Vikings

Getting "Blast"ed for kids

Filed under: Vikings

Click here for a slideshow of Arctic Blast.

Arctic Blast XIII
February 9-10, 2008
Lake Mille Lacs

“949… 459,” announced the pear shaped man sporting a Miller Lite “Field Crew” vest and standing atop the Buzzie’s at the Bay bar. Next to him stood a woman wearing a similar pink vest and holding a Minnesota Vikings sweatshirt. It was one of many such raffles during this 13th annual event held on Minnesota’s second largest lake. “Woooooo,” screamed the blatantly intoxicated man in the crowd with a vacant stare whose insulated bibs and jeans had accomplished the seemingly impossible feat of teaming up to bare his ass crack to the rest of the bar’s patrons. He hadn’t won. He probably didn’t even have a raffle ticket, or if he did it was probably wallowing in the massive puddle of spilt $3 Miller Lites pooling at his feet. This man was the exception though. The Viking’s Arctic Blast is about two things: one, fans young and old from out-state Minnesota getting a chance to get up-close to larger-than-life professional football players; and two, raising money for the Viking’s Children Fund while providing a shot in the arm for the local watering holes and businesses during the off-peak winter months.

Drink Miller and everyone wins!

According to the team’s website, the Vikings' Children Fund is the way players, coaches and executives address the many needs of children in the upper Midwest. The fund focuses on family services such as shelters for homeless families and education resources for troubled youth in the community. The fund also provides funding opportunities for researchers at the University of Minnesota’s Department of Pediatrics.

Of course many of us remember how five years ago the Arctic Blast was anything but charitable. During the 8th Annual Blast, two incidents reportedly occurred involving former and active players and female attendees of the event. Two players were accused of sexual assault: former back-up quarterback Todd Bouman, who was never charged, and former running back Ted Brown, who now faces first- and third-degree sexual assault charges. This was two years before the team further tarnished its name on another body of water during the Love Boat scandal.

Todd has very few fans on Mille Lacs

Charity or debauchery? Child welfare or felonies? The question I had before heading north was, “What kind of “Blast” will this year’s be?”

Photographer in tow, our day began at the now infamous Eddy’s Resort. About 150-250 people gathered in the banquet room to gear up in every conceivable shade of neon coat for the day of snowmobiling. As in every Minnesotan gathering, the weather is a favorite topic. It made sense given the forecast of plummeting temperatures and winds of 40 mph+. In the interest of full disclosure, we did not snowmobile. We were happy just to bar hop from each “Official Blast Point” to the next following the Vikings as they traversed clockwise this 60 mile-in-circumference beast of a frozen lake. A quick walk around the room made it pretty clear that the player participation record was safe. Given the scheduling conflict with the Pro-bowl (it is still unclear whether or not the planners just assumed no Vikings would actually make the Pro-bowl) it was safe to assume beforehand that the most popular Vikings would be half a world away, both literally and climatically, in Honolulu. The lineup of current and former players included backup quarterback, Wisconsin native Brooks Bollinger, rookie wide receiver Aundrae Allison, punter Chris Kluwe (more on him in a moment), Hall of Fame members Carl Eller and Paul Krause, and former linebacker Scott Studwell. Local resident Mike Warden was somewhat disappointed with this year’s turnout, but stressed that the weather probably had a lot to do with it.

Ronnie Holt could never be disappointed with any Vikings event

Vikings Fun Fact: a quick Wikipedia search reveals that not only is Chris Kluwe amongst the 10 highest paid punters in the league, but he’s also an avid World of Warcraft player and a member of its Flying Hellfish Guild maintaining a level 70 Rogue on the Kil’Jaeden server.

Whatever that means.

How does he fend off the swirlies in the locker-room?

After departing Eddy’s, the next stop was the Blue Goose Inn located in the small town of Garrison. The Blue Goose décor caters to local fisherman’s ultimate fantasies: a three and a half foot muskie graces the wall next to a fake eight foot marlin. It was only noon, but with Miller Lites only $3 today, few could afford not to tip one back. The Goose was the first Blast point raffling off signed version of everything from baseball hats to bicycles. Our seat by the window afforded us a view of Scott Studwell, now director of college scouting for the Vikes, conversing with some fellow snowmobilers before firing up a cigar in front of this somewhat confusing sign:

The only clear message is that you can eat many, many ribs for not a lot of money

One of the most amazing parts of this event were how many wide-eyed kids were in attendance and clutching a hat, t-shirt, or football ready for the signature of someone that they might not even recognize but are nevertheless in awe.

