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Friday, 07/30/2010

Chicago’s Soldier Field is Not Where the Real Battle Looms For The Vikings

Mookie Anderson
9/25/2001

This is not business as usual, this nothing like the normal NFL Sunday that we have all grown to love. The Vikings 17-10 loss to the Bears on Sunday is just one example of how much our NFL World has changed and just a small indication of the weird times yet to come.

A lot of fans who watched their Vikings lose to the Bears 17-10 this last Sunday missed that point. Instead of being grateful that their team, along with the NFL in general, was back on the playing field after a week off they decided to be critical of the teams lackluster performance. All over the airwaves on post game reports, and on every team-related Internet message board, Vikings fans vented their disdain for the condition of their current team.

“Dennis Green has lost control of the players… The play calling was horrendous… Cris Carter should have retired… Daunte is a horrible quarterback with panic feet… The team doesn’t throw to Randy Moss enough… Moss is not a team player… The secondary is terrible and now even worse with the injury to Robert Griffith…Cris Carter is not a leader, he is a whiner… Michael Bennett is no Robert Smith…The schedule doesn’t get any easier than Panther and Bears and we have lost to both those sorry teams…The Vikings will not make the playoffs, they will be lucky to finish .500.”

As woeful as the Vikings performance was on Sunday, it has no bearing on the reality of our changed lives over the past few weeks. In all seriousness, the NFL game isn’t about rivalries, scoreboards, pseudo-wars and irresponsible post game rants anymore it’s about service to the greater cause. Business is not back to normal on any realms in our society right now and this includes the NFL.

I was pleased with the result of the Vikings game this week because of the fact that games were even played. This was the week in our nation’s history when NFL players, along with every other working American, attempted to get back on their feet. After the devastating events surrounding the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, the mere fact that the Vikings suited up and played in Chicago was a great victory.

This week in the NFL proved that nothing was normal. The pre-game shows on TV were somber and reflective, every pre-game ceremony included extra time for patriotic verse and renditions of the National Anthem were performed with passion and pride. NFL players stood side by side at midfield regardless of team colors or loyalties to salute fallen heroes and respect the stars and stripes.

The front office of the NFL allowed teams to wear the hats of local Police Forces and Fire Stations, forsaking their own rule of unsanctioned NFL merchandise to be worn on the sidelines. Instead of the Baja Men’s “Who Let the Dogs Out” Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” was blasted on the loudspeakers in the league’s stadiums during TV timeouts. I even saw several shots of fans from opposite teams waving the American flag in unison.

Note From Marty on the USS Peleliu

Business is not exactly normal here folks. Over the last few weeks, I have had several moments to reflect on the future of our country and I even wrote an e-mail to a serviceman who I have never met. My cousin Tammy married a U.S. Navy man not so long ago, and I have to speak with him. But I know that QM2 Marty is at sea on the USS Peleliu and he was called duty after the bombings. I know that Tammy is a Vikings fan and QM2 Marty loves the NFL. In this time of “America on Alert” and knowing that he is soon to join our War on Terrorism with a front row seat I sent him the following note:

Dear Marty:
I have been reading stuff constantly since the bombings of our innocents in NYC. The Taliban is BS, the OSAMA BIN LADEN is BS and we at the home front here know it! I salute you and the United States of our America to know that. Back home here in the USA we know that you boys in the forefront are more important to us than the Randy Moss's and Cris Carters of the world.

WE on the home front will do our best to make sure that you all get to see these guys play in the NFL while you do the duty for our country. We will make sure to play the home front as normal as possible so you can see what you are fighting for from so far away.

Let it never be forgotten that we love you guys and we pray that you all come home safe, and are able to someday watch the games with us from the tailgate lots and the TV rooms. We will be keeping you in our prayers and we will be doing our part to make sure that our way of life is not disrupted!

Our President and your Commander-in-Chief have spoken and it is obvious that we have a big task in front of us.

We are cheering for you boys more than we cheer for the hometown Vikes! You are in our thoughts, moves and discussions. Freedom is not cheap, and we all know that in the terms of World History, it's time for the terrorists to pay the check! No slack. Go kick some ass, and we will be with you!

I haven't met you yet, but you are my soul. You are the USA and go represent for all of us. I can't wait to buy you the first Minnesota beer when you return. You boys in the Navy like my father before you are all HEROES! God Bless you all… Now go and kick some Bin Laden Tail! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!

With the UTMOST RESPECT for you and your mates,

Mookie

When I was a kid, I used to collect football cards and write letters to Vikings players like Tommy Kramer and Fran Tarkenton who at that time of my life where my heroes. I used to wait weeks to hear back from them, and I became a bigger fan of the Vikings when they did. Via satellite e-mail, from a ship headed to an undisclosed port in the Middle East, it took QM2 Marty less then 24 hours to return my fan mail.

Dear Mookie

Thanks man, those were words of wisdom! I can’t begin to tell you about the stuff that we are about to get into. I still can't believe the way those innocent people (in the World Trade Center) died. If they think they're going to keep the U.S. down they need to think again!!! I can’t wait to get to the area of operation. We still have 900 miles to go and it’s been a long and hot (107 degrees) journey.

We pulled into Hawaii for 24 hours and then we went to Australia. On the third day in Australia we got word about the heinous crime those bastards did it! Aches me day after day when I see those pictures and video footage. Yeah I want to go and blow those (expletives) up but.... we have to be strategic about this, and it will be a long fight but like the PREZ said we will prevail!

I want to tell you something though I'm gonna have one of my boys write "VIKINGS" on the side of one of our missiles and let "Osama Bin a-hole" know the folks back in the Midwest ain't playing! I can’t write much now I get back up to the bridge and navigate. I'll write more later, thanks for the letter man!

Marty

Like I said, things are not quite “business as usual” these days folks. I can’t be mad or upset about anything the Vikings did on the field in Chicago when I know that the true heroes, like QM2 Marty are going out to far land to partake in a military action that will preserve things like NFL Sundays for all of us to enjoy.