A Memoir of a Viking's Fans Darkest Moment

     At the time, everything was just better. Candy was sweeter, sleep was sounder, even school was somewhat bearable. The Vikings were winning. What a concept. Walking around Minneapolis, you could just feel something that hadn’t been felt in a long time. This feeling was crashing through Minnesota like a tidal wave. We were a game away from the game of all games, the pinnacle of the football world, the one and only Super Bowl. Standing in our way, the mighty Saints of New Orleans. 
     
     This is the one thing I had dreamed of since I started watching football all those years ago. I wanted to see the Vikings make it to the Super Bowl. It would mean so much more than what’s just on the surface. With a Super Bowl berth, there would be no more annoying Packer fans gloating and snickering about “how bad the Vikings are and how high and mighty the Packers are”. It would feel so good to rub it in their pitiful faces.  

     My hopes were high. Higher than waking up Christmas morning hoping I see the new thing “I always needed”. We had two super humans in Brett Favre and Adrian Peterson, each arguably the best at their positions in the entire world. Favre, the wily veteran was a magician with a cannon of an arm. Every throw was a new trick he'd pull out of his helmet. Adrian Peterson was the Picasso of football. Whenever he touched the ball, he would create a new work of art with his long strides, and lightning quick cuts and spins. Those two on top of a brick wall of a defense, we had to beat the Saints, right?

     It was finally gameday. The air was thick with anticipation. I couldn’t even feel the sub-zero temperatures when I went outside to get the morning paper. The day seemed to go 100 miles an hour. The instant I put the sports section down at ten in the morning, it was seven at night and it was about time for kick-off. I was with the only man in the world who was even more excited than I was. My dad had been there through the thick and thin, up and down, left and right. He hadn’t slept the night before, and I don’t believe he had any plans on sleeping that night either. I could see the bags under his eyes from days of anticipation and exhaustion. He tried to mask it with coffee and sugar, but I could tell that this is something he’d been waiting on for almost a decade. As soon as their kicker ran up and booted the ball through the end zone, time went from 100 to zero. Every second was more exciting than the last. The already unbearable anticipation became almost uncomfortable. Instead of being loose and enjoying the game, I became cramped in a wide-open room. My dad had the same look on his face. This, the penultimate game, was as good as any had been all year. By the time halftime rolled around, the game was tied and it had been felt years since kickoff. My dad and I were released from our cages of excitement, only temporarily though.     

     The action was back as soon as it had finished. Time wasn’t dragging, it was allowing my father and I to absorb every detail of the game. We could see every emotion given off by the players and coaches, every blade of grass being crushed by the cleats of these gladiators of our time. Every play was a new chapter in a best selling novel. The game could be comparable to a Broadway play, every movement so scripted and precise. The epic conclusion we had all been waiting for was upon us. With only minutes left, we had a chance to march down the field of battle to win. With every yard gained, the smiles on our faces were getting wider. We were within reach of our ultimate goal. Mere seconds remained, and we were in range for a last second field goal by our unheralded kicker, Ryan Longwell. Longwell was as automatic as it came from this distance. In an effort to make the kick even easier, coach called for one last play. It started like all other plays. Brett Favre took the snap and rolled out to his right. He saw a receiver streaking across the field and wound up for one last throw. As soon as he released the ball, time slowed down to the point were everything in my world was slow motion. I looked over at my dad. He was in a trance, his hands clenched to the couch. I looked out the window to see the snowflakes had paused midflight. Finally, I looked back to the television. It was in this moment that every single emotion I had felt the entire season drained from my body and I felt nothing. I watched in despair as a defender bolted out in front of the pass and intercepted it. I could do nothing but look at the screen in utter anguish. It was over. Everything we had worked so hard for had been taken from us in one awful moment. Overtime was looming, but our best shot at toppling the Saints had just been ripped away. My heart had sunk to my feet. I was numb with disappointment. I managed to catch a glance at my dad before he got up and walked to his room in defeat. His expression was a mixture of agony and helplessness. I watched as a stream of tears made their way down his tired face. As soon as he was out of earshot, I crumpled into the couch and bawled.     

