If you are looking for the 9-piece Mini Camp Report...just scroll on down. Specific direct links as follows

Mini Camp Report I: Initial
Mini Camp Report II: Defensive Line
Mini Camp Report III: Quarterback
Mini Camp Report IV: Linebacker
Mini Camp Report V: Running Back
Mini Camp Report VI: Kickers & Special Teams
Mini Camp Report VII: Offensive Line and Tight End
Mini Camp Report VIII: Defensive Back
Mini Camp Report IX & Final: Wide Receiver

And I was planning to respond to all the questions left under the Comments field as well as the personal e-mails sent. But then, I did not expect the response the reports received. There's no way I can respond to everyone's inquiries individually. So later this week, I'll try to answer some of the common questions I received.

A big SHOUT OUT to all the South Carolina Gamecocks visiting the site to check up on their own....Troy Williamson. Looks like The Kid was loved at the university.

And thanks so much for the kind words and comments. Kind of made all that missed sleep worth it!

Today's Main Story

Syd Davy and I go back a few years as he and I sit in Section 101, Row 1 just a few seats apart. I've got Randy Moss twice as he leapt into Row 1 after a touchdown in past years.

I'm a distant, very distant, second place to Syd in that department as you all well know!

Syd (aka 100% Cheese Free), is CP engineer from Tanscona, Canada. Syd drives round trip for all the home games. He's been on the cover's of Sports Illustrated, the 2004 Viking Yearbook, the NFL's Blitz magazine, and he's even been featured in Maxim, the macho magazine.

I consider Syd an elite Vikings fan. He's the man. So when I heard through the grapevine that he had spoken to Moss after the trade to Oakland, I had to get the low-down from the man himself. This is that interview.

COD: Syd, you and Moss established a relationship after #84 would score a TD and then hunt you down and leap into your arms. Can you tell us how that all got started?

Syd: Hey, Brian I know you caught him a few times too! The Nov 22nd, 1998 against the Packers, I was at the Grey Cup game which Winnipeg was hosting. I watched the Viking-Green Bay game first, and saw Randy jump up the wall near you, I've even got the picture.

Basically, what I did for seven years was catch Randy Moss. And when he was finished celebrating he would tell me when to lower him to the field. Randy has been very good to me, and we have had a lot of fun over the years. Before every game he has given me the thumbs up. And who do you think got him started on that flexing after TDs?!?! He was just mimicking me in the stands!

COD: Syd, can you tell us how you came to be at this years Draft Party at Winter Park?

Syd: It was a great time. The Vikings asked me to come out, and they gave me VIP tickets. The local ABC station, KSTP taped me for Sunday Sports Wrap. ABC has invited me to Green Bay to be on the field for the Vikings-Packer game this coming November 21st. I hope I don't get fined 10 grand like Moss did!

COD: Syd, what did you think of the draft this year? Was there any player you wanted the Vikings to draft?

Syd: I did not want to take a WR with our first pick. I was hoping for Thomas Davis as well as Mike Nugent, the kicker. I think there will be too much pressure on Troy Williamson to fill Randy's shoes.

COD: What's your favorite Moss memory?

Syd: On November 18, 2004 I was invited to a closed practice at Winter Park to meet Randy. Randy signed my right arm and I had it tattooed above the seventeen other tattoo's dedicated to Randy. And all the celebrations, which can be seen at the Purple Army web site.

Randy Moss also introduced me to Mike Tice. Randy told Mike, "This is the guy who catches me after TDs! Haven't you noticed that I always jump to the same guy?"

COD: So, when was the last time you saw and caught Moss?

Syd: The last time I saw Randy Moss was the game vs Green Bay on December 24th, 2004. I was made a honorary captain for the coin toss, and shook hands with Daunte Culpepper, Matt Birk and Brett Farve. As I was walking off the field, Moss came running up to me and shook my hand and said he would be coming up to see me that game. But he scored a TD in the other end zone.

The last time I caught Randy was against Dallas in 2004.

COD: Syd, there have been a lot of wild rumors flying around cyberspace about you and Moss talking shortly after Moss' trade to Oakland. Can you deny or confirm that for us?

Syd: Shortly before the trade happened, the Vikings called me to inform me of the proposed trade, and asked me what I thought. They said to remember that it was just a proposed trade.

Then on March 2nd, the Vikings called me again to ask how I was feeling, and said WCCO, the local CBS station, wanted to interview me. I agreed and they gave me the phone number for Moss' agent, Dante DiTrapano so that Randy and I could say our "good-bye's".

COD: Wow! That must have been an emotional call! Did you get any insight from Randy on why the trade happened?

Syd: The story I got from Randy is, he and owner Red McCombs got into an argument over Red being $36 million under the salary cap. Randy said he did not want to be traded, that he loves his fans, and that he plans to be back scoring TDs and jumping to me in 2007. And I told him that I will be waiting for him.

COD: That would be great if Moss could somehow find his way back here to finish his career in purple. How do you feel about those fans that are bashing Moss now that he is gone?

Syd: I'm getting tired of that stuff on the 'Net. Randy bashing makes me sick. Next it will be me being bashed. Guilty by association I guess, but that's just on the 'Net. Not one person bashed me, or spoke ill of Randy to me at the Draft party.

There were at least 200 people, who came up to me and said that the first thing they thought about when they heard of the trade was me. I guess Randy and me have a few fans left. But I am getting sick of the Randy Moss interviews, to be honest with you. It's time to move on, and I think this team will do great this year. We finally we have a D! Players and coaches come and go but the fans are always there! SKOL VIKES! Syd will always be 100% CHEESE FREE!

(COD, Syd, Thor, SuperVman)

Housekeeping for New Readers

I do this every so often for the benefit of new readers of the Viking Underground in order to assist in using the site and navigating around.

Along the left you'll see (ftom top to bottom):

Current Polls: This is where I keep the interactive polls for you to participate in. The current BIG poll is the Best Vikings Draft Choice Ever tournament. Be sure and take time to vote!

Local Weather: You have to know what the tailgate temperature will be!

RSS Calendar Feed: A rolling 30-day summary of important past, present, and future dates for the Vikkings.

Along the right you'll see (ftom top to bottom):

Syndicate this Site: A XML link for you blog readers to notify you when I've updated the site.

E-mail me: Feel free to e-mail me at work or home and I'll do my best to respond to you.

Search: There are over 200+ pages of blog entries on this site going back a full decade. Looking for information on a player? Type in his name and search for any entries I may have written about him.

VU Videos: If you haven't yet seen the Moss Tribute video you must do it now!

Mini Camp Reports/Photos: Direct links to the reports from 2005 mini camp.

Archives: A history of the site's entries by month.

Recent Entries: A listing of the most recent entries to the VU.

Categories: Find entries listed under a specific category such as 2005 Offseason.

Video: A ESPN video of me from a loooooongggg time ago.

Brag Book: A history of Mr. Cheer Or Die with photos.

Family Links: My Dog Blog and The Wife's® gardening blog.

Blog Buddies: The blogs of my friends which I highly encourage you to read!

Stuff I Read: Other stuff I try to check out at least once a week.

Posted by maasx003 at May 2, 2005 09:44 PM | TrackBack