After the Goose we were off to Buzzie’s on the Bay, a spirited joint with a lively raffle. As the Vikes came in off the lake the fatigue was noticeable. The wind had really picked up and everything had become more difficult. I sat down with Carl Eller to ask him his thoughts of the event. “The event overall is great. It’s well staged, you get a chance to make all of these stops in different communities and everyone welcomes you. It’s really a nice deal.” The hall of famer was one of the most popular Vikings in attendance as evident by the long lines of autograph seekers at each blast point. He was admittedly not an avid snowmobiler, but this was not his first Blast. “Oh, it’s cold man, my fingers were froze. My thumb… it was supposed to have a heater but my thumb was like, frozen. I couldn’t move it off the throttle, maybe that’s why I was going so fast.”

I should have asked Carl if riding a snowmobile reminds him of his time riding a motorcycle in the Black 6.

Before leaving Buzzie’s Scott Studwell approached our table, which happened to be near his helmet and coat. This led to the following exchange:

Scott: What time does the sunset up here?
Us: Oh, about 5:30 or 6. Where do you live these days?
Scott: Eden Prairie.

Our day ended at the final “Official Blast Point,” the Bayview Bar. The sun had set, (although maybe not in Eden Prairie, we’re not sure) and the wind was unbearable resulting in near whiteout conditions on the lake. KFAN’s Dave Allen was heard making plans to drive a car back to the resort. Off in the corner of the bar, a couple of white PVC troughs were filled with water and a Miller Lite banner advertised minnow races, with proceeds benefiting the Children’s Fund. The young brunette working the races convinced Chris Kluwe and Carl Eller to try their hand at racing bait. In the end, Carl Eller was victorious beating the punter and two other participants. A local observer bought him a celebratory eggnog shot at the bar.

Who says Carl Eller and Chris Kluwe have nothing in common?

The 13th Annual Arctic Blast fortunately won’t be remembered for any inappropriateness but rather for the bitter cold that made the snowmobiling difficult. The kids who attended will remember those who signed their t-shirts, the bar owners will remember the added business and an untold number of needy children will remember the help made possible through this event.

Posted by Eric Refsland at February 11, 2008 8:45 PM | Comments (0)

 

City Pages gets belated memo: This Peterson kid can play

Filed under: Vikings

As things stand, Robert Smith is the top running back in Minnesota Vikings history. But let's do some number crunching. In his first two NFL seasons, Smith rushed for 505 yards. By contrast, consider Adrian Peterson. In his first five games, the rookie has rushed for 607 yards.

Sure, Smith was injured for much of his early career. But the numbers are clear: If Peterson can stay healthy, he's going to be really, really great. Don't believe Peterson is the second (or first!) coming? Geography doesn't lie.

Posted by Jonathan Kaminsky at October 16, 2007 3:02 PM | Comments (0)

 

We're number 25!

Filed under: Vikings

In a survey of seemingly somewhat dubious scientific validity released today, Minneapolis has been ranked the 25th best professional football tailgating city in the country. The Vikings somehow ranked just behind Los Angeles, which last I checked does not have an NFL franchise. On the upside we beat out Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, New Orleans, Detroit, St. Louis, and Seattle. Who's number one? Baltimore. (Cribbed from the redoubtable D.C. Sports Bog.)

Posted by Paul Demko at September 10, 2007 12:07 PM | Comments (0)

 

Another Vikings stadium design unveiled

Filed under: Vikings

Yesterday, the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission (MSFC) reviewed plans for redeveloping the site of the Metrodome as a multi-use, retractable-roof behemoth for the Minnesota Vikings. The ROMA Design Group unveiled a $954 million facility that would supposedly anchor a mixed-use redevelopment of the eastern edge of downtown, and would include a light rail train station, a plaza, and streetscapes connecting downtown to the river. In a story posted at Vikings.com, Roy Terwilliger, Chairman of the MSFC, declared, "Today, we saw a vision for what can be next—a world-class, retractable-roof stadium that can make Minnesota a year-round host to major events—and a driver for development that enhances our quality of life. We have the opportunity to secure the benefits of an NFL franchise and those of a year-round, multi-use facility for the next 30 years."

A graph on the website shows the facility's price tag to be similar to a stadium project in development in Dallas ($932 million for a retractable roof stadium), but significantly lower than a proposal for New York City ($1.7 billion for a new open-air stadium). The cost of acquiring additional land is estimated at $8.89 million and construction of the retractable roof portion of the stadium would cost $200 million. SRF Consulting Group has noted redeveloping the current site would save hundreds of millions of dollars in infrastructure costs that would incur if a suburban location were chosen. Two designs from ROMA are posted below:

Posted by Corey Anderson at April 20, 2007 1:48 PM | Comments (2)

 

Without offensive improvement, the Vikes could face a long, ugly season

Filed under: Vikings

The 2007 Minnesota Vikings schedule has been announced, and, at first glance, it looks like it could be an uphill battle all the way. Chicago looks to chew up the NFC North once again, including a Bears-Vikes match-up on Monday Nght Football in mid-December at the Metrodome. The Vikes will also face quality AFC West teams, including San Diego, Kansas City, and Denver. Add games against Philadelphia, Dallas, Atlanta, and the New York Giants (who may not be great, but always seem to have our number) and it could be a pretty rocky season unless there's notable improvement in the receiver corps and at the quarterback position (Brooks? Tarvaris? Brady Quinn?). Tell me what you think!

