So I head to the doctor Wednesday to find out the latest on my shoulder/arm....For those of you who don't know me, I've had some issues for about three years in my shoulder area and some nerves in that area....Last year, when my arm would go numb and my fingers were tingling to the point where it became extremely uncomfortable, my mother strongly advised I head to the Doc. Let it be known i hate going to the doctors office. My blood pressure sky-rockets everytime...but that is neither here nor there...

So after six months of therapy, the problem wasn't going away. So I went back to the doc and after being referred to a specialist, he said I was on a fast track for surgery....but he prescribed more tests before we went that route (thank goodness)....So after more tests were performed from MRI, to X-Ray to a nerve study....I should have an answer tomorrow.

I've played sports all my life and I've never been seriously hurt. As I've led up to this point, I've thought a lot about this. I've prepared myself mentally for that the doctor will tell me tomorrow.....I don't care what the doc says tomorrow, as long as he tells me what's wrong. I'm tired of dealing with the pain/discomfort and if surgery is the way to go, then let's get it done. I just want to know what's wrong instead of guessing what it may be.

I'm not excited about being "shut down" for 4-6 weeks (if that's what ends up happening), as I am too much like my dad and grandpa, i can't sit still.....but if it means I'll be able to sleep thru-out the night with out my arm going numb, or shoot a game without a sharp pain going down my arm, or lift something over my head pain free, I guess 4-6 weeks won't be so bad.

So my wife's assistant coach returned from Bulgaria this week and we were playing catch up the other night and the topic of the Olympics came up. He can't get enough of it, and I've watched sparingly.

I truly believe the Olympics are a bigger deal to the rest of the world. My friend made it sound that people work their schedules around the Olympics. I know ratings are up for the Olympics, but I just don't plan my day around it. If it's on, I'm watching. But it's not a priority in my day. I usually catch the re-cap at night when I'm in bed. The few events I have watched have been swimming with Phelps, and some beach volleyball. But other than that, that's about it. By the time I get home, I already know what's happened as China is 13 hours ahead of us and very little of the programming is live.

So my question is.....Is the Olympics truly a big deal here in the States? Or is it a bigger deal to the rest of the world?

This past week, Dusty Coleman moved one step closer to his ultimate goal, the Major Leagues. Coleman signed with the Oakland A's Friday night and will report to their class "A" affiliate in Vancouver sometime this week.

Hundreds of kids dream about playing in the Majors. Heck I did one day, but changed paths (because I couldn't hit a curve ball to save my life) to my current dream.

The former O'Gorman standout joins an elite fraternity. He joins a list that includes Chad Greenway, Ben Leber, Adam Vinatieri, Mike Miller, Becky Hammon and Mark Ellis, all South Dakota natives who have made the people here very proud.

I'm not from South Dakota, but I do call this state home now and I see how people from this area follow their "own" at the next level. Coleman is another example that just because you are from a small state (that most people in the U.S. probably couldn't find on a map) that you're dreams can come true. Way to go Dusty and good luck on the climbing the ladder.

The start of NFL training camps always give me mixed signals. One, it means that summer is about over and that means my life is officially over. The summer's are somewhat of a time for me to put things in cruise control if you will....relax a bit. Once football starts, it's bedlum for the next six months until state basketball is over.

Two, it means it's football season, my favorite sport to cover. No hi-light is the same, and no sport in this state draws so much buzz for one game a week. It's great.

Back to my origin of the post. This past weekend, my trusty intern Jim and myself traveled to Mankato for the start of Vikes training camp (getting up at 4-30 is no walk in the park, especially for a guy who is not a morning person--but who is at 4-30). For us, training camp is an intense two days as we are trying to build up stories for the next three weeks and that's tough to do when you only get 15 minutes to shoot video of practice (apparently Brad Childress thinks some of us in the media are going to sell his practice footage to the highest bidder) and one camera. But we succeeded and got more than enough sound and video for the next few weeks.

