Vikings cruise at center of sex query

Prostitution, drug use alleged during Minnetonka outing

BY DON SEEHOLZER and SEAN JENSEN

Pioneer Press


The Hennepin County Sheriff's Department is investigating allegations of criminal sexual conduct by Minnesota Vikings players after a boat cruise on Lake Minnetonka turned into an out-of-control party that included lap dances and sexual acts, an attorney for the charter boat company said Tuesday.

Stephen Doyle, a lawyer representing the owners of Al and Alma's, a company that charters cruises on the lake, said cornerback Fred Smoot and another Vikings player, whom he declined to name, reserved a charter for a night-time excursion Thursday.

"From our end, I don't know the name of the other primary person, but we turned over to the police today documents that show signatures or credit cards or whatever was associated with closing this deal," Doyle said.

A woman called Mound police Thursday night to report "possible prostitution, drugs and live sex acts" on the two boats. According to the police report, the woman said she and her brother's girlfriend served as hostesses on the boats.

Doyle said he didn't learn details of what allegedly happened until he met with six of the eight crewmembers Tuesday.

Doyle said about 90 people were on the two boats. According to a Vikings player who spoke on the condition of anonymity, about 15 Vikings players were on a charter as part of what he described as a "team event." The player said he was unaware of any sexual acts and that the cruise lasted less than 90 minutes. Doyle said he believed it to be a tradition for Vikings rookies and first-year players to take their teammates out.

Upon returning to the dock, the player said, there were no police officers present and he did not know of any problems on the boats.

Contacted Tuesday afternoon, Smoot said the allegations are exaggerated.

"It's slanderous," he said. "If (Doyle is) bringing my name up like this, I'm going to sue them. Other than that, I ain't got nothing else to say."

Asked if he was denying involvement in the alleged incidents, Smoot said, "It ain't even what they're talking about."

Doyle said further details will be released in the coming days.

"I actually have the names of about 16 or 17 other Vikings that my crew believes were on board," he said, "and a number of them they would be inclined to describe as being involved in these activities. The reason I'm holding off on this answer is two-fold.

"One is, when the particulars of this story come out, I think it's going to be perceived by most people as just horrendous. I want to be very, very careful that we not put a name out there of somebody who wasn't there because the implications, I think, will be serious. Secondly, not everyone (who) was on board (who) was a Viking participated in this. My crew members tell me there were a couple of them that kept saying, 'I'm sorry.' … There were players that were embarrassed by it."

The Vikings released a statement Tuesday night, saying, "The organization has been made aware of the allegations involving our players, and we take these allegations very seriously. We are working diligently to gather as many facts as possible. At this time, we have no further comment."

Sgt. Haans Vitek of the Hennepin County Sheriff's Department said the investigation is ongoing.

"At this point, we're still trying to sort out who was there," Vitek said. "We understand there may be some Vikings personnel involved. We're not sure who they are and what they were doing."

According to Doyle, the boats were chartered from 8:30 p.m. to midnight, but pushed off about an hour late.

"They were out for a bit, and then the crew was serving drinks and hors d'oeuvres and stuff," he said. "I think the first thing they noticed was some of the women that were on board seemed to be either changing clothes or undressing. And then they went into a galley, and there were three of them in the nude that were changing clothes. That was followed by them coming out and some of them doing lap dances. … That's where it started, and then it just progressed to just bizarre."

Doyle said the crew, in accordance with company policy, reported what was happening to the captain of each boat, who called the home base and were told to return.

"Now they're still 40 minutes out, and they're getting frightened," Doyle said. "Some of the Vikings are yelling at the waiters and waitresses … and wanting drinks faster and trying to take over parts of the bar, trying to pour their own drinks. … It's just really bizarre, bad, terrible behavior.

"Like I said, these kids are petrified. They're afraid for their own safety. There are people doing sexual acts with toys in the middle of the floor. They're on a boat here, having to walk around and serve a drink, afraid to stop serving drinks because they're afraid that people will hurt them. It's just really unacceptable what they did — the arrogance and the rudeness and all of those things combined.

"They get them into the dock and eventually get off the boat. We're talking about a scene with used condoms on the boats laying around, handy wipes used by the women laying around, drinks thrown and poured in places. It's amazing."