2007 Vikings schedule after the jump...

Preseason
Friday, August 10 St. Louis Rams
Friday, August 17 at New York Jets
Saturday, August 25 at Seattle Seahawks
Thursday, August 30 Dallas Cowboys

Regular Season
Sunday, September 9 Atlanta Falcons
Sunday, September 16 at Detroit Lions
Sunday, September 23 at Kansas City Chiefs
Sunday, September 30 Green Bay Packers
Sunday, October 7 BYE
Sunday, October 14 at Chicago Bears
Sunday, October 21 at Dallas Cowboys
Sunday, October 28 Philadelphia Eagles
Sunday, November 4 San Diego Chargers
Sunday, November 11 at Green Bay Packers
Sunday, November 18 Oakland Raiders
Sunday, November 25 at New York Giants
Sunday, December 2 Detroit Lions
Sunday, December 9 at San Francisco 49ers
Monday, December 17 Chicago Bears
Sunday, December 23 Washington Redskins
Sunday, December 30 at Denver Broncos

Posted by Corey Anderson at April 12, 2007 11:48 AM | Comments (2)

 

Koren Robinson: In what sense bulletproof?

Filed under: Vikings

Until about 10:45 last night when he was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and fleeing the police, Viking flanker Koren Robinson was one of the team's major feel-good stories. Everyone, it seemed, was writing pieces about Robinson's redemption, tracing his career arc from troubled Seattle Seahawk to sober Viking team leader poised for a breakout season. In retrospect, the one that caught my eye was this profile from Chicago Tribune's Don Pierson:

[A]larms went off in June when word from South Carolina arrived suggesting Robinson had had a relapse. He said he was only attending relapse prevention classes.

"I just want to make sure I'm good for the season before I put myself back in that lifestyle," Robinson told the Associated Press at the time. "In the NFL, when you lose, you feel real down and when you win, there's a lot of celebrating. I'm just making sure I'm bulletproof and being proactive."

For anyone familiar with sportswriter Dan Jenkins'classic "Ten Stages of Drunkeness," it is Robinson's stated aspiration that he wanted to become "bulletproof" that should have set off alarms. In the Jenkins model, you may recall, bulletproof constitutes the final stage of inebritation. Here's the rest of the list:

1. Witty and Charming
2. Rich and Powerful
3. Benevolent
4. Clairvoyant
5. Fuck Dinner
6. Patriotic
7. Crank up the Enola Gay
8. Witty and Charming, Part II
9. Invisible
10. Bulletproof

Posted by Mike Mosedale at August 16, 2006 10:12 AM | Comments (12)

 

Koren Robinson in the Nicollet County Jail

Filed under: Vikings

Vikings fans received the bad news yesterday that top draft pick Chad Greenway will miss the rest of the season with a possible torn anterior cruciate ligament. Today brings news No. 1 wide receiver Koren Robinson is sitting in the Nicollet County jail, accused of drunken driving, reckless driving, speeding, fleeing police, and driving without a valid license. Seattle released Robinson after a drunken driving arrest in May 2005. Is this the beginning of the end for the Vikings's 2006 season? Is it Troy Williamson's turn to show us what he's got? Will Robinson ever wear purple again? Let's hear it.

Posted by Corey Anderson at August 16, 2006 9:37 AM | Comments (2)

 

Tuesday morning quarterback

Filed under: Vikings

If you're looking for a Robson-esque analysis of last night's Vikings-Raiders game, you should probably look elsewhere. Consider this an open thread to share your thoughts. As far as the QBs are concerned, Brad Johnson was steady as always, and Mike McMahon was mediocre as always. Fourth-stringer J.T. O'Sullivan made some gaffes, but also showed some potential. The big story would have to be third-stringer Tarvaris Jackson, who went 7-for-13 for 60 yards with 36 yards of rushing tossed in, prompting one of the ESPN commentators to state that he resembled a "right-handed Michael Vick." The other news, of course, was first-round pick Chad Greenway leaving the game in the first quarter after injuring his knee. No news as yet on the extent of his injury, but rumor has it, he could be out for the season. Let's hear what you think about Brad Childress's first game as head coach of the Minnesota Vikings.

Posted by Corey Anderson at August 15, 2006 9:15 AM | Comments (7)

 

The Vikings de-horned? Thankfully, no.

