I do not consider myself a Vikings fan. Even though I have lived in Minnesota for most of my life I have never had a strong attraction to purple and gold. I check the scores in the newspaper on Monday morning, occasionally watch some of the games on TV, and I even went to a preseason game once, but nothing has sparked my interest. The much disputed new stadium bill passed and a new stadium is on the way. With a loss today to the Packers they sit with an even 6-6 record, and it is unlikely they will actually make it to the Super Bowl, but they to do something to earn their new stadium
If fans could get a team to the Super Bowl I am sure that Vikings fans would find a way to do it. Crazy guys dress up and paint their bald heads purple every week for the game. They yell, scream, hoot, and holler, 'til the veins in their neck pop out and they resemble real vikings (minus the purple). The other thing about Vikings fans is that they are whole-hearted and true to their team. The Vikings fans I know are not fair weather fans. They stick with their team through the good, and grit their teeth through the bad, and always criticizing the Saints for 2010. I am an exception, an oddity to the Vikings fan norm, but I don't consider myself a fan, so it shouldn't even matter. Their fan base is plenty and far-reaching, and these fans deserve some well earned payout. The last few years have been uncharacteristically bad for the Vikings, and even though I said their fans were loyal, a losing season would not help there support.
The team may not be as strong as it has been in the past, but they have plenty of capable players both young and old. Defensive players like Jared Allen and Antoine Winfield provide leadership, and young players like Matt Kalil have stepped up into big shoes. And the talented Adrian Peterson leads the 3rd best rushing attack in the league. All I will say about Christian Ponder is that he is doing what is to be expected from him, sometimes more, and sometimes less. He is a very young quarterback maybe an investment in him will pay off, or maybe we will still be in the same situation in five years. Either way they aren't a team comprised of all stars, nor one of complete nincompoops. Just like all other Minnesota sports teams they should be good enough to win, and win more 50% of the time. But for some reason they still don't.
If only, if only the woodpecker sighs, fanatic fans, and a half decent team could win a championship. The beginning of this year seemed to be looking up from last year. Every week in the Star Tribune's game recap they give the outlook of the team. A few weeks in the outlook was "Horns Up", but I have seen an increase in "Horns Down" lately. There has been plenty of finger-pointing, and lots of jaw-wagging, but nothing has been done. Someone needs to step up and do something. I believe they are capable, but change is necessary. They are getting a new stadium in a few years, and the team that is playing now doesn't deserve it.
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