Doyle said he was busy with media interviews Tuesday and hadn't provided the names of any Vikings players to police, but was trying to set up a meeting with them today.

He also said he placed a number of calls to the Vikings' offices but didn't receive a reply.

An NFL spokesman declined to comment on the allegations against Vikings players, but the league's personal conduct policy clearly states that league employees can be subject to discipline.

"Engaging in violent and/or criminal activity is unacceptable and constitutes conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in the National Football League," the policy summary reads. "Such conduct alienates the fans on whom the success of the league depends and has negative and sometimes tragic consequences for both the victim and the perpetrator."

People charged or arrested with conduct prohibited by this policy will be "required to undergo a clinical evaluation and, if appropriate, additional counseling or treatment as directed."

Failure to comply with evaluation and counseling obligations could be considered conduct detrimental to the NFL, punishable by "fine or suspension at the discretion of the commissioner."

Don Seeholzer and Sean Jensen cover the Vikings and the NFL.

hxxp://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/12878064.htm

cool

Lappers and Drugs for NFL players..

I'm shocked...

Who cares ?

No fake penis and scrotum? What a waste.

maybe they got upset when they saw the horse exiting the boat

Who cares ?

Maybe the workers on the boat?

If it comes out that they made the women all wear this http://www.therealrandymoss.com/rmoss/mask.html

before they had sex with them, then I can die happy.

Judging by the way the media is covering it here, you'd think the entire state of Minnesota.

TAKE THE WHIZZINATOR CHALLENGE

Ladies, step right up.

My wife had her bachelorette party on an Al & Alma's cruise on Lake Minnetonka.

Hey....wait a second....

Of course the press never covers what goes on out on Lake Minnetonka during the summer weekends, but I guess busting the rich young yuppies doesn't sell enough papers.

Sounds interesting.

"I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!"

I guess the Vikings wanted to increase their Randy Ratio.

I guess the Vikings wanted to increase their Randy Ratio.
Hey, get back to not telling us about your next game!

Front Office Debauchery!

Are you sure this article isn't about the Dallas Cowboys circa early 90's?

I would be interested to hear capsicum's take on this.

SkyDog, unban her. *clap clap*

Seriously though isn't the Tice-led Vikings the least disciplined NFL team in the last couple of years?
Off the top of my head:
Sexual assault charges at "Arctic Blast" Vikings fundraiser
Kelly Campbell drugs/guns charges
Randy Moss traffic cop incident
Farmer, Nattiel and Henderson bar fight, day after Tice warned players to stay out of trouble
Henderson, Mixon dui
Whizzinator
Kevin Williams assault on wife
Marcus Johnson/Bryant McKinnie gas tank fight

You are bound to get some bad apples on a large roster, and there is nothing like a Rae Carruth. However there seems to be an unhealthy culture among the Vikings. If I was Wolf I'd make sweeping changes as soon as possible.

Marcus Johnson/Bryant McKinnie gas tank fight

Yeah, that one almost deserves to be on that list. Or not. :rolleyes:

You wouldn't pass the initiation.

What initiation?

You have to purify yourself in the waters of Lake Minnetonka...

HEY WAIT!!!

That ain't Lake Minnetonka.

This makes me feel old.

Playmakers is nothing like the NFL I tell you.........uh wait?

Playmakers is nothing like the NFL I tell you.........uh wait?

Well done. :)

Of course the press never covers what goes on out on Lake Minnetonka during the summer weekends, but I guess busting the rich young yuppies doesn't sell enough papers.
Or pretty much any other sports team, pro or college, at various places around the country. Is this another case of the CU-Boulder Syndrome where the sins of the many get paid by the sin of one?

i don't understand what the problem is. not like they raped virgins or stuck it in the asses of children. all adult fun. people can't be adults anymore? i understand pro athletes gotta act professional in public, but who are we to judge what other adults do in their own privacy?

I think one issue is that it was not "in their own privacy". It happened on two boats they hired, with staff from the company present to serve food and pilot the boat.

The second issue here is that supposedly Vikings players were offering money to some of the staff for sexual favors. This is so vague that it's hard to get a handle on what actually happened, but some of the female staff were concerned for their own safety. From the accounts in the paper, the parties on both boats were out of control only a short bit into the trip: wild sex, drinking, and perhaps illegal drugs. Given that environment and the fact that a woman has no way of getting off the boat other than swimming, I can understand how a woman would feel she was in danger. Especially if there were a few huge, drunk football players around a woman encouraging her to do something she didn't want to do.