Filed under: Vikings

G.R. Anderson Jr. just sent me jpegs (from an anonymous tipster) of some Minnesota Vikings uniform prototypes: "The day they traded Culpepper, all the Viking people at Winter Park were trying to get the press to ask about the new uniforms, right? The purple pants? I have to say, those people were right! I can't wait to see those on Bryant McKinnie." Understanding that these aren't the final uniform designs, and probably not even the work of designers commissioned by the Vikes, the first infraction would be the loss of the horns on the helmet. Reducing these icons to silkscreened flair on the sleeves would be nothing short of sacrilege. A Vikings helmet without horns is like Samson without his hair, who I think went 7-9 after his trim. Contrary to the images found after the jump, Vikings Review blogger Mr. Weatherstone posted on March 29 that Vikings owner Zygi Wilf had announced the horns on the helmet would remain.

 

In an e-mail exchange with Anderson about these concepts, I had to tweak him with a friend's theory that new uniforms equal Super Bowl victories, citing the Broncos, Patriots, and Buccaneers as examples. Anderson, a nurturing mentor figure around the office, described me as "pathetically delusional" in regard to the Purple and Gold achieving such a feat. I concurred supernatural forces would have to be at work for the Vikings to break the Runestone curse.

And then I cried quietly in my office.

UPDATE: From vikings.com: Please join us on Thursday, April 27, as the Minnesota Vikings celebrate the unveiling of the team's new uniforms in the Rotunda at the Mall of America. Hosted by the radio voice of the Vikings, Paul Allen, the event will run from 6:00-6:30 p.m. with current Vikings players, including Matt Birk, Jim Kleinsasser, Mewelde Moore, Jermaine Wiggins, Kevin Williams, Pat Williams and Troy Williamson scheduled to showcase the new designs. Head Coach Brad Childress will address the crowd while alumni, including the first-ever Vikings draft choice Tommy Mason, as well as Joey Browner, Paul Krause, Jim Marshall and Randall McDaniel, plus Vikings cheerleaders and other representatives, will also take part in the event.

UPDATE: The new uniforms revealed on Thursday, April 27 aren't much of an improvement over these fan designs. What do you think?

 

Posted by Corey Anderson at April 14, 2006 12:23 PM | Comments (15)

 

The 2006 Minnesota Vikings Schedule

Filed under: Vikings

The National Football League released their schedule today. The Vikings season is as follows:

PRESEASON
Week 1 Oakland 8:00 p.m. (ESPN)
Week 2 @ Pittsburgh
Week 3 Baltimore
Week 4 @ Dallas

SEASON
Sep 11 @ Washington 7:00pm
Sep 17 Carolina 1:00pm
Sep 24 Chicago 1:00pm
Oct 1 @ Buffalo 1:00pm
Oct 8 Detroit 1:00pm
Week 6 BYE
Oct 22 @ Seattle 4:15pm
Oct 30 New England 8:30pm
Nov 5 @ San Francisco 4:05pm
Nov 12 Green Bay 1:00pm
Nov 19 @ Miami 1:00pm
Nov 26 Arizona 1:00pm
Dec 3 @ Chicago 1:00pm
Dec 10 @ Detroit 1:00pm
Dec 17 N.Y. Jets 1:00pm
Dec 21 @ Green Bay 8:00pm
Dec 31 St. Louis 1:00pm

I'm guessing 9-7... how about you?

Posted by Corey Anderson at April 6, 2006 1:09 PM | Comments (4)

 

March Madness: High School Edition

Filed under: Prep , Prep , Prep , Prep , Prep , Prep , Prep

Last week, Kevin Garnett "scolded" (Star Tribune) some of his teammates for laughing after another loss.

It was difficult to not think about Garnett and the moribund style of basketball the NBA plays while watching two terrific high school basketball games Wednesday night. The gym in Maple Grove was packed with parents and students, all of whom had a stake in the outcome: win or go home. Gophers coach Dan Monson sat on the bleachers in the corner, eating popcorn and salivating over the raw and tough city kids before him (salivating, that is, if he's got an iota of coaching acumen left in him).

Greg Boone was there, too. Boone played for Minneapolis Central in the glory days of Minneapolis basketball, and is now an avid youth-sports organizer. He once told me that people often tell him that the '75-'76 Central team featuring Boone, William Henry, Greg Maddox, Duane Nelson, and Andre Griffin was the greatest high school basketball team they've ever seen. They once beat Edison, 100-25.

Central was undefeated in 1976. I was there the night when sharp-shooting roly-poly point guard Johnny Hunter and the North Polars beat them in the regionals in front of 7,000 at the old Met Center. The next day's banner headline in the sports page of the Minneapolis Tribune screamed: North Shocks Central.

That's how it was. Two classes: A and AA, winners and losers, and not everybody got a trophy or a certificate. And it now occurs to me that Griffin introduced me to Minnesota's version of racism. His senior year, Griffin and Marshall-U's Rodney Hargest engaged in a ferocious scoring duel, and Minneapolis basketball lovers followed it with all the zeal that college hoopsheads have followed this season's duel between Duke's J.J. Reddick and Gonzaga's Adam Morrison.

