Brought to you by Mr. Cheer or Die and the Vikes Geek, welcome to the
Views and Personal Photos on the Vikes from the Inaugural Hall of Fame fan.
Brought to you by Mr. Cheer or Die and the Vikes Geek, welcome to theWas it not great to see the Big Dog on the sideline of the Vikings glorious victory over the hapless Packers on MNF? I'll never forget the time I made eye contact with the Big Dog down at Sun Devil stadium when the Vikes conquered the Cardinals in the waning moments. I was on the field for that game taking photos for the old VU. And the Big Dog played a big part in that victory as he did in so many others.
I'll also never forget the time I participated in an autograph session to promote the Visa Hall of Fans. Who was my autograph partner? The Big Dog himself. And what a class act he was that night. We signed over 140 autographs that evening at one of the local SportMarts. And I got a few from the Big Dog myself.
So, again I loved seeing Randle on the sidelines. I saw that and I knew we had the game in the bag. Plus, John Randle's attendance at LAMEbeau gave me yet another reason to loathe Al Michaels.
Michaels is already despised for comments made towards the Twin Cities during one of the Minnesota Twins World Series runs. Upon spying Randle this past Monday night, Haughty Al said, "I hardly recognized Randle as he isn't wearing any, um, make-up."
Got sit on your middle finger and spin Al! The Big Dog did not wear make-up. He wore war paint. You, Al Michaels, you and your TV cohorts, wear make-up and apply hemorrhoid cream to shrink those bags under your aging eyes. What a shit head.
And didn't the Big Dog look like he could still play!?!?! Looked to be in grand condition. And major kudos to Zygi and Mark Wilf for instituting the new policy of having former players on the sidelines and traveling with the team. When I was on the field for the New Orleans game on 9/25, I got to shake hands with Joey Browner. I love seeing the former players and I know other fans do as well. Let's bring in Fred Cox, Joe Kapp, Ron Yary, and others for the upcoming games!
Where For Art Thou, Daunte?
Just as I think it is vital to have the former players on the sidelines, I think it is essential to have current players on the sidelines even if they are on IR. I've seen Matt Birk down on the sidelines during the games working with the offensive line. I've seen Nate Burleson standing on the bench waving a towel during games. All when they were injured.
So where is Daunte?
He was a no show for the 11/6 victory against the Lions. He was nowhere to be seen when the Vikes beat the Giants. Must have missed the flight to Green Bay this past Monday.
Yes, I know that he knee was severely swollen. But that is why they have wheel chairs and crutches. Yes, I know he had surgery recently but he is evidently already in rehab and Zygi had sent a jet down last Wednesday to give Daunte a lift back to Minnesota. What gives?
Culpepper is not returning Mike Tice's phone calls. The only member of the organization that has spoken with Culpepper is athletic trainer Chuck Barta.
We've seen Culpepper sulk on the sidelines when things aren't going well during a game. Could he be in a major mope now? If so, he needs to snap out of it and make himself visible to his teammates and fans. Let us know how he is doing. Let us know that he expects to be back next year. That the injury will not get him down.
We need Daunte on the sidelines to serve as a second set of eyes for Brad Johnson who is old enough to need reading glasses when studying the play book. We need Daunte standing on the bench, ala Burleson, waving a towel during the games.
So, snap out of it Daunte. Get back into the swing of things. Yes, you have a long road back but you will find it easier if you share your feelings and pain with your teammates.
Daunte, if you wait too long, you might just find that there will be no one to greet you at the door to Winter Park when you do decide to pop in.
VU Podcast Twenty-Eight
Listen in as I speak with Coworker Jim of Ohio. Coworker Jim leads the VU Pick 'Em Pool and Beer Brotherhood Fantasy League at the moment. We talk about the Browns and Vikes matchup for Sunday.
And thanks to Jason, among others, who let me know of the issue with the embedded player on the podcast page. I have sinced updated the page so that each podcast has its own embedded player. I think you'll like the change! Again, the best way to listen to the podcasts is via iTunes. But I try to accomodate everyone.