I agree, this type of party done in the right place is a non-story. But they picked the wrong place and they crossed the line when they tried to involve the boat staff.

The part of the story that I don't get yet is that fact that once the boats landed everyone dispersed without further incident. Somehow this doesn't match with the image of what was happening on the boats. If the players were drunk and out-of-control and then they find out that their three-and-a-half-hour cruise is over after 40 minutes, would there have been a less orderly departure? Wouldn't they have been pissed? Wouldn't something have happened at the docks?

Why wouldn't the boat staff have at least radioed ahead for the police to meet them?

Sounds like a bullshit story to me.

Is Mike Tice the new Wayne Fontes? Let's see, he's survived the Randy Moss debacle, in which he cut a tempermental star too much slack and ultimately resulted in them giving away their best player; the ticket scalping thing; new ownership, which ordinarily means you're a goner; a horrendous start to this year; and now a potential criminal investigation of sexual misconduct among a third of his players in mid-season. All in the past 8-10 months or so. Not to mention, he's earned a reputation as a poor Xs and Os/field general head coach.

What's this guy got to do to get fired?

i don't understand what the problem is. not like they raped virgins or stuck it in the asses of children. all adult fun. people can't be adults anymore? i understand pro athletes gotta act professional in public, but who are we to judge what other adults do in their own privacy?

I would agree with you completely if they had done this in their own privacy. They didn't, they did it in front of employees at a place of business that clearly does not allow it. That was tasteless and rude to the employees. They are guilty of public lewdness, and perhaps some have some explaining to do to their wives.

I agree that this is being blown out of proportion, but you can't really say they did nothing wrong either.

Is Mike Tice the new Wayne Fontes? Let's see, he's survived the Randy Moss debacle, in which he cut a tempermental star too much slack and ultimately resulted in them giving away their best player; the ticket scalping thing; new ownership, which ordinarily means you're a goner; a horrendous start to this year; and now a potential criminal investigation of sexual misconduct among a third of his players in mid-season. All in the past 8-10 months or so. Not to mention, he's earned a reputation as a poor Xs and Os/field general head coach.

What's this guy got to do to get fired?

The way this season is going, he just has to wait until the end of the year. Firing him at this point really would not accomplish anything except a 1-15 season. I suspect the new owner will be supervising a major housecleaning at the end of the year.

Hello Fred Smoot! Your Ron Mexico name, the ultimate disguise, is Peter Netherlands.
"Fred Smoot" is his Ron Mexico name.

I would agree with you completely if they had done this in their own privacy. They didn't, they did it in front of employees at a place of business that clearly does not allow it. That was tasteless and rude to the employees. They are guilty of public lewdness, and perhaps some have some explaining to do to their wives.

I agree that this is being blown out of proportion, but you can't really say they did nothing wrong either.

From accounts that I have heard this was a business that allowed this type of behavior. And there are "sex" cruises like this all the time. It wasn't a member of the staff that ratted it out, but a friend of the member of the staff. Of course this is all from the Jay Thomas Show and people that he had on, but why would we know any more than him.


And to whoever made the capisum comment, pure brillance. At first I thought it was just because of the immoral behavior involved. But now I remember that her contention was she was banned for being a Viking's fan.

Think whatever you want about the guys and whether it's a big deal in the grand scheme of things but if you are the Vikings is this the team image you want? Maybe this goes on everywhere, maybe not. Regardless it's a joke that they conducted themselves this way in public. You want to do this at your house be my guest.

Also it's a Thursday night. The team isn't exactly lighting the NFL on fire. This is just indicative of the way they approach the game.

From accounts that I have heard this was a business that allowed this type of behavior. And there are "sex" cruises like this all the time. It wasn't a member of the staff that ratted it out, but a friend of the member of the staff. Of course this is all from the Jay Thomas Show and people that he had on, but why would we know any more than him.


And to whoever made the capisum comment, pure brillance. At first I thought it was just because of the immoral behavior involved. But now I remember that her contention was she was banned for being a Viking's fan.