Hargest dropped 52 one night; the next day in a matinee at Washburn, I watched Griffin drop 53 on dead-eye shooter Tim Wahl and a very good Southwest squad.

Griffin was the best high school basketball player in the state, along with two other black players, Hargest and De La Salle's Mark James, and Wahl. But when it came to the Mr. Basketball awards at the end of the year, the powers that be gave it to some white out-state sled named Peterson. After the banquet, I watched Griffin walk through the parking lot with his runner-up trophy, unfastening his tie and looking beyond dejected.

Last night, my old baseball coach Pat Widell called me up to go to the game. I've written about my love for high school ball before, and I'm always amazed at how refreshing it is. I saw old friends and met their kids. "Is it as intense as you remember it?," said the wife of the brother of my first girlfriend, laughing at me and Pat as we rode a ref for not calling a foul after one of our lads got mugged by three players late in the game. We weren't even the loudest fans in the gym, and amazingly, nobody got thrown out for heckling or rooting.

Game report: The Minneapolis De La Salle Islanders celebrated what would have been the 45th birthday of Kirby Puckett and the birth of my niece, Sara Ann "Puck" Woll, with a thrilling double-overtime victory over their arch rivals, the Benilde-St. Margaret's Red Knights. Kids hit the floor for balls, made dramatic shots, and played hellacious defense. When a river rat named Joe Scott hit an eight-foot jumper to win it at the buzzer, one of the Benilde kids crumpled to the floor and started crying. The De kids went wild, and in the post-game hand-shaking line, consoled the devastated Red Knights.

Somewhere across town, a bunch of millionaire professional basketball players were laughing after yet another loss, and a broken-down millionaire quarterback demanded, and got, traded. Somewhere else, the Minneapolis De La Salle Islanders girls' team was getting ready to play in their first state tournament.

Admission: $6

Hot dog: $2

Pop, candy, popcorn: $1

We stuck around and watched the first half of Minneapolis Patrick Henry against Orono. Henry is the class of the state, and the Orono kids were the most frightened white people I've seen in ages, but they were big and well-coached and they gave it their all. Henry won by 25, and plays De Friday night in the regional final.

I'm coaching my ten-year-old son Henry in basketball at Pearl Park again this year. A few weeks ago, I had to talk to him about shooting too much. He plays just like me: never met a shot he doesn't like. I had to come with the do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do thing and tell him that guys don't like to play with ball hogs ("bucks" in my day), that basketball is best when you pass; when you move the ball and move without the ball, when the five acts as one. He was so pissed off at me. He was embarrassed. We had words.

Our next game was against one of his best friends', Jonathan's, team, whose coach I play pick-up ball with on Sunday mornings. It was a great game. Everybody in the packed gym was into it, the game went into overtime, and my son hit a three-pointer to win it. At the end of the game, our guys went nuts, and Henry came over to the bench and gave me a quick hug.

I'm bringing him and as many of his teammates as can make it to see the Henry-De game Friday night. I want them to get psyched for our all-day tournament at Pearl on Saturday. I want them to see basketball played by people who love the game and play it the right way, but don't get paid for it. I want them to see cool older guys caring passionately about the game, so much so that some of them get their hearts broken. I want them to know that getting your heart broken is part of life, but that if you're lucky, you might live long enough to hang around the perimeter and put up a few threes.

Posted by Jim Walsh at March 15, 2006 10:53 AM | Comments (13)

 

And by "seals their fate" I meant 5-game winning streak

Filed under: Vikings

Buck the Idiot's got nothing on me when it comes to prognosticating. Sports pundits around the country picked the Vikings to make it to the Super Bowl this year, with a well-stocked defense and locker room distraction Randy Moss shipped off to Oakland. Well, the defense choked and sputtered, and Daunte Culpepper, without his go-to guy, seemed a bit lost in the backfield. All that talent on the field, in the hands of Mike Tice, Steve Loney, and Ted Cottrell, added up to 2-5.

In an October 31 post, I stated Culpepper's season-ending injury would sink the Vikings ship. It seemed between off-field antics and on-field lack of production, Pep's blown knee was the last gasp for this team. And, of course, I was completely wrong, which is why I don't get paid to write about sports. I would agree with most of the sporting world's talking heads that, with Brad Johnson we had the most capable back-up in the league, and the combination of his slowing down the offense, and the defense starting to gel, the Vikings aren't winning flashy, but they're winning.

Chicago looks to take the division with their dominating defense, but the Vikes are gunning for a wild card spot. While some of their opponents in the final weeks have been struggling (St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Baltimore), none of them look like an easy win, and the final game against the Bears could decide whether the Vikes get into the playoffs - an ugly scenario for Vikes fans with obnoxious Bear-fan friends such as yours truly. However, if the Vikes manage to win two out of the next three, a 9-7 record should be enough in the anemic NFC to keep them playing beyond New Year's Day.