     It was a time when everything was just sour. Candy had lost its luster, sleep was hard to come by, and school was more unbearable than ever. The Vikings had lost. It was this way until my dad told me something that every Vikings fan had grown eerily accustomed to hearing, there is always next season.

Miscellaneous Monday

Welcome to the first edition of Miscellaneous Monday, the daily blog on Mondays, where we write about anything involving Minnesota sports. My first item that I'd like to waste your time on, is how being a Minnesota sports fan is a great way to prepare you for life. Let the list begin...

1. We're ALWAYS used to being disappointed
Whether it be the Vikings losing four Superbowls out of four, the Wild losing in the 2003 Western Conference finals or the Timberwolves losing the 2004 Western Conference finals, we know the bitter sting of defeat. The Twins keep us sane, for the most part, occasionally winning a championship just often enough to make sure we have something to clutch onto in hard times (I pity the Cleveland and San Diego fans out there, I really do). This is a great introduction to the real world, because more often than not, even an optimist like me is disappointed on a regular basis. Minnesota sports team makes sure that we are disappointed often enough to be ready for anything the real world can throw at us.

2. We have to be patient
Every Minnesota sports team has two modes, just competitive enough to get hopes up, and rebuilding. And more often than not, the second one is what we deal with. The Timberwolves have been in rebuilding mode for what seems like forever, the Vikings have only been competitive every few years and the Twins just seem to like losing, much more often than they like winning. The lone exception is the Wild, who win more then they lose. Yet, even they always seem to make a promise they cannot live up to year in and year out.

3. We know that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is
We have Glen Taylor to thank for this, who seems to love drafting exciting players and trading them.  We also have the Minnesota Vikings to thank for this, especially Adrian Peterson, who both waited until the Vikings were competitive and then did everything they could to make sure they were not anymore.

4. We're used to break ups
Look no further than the long history of successful Minnesota sports teams, who have left to greener pastures, due to lack of support, or a better stadium deal. Notable examples include the Minnesota Muskies, Pipers, North Stars and the Minneapolis Millers. Not much else to say here, but breakups are not anything to a well-versed Minnesota sports fan.

5. We learn to have a good sense of humor
In 70 years of Minnesota sports, we have two championships to show for it. Two. Championships. And if you like jokes, here's one. Glen Taylor, the General Manager of the Timberwolves, trades a star player for a future draft pick and a muffin... then trades the muffin for a piece of lasagna, then lets the lasagna sit out until it rots and then trades it for a piece of gum I found in my couch. Then he drafts 5'11" Center Joseph Imsobad from Saint Cloud State University and expects greatness. I took the high road and avoided a Jonny Flynn joke, but you got the point (because Jonny Flynn sure didn't).

The Twins Fifth Rotation Spot

     The Twins finally have some semblance of a starting rotation. Phil Hughes has emerged as a potential staff ace. We gave Ervin Santana bookoo bucks to eat up as many innings as possible. Ricky Nolasco is entering year two of the deal we gave him last offseason. He had pretty rough year, so it shouldn’t be that hard to improve. Kyle Gibson is a very popular breakout candidate after his extremely up and down 2014. This gives the Twins one of the best problems you can have in baseball. Who gets the ever-important fifth spot in the rotation? There are a few candidates that could get the nod.

Tommy Milone

   

     The most likely candidate for the fifth spot is Tommy Milone. He would give the Twins a southpaw in the rotation. The Twins acquired Milone from the A’s in exchange for Sam Fuld at the deadline last year. He is the stereotypical Twins pitcher. He throws a mid-to-high 80’s fastball, has an above average curveball, and his best pitch is his changeup. He has excellent control of all his pitches. The knock on Milone is his lack of overpowering stuff. That being said, pitcher friendly Target Field is the perfect place for him to succeed. 