Good point--it is interesting that the owners did not call the police to meet the boats upon their return to the dock. It also sounds like an employee (possibly independent of management) initiated the call to the police some time after the event took place.

As much as I've tried to refrain from taking cheap shots at capsicum, I also found that unbanning comment brilliant...

Also it's a Thursday night. The team isn't exactly lighting the NFL on fire. This is just indicative of the way they approach the game.

It was a bye week.

"I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!"

Here are your winnings, sir.

It was a bye week.


ah, good point.

Yes sir Mr Smoot!

I`ll have your blowjob and assfuck... coming right up!

Outta SIGHT!

http://www.7fr.net/img/trombine/ehum000002657.jpg

From accounts that I have heard this was a business that allowed this type of behavior. And there are "sex" cruises like this all the time. It wasn't a member of the staff that ratted it out, but a friend of the member of the staff. Of course this is all from the Jay Thomas Show and people that he had on, but why would we know any more than him.

The boat returned to dock 40 minutes into a 3 hour hired cruise, as boat staff told management what was going on, and management told them to bring it in (at least that's what I heard reported/discussed). How did the friend come to report this to management during the cruise?

Also, every report I heard mentioned one female employee reporting being "fearful for her safety" to the police.

Why wasn't Mike Tice on board the boat? He scalped his ticket.

EDIT: This company may indeed sell sex cruises. But, ya can't pay for a party cruise and expect a sex cruise.

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/12897565.htm

For Vikings, a 'crime of stupidity'

Cops say out-of-state strippers flown in for alleged sex party

BY BETH SILVER and RUBÉN ROSARIO

Pioneer Press



Strippers flew in for the party. Football players pulled up in limos. As a pair of chartered boats eased onto Lake Minnetonka, booze started flowing and, according to crew members, a sex party began.

Investigators now believe that the strippers from Atlanta, Florida and elsewhere apparently work for a high-class escort or call-girl service that caters to professional athletes, two law enforcement officials said.

The party was a far cry from the typical gathering handled by Al & Alma's Supper Club and Charter Cruises, a mom-and-pop outfit in Mound that one police officer involved in the case called a "Perkins on the lake."

When a group of Minnesota Vikings players chose to party amid bartenders and hostesses accustomed to working family functions and company outings, the result was a major uproar.

Any criminal charges that come out of complaints about lewd behavior on the boats are likely to be minor, a law enforcement official directly involved in the investigation said Thursday.

But as details about the Oct. 6 party emerge, the Vikings reel in a stream of negative national publicity. Team owner Zygi Wilf is expected to talk about the Vikings' latest headache for the first time this morning.

The blowup stems at least in part from the choice to hire the boats and crews from Al & Alma's, two law enforcement officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of case.

"Basically, it's a crime of stupidity,'' one of the officials said. "We got naive young kids catering, watching 350-pound athletes" engaged in lewd conduct, said one of the officials. "There are probably only two or three other cities in the country where this incident would have happened and not made news or generated a complaint. I'm thinking Los Angeles, New York and possibly Chicago. That stuff doesn't go down well here.''

Al & Alma's started out as a grocery store and short-order hamburger and french fry joint in 1957. Al and Alma Quist's family business soon became all restaurant with small steaks cut by Al himself and brown potatoes that drew crowds at a time when virtually no other restaurants were open in the area. Al Quist died in 1996.

The Quists sold the restaurant in 1972 to a couple who added the charter cruises to the business and sold again in 1983 to Daryl and Merritt Geyen, who have kept Al & Alma's a family affair. Their two sons are listed in city records as cruise boat captains, as is Daryl Geyen.

One of the Quists' nieces was working on one of the boats the night of the Vikings' party, according to Vanny Palm, Al Quist's daughter.

"They sure don't deserve anything like this," Palm said of the Geyens. "I can't believe those Vikings. My goodness, they sure ruined it for themselves."

The young crew of eight on the two boats felt intimidated by the raucous and indecent behavior, said Stephen Doyle, a Wayzata lawyer representing the charter company. The crew took no pictures at the event, but others were snapping shots, Doyle said.

Hennepin County Sgt. Haans Vitek said he did not know whether law enforcement has obtained photos from the evening.