Posted by Corey Anderson at December 5, 2005 10:47 AM | Comments (0)

 

Are the Vikings better without Daunte?

Filed under: Vikings

Sports Illustrated columnist Jeffri Chadiha dares to say in yesterday's column that the Vikings may be a better team without injured QB Daunte Culpepper: "I hate saying this because I like Culpepper, and his injury was gruesome. I cringe every time I see Panthers cornerback Chris Gamble barreling into Culpepper's right knee like a bowling ball crashing into pins. Yet here's the hard truth about Culpepper that anybody with an experienced eye could see before he went down: He was one of the Vikings' biggest problems." Chadiha feels the rest of the Vikes realize they have to step up now that they can no longer place the team's fate solely on Culpepper's arm. Read the entire column here.

Posted by Corey Anderson at November 16, 2005 11:24 AM | Comments (4)

 

Culpepper's knee seals Vikings's fate

Filed under: Vikings

ESPN is reporting Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper has a torn ACL, MCL and PCL in his right knee ending his season. Culpepper was running for an 18-yard gain in Sunday's loss to Carolina when cornerback Chris Gamble came in from the side and tackled Culpepper's leg. Tice noted the team must now rally around back-up Brad Johnson. "Brad doesn't have the same arm Daunte has," Tice stated, "[but] Brad has played a lot more games than Daunte has. We can make up for the different styles by going to more short passing to give ourselves a chance to suit his style. Brad is a very good quarterback, he's won a Super Bowl. We have faith in Brad."

Posted by Corey Anderson at October 31, 2005 2:36 PM | Comments (3)

 

Can Rev. Ragnar save the Vikes?

Filed under: Vikings

This morning's Strib featured a bizarre interview with the unkempt motorcycle-riding Vikings mascot Ragnar that read like a Katherine "Rotary rocks!" Kersten column. Ragnar believes the Vikings are part of a society that celebrates scandalous TV shows such as "Sex and the City" and "The Simpsons," and didn't punish Bill Clinton for those West Wing BJs. "I believe as a country we've gotten away from abstinence," bemoaned Ragnar. One wonders whether the righteous mascot, who spends his weekdays as an assistant dean of students at Hopkins High School, is at all concerned about the NFL's promoting violence to its all-ages audience.

Posted by Corey Anderson at October 14, 2005 11:46 AM | Comments (1)

 

Mike Tice death watch, Week 3

Filed under: Vikings

Like the wall posters that students hung during China's Cultural Revolution, the American novelty tee shirt is the place where we fight the ideological battles of our age.

Why go to high school when you can go to school high?

It's not a beer belly: It's a fuel tank for a sex machine.

Here we see the debate between American hedonism and the Puritan ethic played out in a public forum.

And so it surely marks a cultural turning point that there now exists a t-shirt that demands that the Vikings cashier the man who is now widely considered the least competent coach in the NFL. The creator of the "Fire Mike Tice" tee sells merchandise under the name "American Blue Voice," alongside a variety of Democratic sloganeering. (The Vikings field marshal prominently endorsed the nation's commander in chief during the last presidential election.)

While City Pages makes no product endorsements, Vikings fanatics should probably buy now. While it's unusual to replace an NFL coach midseason--and the Vikings assistants hardly seem like candidates for a promotion--few believe Tice will survive a 1-5 start. Hipsters, by contrast, may want to wait for clearance prices, before putting their t-shirt in cold storage. Like a fine bottle of port, the Fire Mike Tice slogan will likely mature into a rich vintage item, guaranteed to leave a taste of sweet irony with the faintest aftertaste of nostalgia.

Posted by Michael Tortorello at October 4, 2005 2:45 PM | Comments (0)

 

Three Reasons For Optimism about the Minnesota Vikings

Filed under: Vikings

1) The two teams that have beaten them, Tampa Bay and Cincinnati, are a combined 6-0.

2. Despite their dreadful start, the Vikes are a mere half-game out of first place in what may be the least talented division in NFL history. One of the division's four teams has to make the playoffs.

3. With the addition of Darren Sharper, Pat Williams, and Fred Smoot (in that order of importance), the defense is more talented and experienced than it has been in nearly a decade.

And Three Reasons For Pessimism

1. Mike Rosenthal and Brawlin' Bryant McKinnie watching Pep's back on the offensive line.

2. The "new" Culpepper will merely trade sacks for interceptions against a front seven with any quickness at all--like Atlanta, next week's opponent.

3. Coach Mike Tice

Suggestions for additions on either side of the ledger welcomed.

