By Mookie 12-06-04 This is a recording. The Vikings lost again, another heartless performance by our team, and we the fans are left to question their dedication to the cause. Okay, realistically, we can't win every game, and sure, there are more NFL fans for other teams that feel the same way about their team as we do ours. But for us long time Viking fans, the last loss is just another in the long history of "Nordic Choking." Of course, we could all be way out of whack. It's possible that our fan expectations are just way too high for the Vikings. Afterall, the NFL is mired in parity- especially the NFC where almost every team right now is 5-7, 6-6 or 7-5 and right in the hunt of the playoffs. But wasn't it our coach who said, "We are going to the playoffs", and it wasn't it our coach who said, "We will go to the playoffs if we don't mess it up?"
All of a sudden, Coach Tice slipped on the Gatorade ice-that had been used in the victory drenching just seconds before - and fell toward the playing field. Moss, seeing that Tice may fall onto the field, swerved just enough to allow the opposing player to catch him, strip him of the ball and chug the opposite way for a devastating, game changing touchdown. Hmmm... the weird thing is that our Vikings have messed it up before, and have a made it a habit of of breaking our hearts year after year, after year, every year. As a matter of fact, heartbreak is exactly what Vikes fans have come to expect. The conclusion can be this: with as many broken hearts that our team has given us, the weathered Viking fan must become dare I say, "heartless?" Which, by the way is good way to describe the team's style of play under coach Tice. A heartless Viking fan is a grumpy, angry, discouraged and frustrated person because they care too much. They care so much about the purple that they will pay for two home playoff tickets, knowing their is little chance of hosting even one playoff game. They do this because the Vikings are their team, they live in the state (or travel long distances to attend games) because they love the Minnesota Vikings brand. Their pocket books are committed to the "Purple-People-Eatin, Tarkenton-to-Foreman; Kramer-to-Rashad; Wide-Left-Take-a-Knee Dennis Minnesota Vikings and all the historic memories they have given them. ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS: Vikings players don't choose to be players in Minnesota, the organization chooses them to be Vikings... BUT most Vikings fans have CHOSEN to be "affiliated with their team." Most Vikings fans are "lifers" and have been cheering their hearts out for a hell of a lot longer than any of the current coaches or players. A Viking fan hurts more after a loss than the players who play the game. Sure we don't have the physical aches pains and injuries, but fans don't get paid to play either. Fans invest in team merchandise, tickets, video etc. and at the very least all they expect back is some effort on the field. It's not tough to win over a Vikings fan, all you need to do is work hard, play hard and take accountability. Leave that Bling crap at the door. Some the current Vikings "Get it," guys like Kevin Williams and Moe Williams seem to at least personify the attitude that Minnesotans love. See, these guys play with heart and passion, or at least make an effort to brand themselves as that style of player. Championships can be won in Minnesota, and as a matter of fact, I still think the Vikings could win it all this year, but that stinky, heartless, sour, style of football that looks like confused bewilderment on the field has got to go and has to go NOW! Vikes fans are sick of watching heartlesss attitudes with no confidence on the field. One sure-fire way to get an attitude back is something that Coach Tice could do, should do and needs to do. He needs to give this team a cause; a reason to get busy living or get busy dying. He needs to put his neck out on the line and commit to getting the team in the playoffs, using these words, "We've had injuries, we've had setback, so what? What it comes down to is heart. In my heart, I know we are a playoff team, a team that can go far. I am publicly staking my job on this right now. If my football team does not make the playoffs, I will quit. That's it, I will walk away from this game." What has he to lose? Such a statement would rise the ire of any player who respected him, it would gain the respect the fans, and the media would have a field day with it. Tice's name would be all over the NFL network, ESPN and all the Pre-game shows for the next 4 weeks. Most important though, his team would have a cause, and win lose or draw, a cause is worth watching and playing for.
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