Tag: Minnesota

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Let’s Play Some Teddy Trivia

This Fourth of July weekend, let’s stray from our typical Minnesota Vikings lore and play a little trivia. My favorite former Viking, Teddy Bridgewater, just put his vehicle up for sale. Can you guess what Teddy Two Gloves drives, when he’s not driving offenses down the field?

A – Audi

B – Corvette

C – Impala

D – Range Rover

Believe it or not, the answer is C. Yes, Teddy the Throwman’s ride is a maroon Impala with gold rims, and per his Instagram, he’s looking to sell. To me, the car seems much more fitting of a man with a big fur hat and a long velvet jacket. That’s not who Teddy is, but this car — like his locker room dance video — confirms he has flair. 

https://twitter.com/lasondralateish/status/1071881349869592576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1071881349869592576&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sbnation.com%2Fnfl%2F2019%2F1%2F18%2F18184169%2Fdrew-brees-teddy-bridgewater-dance-new-orleans-saints-motorcycle-bike-life

This isn’t the only flashy car Bridgewater has ever purchased. Shortly after being drafted by the Vikings, he delivered on a promise he made to his beloved mom and bought her a pink Cadillac. 

Skinny knees or not, I miss watching Teddy play. He’s as classic as his car, and I hope he’s cruising it in some Fourth of July parades.

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The Vikings’ Secret Weapon

The hunger to win a Super Bowl has left some Vikings fans feeling hangry. 58 years is a long time to wait for a Lombardi, but we’re unlikely to ever win the trophy if our fans don’t get in the game.

Fans have more of an impact on the game of football than they may realize. Take the Seattle Seahawks for example – their fanbase is so loud and loyal that they’ve been nicknamed the 12th-Man. Seattle has become one of the most energized environments to play in, and there’s no reason U.S. Bank Stadium can’t share that same home field advantage. 

If you doubt that the roar of a crowd can drive a team down the field, maybe this quote from Coach Zim will make you a believer. Before a big game against the New Orleans Saints, the no-nonsense coach said, “We need the fans to be loud and rowdy, and make this the loudest stadium that the Vikings have ever played in.” The result? The Minneapolis Miracle. 

Anyone in attendance that day surely saw Syd Davy in the crowd. He’s hard to miss with his purple face paint and horned “Helga Hat.” Davy is the founder of the Viking World Order fan group, and he’s definitely a diehard. Believe it or not, Syd isn’t even from Minnesota, but he makes the trek from Canada to catch every home game. He’s stuck with the team through thick and thin, and his passion for the purple never wanes.

People don’t need to paint their faces and wear Helga Hats to support the team. What really counts is showing up for home games, hitting the road for away games, and always being supportive of players on social media. There’s actually an annual study done by Emory University that ranks football fans based on these factors. Unfortunately, Vikings fans ranked 24th out of 32 when the results were released on Monday.

Minnesota is lucky to have a professional sports team like the Vikings. Remember, the North Stars and the Lakers were shockingly shipped out of state, and their fans were left devastated. The same thing almost happened to the Vikings a decade ago when the team was owned by Red McCombs. 

No one wants to lose the Vikings, and the team has a much better chance of winning with a great fan base. It’s like having a secret weapon. So show some purple pride like Syd, and Skol to the Bowl.

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“Expert” Says 5-11, I Say 11-5

Predicting the Vikings 2019 record

Recently, analyst Adam Rank of NFL.com gave his opinion on how the Minnesota Vikings would fare this season. Rank is an avid Bears fan, so some bias was expected. However, thousands of fans on social media (including myself) were appalled to see him pencil in only five wins for the purple. With that disgrace to our state still circulating, it was only appropriate that I combat it with a more realistic prediction of my own.

Week 1 (9/8) – vs. Atlanta Falcons, noon

Bird watchers beware – the Falcons won’t be flying high after the season opener. The Vikings have overcome Atlanta easily in their last three meetings, and this should make it four in a row.

Week 2 (9/15) – at Green Bay Packers, noon

It’s a tall order, but Dalvin “The Chef” Cook will be slicing and dicing the unproven Packers defense on this warm September day. No guarantees Aaron Rodgers and Matt Lafleur will work well together either.

Week 3 (9/22) – vs. Oakland Raiders, noon

The Raiders have some flashy new weapons, but our home field advantage in tandem with Mike Zimmer’s defense will be too tough for Oakland to pillage.

Week 4 (9/29) – at Chicago Bears, 3:25 p.m.

Weird things happen in the Windy City, and Minnesota’s confidence will take a blow with this week four loss.

Week 5 (10/6) – at New York Giants, noon

There’s no saying who the signal caller will be for the Giants in this matchup, but the Vikings should get a big win in the Big Apple. Pat Shurmur has yet to beat his former team, and his wait will continue.

Week 6 (10/13) – vs. Philadelphia Eagles, noon

Bagging some more birds would be sweet, but the Vikings might lay an egg in this klinker of a game. Carson Wentz usually puts on a good show when he’s healthy and playing indoors.

Week 7 (10/20) – at Detroit Lions, noon

Divisional games are no gimme, but the Vikings should be able to assemble a win at Ford Field. Might come down to a kick or two as games have in recent memory.

Week 8 (10/24) – vs. Washington Redskins, 7:20 p.m.