It's an eye opener working the other side of the fence. It's truly a game trying to nab players following practice. They don't have to stop. But being this was my 5th NFL training camp, fourth with the Vikes, I know who will talk and who will be tough to get sound from. We had a list of players we had to get, a list of players we'd like to get and a list of guys that if we got, great, if we didn't, we weren't going to lose any sleep. So basically, it's like a cattle call and a free for all. It's quite amusing I guess to some, but to be honest, when Thor tells me you are going to camp, it's not an event I look forward to. It's a pain in the butt and it's two long, stressful days.

We got back Saturday and I went straight home for a nap, then met my wife for dinner and what not. I was out for about an hour and went straight home for a well deserved night of sleep. Man it was great to be home as camp simply wore me out.

A couple of notes from camp....Jared Allen is skinny and quite the character. He has twigs for legs and when he stands next to the Williams boy, he looks like Pee Wee Herman. But the guy will certainly be a boost for an already stout defense. He also keeps everyone loose with his happy go lucky attitude....Does Pat Williams ever not smile?

Adrian Peterson is the leader of the offense. Sidney Rice will be the new Randy Moss and the teams success hinges on Tarvaris Jackson (way to go out on limb there Tim). But if he can throw the ball, the Vikings will be tough to beat. Darren Sharper is hilarious. I'd rather watch paint dry than listen to a Brad Childress presser. Chad Greenway is the one player I always enjoy talking to. He's a goof-ball and loves having a good time with the local media.....Matt Birk is freakin smart.....Seriously, who does every coach wear long sleeves....Fellas, a memo, it's summer and it's hot....No need to show us how tough you are....I wish I was an NFL team owner so I could catch some punts during special teams drills.....

that's all for now...talk to you soon.

So the other day I was listening to an ESPN report on C.C. Sabathia and his trade to the Brew-Crew. Deep into the story, Sabathia was asked about this off-season (he's a free agent) and what he hopes to get on the free agent market and his response just irritated the heck out of me.

Before I go there, let's back track. It's ridiculous what MLB pitchers are getting paid these days. Case in point, Carlos Silva. A sub five hundred pitcher thru out his career who's making 40 plus million dollars the next few years who is like 1 and 13 this year (nice signing by the way Seattle). Then there is Barry Zito. One hundred plus million dollars for a pitcher who is what 4-12....I know it's not the players faults that they get this ridiculous money, but eventually it's us the fans who suffer as ticket prices get jacked up to pay for their salaries and then for us fans, you need a second mortgage to attend a game.

So back to C.C. His response to the reporters question on what he thinks he should make was this, "I just want to be able to be comfortable and take care of my family." Seriously, comfortable. Are you kidding me It reminds me of Latrell Spreewell a few years ago when he wanted what 20 million dollars a year to take care of his family. If you can't "take care of your family" with a million dollars, something is wrong with you. Sure we'd all love to have that money to take care of our family, but don't complain when you "only" get 10 million a year.

So to C.C., good luck getting the money you need to "take care of your family". Chances are with the recent struggles of pitchers making a billion dollars lately might make it hard for you to make the money you need to be "comfortable." For the rest of us, we'll just vomit when you aren't happy when you get a billioin dollars to work every 5th day.

I'm back from my wonderful 12 day vacation. Had a blast as I witnessed a Cardinals win (Troy Glaus hit a walk-off HR) and watched my sister get married. It was a great get-away and was something my wife and I sorely needed. Sad thing was it went by to fast.

But onto the topic of the blog, as I was getting ready for work today, the latest turn in the soap opera regarding Brett Favre's return to the NFL took another twist. After being denied his request to be released, Favre was then told he COULD come back and play for the Packers, but only as their backup QB. After learning that, Favre then asked if he could be an assistant coach. That request too was denied. This whole story is getting ridiculous and I'm tired of listening to every talk show host blab about it over and over.

Favre is the Roger Clemens of the NFL. He wants to play, but doesn't want to practice. Heck, we'd all love to do that.

I must say I'm neither a Viking or Packers fan, but I do appreciate what Favre did on the field. But by going back and forth on, does he want to play, does he not want to play, to me is ruining his legacy. Get the hint Brett, it's time to hang it up. Ride into the sunset on top as a legend....not a guy who couldn't make up his mind. There's a reason why the Packers are retiring your number the FIRST game of the year. They are ready to move on and so is this guy.

So it's that time of year, when everyone is on vacation. For Thor and myself, we have a short window to take time off. We can't take time off in February, May, July and November (as it's sweeps---ratings period for all you non TV folks) and we try not to take time off during football season or in March (when we were planning our wedding, it was rather difficult to find a day as my wife is a coach...I think we narrowed it down to a 3 week period) as that's state tournament time.

So it's always June and early August when we get away. I was off for a week in early June...Thor has been off since the 20th and I'm headed for vacay Wednesday (sister is getting married this weekend is why I've been granted time off). We'll work together for a week or so before Thor heads out with his family once more for vacay in early August before his kids start school. Then I'll take a quick break. It's just how it goes when you only have a two man staff.

So today, it's day 11 of 12 straight and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and let me tell you it's very hard working extra hard today. I'm heading home Wednesday to catch a Cards game with my wife and family and that's about all I can think about right now. I'm mentally exhausted as we had a very busy week in local sports last weekend but a few rounds of golf and some time with the family that I haven't seen since Christmas well definitely should cure that problem.

I've got two stories I need to put together before I head out Wednesday, and right now I'm struggling to write the final two. But, somehow someway I'll get it done. It's just the way it is with a two man department, some how someway we find a way to get it done.

So I work out a couple of times a week and absolutely look forward to it. It's one heck-of-a stress reliever and something I enjoy doing (and trust me, I know I need to be there). But I can't stand the people at the gym that have their cell phones with them at their side. It's a gym people, you are not there to talk on the phone, you are there to work out.

Today, I witnessed someone doing some curls while talking on their cell phone. I couldn't believe it. That phone call couldn't wait. I get even more annoyed at the people that text every five seconds at the gym. I know technology has taken over our lives, but leave your phones in the locker.

I leave my phone in the car for one simple reason. I love that one hour a day I get where no one can bother me. It's my time away from everything and everyone.

I love my phone and I love associating with people. But the gym is not the place to catch up with your friends on the phone. Save that for a car ride like I do.

Many of you have probably realized by now Thor is on a vacation with his family, leaving me to man the fort, if you will.

Tuesday night, being by myself (my trusty intern was shooting the races at I-90 Speedway) I pushed the envelope a little too far.

With the Canaries closing in on a division title, I gave them ample time to rally from a two run deficit . I usually only stay (when anchoring) till 8-30. That gives more than enough time to get back and get stuff done for the ten.

Well Tuesday, Jim (the intern) had a story ready for me at six so that allowed me to get some stuff done for the ten ready before I headed to the Birdcage (which really paid off later on).

Well 8-30 came and went and the Birds were down 3-1. Keep in mind the game was cruising as we were already into the 7th. (I can't recall the last 7th inning stretch I witnessed at the Birdcage) So I kept telling myself one more inning. I had 80% of my show ready. I'm OK. I can stay a little longer. Finally at 9, I said I have to go. But I wasn't heading back to the station, I was headed to the Storm's practice. I wanted some fresh sound from Kurtiss regarding this week's game. I got to practice at 920....waited till 9-35...got my interview....and then hauled major you know what back to KSFY. I walked in the door at 9-55 with everyone worried where I was (I had a message at home and a phone call on my cell from work wondering where I was at). I have to admit, I was a bit worried if I would get it all done. But in the end, I got it done (severe weather did help a bit) but as I told some colleagues after the show, "I would have got it done even if we didn't go on late!!"

I love that adrenaline rush. I get the same rush during football and basketball seasons pushing myself to the limit. I feel it keeps me on my toes and loving the job. Trust me, I know what my limitations are and how much time I need to get stuff done, but knowing I pulled it off was a lot of fun and one heck of a rush. My blood was pumping and I was pretty wired after the show.

And to top it all off, I bet no one at home knew the chaos involved in my night which is the way it's supposed to be.