That's not a moon, that's a shopping mall

Imagine the Death Star wasn't blown up. Imagine the Rebel Alliance found some other way to defeat the Galactic Empire, then they took over the Emperor's secret weapon, put in a thre-story Gap, a Rainforest Cafe and an amusement park.

Welcome to the Mall of America. Welcome to Minneapolis.

Apparently, shopping here is more popular than football, because the MOA was freaking mobbed last night, and yet there are Vikings officials outside the Metrodome handing out game tickets for free. Trenton Times reporter John Nalbone had a parking pass that he tried to give away, and he failed. It's 35 minutes before kickoff here, and the place is about a quarter full of sleepy, half-interested folks in Moe Williams jerseys.

I heard this place was supposed to be really loud, but so far, I'm unconvinced.

By the way, it looks like right tackle Jon Runyan is playing. He's not on the inactive list, despite that broken tailbone. God bless him, he's the toughest, hairiest man I've ever met.