Friday, 07/30/2010

Author's Note: This is somewhat the true story of how four Vikings fans hooked up in the Motor City in 1998 and partied away a personal poltergeist that had demonized their NFL team for many years!

Revenge Destination: Motown, USA

We were all there in that purple haze crowded Silverdome on October 25, 1998 and we, the proud fans of the Minnesota Vikings, meant business! You betcha!It wasn't intended to be just a routine football weekend roadtrip, this was to be a trip of revenge with a major purpose!

Last year my brother Brent and his roomate Stier had attended the Vikings game at the Silverdome where the Lions blew out the Vikings 44-15! It was at that game where Lions fans totally humiliated them to the point that they left the Silverdome embarrased, broke, and in complete shock!

This time, we vowed revenge, and we started planning for this weekend for this weekend months in advance. Not only was the this trip to Detroit an absolute necessity, it was our vacation and we had to make this fun! In order to "book fun" I called my best man, Saueey who lives in the Detroit area and told him that we were coming. It was his job to score us tickets for the game! We left on Friday morning, October 23rd at 4 am sharp. We should have been tired and grumpy, but instead the mood in my brand new '98 Explorer was upbeat and focused.

Games Vikes Fans Play

" We have a mission! We owe that place an asswhooping!," stated Brent somewhere on I-494 on that chilly Fall morning, "We have some unfinished business to take care of out there!" The first 2-hours of the trip was all Viking Talk! We discussed everything we could think of from the October 5th bombing of Green Bay to the latest news of the 6-0 Minnesota Vikings, including the newest QB controversy, Cunnigham or Johnson? We all kind of felt insulted that Bandwagon fans had been creeping onto the Vikings victory ride, and we wished they would fall off. I guess you could say that it sickens loyal fans to see stupidity get on TV and take all the credit for success. It's a heavy issue, but it does not stem from jealousy. Hell, as long time loyalists of the purple, we even talked about the old days at the Met, and recalled many of the classic moments between the Vikes and Lions. We played a little game called, Let's-see-who-can-name-the-most-former-or-current-Vikings-who-were-also-at-one-time-Lions! That game turned out to be a challenge but we came up with: WR-Anthony Carter, DT-Jerry Ball, K-Eddie Murray, KR-Eddie Payton, QB-Andre Ware... etc. All the while the CD player kept cranking out the classic Minnesota Band tunes...

This was going to be my first time at the Silverdome, so we talked about their experiences from the previous year, and as we chit chatted through Cheeseheadland in the dark hours of the morning, my thoughts changed to images and perceptions of the Silverdome:

Images of the Silverdome

I had always thought of the Silverdome as an evil place where Vikings had to go to get their butts whoomped. For some reason my image of that Dome is very negative. Here are some of the random "first thoughts" I had about the Silverdome when we started planning our trip to Michigan:

• Every Thanksgiving you see it on TV, for every Turkey Day Lions Game! In all the years of watching these "ho-hum" games, I can only remember maybe one game worth remembering. That was the game where the Bears won on a 98-yard kickoff return on the first play of overtime.
• I remember the Silverdome as being the host of the Super Bowl where Joe Montana won his first Championship. I believe the year was 1982, and the 49ers beat the Bengals 26-21. Mostly, I remember the pregame shows that kept referring to how cold it was in Detroit, and how this Super Bowl was to be the first ever played in a cold weather city.
• I think the Silverdome hosted some World Cup Soccer events in 1994. Honestly, I don't care for soccer too much, but for some reason, I recall broadcasters referring to how the dome's turf was replaced by natural grass and this was to be the first time such a feat had been successful.
• How can one not think of a Barry Sanders for 78-yard run against the Packers or some other feeble team who dares to step on his turf at the Dome? Barry is just, well, let's just say Mr. Sanders "is aweseome!"
• The annoying and very ominous Lions roar sound one hears in the background after a good Lions football play!
• Unfortunately, the image of ambulances and career ending neck injuries for Lions players Reggie Brown and Mike Utley come to mind.

Gary, Indiana and Michigan News

The trip progressed along nicely and by the time that we came to the Michigan-Indiana border we were hungry for some news from the Detroit media so we could see what the enemy was thinking about our undefeated Vikings coming into town. Stier bought a Detroit Free Press newspaper at one of our stops in Michigan. We read one article about Charlie Batch being a Proud "Mama's Boy" and another article included results of a Halloween contest in which the Free Press asked fans to come up with a costume that would scare the Vikings. The winning entry? It was the Lombardi Trophy. Ouch!

That was our welcome to the great state of Michigan, and I have to say that all it did was piss us off, while sparking anxiety for an early kick-off. "That's so lame! What's so scary about a trophy? I want the game to start right now so we can F'n kill em and shut them up," commented Brent.