Posted by maasx003 at November 23, 2005 06:52 AMNice story on "Big Dog". I still remember many moons ago, waiting outside the Metrodome before a game with my family, when John Randle arrived. It was really early, and the players entrance door was still locked. He was bashing his fists on the door yelling "BID DOG GOTTA EAT!!". I think I wet my pants. Remember the
Sacred Cow" stuff with him? Don't touch him prior to the game....he'll lose his power. God, how we could use him now.
Nice story on "Big Dog". I still remember many moons ago, waiting outside the Metrodome before a game with my family, when John Randle arrived. It was really early, and the players entrance door was still locked. He was bashing his fists on the door yelling "BID DOG GOTTA EAT!!". I think I wet my pants. Remember the
Sacred Cow" stuff with him? Don't touch him prior to the game....he'll lose his power. God, how we could use him now.
Where's some love for the big man - Ticey? The silence in rube-dom is deafening. This team, left for dead in the ditch (or on the Lake Minnetonka version of the Edmund Fitzgerald) is now back somewhat in the playoff hunt, having won 3 of their last 4 games. They've gone from zero percent to about a 50 percent chance of winning the division and or making the playoffs despite huge distractions and major injury problems. And to top it off they pulled off first sweep of the Packers since 1998.
Granted, there have been some self-inflicted wounds along the way abd this team is considerably below expectations, but the opportunity presented itself to lay down and die and you know what? They haven't done it.
And though to some people's delight, there's little chance the big man will be on the sidelines in '05, the Tice bashers need to at least acknowlege that coaching has played at least some role in this mini-run and Tice, yes, Tice should get some of the credit.
I know what you're thinking - the wheels could still come off and this team is far from out of the woods. There's some who will say that they beat a bunch of tomato cans. To that, I say, sure, I'll give you that, but I also say there's no harm in passing our a few atta boys along the way.
Posted by: Mike at November 23, 2005 06:15 AM
Right on about Pepper. He was the "leader" of the team before his injury.... Show that leadership now!
I will give some run to Tice. He has never been given a full deck to play with (babysitting Moss, no defense, NO COACHES!!!). Right now he is doing the job and has the players beleiving in themselves after a rough start. Not many could of turned it around like that.
Posted by: Thomas K at November 23, 2005 07:28 AMWell about Cully and leadership... didn't the powers that be trade Moss because they wanted DC to be the leader (at least I remember many articles about it). Team-mates have been "saying" DC is our leader but in fact everything that has happened this year points otherwise. I'm not a DC hater and hope he comes back I just don't think he is a leader and I don't know if you can make a serious playoff run without your QB being a true leader. A leader would be on the sideline, in fact DC should be in school right now. He will not be as mobile as he was for probably, well the first year he is back. He needs to learn how to play like a smart, slow, QB time will tell if he can.
Posted by: Lonnie at November 23, 2005 08:15 AMMike: I agree. I'll see if I can put together a podcast with some anti-Tice and pro-Tice people and we'll hash it out.
Posted by: Brian Maas at November 23, 2005 09:53 AMI'm of two minds about Culpepper. I agree with you that he should be on the sidelines. He is still part of the team, and he should be doing whatever he can to help, even if all that means is waving a towel and being the highest-paid cheerleader in the league.
On the other hand, I'm inclined to cut him a little slack. I don't know how painful his injury is right now, or how hard it is for him to get around. I also know that it has to be hard for him to be injured and unable to play. It's easy for me to say what he "should" do, but I don't know whether, in his position, I'd actually do it. We tend to think of these guys as only ballplayers, when in fact they are human, just like the rest of us.
Mike: As a follow-up (and thanks for the idea), Friday's podcast will be a discussion of whether or not Tice deserves any "love". Tune in then!
Posted by: Brian Maas at November 23, 2005 01:08 PMJeffA: Good point about Pep. It has to be hard on him this was supposed to of been a dream year for him. He will be back with a better supoorting cast.
Posted by: Thomas K at November 23, 2005 02:10 PMBrian - Solid stuff as usual. I can't wait to hear the podcast.
Mike
Posted by: Mike at November 23, 2005 04:33 PM