Posted by Britt Robson at September 26, 2005 2:35 PM | Comments (4)

 

Mike Tice death watch, Day 1

Filed under: Vikings

Mike Tice might want to start scalping his 2006 Super Bowl tickets early this year. Any Sunday now, the lowest paid coach in the NFL may become a very large man being paid very large money to plant his ass on the couch in front of a very large television. (I personally haven't seen Tice's couch or his ass, but there's every reason to believe they're both substantial as well.)

As long as Red McCombs appeared weekly on TV, stewing glumly in his I'm-not-making-enough-money-off-this-luxury box, Vikings fans could lavish their resentment on that cheapskate. Now, the coach I call "Iago" (for the way he insinuated himself into his post) seems like he's close to his fifth and final act.

On the subject of grisly dramas and fickle loyalties, it's been a rough week for George W. Bush's Minnesota supporters, with Randy Kelly going into the halftime of his reelection campaign down 25 points--around the same number the Vikings spotted Cincinnati on Sunday (27). Tice is another Bushman, having handed the pres a Vikes jersey last year at a Target Center campaign rally. (This may have won Tice suck-up points with McCombs, a major Republican donor; new owner Zygmunt Wilf gives to the Dems.) "When it's the fourth quarter and the game is on the line," Tice said last October, "you want somebody with a cool head calling the plays."

Funny, but that line makes even more sense when you're talking about football.

Posted by Michael Tortorello at September 19, 2005 7:22 PM | Comments (2)

 

No huddle: The kneejerk reaction to the Vikings game

Filed under: Vikings

Whither the O-Line?

What was most surprising about the game today was what was clearly the team's biggest weakness: The offensive line. Recent history has shown that the Vikes, especially under Denny Green, were astute at quietly assembling huge-yet-athletic guys up front. No wonder those offenses were so good.

It seems obvious now after today's game. I've been down on Matt Birk, ever since the local-boy-made-good essentially rode Moss out of town, and I took a little bit of satisfaction in watching the goody-goody get raked over the coals for bungling the treatment of his hip injury. But, boy, if today proved anything, it's how much the Vikes need him anchoring that line.

Withrow was often beat by Chris Hovan, who a year ago had no business being in an NFL uniform (no doubt the former Vike's revenge was sweet today), and my 68-year-old father remarked that he could get around McKinnie today--and for once I didn't feel compelled to dispute him.

People are going to get all over Culpepper on this one, and gripe about the two Wiggins touchdowns that were called back (and I'll grant them that the interference call on the first one was hooey). But the fact is, this team has a major problem up front, and that's likely to haunt all season. (Plugging Goldberg in during the second half helped not enough.) Culpepper didn't have time to do much back there.

Also, today solidified that Tice is still a terrible game coach. The team looked ill-prepared for way too many ill-conceived substitutions, and it cost them: a timeout in the first half when the D only had 10 men on the field and another timeout in the second half when the play clock nearly hit zero. I expected this; Tice is the worst clock manager in the league by far.

But I didn't expect this from a guy who espouses so much work-ethic bullshit: His boys looked tired out there, and early, giving up buckets of sweat in the 68-degree Metrodome. Poor conditioning, like a leaky O-Line, wasn't on the agenda.

But, hey, the D was fired up, if not exactly smothering. Special points to Sharper, who did draw echoes--I said echoes, now--of a Kenny Easley or a Ronnie Lott. But I'm afraid my belief that this would be a maddeningly mediocre 9-7 team was shaken today, and not in a good way. (The inverse of that record seems more likely.)

But my belief that Queens will be a middling bore, sans Moss, was not.

Posted by G.R. Anderson Jr. at September 11, 2005 6:04 PM | Comments (7)

 

Jeff Siemon: Linebacker for Christ

Filed under: Vikings

A linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings from 1972-82, Jeff Siemon now answers to a higher power than Bud Grant. Siemon will be conducting a workshop called "How to be a Faithful Man of God in the 21st Century" at Paynesville Lutheran Church, about 90 miles northwest of the Twin Cities on September 24. The workshop begins at 3:00 p.m. with a spaghetti dinner and another presentation scheduled for later in the day. The event is open to men of all ages who are interested in hearing about Siemon's football days while getting a little religion to boot.

Posted by Corey Anderson at September 9, 2005 3:48 PM | Comments (1)

 

Forbes names Vikings least valuable NFL franchise

Filed under: Vikings

Forbes magazine recently ranked NFL teams in order of value with the Minnesota Vikings coming out at the bottom, due primarily to their home in the much-maligned HHH Metrodome. "That's simply because of their stadium," Senior editor Michael Ozanian said. "They have one of the five worst stadium situations in pro football." Forbes puts a $658 million sticker price on the purple, while the beleaguered Washington Redskins topped the charts at $1.26 billion. The Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots were the other two teams breaching the billion-dollar mark. The Vikes were ranked 30th last year, but Arizona and Atlanta increased sponsorships and ticket sales, leaving the purple in the cellar.