Investigators continued Thursday to interview anyone with firsthand knowledge of the incident, Vitek said, adding that he did not think that included Vikings players yet. Earlier in the week, the crew gave team officials and sheriff's investigators a list of 17 players they had identified on the two boats. They might come across more, Doyle said.

One player, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he knew strippers were on board. Other players have either declined to comment or have denied anything illegal went on that night.

Two sheriff's detectives interviewed crew members Wednesday. The two captains, bartenders and waitresses conducted one-on-one interviews with the detectives most of Thursday, as well, Doyle said.

The crew thought the women brought aboard were girlfriends, wives and friends, Doyle said.

But after canvassing local strip clubs, a law enforcement official said, investigators believe none of the women who partied with the Vikings was a local. Instead, the source said they talked with someone on the boats and said they learned the women were flown in for the party from elsewhere. They are still trying to determine who brokered the deal to bring them to Minnesota.

One of the law enforcement officials also said investigators were baffled that the players would hire that particular charter service.

"I don't understand why they just didn't hire a private yacht for it," one of the officials said.

Doyle said Vikings cornerback Fred Smoot leased the boats. Smoot has denied that he paid for the charter, calling Doyle's description of the party "slanderous."

Judy Bryce, another of the Quist's daughters who worked as a waitress at the original supper club, said as soon as she heard a Vikings party had been held in Mound she knew it had been chartered from Al & Alma's. "I don't like it being in the news like this right now," Bryce said.

Al & Alma's menu is much more elaborate with fancy salad dressings and rich sauces than it was when her parents ran the restaurant. It has been extensively remodeled, as well. But the operation is just as family-oriented as it was when she worked there until the early 1970s, Bryce said. That's what made news of the incident particularly tough to hear, she said.

"It was a bummer. Like everybody's saying, get rid of all the Vikings players and start new. Get people who respect each other and the public," Bryce said.

Hennepin County Sheriff Pat McGowan said Thursday the investigation could take several weeks, and then a decision would be made whether to pursue charges. Once his department completes the investigation, the results will be turned over to Steve Tallen, a prosecutor for the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District.

Staff writers Jeremy Olson and Bob Sansevere contributed to this report. Beth Silver can be reached at 612-338-6516 or [email protected].

OK, you Minnesotans are officially weird/creepy/bored, or a combination of all of the above. I can't believe this article was actually written:


http://www.ragnartheviking.com/images/header_images/front_page_03.jpg

Ragnar still has faith in the Vikings
Minneapolis Star & Tribune
Last update: October 13, 2005 at 11:18 PM

He says he wasn't aboard the party boats last week ("Heavens, no") and doesn't know who was. But Ragnar, the Minnesota Vikings' long-haired, Harley-riding mascot, says that given the influence of popular culture, people shouldn't be surprised if there were sexual improprieties.

Ragnar is the gridiron alias for Joe Juranitch, assistant dean of students at Hopkins High School. He said the team is part of a society that celebrates TV shows such as "Sex and the City" and "The Simpsons" and did not punish President Bill Clinton for sexual misbehavior "in our house."

That doesn't mean he condones such incidents, he said.
"I believe in abstinence only" outside of marriage, he said. "... I believe as a country we've gotten away from abstinence. ... When have we gotten away from 'No'?"

Even so, he said, he continues to believe the Vikings are "a top-notch organization. ... You bet I do. ... Have some guys tarnished that? Sure."
But he said he expects the new owner, Zygi Wilf, to "take care of" the situation, if the allegations are substantiated.

Juranitch, who has performed as Ragnar for 13 years, said he's faced jokes and questions from school administrators and students about the latest Vikings reports. He doesn't buy some of their theories that football players who earn a lot of money are more likely to consider themselves above others and not subject to societal rules.

If they do, he said, "Shame on you, because pride comes before a great fall."

Cops say out-of-state strippers flown in for alleged sex party

Shouldn't this get the feds involved? Interstate prostitution, baby!

OK, you Minnesotans are officially weird/creepy/bored, or a combination of all of the above. I can't believe this article was actually written:

Stick to the shitty CD reviews.

Can't take a joke? Did you write that article or something? Seriously, you don't find that a bit bizarre? I can't recall an article about Chief Osceola's thoughts on the FSU shoe scandal.

Stick to the shitty CD reviews.

Christ crabass. Sorry to know that you are proud to live in this state.

