must be her only fault, well, unless you count her taste in men), Weiser, Toby Peterson (ex Oiler FW)... The list goes on and on. At least you can respect a fan of, say, the Cowboys because they have a trophy or two, or maybe a Steeler fan. Maybe. But never a Queen fan. They got nothing except a few boat trips and an ugly stadium that their owner can't seem to bribe their way out of. Reg Rudolph, of the Garrison Rudolph's, even took the time to call me out the other day.

On the NFL front I believe you are taking some serious latitude with the Packers. I am willing to put a wager on your Packer prediction, albeit as a life long Viking fan I think Brand Childress is a moron and Tavaris Jackson is a lessor quality Duante Culpepper without a Randy Moss to bomb it to. Just imagine my opinion if I wasn't a Vikings fan.

He then took the time to insult my wife, my taste in music, and even said he would kick my dog if he were near it. Well Mr. Rudolph it is, as they say, ON.


So here is the deal, if you are a Queen fan and you want some, send me an email, let me know what you think (I know that thinking let alone typing, is tough for you purple fans), and make your wager. As I told the Dahl kid, lets not get crazy, just make the wager. I told Dahl I would wager some fine pilsner. WHEN I win, I get some Leinie's and if he wins (never happen) I get him some fine Molson Canadian or Sask's own Pilsner. We of course will not see each other for a while, but when we do, I have that card I can play. Or I can play it anytime I want here on TundraTalk. Dahl is always talking about a skate someday. Well Mr. Dahl, you better keep your head up coming accross the middle.

I will be willing to wager for bags of Funyuns, Dakota Kid Seeds, or boxes of Peanut Butter Cap'n Crunch. I am already counting on a 24 of Leinies from Scott. Principe usually wagers a meal of some sort, so I am sure the next time I am in E-Town I will have lunch on Gene. I once bet Gene on the game and he lost. His punishment, he had to wear a cheeshead on the air while he did his sports. That was some of his finest broadcasting. I know that without the cheesehead you can't really trust what he was saying, but with it, instant credibility.

Don't sing it, Bring it. come on queen fan, lets hear ya. Oh and if you want to wager with Chaussee or Davis, let them know and I am sure they will be happy to take your stuff.

Yeah that's what I thought.

Many thanks to Packer Palace dot Com for the great logos for the queens.