Trevor May

     May got a shot at solidifying a spot in the rotation last season, and it did not go very well. May posted an abysmal 8.31 ERA as a starter. He looked nervous and overpowered on the mound. Obviously, another Spring Training can’t hurt, and that will be his chance to prove that he still has game. May has always been pegged as a power pitcher. He possesses a fastball that sits in the low 90s, but has touched 95, that has nice break. He is developing a power curve and a changeup. Throughout his career, to use a cliche, he has been more of a thrower than a pitcher. He needs to improve on commanding his pitches instead of just slinging them at the strike zone. As he was the key piece to the Ben Revere trade, fans hope that he can get it together.

Alex Meyer

     Alex Meyer, the International League Man of Mystery. The 6’9” behemoth has done nothing but dominate the minor league ranks since the Nationals drafted him in the first round in 2009. Even with his impressive track record, he hasn’t been given a chance in the league. It stands to reason that Terry Ryan sees, or rather doesn’t see, something in the kid. Meyer has been a top prospect in baseball for the past three years, topping out at number #28 on mlb.com’s list of top 100 prospects. Meyer is the power-pitching ace the Twins have been looking for. He has a plus plus fastball, sitting in the mid 90s and topping out in triple digits. His hard slider is also a plus pitch, sitting in the mid 80s with exceptional break. His changeup also sits in the mid 80s, but it is still in the works. His command is most likely what has kept him out of the show. Maybe 2015 is the season he finally breaks out, and we should all be hopeful seeing as though we gave up Denard Span, who would look very good in the new Twins jersey, for him.

Tim Stauffer

     Stauffer was signed to a one year deal this offseason. He has started and has pitched in relief in his ten-year career. He would add another veteran to the rotation. The former fourth overall pick has a fastball that sits in the low 90s. His repertoire also includes a curveball, a changeup and a cut fastball than has excellent movement and possesses control over all pitches. Stauffer projects more as a stretch reliever and an occasional spot starter, but you never know what could happen come April.

J.O. Berrios

     A dark horse candidate for the fifth spot is top prospect J.O. Berrios. He has dominated at all levels. The 20 year old posted a 1.96 ERA in high A, and a 3.54 ERA in AA. Berrios also struck out hitters at nine per nine-inning clip and 10 per respectively. He possesses a mid 90s fastball that has touched 98 on radar guns. His curveball is becoming a bona fide out pitch. His changeup is lagging behind his two plus pitches, but he still has time to develop it. Conventional knowledge says he’ll start in AA, as Terry Ryan loves to keep prospects in the minors as long as he can, but it never hurts to dream.

Operation: Dez Bryant

   The Vikings’ offseason could go any number of ways, as always. For the most 

part though, it hinges on what the team does with Adrian Peterson and his massive cap hit. Purple 

Jesus’s hit is a whopping $15.4 million dollars. That is by far the highest on the team. As 

a running back in the new NFL, about to hit 30, that number is just not going to fly. He 

would have to restructure that deal, but has already been adamant against doing so. 

Conversely, the Vikings could release Peterson from his contract and save themselves a 

healthy $13 million dollars, which they could spend in free agency. While it seems like a 

simple business decision, Peterson has been the face of the franchise since his rookie 

season in 2007. Peterson has also been for the most part the best running back in football 

during that time. While some fans view him as a monster and a fiend, a large percentage 

of fans still see him as the key to unlocking the promise land. In most situations, common 

knowledge would say take the money and run, but its not that simple in this case. Enter 

this scenario. Why not trade All Day for another player the fans can latch onto. 

     Dez Bryant has emerged into one of the top wide receivers in all of professional 

football. He has built a home in the end zone, and lives there all year long. In the four years since his rookie season, he has caught 50 touchdown passes. That is the most of anyone 

in that stretch by a considerable margin. His size (he’s listed at 6’2”-220) and his strength 

allow him to win 50-50 balls all over the field, he has developed a complete route tree 

and he’s extremely creative after the catch. Jerry Jones has already said Dez is not 

leaving the Cowboys. Threatening to use the franchise tag if he will not re-sign. This 

offers up an interesting idea. Why not try and trade Peterson, who already has a well 

documented interest in playing in Dallas, for Bryant, who is clearly not satisfied by 

Dallas’ lowball contracts. 