We finally arrived in the Detroit area and met up with our host Saueey at his new home in Commerce Township, MI. We spent Friday Night partying and catching up. Saturday we helped Saueey move a new a couch and oak dresser into his house and watched college football on his Big Screen TV. The Gophers beat Michigan State in a huge upset! It was truly madness the weekend before Halloween 1998! We even watched a demolition of the Hudson Building in downtown Detroit on local TV. That was incredible! All the while we kept getting more and more anxious for game time!

Hoistin Purple in the Sky! 

Finally the big day arrived. We packed 2 dozen brats, 2 cases of beer, several hot dog buns, condiments, a gas grille, 4 lounge chairs, tailgating CD's and as much purple as possible into Saueey's truck and headed over to Pontiac. We arrived at the Siverdome when the gates opened at 9 am.

Since Saueey had his company's season tickets and parking pass we were able to set up "Purple Pride East" right in the Silverdome's nearest parking lot. Before the trip we purchased a couple of Big Viking Flags, one for the car and the other to be used to "show off in the parking lot!" We parked right next to a light pole and raised the purple viking flag high into the sky- about 16 feet high in the back of Saueey's truck in the Silverdome Lot! That flag was the signal for all Vikes fans to gather round. Soon after it was hoisted, standing out amidst a throng of silver and blue, it drew the attention of all passing Viking Fans!

Viking Princess in Silverdome Chariot!

Detroit fans noticed the flag on Saueey's Michigan plated truck and had a hard time swallowing the fact that we were Vikings from Minnesota. They accused us of being bandwagons from Michigan, and doubted our sincerity, but when we showed them our Viking ID cards (MN Driver's licenses) they started believing. Somewhere in the midst of all the brat aroma, flowing suds, football tunes and general excitement, a huge RV with a Lions flag rolled into the lot right next to us, honking its horn several times. A relatively boisterous driver started to yell at us, "You F'n VikeQueens have parked in our spot! This has been the place we've parked for the past 5 years!" Eventhough our new neighbors seemed an intrustion to our happy campground and were idly threatening us with bodily harm if we didn't move, we were unfazed by their threats. Saueey retorted with his traditional sharp tongue quick response, "F-You, we were here FIRST! Ya gotta get up earlier in the morning to beat the Vikes, you A-hole!"

One saving grace to our new neighbors was that they had delivered to us a Viking Princess who hailed from Minnesota! She was very excited to see us in Viking Purple, partying in her Lion friend's parking spot! It was a good thing that she was also dressed in Viking Purple, and she, along with Brent's friend Greg pretty much became our "peace-maker-translators" all throughout the day.

Purple Rain and More Tunes From Viking Land

I brought a home-made CD of Viking Hits (Skol Vikings, Vikings are Coming, the horn etc.) and it was big hit in the parking lot both pre and post-game with all the Vikes fans! With our flag fying high, we met a lot of crazed Viking fans and had our share of abuse from drunken Lion Loyalists. It was all in good NFL fun. Several trips were made to the porto potties which stood about 100 yards away from Camp Purple. Members of our camp would leave in pairs ("Never leave your wingman on a roadtrip into enemy territory.") Returning from the make-shift restrooms it was always a sight to see the Viking logo flying amidst a sea of Silver and Honolulu Blue, while hearing the familiar sounds of Skol Vikings, and other purple classics.

The Kickoff Gates Swing Wide Open!

We walked into the Silverdome minutes before gametime and found our seats in the lower level at the top of the endzone. The Lions's sideline was to our right and the Vikings was on our left. We had a great view of the re-introduction of Reggie Brown to his hometown Lion fans. Before the kickoff we went out and bought some pre-game beers and ran into several of the Vikes fans who had tailgated with before coming inside. There was about a dozen of us standing in the hallway minutes before kickoff. Without hesitation someone started a spontaneous acapella version of "Skol Vikings." By the second verse, we were singing very loud and had the attention of that entire side of the Silverdome (or so it seemed). We the chorus ended, we were showered with several boos and cat calls from curiously pissed Lions loyalists.

The only one who seemed to be completely under attack at the start of the game was Saueey! At the time right before kick-off, I knew he was temporarily insane, if not liqoured up, because he was wearing a purple-afro-hairdo-with-gold-Helga-braids-and-white-Viking-horns, boasting to everyone that he had been born with a Purple Penis! With his Purple hair, proclaiming to have said purple dick, he was soon confronted by a very curious Lions fan with a great sense of humor

"What on God's great earth made you think that today you were gonna get up and dress that way? What was going through your mind? What where you drinking that made you coordinate purple hair and this outfit? I mean did your wife see you leave today, did you go out of the house dressed like that?" Saueey had no response or defense except to laugh. In later recollections, this was Saueey's fondest memory of the game. I knew it was going to be fans "Battle of the Cock-off and Quick Wit" right away, when David Palmer downed the Opening Kick-off in the endzone and one Lion fan screamed, "Youuuuuuu Pusssssssssieee!!!!"

Lion Heartless and Moss Drops Six!

During the first half of the game we were introduced to good old fashioned Detroit hospitality. One gentleman sat in front of us, proclaiming to be "The Greatest Lion Fan Ever!" This guy was a spaz, sportin a beard and getting up into our face every time the Lions made a decent play. We would retaliate, naturally, but the Vikes really didn't give us alot to cheer for in the first half. My personal highlight of the first-half came when Randall Cunnigham underthrew a long pass to Randy Moss, who had outrun the ball and came up short of a Touchdown.

Before the game, I said that David Palmer would be the key for the Vikings. I was right and made sure that the boys knew it when he broke loose for a 43-yard kickoff return after Detroit took a 10-7 lead. It put the Vikings in position to tie the score seven plays later.

Unjustified Halftime Cockiness

You can about guess that Detroit Fans were bragging loudly about their insurmontable 3-point halftime lead. Our friend "The Greatest" even felt so compelled to challenge those near him by drunkingly proclaiming, "You're all a bunch of queers! This old, and truly oiginal verbal slam really hurt our feelings, so we retaliated with some "high schoolish response like "The only thing you have that's queer is a queer yourself. Besides, the scoreboard tells the story! and this game will queerly show that the Lions SUCK! WATCH!"

Third Quarter is the Charm!

The drinking had ceased at halftime- yes it's true the Silverdome stops serving beer at halftime- yet the "Loudmouth Soup" from Viking fans increased in the second half because of their team's play. Just like at the Metrodome in week 2 earlier in the season, the Vikings thoroughly outplayed Detroit in the last 30 minutes. "The Lions'Den" soon became a scene for another "Viking Berserker".

Move the Chains! Oh, Scoreboard!

As Viking fans our favorite words in the second half were "Move the chains!" as our Offensive Machine started rolling up the big yards and collecting first downs. Lions fans started taking notice of our high potency and the props starting rolling in. Almost prophetically, The Greatest slowly migrated away from our earshot, but occasionally he would taunt us with a gesture when the Lions actually made a play. Along with the humbling mentality of previously cocky Lions fans came general curiousity about what it was like to be a fan of team that could possibly win it all. The following are some qoutes I jotted down in my NFL Gameday Program:

• "So how do they treat Lions fans in the Metrodome?... Are they as mean to us there as we are to you here?..."
• "You know the Vikings might go far this year..."
• "My family believes in Jesus Christ and the Minnesota Vikings (A fan from Charlevoix, Mi.)"\
• "Must be nice to know you are going to Miami in the middle of January."

When Jimmy Hitchcock intercepted a pass intended for Detroit's Herman Moore in the fourth quarter, the game was over! Jimmy took a weak ass pass from Charlie Bich and ran it 79 yards for a touchdown, keeping alive the team's streak of intercepting a pass in every game this season. Moments after Jimmy's pick, the Silverdome fans were heading for the exits! Stier and myself started waving the large purple and gold flag while Brent and Saueey kept repeatedly yelling at the exiting Lions fans! My brother Brent, kept pointing at the 34-13 score on the Big Screen while yelling the words "Scoreboard! Goodbye See Ya! Scoreboard! Goodbye See Ya!" to Lions fans as they headed home. "Shut your F'n Cake holes!" Brent continued! "Lions SUCK! Who's talking now? The Fat Mama is singing your song goodbye! Get Out of OUR HOUSE!!!! Whooooooooooooooo! Yaaaaaa! "

Give us Our Props We'll Take Em!

As we left the Silverdome and headed for the exits, the reaction to Viking purple was mixed. Some loyal Lions fans where pissed, but most sang the praises of the Vikings. We received props from many of the local Detroit fans, who went out of their way to congratulate us and state teir opinions: "So, how do you think you guys will do against Denver in the Super Bowl, do you think you have a chance?" Our favorite response, "If Denver gets that far and we keep playing like this, we will smoke em!"

We all thought the Vikings played a bad game, but the final score 34-13 looked like a blowout and most all the Detroit fans (except their drunken loyalists) admitted that we "killed them." After the game we went back out to our camp and discussed the game even more. It was a convincing road victory in the same building that both Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers had lost! We felt that a win at Tampa- the only divisional road game left- the next week would assure us the Central Division title. We even talked about buying champagne for the next Vikings party at home. The win assured that the Vikings now lead the NFC in the race for home-field advantage.

Radio Free Viking Post-Game With Enemy Announcers and More Beer!

Back at the truck, we cranked up more tunes and high fived new purple travellers on their way out of the stadium as they walked by our camp. There was one very disgruntled Lion Fan Thug, who approached us very seriously! The man wore a long blck leather coat and sported a mean looking goatee. None of us wanted to create an incident, so we all watched him flip us off and yell vulgarities into our faces. It was quite entertaining, but mostly upsetting because this tantrum just happened to take place at the same time that 3 gorgeous Viking women were wiggling on by. So instead of entertaining more Viking Princesses we had to turn on the game stats and comments:

• Batch was consistently harassed by the Vikings' pass rush and was just 8 of 18.
• The Vikings increased their rushing production to 5.6 yards a carry for the game.
• The Vikings topped the 30-point mark for the sixth time in seven games.
• The Vikings just continue to make big plays look easy-almost routine.
• We outscored the Lions 24-0 in the second half.
• Randall Cunningham, 17 of 30 for 190 yards, finally returned to earth by being two intercepted twice.
• The Vikings gained 329 yards and averaged 5.4 yards a play.
• The Lions were penalized 14 times for 169 yards. The Vikings: 7 times, 55 yards!
• Vikings Defense gave up 351 yards!
• Sanders gained 127 yards on 24 attempts. Big Shock, But for the second time this season, the Vikings kept him out of the end zone. Robert Smith had over 100 yards rushing.
• The Vikings finished with four sacks, two by John Randle.
• Jhnny Morton caught only one ball in the second half.
• Herman Moore was held to four receptions for 42 yards.
• Gary Anderson, who kicked field goals of 35 and 44 yards, has not missed this season.

Prolonging the Inevitable Post-Game Hangover!

After the parking lot we went to some po-dunk Sport Bar in Pontiac, MI where saw the Denver Bronco's Jason Elam kick a 63-yard field goal against the Jaguars. This was an all-time record, tying Tom Dempsey's 28-year old record. Beacuse we had our Vikings garb on, several patrons kept asking or predicting that the Broncos and Vikings would be the best Super Bowl game.

From the moment we left for this long trip, we all knew that it would come to an end. As we drove back to the Twin Cities the following day, we all knew that we had created a new Viking Berserker tradition. We strongly urge all purple loyal to make a roadtrip deep into enemy territory sometime. It is a great way to bound with the Fans! This was my 3rd such journey, and the Vikes are 3-0 (Dallas and Green Bay being the other 2-0 conquests). In closing, SKOL Vikings!

Lions can't overcome Vikings, lose 34-13
October 25, 1998
BY HARRY ATKINS
Associated Press

PONTIAC -- Detroit rookie Charlie Batch didn't hit a wall, exactly. Just the Minnesota Vikings. Randall Cunningham threw two touchdown passes and the Vikings reeled off 17 consecutive points in the third quarter to remain undefeated with a 34-13 victory over the Lions on Sunday.

Robert Smith had 134 yards on 19 carries, including a 57-yard touchdown run to ice it for the Vikings (7-0), who defeated Detroit (2-5) for the second time.

Batch, who made his NFL debut at Minnesota in the third game of the season, didn't play poorly. He was 20-of-37 for 231 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown pass to Johnnie Morton, with one interception. But he couldn't overcome a performance that saw the Lions penalized 14 times for 169 yards.

Cunningham, Batch's boyhood hero during his early NFL years with the Philadelphia Eagles, was 17-of-30 for 190 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jake Reed and a 10-yard scoring toss to Cris Carter. Cunningham, starting his fifth game since Brad Johnson went down with a broken leg, finally showed a little vulnerability, however, throwing his first two interceptions. Still, his interceptions were harmless.

Jimmy Hitchcock took Batch's interception 79 yards for the game's final score late in the fourth quarter. Gary Anderson kicked field goals of 35 and 44 yards for the Vikings. Jason Hanson kicked field goals of 47 and 48 yards, and Barry Sanders gained 127 yards on 24 carries for the Lions.

Neither team was happy with the work of referee Tony Corrente and his crew. Detroit coach Bobby Ross, who seldom shows much animation on the sideline, went into a rage after a pass interference call against Bryant Westbrook that jump-started the drive to Minnesota's first touchdown, the toss to Reed early in the second quarter.

With the Lions on the Minnesota 30, time appeared to have expired as Batch spiked the ball at the end of the second quarter. But the referee ordered one second put back on the clock, and Hanson kicked a field goal to send the Lions off with a 13-10 halftime lead. That upset Minnesota coach Dennis Green, who headed straight to midfield and walked all the way to the tunnel with Corrente.

It was all Vikings in the second half, but the penalty flags continued to fly. Anderson tied it 13-all midway through the third quarter. On their next possession, a 59-yard pass interference call against Westbrook was the key play in a five-play drive for the go-ahead score -- Cunningham's pass to Carter, who made a nice catch between Kevin Abrams and Ron Rice in the back of the end zone.

A personal foul call against Robert Porcher gave the Vikings a first down on their next possession. Smith broke free on his touchdown run on the next play for a 27-13 lead with 1:54 left in the third.

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