Vikings Get NFL Stadium Money, 49ers Get...Alex Smith

"How in the hell did I end up here?"

Interesting news from the commissioner's office today, as the league announced it will provide financial support for the Vikings' proposed new stadium. On the surface, it seems like a no-brainer to keep the Vikings from fleeing to Los Angeles or elsewhere. However, considering the NFL has stated many times over the past few years that their magical stadium fund has run dry (now that New York has their fancy new facility), I bet the Niners are pissed off that they haven't received any similar committment from King Goodell.

What's most irritating is that, in theory, the Vikings have no business getting a new stadium before the Niners. The Metrodome is only about 30 years old (Candlestick Park is over 50 years old). It's even hosted a Super Bowl. Unfortunately, the Metrodome is also a poorly-executed and flawed stadium that has always been ridiculed throughout the NFL and Major League Baseball. When the roof (ceiling?) collapsed last season, that was the final straw for the Vikings (the Twins had already said adios to the Metrodome a year earlier). So, because Minnesota had their heads up their asses when they designed and built the Metrodome, they are getting another new stadium with a little help from the league and some money that has magically re-appeared.

Meanwhile, in Ninerland, Alex Smith has affirmed that he will likely stay with the 49ers. I mentioned yesterday that it's a case of two desperate parties that still need to rely on each other. It's not like Alex Smith will be fielding phonecalls from any of the other 31 teams in the league to be their starting quarterback, and the Niners can't seem to come up with a better alternative than a seventh (SEVENTH!) season with Smith at the helm.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me seven times and I'm a goddamned idiot who doesn't know my ass from a hole in the ground and I should sell my football team.