     This trade would not be just one for one. As I said before, Peterson is almost 30, 

and even then, running backs in the modern NFL are becoming less and less valuable. 

Bryant is only 26, 27 in November, and clearly in the prime of his career. Vikings GM 

Rick Spielman would have to hammer out the exact details, more than likely giving up a 

high draft pick, but we’ll visit that later. On paper, this trade is a grand slam home run for 

both teams. 

     For Dallas, they are trading a free agent to be, who has not shown a willingness to 

negotiate, for a player who has wanted to play with their team for years. Where Peterson 

will not take a pay cut to play for the Vikings, my money says he will to play for his 

hometown Cowboys. They save millions on what they would’ve given Dez, and can save 

even more money that they would’ve had to give to DeMarco Murray. The high draft 

pick that I mentioned earlier would also give Dallas a chance to draft another wide 

receiver in a draft that is very deep at the position. Jerry World gets to put up big banners 

of AP with a star on his helmet, they sell a lot of jerseys, and they don’t skip a beat in 

their powerful running attack from last year. 

     For the Vikings, the first day would be bitter sweet, and the second day would be 

filled with pure football happiness. Trading Adrian Peterson away from the purple and 

gold would be very hard, but if you can trade one franchise player for another, the fan 

base would readjust rather quickly. Especially when the player they’re getting is in the 

form of a go to target for rising star Teddy Bridgewater, the new face of the franchise. 

The money works out as well. As I said earlier, the Vikings would save $13 million 

dollars from moving on from Peterson. That is $13 million dollars that you can put 

towards Dez’s new contract. From a football standpoint, Teddy now gets to throw to one 

of the best wide receivers in the league, which would do wonders for his development as 

a quarterback. Dez Bryant could also mentor Cordarrelle Patterson, who is just oozing 

talent but hasn’t been able to put it all together. The running game was pretty mediocre 

last year, but Jerick McKinnon showed flashed of brilliance in his small body of work. 

The Vikings could choose to draft a more powerful back in this May’s draft to 

compliment McKinnon’s burst, in an attempt to create their own version of the Bengals’ 

lightning and thunder backfield of Gio Bernard and Jeremy Hill. They would more than 

likely lose an early draft pick, a first or second rounder would be my guess. This seems 

less than desirable, but the Vikings have had seven first round picks in the past three 

years. They are going to have to pay up some big money very soon. Future monetary 

obligations aside, the chances of the Vikings drafting a player who is better than Dez 

Bryant will be this year, are pretty slim. This trade would also come at the perfect time 

for the Vikings’ new stadium. The plan was to use Peterson as the poster child for the 

stadium, opening before the 2016 season, but now they can plaster Teddy and Dez 

everywhere. 

     This trade, while highly unlikely, would definitely take the Vikings one step 

closer to playoffs. Mike Zimmer has transformed the defense, and it stands to reason it 

will get better through the draft and free agency. The offense would take a large step 

forward with a true number one wide receiver and another year under center for Teddy.

Looking Ahead to the Draft

Hey all,
      As you know, the Timberwolves aren't very good this year. At this point in the season, they have the second worst record in the NBA and the future looks bleak for the Wolves. Considering this, I think it's safe to start looking ahead to the draft. The Wolves are all but guaranteed a top five pick, so with this in mind, what are their best options? Here are my top three picks for the Wolves, in order.

1. D'Angelo Russell, PG/SG, Ohio St.- This is another young prospect, with plenty of room to grow. He is a versatile combo guard, who handles pressure very well. He can shoot the 3-pointer at an excellent clip (44%) and he can shoot the ball from just about anywhere else on the court as well (45% field goal percentage). He has excellent vision and passing ability, as well as solid decision making. At 6'5" he is above average height for a point guard, and just below average height for a shooting guard, so size should not be an issue in his transition to the NBA, regardless of where he sees play. His 6'9" wingspan also gives him the ability to disrupt passing lanes and gives him extra length to get shots off. His weaknesses include his strength, which he needs to work on in order to compete at the NBA level and finishing in transition. He also has a below average jumping ability and needs more intensity on the defensive end of the court. Overall, I feel like he could be a very solid shooting guard, as well as a solid three-point shooter that the Timberwolves have been lacking since the departure of Kevin Love and that he would complement Andrew Wiggins very well.