If Case Keenum starts this game, Cousins will be dueling his former team and the creator of the Minneapolis Miracle. This nationally-televised night game will be a thriller for sure, and I predict Kirk proves the Vikings right for spending big bucks.

Week 9 (11/3) – at Kansas City Chiefs, noon

The Chiefs are a powerhouse with Patrick Mahomes at the helm. David won’t be taking down Goliath on the road this November.

Week 10 (11/10) – at Dallas Cowboys, 7:20 p.m.

I’d love to unnerve “America’s Team” in primetime fashion, and I think the Vikings have the talent to do it. The trouble is, this won’t be the night that it happens. Likely a gunfight between two mid-tier quarterbacks, but Dallas thrives under the bright lights.

Week 11 (11/17) – vs. Denver Broncos, noon

Too much instability in Denver for the Broncos to run away with this one. A confidence boost before the bye week.

Week 12 BYE

Week 13 (12/2) – at the Seattle Seahawks, 7:15 p.m.

The Vikings haven’t taken down the Seahawks in almost 10 years, and the 12th Man advantage will prove to be too much yet again.

Week 14 (12/8) – vs. Detroit Lions, noon

If the Vikings are reasonably healthy, this should be a painless takedown. Minnesota’s defense sacked Mathew Stafford 10 times at home last year, and they should steam roll him once more.

Week 15 (12/15) – at Los Angeles Chargers, 7:20 p.m.

The Chargers are a solid team, but they can never seem to put it together when it counts. The fair weather out west will be a relief for the Vikings, and they’ll show they are true contenders in this primetime barn burner.

Week 16 (12/23) – vs. Green Bay Packers, 7:15 p.m.

Both teams will be hunting for a win with the playoffs near. I say Mike Zimmer’s defense holds down the fort, preventing the Packers from leaving Minneapolis with a victory.

Week 17 (12/29) – vs Chicago Bears, noon

At this point in the season, the Vikings may need this win to punch their ticket to the postseason. Revenge is sweet, and Kirk Cousins will steal the crown from the former kings of the north.

Am I being too optimistic about Cousins and the crew? Comment below, or shoot me a message on social media to continue the conversation.

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Cousins Taken Down During Practice

While fans and analysts are focused on trade rumors surrounding tight end Kyle Rudolph, they should be more concerned about the absence of starting right tackle Brian O’Neill. The second-year starter, who is paid to protect Kirk Cousins, was missing from practice Wednesday. In his absence, the $84 million man was taken to the turf by his own teammate.

O’Neill was a rare bright spot on Minnesota’s shaky offensive line last year, but he was sidelined during the second practice of the season with an undisclosed injury. Rashod Hill replaced O’Neill for the day, but he and his other linemen failed to protect the man in red. Quarterbacks always wear bright red jerseys during practice so adrenaline-filled defensemen don’t hit them.

O’Neill’s presence was certainly missed, but the line is also learning a new system brought in by Rick Dennison. The offensive line coach is teaching the squad to zone block vs man to man. As a result, Cousins was frequently under duress during the two-hour session, and at one point was inadvertently taken to the turf.

You never want to see the signal-caller down on the ground in his red jersey. An innocent practice can lead to a near career-ending injury, as it did with former Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater in 2016. Accidents happen, but Cousins’ incident made me wonder if Teddy’s devastating knee injury was truly non-contact? After all, we never saw the tape.

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Meeting the Hometown Hero: A Night with C.J. Ham

C.J. Ham may not be the face of the franchise for the Minnesota Vikings, but he’s a hometown hero in Duluth, Minnesota. I too am a Duluth native, and I had the unique opportunity to meet the fullback when he spoke at a banquet for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Duluth is two hours north of Minneapolis, and it’s one step short of the arctic tundra. As a hockey town, it’s the last place you’d expect to produce a professional football player, although Bud Grant grew up just a mile away in Superior, Wisconsin.

Like his teammate Kirk Cousins, C.J. is the son of a minister who credits his success to family and faith. The 5’11” blocker was raised in a blue collar neighborhood and is a rare success story to come out of Denfeld High School.

Ham regularly visits his parents who still live in Duluth, and on friday he stopped by his former high school to see a mural that was created in his honor. A quote from C.J. on the artwork reads, “Growing up in Duluth’s West End, you work hard and earn everything you get. It’s 100 percent possible to reach your dreams, and dreams really do come true if you are willing to work for them.”

In high school, Ham ran track and fell in love with football. His days at Denfeld earned him an opportunity to play college football in South Dakota, where he ironically became a Viking at Augustana.

C.J.’s transition to college wasn’t easy. As an overwhelmed freshman lacking a good friend group, he briefly stepped away from the sport he loved most. “I quit football… packed up, and came back to Duluth,” he admitted. His absence from Augustana didn’t last long, as his close-knit family and supportive community encouraged him to go back to the gridiron.

After returning to Augustana, Ham ran for over 2,600 yards and tallied 35 touchdowns. As it turned out, college wouldn’t be the last time he played for the Vikings.

Even though Ham has gone pro, people from his past say he hasn’t changed. IST Crossfit owner Chris Bell used words like “appreciative” and “humble” to describe Ham at the banquet, who used to frequent Bell’s Duluth-based gym.

As a Minnesota Viking, Ham has proven to be a talented fullback, but what I admire most about him is his character. C.J.’s mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a few weeks ago, and Ham immediately rushed home to give her a hug and tell her how much he loves her. That’s the kind of guy I want in the locker room.

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