I've got one more week to coach Ian Hindmarsh, a guy I have the utmost respect for, and Ben Cross who I admire as well, so I want those two to go out on a high.

[Another factor in the escalating respect for Biggie concerns changes within hip hop itself.] Biggie was part of a dying breed of real lyricists, ... He continued the East Coast tradition of Big Daddy Kane or LL of being heavy on lyrics with metaphors and similes. He was a great storyteller.

I totally respect their decision. Obviously I am disappointed that I won't be able to contribute on the field this year. But looking long-term, hopefully this surgery gives me another five, six or seven years on the field playing for the Minnesota Vikings.

They must have had a secret training session during the week. We're not the type of side that can afford to do that.

Potentially without addressing it, it could have been very serious. I might have to be a bit cautious the next time I tell a bloke to toughen up.

They were playing a zone, and we were doing a good job of getting it to the middle and kicking it out. We were playing good team basketball, that's what opened it up.