2. Myles Turner, PF/C, Texas- An absolute monster on the boards, measuring in at 6'11", with a 7'4" wingspan. This young man has an excellent shot from anywhere on the court, clipping three pointers at 40% rate, two point jumpers at a 44% rate, and shooting nearly 70% in the post (69.7%). He also shoots free throws at 89% which, for a big man, is well above the average. He also is good defensively, blocking 2.7 shots a game, which is helped immensely by his 9'1" standing reach. He also has very solid decision making, with a 1:1 assist to turnover ratio. He has very few weaknesses, but the one that stands out is his athleticism. In order to compete an NBA level, he will need to put on some weight, as well as adjust to the height of NBA forwards. This should not be a problem for him, but it will take some time, so he will need to develop. Overall, he is a very well rounded prospect and he is someone the Timberwolves could use to help sure up their defensive interior. He can also stretch defenses with his ability to drain the three point shot, and give them a much needed interior presence on the offensive side of the ball, especially on the boards.

3. Justise Winslow, SG/SF, Duke- This guy has been wowing scouts with his elite level speed and athleticism, as well with his shooting and excellent on ball defending. His field goal percentage comes in at 43%, which is very solid and his three point shot comes in at 34%, which is serviceable for a starter in the NBA, and can be improved upon. The weaknesses he has shown include a poor free throw shooting ability, with only 57% at the line, and some consistency issues, but these can be worked out with practice and playing time. He also needs intensity to reach his full potential, something he has been seen as lacking. Overall, I feel he would bring a solid presence to a weak position on the current Timberwolves roster, and he would work well with Ricky Rubio, who is more than happy to let someone else to take the shots. Additionally, in combination with Andrew Wiggins, he could make an excellent one-two punch. He would provide some sorely needed defensive help to the Timberwolves, while providing a solid shooter as well.

In summary, I put the picks in the above order, because I feel as though the Timberwolves are much more in need of another ball handler, who can shoot the ball and distribute and take pressure off of Ricky Rubio, as well as add another shooting threat, or a big man underneath, who would give the Timberwolves a much needed defensive and offensive presence in the post, than just a pure shooting guard. However, depending on how the Timberwolves structure their offense going forward, things could look very different. But as things stand now, these are my picks for the Timberwolves.

Honorary mention- Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke- Any team who gets the first pick should be ecstatic to draft such an NBA ready center. There is not much else to say about him, other than that he is very nearly the real deal, and with some polish, could be an all-star. If the Timberwolves get the first pick, this is easily my first choice for our pick and this holds true for any team in the league.

Vikings Draft Options

   

1.  Amari Cooper – WR – Alabama

PROS
     Cooper is a prototypical deep threat. He is fast, a tremendous route runner, and has a knack for getting open. He has excellent body control. His speed and strong arms allow him to punish corners that try to press him. He can beat the press and immediately kick it into second gear, leaving him wide open for a big gain. He is creative when he has the ball in space, where he can flash his athleticism. Most importantly, he has excellent hands.

CONS
     What’s keeping Cooper out of the top ten picks, are his lack of elite measurables. At 6’1”-200, he doesn’t have the size of a Calvin Johnson or a Demaryius Thomas. He plays the game very fast, but his 40-yard dash time is not elite. In todays measurable based draft system, that will drop him.

Overview

     Amari Cooper is arguably the best wide receiver in an extremely deep class. He would add a potential number one receiver to an offense needing skilled position talent. Allows us to cut Greg Jennings to save us $5 million. Fun fact: Teddy Bridgewater is already familiar with Cooper. Teddy and Cooper played football together at the same high school, Miami Northwestern HS in Miami.

