VikingsTailgate.com- Stories, Game Reports

Friday, 07/30/2010

Tailgating in the Desert on a Horse with No Name
Arizona Tailgating slideshow from 12-28-03

Wow, the tailgate party was TERRIFIC but the game just sucked. Many Vikings fans all over the World burned their purple after this day as the 'Zona Cardinals won on the last play of the season. Nate Poole caught what looked like an uncatchable ball, but the Refs ruled that he was pushed out of bounds and the score stood up.

Regardless, tailgating with Arizona Vikings fans was a real treat. There was Viking fan clubs from Tuscon, and Southern California who brought many tribe members to the Arizona party. Warm weather and Southwestern food mixed with several kegs of beer and other assorted alcohol led to a very memorable day of tailgating in the desert. The chicks were cranking up Outkast and shakin it, the guys were pounding beers, and the Cardinals fans were scarce.

DISGUST...CONFUSION...ANGER and RELIEF! Those were the feelings of the thousands of shocked Vikings fans who left Sun Devil Stadium on Sunday after the hapless Cardinals ripped the Vikes on the 28th Anniversary of the Dallas Hail Mary "Drew Pushed off" play. I can't say I was shocked by the loss, because I am a Vikings fan, and I do know that choking is our speciality.

It's the most frustrating thing in the world, to sit there 31 rows behind the Vikings bench, with 17-6 lead and holding a "See You Next Week" sign up for the Fox Sports TV crew and realize that you have been here before, and have done this before. You think this time it has to be different. This time this team is smart enough to realize that they have to finish the job against a pitiful team. This time they know better, they have learned from their recent past (and historic lessons of choke) and know that they have to put the boot to the throat of their opposition in order to survive.

You know this is how to win because you are a part of winning softball program, a World Champion softball program, and have coached championship ball teams all your life. They Vikings are a professional team, and they should know how to win too, right? You hope this is true, and that they, with all their millions of dollars and time and effort they put in to actually being in shape and honing their skills at the highest level, should know how to win a simple football game, right?

Then standing their in a damn college football stadium, more than a thousand miles from home, holding that stupid sign and yelling at the top of your lungs for them to "FINISH THE JOB," you see it. The classic signs of the Minnesot Viking choke:

A Happy and cocky offense slapping themselves on their backs, whooping it up as they know for sure the game is a lock with 6 minutes still left to play.

The achilles heel of the entire football team, the defense (sans Kevin Williams who is actually a god damn GREAT football player) takes the field.

A meaningless drive for a touchdown by a terrible Cardinal offense, who somehow managed just one penalty for the entire game? Where the hell did that perfection come from?

a bumblef**k dropped onside kick by Scissorhands Kleinsasser. Yo Kleinsasser have fun in Dallas with your stupid ponytail.

a tired defense with hands grabbing their sides as they pant like beaten poodles. Yo Coach, did you know that your Defense was out there for two consecutive drives without a break?

a coach who forgets to call time out and give his team a chance to gets its breath

a cocky Cardinals fan calling for your head and reminding you that your "Sorry Ass" team is the King of Chokers. Ain't that a kick in the head? Getting biatched by a fricking CARDS fan? Do Vikings players have any clue how degrading that is? (Try this one for size, they threw ice at me and broke my $110 pair of Ray Bans. Talk about a slap)

Arizona Tailgater Amy from Vegas You just know it's over right there. The last drive wasn't even necessary. At least the Viking nation knows how to tailgate like Champions. True that, we are the Tailgating Champions of the World. What I would do to actually see a Vikings player show up at our tailgate next year and see how to win a championship. Whatever would I do. Of course I will buy my 2 season tickets next year, and I will keep showing up. I say things about the Vikings in PURE FRUSTRATION because I am a rube, and I actually care how they play. I am sick of the creative choking crap though, I tell ya. I could go another few years without that junk for sure.

Hey Vikes, please figure it out before I have to come out there and SHOW you how to win a title on attitude. That's all you really need, really, is just an attitude.