When Brad Childress coached the Minnesota Vikings to the NFC North title in 2008, it was their first division championship since 2000.

Last year, the Vikes again won the division, and then lost in the NFC championship game to the eventual Super Bowl champion Saints in New Orleans.

Now, 10 games into the 2010 season, Childress has been fired -- with three years remaining on his contract -- with the Vikings at 3-7 amidst widespread disarray and discontent.

How, one wonders, does it all fall apart so fast?

Ten games. That's all it's been since the Vikings were on the brink of going to the Super Bowl.

Now Childress is gone.

Ten games.

Mind-boggling.

While not as perplexing, what's also interesting in today's sports pages is why URI hoops recruit Trahson Burrell, of Albany, N.Y., would leave St. Thomas More to go to Summit Christian Academy in Michigan.

Summit Christian Academy?

Michigan?

Wonder who's paying his tuition? And his travel expenses?