Oh yeah.... Purple Kool-Aid Intoxication

This was written last week and I never published it because I didn’t know how to end it.  Well, thankfully the Vikings ended it for me by losing on Sunday to the Steelers.  Icky game.  That’s all I’m going to say. 

            I’m drinking the purple kool-aid and I’ve got to say it tastes pretty good.  Call me a bandwagon fan if you want—but the Vikes are 6-0 and that’s all that matters.   To be honest, I’ve never been that excited by the NFL.  A bunch of whiny, overpaid football players who spend more time flexing their muscles and growling at each other than actually accomplishing anything on the field?  No, thank you.  I’d rather watch college football any day of the week.

            But this year the Vikings seem different.  They seem confident, in control on the field—and at times, even cute.  I know, bad adjective to use for a group of burly football players but they seem to be having a great time out there.  And Brett Favre is adorable to watch, something I never thought I would say.  His demeanor in purple has completely surprised me.  He seems likeable, even charming at times—a quality I never saw when he played with the Packers, although I wasn’t really looking for it.  He’s got spunk—I mean, who didn’t smile when he got so excited that he accidentally tackled Harvin post-touchdown against Cleveland?  Cutest thing ever!  Ranking-wise, he comes in third in the NFL behind Drew Brees and Peyton Manning.  Not a bad place for a guy who just turned 40. 

One of four teams still undefeated going into Week 7, Favre isn’t the only guy on the Vikings roster making noise on the field.  Adrian Peterson leads the NFL in rushing yards, pulling 7 touchdowns and 618 yards in six games.  Sidney Rice, who had an eye-opening game against the Ravens last Sunday, is #11 in the league with 409 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Jared Allen has 7.5 sacks, Kevin Williams with 4, and both Chad Greenway and Cedric Griffin have two interceptions.  And while these defensive statistics do not make up for the Vikings’ appalling fourth quarter nap they took against Baltimore last week, it does show what we are capable of.  It seems like everything is finally coming together—fingers crossed, of course.

This weekend, the Vikings take on the 4-2 Pittsburgh Steelers followed by a ‘welcome home’ party for Brett at Lambeau Field on Nov. 1^st.  Two intense games, one right after the other.  But they couldn’t come at a better time.  Purple fever has passed through Minnesota just as quickly as H1N1 and even the most uninterested fans—ahem, my best friend Mel—can’t help but cheer for the Vikes.....  

That's where it ended.  I couldn't finish it.  Maybe it was a sign that we were going to lose or maybe I jinxed the team.  Dang it.  Either way, I’m still drinking the purple kool-aid—one loss isn’t going to throw me off the bandwagon just yet.  Besides, everyone—including ESPN—has forgotten about Sunday’s game and has already moved on to the Vikings-Packers showdown this week.  If they can move on, so can I.   

This is for you, Julie.  Enjoy! :)