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 theThe farther we get into the NFL season, the more exciting it gets. Can the Colts go undefeated? Which coach will be fired next? Will T.O. be picked up by another team? And perhaps most importantly, can the Bears drop one divisional game....to the Packers no less....before the showdown with the Vikes on January 1, 2006?
The Packers will have two chances to beat the Bears and one is this Sunday. The next is the lead-off game of a fantastic Xmas Day double-header. (Did you know most games will be played Saturday the 24th?)
On Xmas Day at 4 PM CST the Packers host the Bears. That is followed at 7:30 PM CST by the Vikings playing at Baltimore. Doesn't get much more exciting than that for NFC North fans. And both games will most likely be meaningful and ripe with playoff possibilities.
For more on how I feel about cheering for the Packers this coming Sunday (and again on Xmas Day!) just pick up the Sunday Star Tribune and look for a story by Michael Rand.
The Last Time This Happened Was, Uh, I Don't Know!
Our very own Darren Sharper was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month for November this week. Wow! A defensive player....not an offensive player....was named player of the month!?!?! Somebody pinch me! I must have fallen asleep and been dreaming about the 70's!
And I really love the quotes that have been coming from Sharper. To wit:
"You know what it is? I'm around better guys that really allow me to do what I do," he said, when asked how the Vikings' scheme suits him. "The players I'm around are extremely talented. You think about it. I don't really have to worry about the run because we shut the run down. So I just can concentrate on defending the pass. One thing I always notice is that when you play with scrubs you can look like a scrub. When you play with good players, you look like a good player, too."
So, I guess what Sharper is saying is that the Packers are scrubs. Couldn't have said it better myself!
Oh, and in case you were wondering, Sharper is the first Viking to receive the award since defensive tackle John Randle earned it in December 1999. Six long years!
Pro Bowl
Recall when we were talking about Chris Kluwe as being the only Vikings representative in the Pro Bowl this season? Well how about Sharper, Pat "The Planet" Williams, and Antoine Winfield? Would that be great or what? You can help in making that happen by voting for them, and other deserving Vikings players, at the NFL site.
Videocast Three
I've posted another videocast over on the VU videocast page. In this videocast, I talk about my "old" tailgate jacket.
If you have an old favorite Vikings hat, or jacket, or whatever....tell us about it by leaving a comment below. (Mark G., that means you have to talk about that white Vikes cap!)
Speaking of Curses
I blame Shane over at the Greet Machine for bringing up Vikings related curses. This week he wrote about the Vikings Kensington Runestone curse. So, that got me thinking about curses while I was going over the remaining home games and looking at the tickets. Take a look.....and it is not for the squeamish...what do you see?
That's right, the players featured on the remaining home game tickets are Matt Birk (out for the season), Kenechi Udeze (out for the season), and Daunte Culpepper (out for the season and whereabouts unknown).
Shane, you better not have started something or so help me.......
Posted by maasx003 at December 2, 2005 06:20 AMStarted something? Well, at least I wrote about a curse that was already somewhat known. You have gone and created a whole new curse altogether! Ack!
Posted by: Shane at December 2, 2005 08:16 AMBut Shane, I would have not gone 'curse hunting' had it not been for your blog entry. Can't we Vikes fans just leave well enough alone and not mess with Mother Momentum and Kaptain Karma? I mean, you publish your history of the runestone curse and we 1) find out Kevein Williams will be missing 2-4 weeks, 2) the Love Boat report gets turned in which could mean fines and suspsensions, 3) Kit Fistu (per VU Video Two) predicts the Vikes lose this Sunday against the Lions!!!!
I'm calling in exorcist as we speak....
Posted by: Brian Maas at December 2, 2005 08:47 AMBrian, before you make that call, isn't it the Packers who have been cursed this year? A 13 year consecutive game winning percentage streak-GONE, a chance to go 2-14 or play for pride. Playing for pride(ie. winning)negates the top pick in the draft for GB without trading up and possibly helps the Vikes get into the playoffs. Is it any wonder why there is decension in GB, yet Sherman remains while Mariucci was shown the door? Tell ya what Packers, just beat the bears twice and you can have the rest of the year off, OK? "Wear limburger cheese on your head.......BRILLIANT!!" "Smells like feet!"
Posted by: Mark at December 2, 2005 02:05 PMBrian, Tice said he visited Pepa and Daunte is in great spirits and getting ready to go back to Florida for his rehab as opposed to him being at the games because we need him to get well for the '06 season physically AS WELL AS mentally. The team has gelled and rallied around Brad, our rookies have stepped up and given us some great plays and depth. The Vikes laywer(s)should be able to file enough paperwork to keep Gilligan's Vileland continued into next year. All Minnesota has to do now is win!
Posted by: Mark at December 2, 2005 03:18 PMMark: One thing to keep in mind as you peruse this blog...the sarcasm factor is always set to 'stun'.
I know the stories have been published about Pepper having been here and meeting with Tice, et.al. However, I still feel that does not excuse him from showing up on game day and being there for his teammates and providing help to Big Bad Brad. It does not excuse him from not talking to the media (what's that all about anyway!?!?)
Under Tice there was a different set of rules for the best WR in football. There now appears to be a different set of rules for the teams starting QB.
Daunte should be in attendance on game day, period.
Posted by: Brian Maas at December 2, 2005 04:14 PMi agree with daunte being at games etc. he was the team leader and i would think has good insight into things. if he wants to keep his leadership level he should be with the team. plus minnesota has better rehab. i am a physical therapist. i'd do daunte's therapy for season tickets and be able to update your blog on his progress.
Posted by: dan at December 2, 2005 09:28 PMMy bad for using beer commercial humor, My apologies to GB fans and everyone else; but it is too bizarre for Viking fans to have to root for the arch-rivals to win, it's just not natural. Don't know what to say about Daunte except maybe he will show up at a game. We have a willing therapist, maybe he'll stay. As long as we don't have an opposing player hit him out of bounds like they did Tice, I'm all for his presence on the field! GO VIKINGS!!!!!!
Posted by: Mark at December 2, 2005 11:20 PMPeople saying you are a leader, people wanting you to be a leader, does not make you a leader. I am not bashing DC but IMHO every opportunity he has to display that in fact he is a leader he doesn't.
He needs to be rehabbing at Winter Park in front of the team, he needs to be visable cheering on the sidelines, he needs to become a student of the game. He will not run like he did before mark my words he better learn to manage a game like Johnson or he won't last long when he comes back.
Greg Coleman just said on KFAN that he saw Daunte and Reggie Fowler walking around on the field prior to the game. They're talking to Daunte right now, in fact (about half an hour before game time).
Posted by: Gonzo at December 4, 2005 11:33 AM