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Saturday, 05/17/2008 St. Paul Pioneer Press Re-printed from the Sunday November 12, 2006 St. Paul Pioneer Press:  BY RHODA FUKUSHIMA Pioneer Press
With mediocre records for both teams this season, today's sizzling Minnesota Vikings-Green Bay Packers rivalry likely won't be on the gridiron in the Metrodome. It'll be outside on the grill. Hours before the noon kickoff, legions of tailgaters will assemble at the Rapid Park and other Minneapolis parking lots for a daylong party to cheer on the purple and gold or green and gold. Typically known as good neighbors, Packers and Vikings tailgaters come with their game faces on. "When they play each other, everything is thrown out the window," says Joe Cahn, the "commissioner of tailgating." "We don't like you. You don't like us. … The border wars are very funny." Cahn should know. A former cooking-school owner from New Orleans, he lives full time in his 40-foot Country Coach RV and drops in on tailgating parties across the country. He chronicles his adventures at www.tailgating.com. Here up north, tailgaters get the details right, Cahn says. "Not only do they have good brats, but they have the proper bun," he says. "Most people use the hotdog bun. You need the brat bun." To get the most out of tailgating, Cahn says, get there early, wear your colors and keep it simple. And fresh from Tuesday's elections, the commish has a few words for fans on both sides of the aisle: "I think the Democratic Party is lacking. I think the Republican Party is lacking. The only true party is the Tailgating Party." Here are some player profiles of some of the most colorful Vikings and Packers uber-tailgaters: Doug "You Can't Print What My Friends Call Me" Lee City: Oakdale Age: 36 Position: Head chef and pilot of the Battle Wagon, a 1966 step van fitted with all the comforts of a den: Grandma's easy chair, gas fireplace, satellite dish and purple revolving lights (www.battlewagon.net). Number of games tailgated: 80 Specialty: "I don't know there's a must-have food, but there's a must-have drink: Battle Wagon Juice. It tastes like a grape Jolly Rancher, and it's made of grape Pucker, Bacardi Limon, Triple Sec and diet Mountain Dew." Uniform: A No. 68 jersey (Mike Morris) Theme song: " 'Skol Vikings.' We'll sing it on the bus going to the game." Strategy: "Drink and be merry. Being the chef, I don't get a whole lot of time to eat." Crowd strength: 40 or so people Prediction: "After the way they played last weekend (against San Francisco), it's going to be a lot closer than we'd like it to be. 24-21 Vikings, with (Ryan) Longwell actually kicking the winning field goal for us." Best TV-worthy sound bite: "Tailgating is the last venue for the Great American Neighborhood." Larry "The Packalope" Primeau City: DePere, Wis. Age: 50 Position: Chief architect of the Packalope tribe, which congregates around a 1980 green and gold Ford van adorned with a fiberglass wedge of cheese, five-disc CD changer, season schedule and a mural of Mr. and Mrs. Lope. His late wife, Sue, suggested the nickname after seeing a "jackalope" on television. (www.packalope.com). Number of games tailgated: 350 to 400 Specialty: Beef tenderloin, though in the summer he will grill brats and cheese. He buys green-and-gold brat buns from a local bakery. Uniform: He wears a 1960s Packers helmet mounted with a set of deer horns, assorted green and gold Mardi Gras beads, cheese wedges, green and gold camouflage pants, green and gold socks, and a pair of dark-green Doc Martens stitched in gold-colored thread. He wears a No. 47 jersey to honor Sue, who died in 2004 at age 47. Theme song: He mixes his own blend of upbeat tunes — some country and rock 'n' roll, but no heavy metal — and puts them on a CD for convenience. "It's hard when you're wearing a set of horns to poke your head in the van every time you want to change songs." Strategy: Everything has a spot, be it the green-and-gold canopy, picnic tables, Astroturf and flagpoles for the Packers and American flags. Otherwise, he can't get everything into his van. Crowd strength: He's had 20 people at his Minnesota tailgate. Prediction: "Nothing would make me feel better than to beat the Vikings. I'll make a prediction of 20-17 Green Bay. It's going to be close, but I think the Packers will pull it out." Best TV-worthy sound bite: "The appeal is just being out and meeting people. Even if you don't have a love for the Packers, you have a love for your team." Marcus "Mookie" Anderson City: Lakeville Age: 41 Position: Chief Web master (www.vikingstailgate.com); co-creator of custom goalposts made of PVC pipes painted NFL yellow; keeper of the first Viking Dream Seat, a purple and gold leather recliner outfitted with two beverage holders and autographed by Kevin Williams. Number of games tailgated: 250 to 300 Specialty: Breakfast burritos from a Kansas tailgater who comes up for the game and hands them out to the pre-dawn tailgating diehards. The burritos are made of beans, cheese and meat/chicken. Uniform: An old Daunte Culpepper jersey with the name blocked out and replaced with "Kapp," for former Vikings quarterback Joe Kapp ("A tough old Viking, which I like"). Theme song: He makes an original CD mix of songs for each opposing team. Strategy: "Don't plan too much, man. The tailgate always happens. If you overplan it, you overkill it." Crowd strength: 30 to 50 people Prediction: "Geez, after the last two … The Vikings will probably win on an interception, 23-20. (Antoine) Winfield will probably pick it off." Best TV-worthy sound bite: "The rivalry is a respect thing. A good friend who is a Packers fan once told me, 'The only difference between me and you is geography.' " Craig "The Dean of Cheesehead University" Pruscha City: Oconomowoc, Wis. Age: 40 Position: Godfather of the Cheesehead U group, which arrives by 9 a.m. to set up. Look for the RV with the school banners (www.cheeseheaduniversity.com). Number of games tailgated: Hundreds Specialty: Beer and brats soaked in a dark lager; venison when in season ("It's a subtle way for guys to brag that they did well in bow-hunting season"). Uniform: The late Reggie White's No. 92. "I liked that he was a Christian, had integrity in the way he played the game and in his personal life and that he was accountable." Theme song: Polka is the music of choice. Strategy: "Get there early. Tie one on. It's good food, good camaraderie, good fun. You want to remember it. You want to build a memory in your data bank." Crowd strength: 30 to 40 Prediction: "It could go either way. Both are hungry. It will depend on momentum. Either way, I don't think it will matter, though I'd love for it to be us." Best TV-worthy sound bite: "Generations before us have done it, and we're upholding the tradition. We want to win, yes, but it has more to do with having a good time." Rhoda Fukushima can be reached at rgfukushima@pioneerpress.com or 651-228-5444.
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