It's OK. I do write shitty CD reviews. Shitty CD reviews of great CDs. :D

"I can't believe those Vikings."
Yeah, and you whined about that all through the Dark Ages, too, beyotch.

Playmakers is nothing like the NFL I tell you.........uh wait?
I heard Chris Mortenson say on the radio the other day that he told an NFL official that they need to encourage ESPN to put Playmakers back on the air to make all of this seem like fiction. :D

OK, you Minnesotans are officially weird/creepy/bored, or a combination of all of the above. I can't believe this article was actually written:


I can believe it was written. It would take the second coming of Christ to get this damn story off the front page at this point here.

Covering the story is fine, but at this point there has been no new information since Tuesday. Yet the media here just keeps beating the dead horse.

My inlaws actually grew up in the same town as Ragnar, so they know him fairly well. A bit off the wall (obviously) but a lot more intelligent then you would guess looking at him.

The story about the Vikings is news and should be covered, and I would assume covered in some depth in Minnesota. An article on the thoughts of the guy who dresses as the team's mascot doesn't even approach news coverage, IMO. It's just plain bizarre.

The story about the Vikings is news and should be covered, and I would assume covered in some depth in Minnesota. An article on the thoughts of the guy who dresses as the team's mascot doesn't even approach news coverage, IMO. It's just plain bizarre.

That's just how desperate they are to keep putting stories out there about it at this point to make up for the lack of new information.

According to KSTP-TV, suspended Vikings running back Onterrio Smith is being accused of sexual assault by a 21-year-old Richfield woman, who says she was drinking with Smith and another Viking at the other player's apartment. After passing out, the woman alleges she woke up with both players on top of her. The incident allegedly occured on June 12, 2004

According to KSTP-TV, suspended Vikings running back Onterrio Smith is being accused of sexual assault by a 21-year-old Richfield woman, who says she was drinking with Smith and another Viking at the other player's apartment. After passing out, the woman alleges she woke up with both players on top of her. The incident allegedly occured on June 12, 2004

I wonder if he was wearing the Original Whizzinator at the time. Big fun.

I think we really need to see video from the boats to make an informed judgement on what really went on.

I think we really need to see video from the boats to make an informed judgement on what really went on.


I like how it took less than 30 minutes to get things rolling out there. These guys don't waste any time.

Hardly time to get the camera started.

OK, you Minnesotans are officially weird/creepy/bored, or a combination of all of the above. I can't believe this article was actually written:

It's the Star Tribune, what do you expect?

It's the Star Tribune, what do you expect?
Like that means anything to someone from Florida.

Don't waste my time with articles from the Tampa Tribune, I only accept the St. Pete Times.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf said Friday he had met with players to express his anger and embarrassment over reports of sexual misconduct on a charter cruise last week, and vowed to do all he could to prevent further scandals.

Wilf, in his first comments since the story broke, said the team will institute a code of conduct that demands "high standards, high morals and success."

Vikings owner Zygi Wilk
Wilk apologized for his team's alleged behavior on the cruise.

In his remarks to players, Wilf said, "I expressed my anger and I expressed my embarrassment, my embarrassment on behalf of my family and for the people who work hard here."

Stephen Doyle, an attorney representing the boats' owners, has said cornerback Fred Smoot paid for one of the cruises on Lake Minnetonka last week. A total of about 90 people were present, Doyle said. They returned to shore more than two hours early when crew members complained of wild, lewd behavior.

The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office is investigating, and no charges have been filed.

Wilf said the team will cooperate fully with Hennepin County.

Wilf said he had already called Gov. Tim Pawlenty to apologize and planned more such calls to community leaders and NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue.

Wilf and the Vikings have been pursuing state money for a new $675 million stadium in Anoka County. Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson, who told the West Central Tribune that Wilf called him on Wednesday to apologize for the sex scandal, said the stadium deal is "literally off the radar screen."

Wilf also said head coach Mike Tice's job is not in jeopardy. The Vikings, expected to have a strong team this season, are off to a 1-3 start.

Wednesday, Smoot's agent, Bus Cook, told ESPN.com's John Clayton that the cornerback didn't pay for any of the cruises.

