Sports Time!

There is nothing to write regarding budget talks so let's paraphrase some sports analogies for the end of session.

Democrats say Governor Pawlenty is trying to run out the clock, is playing a four corners offense and is moving the goal posts.

DFL House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher said the governor is also trying to extend the finish line.

Pawlenty and Republicans say Democrats are in the Red Zone but can't score, that they are missing an easy up and down and can't finish strong.

Here are some other ideas that we came up with in the press corps:

We're in the final lap.
They're missing an easy layup
They can't stick the landing.
They may belly flop this dive.
They missed a gimme putt.
A prevent defense is in effect.
There's a three yards and a cloud of dust approach to budget talks.
It's a sticky wicket!
They're not hitting for power.
Budget talks are on the ropes.
They're down for the count.

Martiga Lohn, with the AP, wants obscure sports metaphors. Can you help?

UPDATE: See my previous blog entry for "Tees off."

We're down to the last rock and hoping not to go extra ends! C'mon, Tom, it's all about curling.

Congrats on the softball win lastnight-if only I was there. . .

The Democrats are a lot like the Detroit Tigers - not quite living up to the expectations they set in 2006.

Pawlenty's a stumblebum who's fighting out of his weight class again, a third-rate palooka who barely crawled back into the ring last time around. We haven't seen prolonged agony like this since the Larry Holmes-Tex Cobb fight back in '82, but this time around there's no referee to call an end to this bloody disgrace.

This butchering isn't easy on the eyes, folks. The Dems came in with the weight advantage and Pawlenty hasn't won a single solitary round since the pummeling began. Pawlenty said he wanted to go the distance with the Dems, but now he's gone the distance and doesn't know where he is anymore. He's got a cauliflower ear, he's deaf to the need for a minimum wage hike for Minnesota working families. There's a cut over his eye, blood is streaming down his face, and he can't see Local Government Aid or direct homeowner relief. He's out on his feet, but still they won't call it off! Oh, the humanity, ladies and gentlemen!

Some would praise Pawlenty for showing heart, for refusing to throw in the towel--but that's not case, Pawlenty *would* throw in the towel, but he's so punch-drunk now he can't *find* the towel. They call a time out, raise their hand, and ask Pawlenty "how many fingers am I holding up?" and Pawlenty answers: "Thursday." He can't even tell his right from his left now, he'd go to a neutral corner but he can't find one anymore. The ring's spinning around him, but he won't go down, and he's so punchy he's telling reporters that his wife won't, either.