By Tom Powers
St. Paul Pioneer Press
Signs from above don’t always come in the form of a lightning bolt.
Last week, we were playing Sandtrap Golf Course, a lovely, nine-hole, par-36 layout up near Cass Lake. It’s a wonderful way to start the day. A cup of coffee at the cabin and then load up the clubs and off we go. It was an absolutely gorgeous morning, too - sunny, relatively cool and with surprisingly low humidity.
It was a day made for golf, and approaching the first tee box, we couldn’t help but notice that it all appeared to be a picture postcard come to life. We felt lucky to be there. Then we began our round.
Within an hour, I was miserable, struggling as always to avoid embarrassment. Stress-induced sweat soaked my shirt. When you’re really bad, you learn to wear black on the golf course. And a wide-brimmed hat. And a fake nose and glasses. Many years after first picking up a club, my claim to fame remains being responsible for the premature retirement of several swing coaches.
A good part of the problem is that I am as flexible as a crowbar. The rest of it has to do with a general lack of ability. My limitations are limitless.
No matter, come summer we’re out there - somewhere - once or twice a week, waiting for it all to “kick in.” There’s always the hope that this is going to be the day when it all comes together. But it never does. Almost always, the highlight of the round is bringing the scorecard to the local watering hole and getting two for one.
I can afford to pay for two beverages. But getting one for free makes me feel as though I’m being compensated for the recent misery on the golf course.
After teeing off on the seventh at Sandtrap, and then slamming a 3-wood back into the bag and slumping into the golf cart, I asked the question I had asked hundreds of times before:
“Did you see where it went?”
“No, I lost it when it went into the ... (trees, water, parking lot, other fairway, Cub Foods).”
And as we motored along in the general direction of where the ball might have gone, we heard a loud, clattering noise. At first, we didn’t pay much attention. But we soon realized what happened: My golf bag had come loose, and it was lying on the grass about 50 yards behind us. Clubs were everywhere.
There was no question about what had just happened.
“It’s a sign from God,” my golfing companion said solemnly.
Yes, I had to agree. Enough is enough. Time to find another hobby.
I truly believe in signs from above. We should embrace them because they are for our own good. This is why the Vikings should reconsider their position on running back Adrian Peterson. They should have traded him last season when his value remained relatively high. Instead, they insisted he wouldn’t be moved under any circumstances.
They need to revisit that. This whole thing with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was a sign. Peterson tells Jones he’d like to be a Cowboy. Jones replies that would be peachy. What are the Vikings waiting for? Jones, still suffering from remorse over not drafting flashy Johnny Manziel, could bite on a decent deal in order to make a splash.
There are so many solid, logical reasons for trading Peterson. He’s getting older; he’s taken a pounding; he’s breaking down. I still believe he is an elite player, right near the top of the NFL running backs list. But his clock is ticking. By the time Vikings are ready to contend, by the time Teddy Bridgewater emerges as a game-changing quarterback, Peterson will be past his prime.
The Vikings’ goal always has been to be serious contenders when they move into their new stadium in two years. Bridgewater should be ready and able by then. After two more years of pounding, where will a very expensive Peterson be?
Obviously, trading him wouldn’t be popular with the fans. And A.P. might still have a monster year left in him. But what’s the goal here?
The Vikings aren’t going to make the playoffs this season. GM Rick Spielman should at least see if Jones is willing to part with something substantial. And if he is, hey, make a deal.
The Peterson-Jones conversation - which, incidentally, was wrong on so many levels - was a sign. Yet I’m afraid the Vikings won’t pay any attention to it. Some people just aren’t very smart about these things.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a tee time.
The Pioneer Press is in a media partnership with Forum News Service.
