Ok, I’ve been trying to keep things hushed up about this, but it seems that some people have caught on anyway.
Minnesota teams can play football.
Saturday, the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers (tremble in fear at that name) beat Ohio State, in Columbus, 29 to 17. Minnesota hasn’t won there since 1949. The Gophers are tied for the lead in the Big 10 (actually, 11, but who’s counting?) Could this be the first trip for the Gophers to Pasadena in 29 years?
Sunday night, the Vikings beat the Bears 28 - 16. Robert Smith busts a 72-yard TD run, and Culpepper throws touchdown passes to Hatchette, Carter and Moss. The Vikes remain undefeated at 6 - 0.
I now know what it feels like to “bask.”
(Standard Minnesota disclaimer: It’s nice, ya shoor, but it vould be so much better vit a Superbowl, dontcha know. You betcha. I’m not gettin my hopes up yet, but ya never know…)
You guys should have heard me last night while my family was watching the game. “We’re gonna lose. Oh god, we’re going to lose and we’re going to lose to the BEARS! Sweet Jesus, we better not lose to the Bears. ::tugs on her hair:: Not the Bears. ::drooling and rocking back and forth:: Find a happy place, find a happy place, find a happy place…”
Okay, it wasn’t quite that bad. I just try not to get my hopes up.
Yeah, you all fear us. Now if only we’d win a few more of these so I can at least heckle some more. Sure, we’re 1-6, but that 1 is the Packers. Everything else is really secondary.
I’d never actually watched a football game until last night. My roommate wanted to see the Vikes vs. the Bears, but we don’t have cable in our apartment so he decided to go to “Old Chicago”. Never one to pass up a chance to eat real food (as opposed to Ramen), I tagged along.
Well, to make a long story short, I had fun. I’m not a sports fan, but the atmosphere was intoxicating. The best part is, I almost started understanding some of it! Well, no, the best parts were the waitresses (drool) but the second best part was actually beginning to understand the appeal of football. Well, no, that’s not right either. The second best part was the Bacon Cheddar Burger. (drool) But, certainly, the third best part of the night was the football.
The worst part was when the Vikes scored a touchdown, my friend jumped up excitedly, and tipped a nearly full glass of Mt. Dew directly onto my lap, but I try not to dwell on that much.
So, pardon my ignorance, but what are the chances of the Vikes making it to the super-bowl? That is, how many more games do they have to play (and win)?
P.S
One of my other roommates is a hard-core Packer’s fan. We try not to hold this against him, but the good Lord knows it’s hard sometimes.
Oh they may well make it. But they need at least 2 maybe three wins in January to get there. Number of wins in the regular season is dependent on how other teams are doing. To qualify for the playoffs they will probably need at least 4 more wins.
As for winning the SuperBowl…let’s just say: That last step is a DOOZY!! when you are talking about the Vikes.
The Vikes have NO chance of making it to the Super Bowl. They’ll frigging lose the conference to the PowderPuff girls, or something like that. I have been a fan of the Vikings since the ‘70s, and it’s been a while since they haven’t blown a friggin’ GREAT seasonal start. The low point in my Vikings-fan life was going to visit a friend in Denver in ‘98 to watch the Broncos vs. the Vikes in the Super Bowl. “Oh, the Vikes weren’t in that game!” No, shit – and they weren’t in that damned last game they played against the friggin’ Falcons, either. AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!
(yes, I am still a diehard Vikings fan, for better, for worse…)
Sledman:
ppbbbbbbtttt!! Just getting to the Superbowl seems to be a doozy of a step, at least for the last couple of decades.
[/voice of frustrated Viking fan not getting hopes up]
No kiddin’! After some bitter disappointments, the Vikings will only allow me the possibility of two weeks of celebration – the rest of the time is nail-biting, chest-tightening wondering if this is the game they’re going to blow. Actually, the Vikes just about always rock, until it comes down the games that really matter. They need Fran back.
I feel the pain of all of you. I’m in Dallas surrounded by Cowboys fans. I root for the Vikes all year only to be crushed by a bad game and ridiculed by my peers. 3 years ago I said “No more!”. I will no longer get my hopes up. And I’ve been ok ever since. They have a chance. They have a chance damn near every year. I refuse to get excited.
Enough of that. And what’s this Super something-a-rather people keep talking about.
What do you call a Minnesota Viking with a Super Bowl ring?
A: A thief.
Where do you go in Chicago in case of a tornado?
A: Soldier Field. They never get a touchdown there.
What do you call a 350 pound Packer fan?
A: Skinny.
What do you call 47 people sitting around a TV watching
the Super Bowl?
A: The Kansas City Chiefs
Minn fans, let us know when you win a Rose Bowl, Super Bowl, Heisman, or NFL mvp award. The Badgers and Packers have those trophies in the 90’s. heh heh. I will root for the Gophers, but I don’t like the Viking’s players and coach. Too arrogant. They think they are better than they are.
Oh, great. Here I am, doing just fine. Not excited about the season at all. Then I pick up the Strib and read Reusse’s column. How the hell am <must resist urge> I supposed to resist <minnesota hats off to thee> when the grumpiest, most critical <TO OUR COLORS TRUE SHALL WE EVER BE> sports columnist I’ve ever read <FIRM AND STRONG UNITED ARE WE> is jumping on the bandwagon?
**RAH RAH RAH FOR SKI-U-MA
RAH
RAH
RAH
RAH
RAH FOR THE U OF M
WOOHOOOOO!! GO GOPHERS!! GO, VIKES!! PURPLE PRIDE IS BACK!!!**
WTH? Where did that come from?
OMG, optimism is taking over!!!
::shakes it off::
::slowly regains control::
Ya, dem boys are doin’ pretty good, eh, but dey’ll get da pants beat offa dem in December, doncha worry, eh.
I just try not to get my hopes up.