Loyalty Was Lacking
In Minnesota
Loyalty Was Lacking
In Minnesota
by Dessa Rodeffer, Editor/Publisher
My son-in-law Scott Postle was among the loyal fans who
were bleeding purple Sunday as they watched their much hailed Minnesota Viking
team lose to the Atlanta Falcons in an unpredicted 3-point overtime loss.
The Vikings, who had been to the Super Bowl four different
times since their franchise in 1961, had seen a 22 year stretch without a
chance to play in the Super Bowl, until this year.
Everything seemed to be going right for the Vikings.
A new supportive owner, Red McCombs who had entertained players at dinner,
talented coach Dennis Green, who had made some promising recruitments with
phenomenal kicker Gary Anderson and wide receiver Randy Moss.
They joined talented players in a more unified effort
than ever before as a group of intense players. Injuries were low, and the
season of 15 wins and 1 close loss was a great season for the Vikings and
boosted fan support to an all-time high.
The Metrodome brought a record in Viking attendance of
over 64,000 in attendance of which only 500 were reported as Falcon fans.
One of Coach Green's recruitments who was a big credit
for bringing the Vikings to the playoffs was kicker Gary Anderson. He
had a flawless year with 39 straight field goal kicks and never missed one
extra point going 67 for 67 setting NFL records.
With many new fans jumping on the band wagon because
the Vikes were winning, many were pumped thinking an almost flawless season
was going to take them to the Super Bowl, no questions asked.
The Championship shirts and hats were purchased waiting
for after game sales. The newspapers were stacked and printed with headlines
announcing Vikings as winners bound for Miami. Fans were planning their good
time in Miami.
If you didn't have purple on, your were harassed. Faces
were painted. Car after car was flying purple Viking flags. Tail-gate parties
had started early Sunday. It seemed that many were there to support a win,
not the team.
They were unprepared for the possibility that the Vikings
could lose. Gary Anderson, who kicked flawlessly all year long, even during
warmups Sunday, could not miss, and the Vikes would do what they always do,
beat the opponent.
ESPN predicted the Vikings as the favorites, but one
Boston commentator said, if they lose, it will be because Anderson misses
a field goal. It is unhuman that a man doesn't miss, he warned.
My son-in-law and daughter had invited me and my son
Matt to attend the championship game. They had attended the Viking playoff
win over Arizona the week earlier and wanted me to feel a part of the thrill
of a playoff championship. The excitement is unbelievable.
Scott was there to support a team he had followed since
he could say the word football. In Junior High, he and several classmates
would take on the role of a Viking as they scrimmaged in the school yard.
A few classmates remained loyal, or left and came back
to the Vikes, but many jumped to other winning teams as the Vikings struggled
to win their division.
But for Scott, he has flown a purple flag each game day
since I can remember. He is as loyal fan as they come. He edifies, supports,
commends, and believes in his team.
When everyone else has left, it is these types of fans
who stay around to encourage in a steadfast allegiance of faithfulness that
deserve to join in the credit for a team's victories. They use words like
"we" in about every statement referring to the team as if they feel every
selection, every fumble, every win, and yes, every loss.
As a soldier sings the National Anthem with much pride,
Scott sings every word to the Viking loyalty song with pride.
With the Vikings up 27-20, and the Falcon's ending what
seemed like their last chance, Coach Green sent Anderson in for a 38-yard
field goal, an easy kick for the specialist.
The crowd was spastic
chanting.....Gary....Gary....Gary....Gary... And the kick was made just shy
of the mark by inches, and the crowd was in disbelief. It was mighty Casey
striking out, and the thousands of yellow Purple Pride towels lay still.
Atlanta gained a momentum from the missed kick that boosted
them back into the end zone for a 27-27 tie.
The 15 minute overtime gave win to the first team into
the end zone. The toss went to the Vikings and the Purple Pride towels were
again in the air.
The Vikings would drive, score, and win as before.
But the Falcon stopped their drive and moved the ball
then stopped when they had gotten to the 21 yard line. It was the same yard
line on which Gary Anderson had missed his field goal.
The Falcons sent their field kicker, Morton Anderson,
to accomplish what the expert failed to do, kick the 38 yards for the win
to the Super Bowl.
The Metrodome fell from a record-breaking noise to dead
silence, except for a few scattered Falcon fans doing their "dirty bird"
dance.
Fans emptied out of the home of their "purple pride"
throwing Viking hats and purple pride towels onto the field.
Evening talk shows were overloaded with calls from fans
that were dumping on their Vikings.
They blamed the coach's game plan, the players not wanting
it bad enough, one even accusing the team of taking a pay-off because Anderson
couldn't have missed otherwise. Some wanted to hit Coach Green right in the
nose, others felt the team had let them down.
But in the locker room after the game, Coach Green told
the players they had given 100%. They had won with dignity, they would lose
with dignity.
Chris Carter told a waiting press that it hurts bad.
Anderson hung his head. He said he set it up as he always does, kicks as
he always kicks. It didn't go. The weight was heavy, but his team backed
him 100% saying they all had their chances. "Gary did what he always does,
he tried to help our team win."
Scott said the Vikings had given him, and all NFL fans,
a wonderful year of football. Sure, it hurt not to return to Illinois with
a win, but he wasn't bleeding red for himself, he was bleeding purple for
himself and his long-loved Viking team.
After one lady called into a talk show to tell fans (and
her husband) to get a grip on themselves, no one died, it is only a game,
there is always next year, I asked Scott what he thought about that statement.
He said, it is not only a game. Sure, there are more important things outside
of football, like your wife and kids and their well being, but a team's chance
at winning a Super Bowl comes along with a lot of things going just right.
It takes good ownership, management, coaching, recruitment, and few injuries.
There's pressures you put on yourself, as well as by coaches, family, friends,
and the ever watchful public. Winning 15 out of 16 games is a tough thing
to do, Scott said. It's not something you can always do again next year.
There's lots of emotions.
Gary Anderson said the hardest thing he had to do was
go home and face his 9 year old son. His son responded, Gee Dad, no one is
perfect."
True fans like Anderson's son, are proud of their team,
no matter what. I guess what upset me most about the Viking game was
not the loss, but many of the Viking fair-weather fans who bailed out on
them at the end with their actions and rubbish comments.
Like Scott, I feel the Vikings' desire to go to Miami
far outweighed anyone's.
They were the one's who got up the early hours, sweat
through the long practices, put their bodies through a vigorous routine a
fan couldn't begin to accomplish. And it was the players and the coaches
who tossed and turned the night before each game, taking abuse on and off
the field.
What the opponents say about you, you expect, but when
your own fans turn their back on you when you need them most, it's a bitter
pain. Sunday was not just another game, it's the goal they had been toiling
for, for years.
To the loyal Viking fans, my heart goes out to you, but
to those who jumped ship, who were only there when times were great, you
didn't deserve to share in the glory of a Championship win.