Posted by Corey Anderson at September 3, 2005 10:05 AM | Comments (0)

 

I bet you an ounce

Filed under: Vikings

Anyone who follows sports will know what I'm talking about. There is a weird, slightly delicious feeling of zealotry that comes over you when conventional wisdom flips you the bird. You're so sure about a player's ability (or lack of it) that you sense down to your bones that your opinion is the Absolute Truth, yet damn few people, if anybody, agree with you.

It's an odd jones to have visited upon you, and, alas, is not always accurate. For example, I was a byzantine champion of the Wolves' wayward forward Marlon Maxey once, staunchly defending him even after his teammates took me aside and explained to me he was dumb as a post, incapable of learning the team's offensive sets and defensive rotations. Sure enough, within a year or two, Max was out of the league, and I can't remember if it happened before or after he was caught toting a handgun in some alley. But even now, I can't let go of the feeling that he could have--should have--been something special.

Ah, Marlon. Before I wander off into memories of him challenging me about that "dumb as a post" quote and actually being mollified after I told him his teammates said it, not me; or about the time he deliberately fouled an opponent in the waning seconds of a lopsided Wolves' loss so that his team would get the ball back for one final chance to rack up the 100 points necessary to earn free chalupas for fans in the stands (my all-time favorite Timberwolves moment); let me return to the subject at hand.

Mewelde Moore is, by a wide margin, the best running back on the Minnesota Vikings.

Why doesn't everybody see this? Not Mike Tice; I understand that, aside from his take on offensive linemen, Tice is a consistently poor judge of talent. That's the logical explanation for why the Vikes have already awarded the starter's job to brittle, inconsistent Michael Bennett, and, even post-whizzinator, treat bad apple Onterrio Smith with more love than Moore.

As a rookie last year, Moore's per-carry average was nearly two yards better than Bennett's, 5.8 to 3.9. In fewer attempts, Moore picked up more first downs rushing than Bennett, and, despite Bennett's vaunted breakaway prowess, had more rushes of more than 20 yards. Moore is also a much better receiver than Bennett, with 27 catches last year despite just three starts, just ten less than Bennett's career-high for a season. Yeah, Moore lacks Bennett's blinding speed, but, like Bennett (or at least the Bennett before last night's butterfingers performance), he rarely if ever fumbles. Moore also has that intuitive knack of being elusive, that rare gift of almost organically slipping tackles and picking up an extra yard or two.

Can I get an amen on this, or is this another bout of Marlon Maxey-like mania? In any event, I'll wager an ounce of pride against anyone who wants the action that Moore's yards per carry will again exceed Bennett's this season, and likewise will top the production of the noble but aging Moe Williams.

Mewelde Moore is a nascent stud. You read it here first.

Posted by Britt Robson at August 20, 2005 6:02 PM | Comments (3)

 

Zygi gets Vikings PR train back on track

Filed under: Vikings

The Strib is reporting today that Vikings owner Zygi Wilf has reversed the decision to charge fans a training camp entrance fee, and instead (are you sitting down?) has agreed to cover the $100,000 revenue shortage that originally caused Greater Mankato Training Camp LLC to institute the ticket plan. Fans are happy and opposing team scouts are once again restricted from practices. Nice to see a team owner's wallet with an out-going function. I think those cost extra, but well worth it.

UPDATE: There's been no greater metaphor for the Vikings' recent lackluster seasons than that dilapidated wooden Viking ship crumbling before our eyes in front of Winter Park. Entering the Wilf era, that too is being restored to its former glory.

Posted by Corey Anderson at July 21, 2005 11:30 AM | Comments (0)

 

Zygi played hardball

Filed under: Vikings

Wilf unanimously approved by NFL to own Vikes

The local media have been rooting for him all along, and now the self-congratulatory orgy can begin. As a counterpoint, here's a bit on how Reggie Fowler was used and abused.

 

Posted by G.R. Anderson Jr. at May 25, 2005 11:21 AM

 

2005 Vikings schedule

Filed under: Vikings

The 2005 NFL schedule was released today and the Minnesota Vikings could be in for a very long season. The NFC North has been making some notable off-season improvements, and a Moss-less offense against Atlanta, Pittsburgh, and Baltimore may need a lot of help from the recent acquisitions on the defensive side of the ball.

Sept 11 Tampa Bay
Sep 18  at Cincinnati
Sep 25  New Orleans
Oct 2     at Atlanta
Week 5 BYE
Oct 16   at Chicago
Oct 23   Green Bay
Oct 30   at Carolina
Nov 6    Detroit
Nov 13   at N.Y. Giants
Nov 21   at Green Bay
Nov 27   Cleveland
Dec 4     at Detroit
Dec 11   St. Louis
Dec 18   Pittsburgh
Dec 25   at Baltimore
Jan 1     Chicago

Posted by Corey Anderson at April 13, 2005 2:43 PM