       2.     Brandon Scherff – OL – Iowa

PROS

     Brandon Scherff played left tackle at Iowa, and did so at a very high level. He has good size, at 6’6”-310, he looks the part of a blind side protector. Quick off the snap, which is essential for slowing down today’s speed rushing defensive ends. He is an outstanding downfield blocker, plowing over linebackers and defensive backs consistently. Very strong hands, able to latch onto rushers pads and not allow them to disengage.

CONS

     Needs to start loosening his hips when protecting the pocket. Tends to try too hard to keep defenders in front of him, instead of using their momentum to carry them past the quarterback.

Overview

     Scherff is a very exciting line prospect, we could start him out at left guard, giving Matt Kalil one last chance to prove to us he can be a left tackle in the league. May not be the flashy pick that everyone wants out of the first round, but as the Cowboys showed everyone last year, a great offensive line will take you a long way (remember our offensive line in 2009? Lets get back to those days).

       3.     Trade Down

PROS

     The Vikes could trade down deeper into the first round, acquire more picks and use them to further the depth we are starting to build up. On paper, this draft looks very deep at positions of need. As I said before, this class is very deep at wide receiver. Running back and offensive line are also deep.

CONS

     The Vikings will not get a top ten talent with their first pick. That’s about the only drawback.

Overview

     This may end up being the Vikings best option come draft time. Unless Cooper or Scherff are available when we pick at 11, I’d say we find a partner in the early to mid-20s and add more picks.

      4.     Vic Beasley – OLB – Clemson

PROS

     Beasley is very, very fast. He can blow past offensive tackles, inside them, or outside. His repertoire of pass rushing moves is extremely advanced. He looks like a Von Miller clone. Put him at weak side linebacker in our 4-3 system and he should thrive. This guy is the best pure pass rusher in this class.

CONS

     For as good as Beasley is at rushing the passer, he is inversely as good at defending the run. He often gets overpowered at the line. He also takes poor angles on running back on off tackle runs. If Beasley was even a little bit better against the run, he would be a top five pick.

Overview

     Beasley would be a terrific compliment to Anthony Barr on the other side of our defense. He would give us two potentially elite pass rushers. It would also give us that much more pass rush, which is becoming more and more important especially in the pass happy NFC North. Drafting Beasley would also allow the Vikings to release Chad Greenway and save the team $7.1 million.

      5.     Shaq Thompson – OLB – Washington

PROS

     Thompson is easily the most versatile player in the entire draft class. Thompson played linebacker, safety and running back for the Huskies. He has the size of a prototypical NFL safety (6’1”-230) but has the most experience playing outside linebacker. He will test out well measurable-wise. His time on offense has helped his ability to quickly diagnose plays on defense. He also has a knack for making big plays. He showed this off against Illinois, returning both a fumble and an interception for touchdowns. He finished 2014 with four defensive touchdowns.

CONS

     He will have to bulk up if he wants to play linebacker. This is also an issue in his tackling. He has to make a large percentage of his tackles by diving for the lower body. While he is good at it, he will struggle taking down players that play low to the ground.

Overview

     If the Vikings drafted Thompson, I could see him playing safety, but I’m sure Zimmer could find a way to use his versatility. He would essentially be the Cordarrelle Patterson of the defense, capable of being moved all over. His athleticism and ball skills at safety would complement Harrison Smith’s smash mouth style perfectly.

Introduction

Hello everyone,
       Jordan Anderson and Tyler Murphy here. This is our new sports blog. This blog will mainly feature the big four of Minnesota sports, The Timberwolves, the Twins, the Vikings and the Wild, but will occasionally feature articles about college sports from all over the state, Minnesota FC and the Wind Chill, or in other words, Minnesota sports as a whole.

        Here's a little background on us.

        Jordan Anderson is a sports management major at MSU-Mankato. He is an avid hockey and football fan, but also loves baseball and basketball. His favorite Minnesota sports team is the Vikings.

        Tyler Murphy is a German major at MSU-Mankato, He enjoys watching football, basketball and soccer, but also loves the sport of ultimate frisbee. His favorite Minnesota sports team is the Gopher basketball team.

Stay tuned for more posts!