"Fred Smoot did not pay for this boat trip in any way," Cook said. "He didn't write a check for it. He didn't put it on his credit card. He did not pay money in any regard for this trip."

Cook, however, didn't deny that Smoot was one of the players in attendance.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Wilf and the Vikings have been pursuing state money for a new $675 million stadium in Anoka County. Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson, who told the West Central Tribune that Wilf called him on Wednesday to apologize for the sex scandal, said the stadium deal is "literally off the radar screen."

This part is most interesting. Sucks for Minnesota.

Wilf and the Vikings have been pursuing state money for a new $675 million stadium in Anoka County. Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson, who told the West Central Tribune that Wilf called him on Wednesday to apologize for the sex scandal, said the stadium deal is "literally off the radar screen."

This part is most interesting. Sucks for Minnesota.

They were off the radar screen before this. The earliest the legislature would have addressed the statdium deal was next spring. More likely though was 2007 since the entire legislature is up for re-election next year.

Eventually, the Twins are going to get tired of playing in the Metrodome without a lease and will be sold to someone who will move them elsewhere. Then the politicians will panic and get the stadium built to keep the Vikings here. I'm convinced that's how the stadium situation here is going to play out.

"literally off the radar screen."
Wow, he's got an actual radar screen to track proposals. How cool.

Wilf and the Vikings have been pursuing state money for a new $675 million stadium in Anoka County. Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson, who told the West Central Tribune that Wilf called him on Wednesday to apologize for the sex scandal, said the stadium deal is "literally off the radar screen."

This part is most interesting. Sucks for Minnesota.
It's funny. You would think that states would make these decisions (whether to shell out public money for sports teams) based on the normal "return on investment" way of looking at things. If, considering all of the tangible and intangible benefits of having a sports franchise, the Vikings will bring in more money over the term of a lease than it will cost to get them to sign that lease, then you should give them the public money. If not, then you should not. (I guess an even better way of looking at the question is--will they provide more of a return on the investment to the state than will other ventures into which the state could invest the money.).

Whether Fred Smoot got his willie diddled on a boat should have nothing to do with whether this deal makes sense for the people of Minnesota. The Louisiana legislature (pre-Katrina) was saying the same thing about the Saints--arguing that the team's win/loss record should have something to do with how much money they get from the state in order to stay. That never made sense to me. Either the team provides the state with a good return on investment or it does not. Why should Aaron Brooks fumble problems have anything to do with a billion dollar investment?

At least the Minnesota legislature can argue that they are "acting as guardians of the community morals" or some such B.S. Still, you have to have a pretty high view of morals if that is your primary motivation in making $600 million investments.

dola--and I am certainly no expert, but FWIW, the experts do seem to generally agree that sports teams are pretty bad investments for most states.

Wow, he's got an actual radar screen to track proposals. How cool.

LOL.

It's funny. You would think that states would make these decisions (whether to shell out public money for sports teams) based on the normal "return on investment" way of looking at things. If, considering all of the tangible and intangible benefits of having a sports franchise, the Vikings will bring in more money over the term of a lease than it will cost to get them to sign that lease, then you should give them the public money. If not, then you should not. (I guess an even better way of looking at the question is--will they provide more of a return on the investment to the state than will other ventures into which the state could invest the money.).
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If it was a simple business decision, it would be easy.

The decision is being made by people who do not want to anger voters. Votes are notoriously fickle.
Will it piss off more people to spend their hard earned tax dollars on a new stadium,
or will it piss off more to loose their beloved Vikings.
Would these people vote against you anyway?

Safest to talk a lot and do nothing.

For a couple of weeks now, Mike Tice has looked and sounded like a man who would be delighted to be fired.

For a couple of weeks now, Mike Tice has looked and sounded like a man who would be delighted to be fired.

You've only noticed that the last couple of weeks? ;)

Al & Alma's menu is much more elaborate with fancy salad dressings and rich sauces than it was when her parents ran the restaurant.
and even more so now....seriously, no one else wanted to take a shot with this? :)

In other news about those wacky Vikings:

They traded with San Diego & picked up a player who should fit right in: Guard Toniu Fonoti, a talented player who is a bit of a slacker.

Also, Onterrio The Whizinator Smith is been sued for sexual assault. **gasp**

Considering the issues they have had at right guard this year (mostly playing a rookie) he certainly can't hurt.