Wayne Hattaway is the gentleman with the oversized mustache, glasses and Twins cap who can be seen occasionally in the dugout. Wayne was a long-time equipment manager in the Twins organization and carries the nickname, "Big Fella,'' because that has been his salutation for every male person that he encountered
Asked his role with the Twins, Big Fella will say, "I'm in charge of telling him how good they ain't.'' Obviously, it has been difficult for Hattaway to keep up with that task over the past four seasons.
Hattaway was infamous for his one-liners to minor leaguers, including this encouragement after a failed effort by a Twins signee:
"It's not your fault, son. It's the scout that signed you.''
It is time to transfer that requiem to the Vikings. After Thursday night, we should offer a mythical slap on the back to quarterback Christian Ponder and say in unison:
"It's not your fault, son. It's the guy that drafted you 12th.''
Rick Spielman's failure was the Vikings' embarrassment in Lambeau Field – the final chapter in Ponder's astounding decline from a first start with promise vs. the Packers in October 2011, to a 36th start with no chance vs. the Packers in October 2014.
As bad as it was, Ponder's effort barely makes the Vikings' top five for futile quarterbacking vs. the Packers. Here's a horrific handful:
