SB IV is one of my first football memories. I had just become a Vikings fan. (I grew up in Nebraska so I could pick any team.)
There are three years that are particularly stinging for me. The loss to Pittsburgh in SB IX, the Drew Pearson push-off in 1975 and 2009. Until 2009, I had never seen a better Vikings team than that '75 group.
Leber is right. I'm afraid to say it out loud, but this team is better than '09.
Quote: @JimmyinSD said:
'99 and '09? I wish. Sadly, I go back to the 1969 season - SB in 1970. That was the only SB I thought we should definitely win. I would have said the same in '98 and '09 but we did not make it. So, yeah, cautious optimism for me.
I wasnt born until 73 so the PPEs were barely a memory, I have faint memories of those 70s games, but not really enough to point to that as an emotional scar. My pain began in the 80s, with the 87 CG being the first open wound. I think to truly feel the pain you have to have been through at least 2 emotional losses. for you old timers that vividly remember the 60s and 70s... at some point doesnt shock and numbness take over and kind of block out the pain?
It's losing when you know you have the best team - not just the better team on the field that day - that really gets me. That's what we had in '69 and in '98 for sure and in '09, too. Going on memory here (could be made up by now) buy I recall being a 2 TD favorite against KC in the SB and I think we killed them to open the next season - lots of good that did. In '98, the Broncos were already set as AFC champs. They celebrated our loss to Atlanta more than the Falcons did. Our NFCCG game was their SB.
There is some shock. Not so sure about the numbness. At least at my age I don't stomp around like I did when I was 9 and we lost to KC. But give me a few more years and we'll see.
My first Viking game memory was watching the SB against Miami with my oldest brother and his buddies. I was hooked after that game, and watched them lose the other two SBs as an avid young fan.
Yeah, too much heartbreak over the years has me all cautious and guarded. I'm enjoying the hell out of this team, but I'll only believe we're SB Champs when I see it. So, I'll be carefully watching how far we go while protecting myself from heartbreak.
That's not easy to do (to not get emotionally sucked in); I've gotten good at it with my old age. B)
I relocated to MN in late '98 and watched that Atlanta game from the hotel room I was living in until I had a home. Sounds strange but I became a fan during that heartbreak of a game. I watched for a few years after that until I bought season tickets in the Metrodome. I skipped one year after being disappointed but got back in right after that. One of the reasons for my Giants hate has a little something to do with "41 - 0". Yes, 2009 was painful. I was too young for the 4 super bowls and I'm not quite at that 20 year mark. But I've put in my time. And all of that time reminds me how rare this is. I still have some caution. I'm human. But damn this is fun. Our only risk is disappointment and we obviously can handle that around here, right? right? RIGHT? 
Anyway, I'm enjoying every day of this. And even though it's still one game at a time, I'm allowing myself to dream a little. Ben mentioned that it's okay for the fans to have some expectations. The players do. So, I'm all in until the day the ride is over.
SKOL!
Quote: @HappyViking said:
My first Viking game memory was watching the SB against Miami with my oldest brother and his buddies. I was hooked after that game, and watched them lose the other two SBs as an avid young fan.
Yeah, too much heartbreak over the years has me all cautious and guarded. I'm enjoying the hell out of this team, but I'll only believe we're SB Champs when I see it. So, I'll be carefully watching how far we go while protecting myself from heartbreak.
That's not easy to do (to not get emotionally sucked in); I've gotten good at it with my old age. B)
no shit... i keep telling myself "one game at a time" but I get that feeling in my stomach when I start thinking about a game 10 days away against an unknown opponent.
its like i can just about grab it, we are that damn close... but dont reach for it yet, its just a mirage.
Quote: @dadevike said:
@ JimmyinSD said:
'99 and '09? I wish. Sadly, I go back to the 1969 season - SB in 1970. That was the only SB I thought we should definitely win. I would have said the same in '98 and '09 but we did not make it. So, yeah, cautious optimism for me.
I wasnt born until 73 so the PPEs were barely a memory, I have faint memories of those 70s games, but not really enough to point to that as an emotional scar. My pain began in the 80s, with the 87 CG being the first open wound. I think to truly feel the pain you have to have been through at least 2 emotional losses. for you old timers that vividly remember the 60s and 70s... at some point doesnt shock and numbness take over and kind of block out the pain?
It's losing when you know you have the best team - not just the better team on the field that day - that really gets me. That's what we had in '69 and in '98 for sure and in '09, too. Going on memory here (could be made up by now) buy I recall being a 2 TD favorite against KC in the SB and I think we killed them to open the next season - lots of good that did. In '98, the Broncos were already set as AFC champs. They celebrated our loss to Atlanta more than the Falcons did. Our NFCCG game was their SB.
There is some shock. Not so sure about the numbness. At least at my age I don't stomp around like I did when I was 9 and we lost to KC. But give me a few more years and we'll see.
Actually, in '98 the Jets/Broncos game was the late game after we lost to the Falcons. I remember it because I was listening to it while driving back to Nebraska in a blizzard. Ended up having to stop for the night in Worthington. You're right about KC, though. First week of the merged NFL/AFL schedule the Vikes won 27-10.
Quote: @Mark Janda said:
@ dadevike said:
@ JimmyinSD said:
'99 and '09? I wish. Sadly, I go back to the 1969 season - SB in 1970. That was the only SB I thought we should definitely win. I would have said the same in '98 and '09 but we did not make it. So, yeah, cautious optimism for me.
I wasnt born until 73 so the PPEs were barely a memory, I have faint memories of those 70s games, but not really enough to point to that as an emotional scar. My pain began in the 80s, with the 87 CG being the first open wound. I think to truly feel the pain you have to have been through at least 2 emotional losses. for you old timers that vividly remember the 60s and 70s... at some point doesnt shock and numbness take over and kind of block out the pain?
It's losing when you know you have the best team - not just the better team on the field that day - that really gets me. That's what we had in '69 and in '98 for sure and in '09, too. Going on memory here (could be made up by now) buy I recall being a 2 TD favorite against KC in the SB and I think we killed them to open the next season - lots of good that did. In '98, the Broncos were already set as AFC champs. They celebrated our loss to Atlanta more than the Falcons did. Our NFCCG game was their SB.
There is some shock. Not so sure about the numbness. At least at my age I don't stomp around like I did when I was 9 and we lost to KC. But give me a few more years and we'll see.
Actually, in '98 the Jets/Broncos game was the late game after we lost to the Falcons. I remember it because I was listening to it while driving back to Nebraska in a blizzard. Ended up having to stop for the night in Worthington. You're right about KC, though. First week of the merged NFL/AFL schedule the Vikes won 27-10.
thats right, i remember just sitting at the bar in shock as others watched the second game... and it blizzarded up in SD as well because i remember having to spend the night about 4 miles from home after I went in the ditch 3 times due to no visibility.
Quote: @Mark Janda said:
@ dadevike said:
@ JimmyinSD said:
'99 and '09? I wish. Sadly, I go back to the 1969 season - SB in 1970. That was the only SB I thought we should definitely win. I would have said the same in '98 and '09 but we did not make it. So, yeah, cautious optimism for me.
I wasnt born until 73 so the PPEs were barely a memory, I have faint memories of those 70s games, but not really enough to point to that as an emotional scar. My pain began in the 80s, with the 87 CG being the first open wound. I think to truly feel the pain you have to have been through at least 2 emotional losses. for you old timers that vividly remember the 60s and 70s... at some point doesnt shock and numbness take over and kind of block out the pain?
It's losing when you know you have the best team - not just the better team on the field that day - that really gets me. That's what we had in '69 and in '98 for sure and in '09, too. Going on memory here (could be made up by now) buy I recall being a 2 TD favorite against KC in the SB and I think we killed them to open the next season - lots of good that did. In '98, the Broncos were already set as AFC champs. They celebrated our loss to Atlanta more than the Falcons did. Our NFCCG game was their SB.
There is some shock. Not so sure about the numbness. At least at my age I don't stomp around like I did when I was 9 and we lost to KC. But give me a few more years and we'll see.
Actually, in '98 the Jets/Broncos game was the late game after we lost to the Falcons. I remember it because I was listening to it while driving back to Nebraska in a blizzard. Ended up having to stop for the night in Worthington. You're right about KC, though. First week of the merged NFL/AFL schedule the Vikes won 27-10.
I'm sure you're right about the order of the games. The memory can be made up; the feelings are real. And Denver played the Jets?! It would be like us playing Detroit for the NFCCG. They're OK, but the outcome would not be in question. Atlanta was a good team, . . . . we should have won that one.
Quote: @JimmyinSD said:
@ HappyViking said:
My first Viking game memory was watching the SB against Miami with my oldest brother and his buddies. I was hooked after that game, and watched them lose the other two SBs as an avid young fan.
Yeah, too much heartbreak over the years has me all cautious and guarded. I'm enjoying the hell out of this team, but I'll only believe we're SB Champs when I see it. So, I'll be carefully watching how far we go while protecting myself from heartbreak.
That's not easy to do (to not get emotionally sucked in); I've gotten good at it with my old age. B)
no shit... i keep telling myself "one game at a time" but I get that feeling in my stomach when I start thinking about a game 10 days away against an unknown opponent.
its like i can just about grab it, we are that damn close... but dont reach for it yet, its just a mirage.
One thing about that unknown opponent--we have a 75% chance of playing someone who we've already beat this year. And yes, I know it's hard to beat good teams twice but we're at home with our crowd and hopefully we'll have our O-line back in full. If we come out stacked with everybody healthy, I say we win no matter who comes knockin'.
Quote: @prairieghost said:
@ JimmyinSD said:
@ HappyViking said:
My first Viking game memory was watching the SB against Miami with my oldest brother and his buddies. I was hooked after that game, and watched them lose the other two SBs as an avid young fan.
Yeah, too much heartbreak over the years has me all cautious and guarded. I'm enjoying the hell out of this team, but I'll only believe we're SB Champs when I see it. So, I'll be carefully watching how far we go while protecting myself from heartbreak.
That's not easy to do (to not get emotionally sucked in); I've gotten good at it with my old age. B)
no shit... i keep telling myself "one game at a time" but I get that feeling in my stomach when I start thinking about a game 10 days away against an unknown opponent.
its like i can just about grab it, we are that damn close... but dont reach for it yet, its just a mirage.
One thing about that unknown opponent--we have a 75% chance of playing someone who we've already beat this year. And yes, I know it's hard to beat good teams twice but we're at home with our crowd and hopefully we'll have our O-line back in full. If we come out stacked with everybody healthy, I say we win no matter who comes knockin'.
I dont think there is a team in the playoffs that should be considered a favorite to beat this team at home. And the Eagles dont really scare me much in Philly unless their fans get involved and our players get hurt.
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