04-26-2021, 10:53 PM
The days, then months then years slipped away, and I found myself not here anymore. I turned my attention to our Twitter feed (seen on the home page here) and that kept me busy. I "retired" from covering the Viking on game days after the SF playoff game in 2020, and my timing could not have been better, as few traveled with the team during Covid.
I walked away from that gig after doing all I thought I could. I had covered 73 games for the Vikings, with 65 in some other city and stadium besides Minnesota. It became repetitious, and I decided to leave such things to true journalism graduates and our youth.
Nothing was more fun than to learn what art was like up-close in a football organization, and the Minnesota Vikings were more than gracious during those 8 years. We were invited to so much and allowed in places few get to see, and we tried to bring it all to fans, more than just readers or listeners.
We knew Diggs was leaving - he told us off the record and why, and we were asked never to say why, so we didn't. We know that Danielle Hunter has made rumblings about a contract or a trade. We shall see. All is not perfect on that front. We became fiends with some players, and even were invited to a baby shower for Latavius Murray (wonderful man). What are the players like? Like anyone from any walk of life - some great, some okay, some fun, some dull. And, even some jerks in there. But no difference really, just young men with money, trying to survive and fit in, in a short-term career.
Nothing was like 2017, but it sure felt deflating to cover in 2018 after 2017. I got to see one last hurrah in New Orleans in Jan 2020, and had the time of my life. I met many VikeFans members in person, and took 5 to games in the press box and locker room, and that was more fun that seeing the players.
The Vikings will be back, maybe with Zimmer, and maybe not. Don't give up the (Long)ship, stay true to a team that will eventually pay dividends. And, if you have time and don't distrust Twitter, give us a follow over there (or not, even just browse without joining Twitter) where we revisit the past, talk about the current team and draft, and even give our thoughts on game day during games to let fans vent.
Hope you are all well.
Tom (PurplePain, way back when....)
I walked away from that gig after doing all I thought I could. I had covered 73 games for the Vikings, with 65 in some other city and stadium besides Minnesota. It became repetitious, and I decided to leave such things to true journalism graduates and our youth.
Nothing was more fun than to learn what art was like up-close in a football organization, and the Minnesota Vikings were more than gracious during those 8 years. We were invited to so much and allowed in places few get to see, and we tried to bring it all to fans, more than just readers or listeners.
We knew Diggs was leaving - he told us off the record and why, and we were asked never to say why, so we didn't. We know that Danielle Hunter has made rumblings about a contract or a trade. We shall see. All is not perfect on that front. We became fiends with some players, and even were invited to a baby shower for Latavius Murray (wonderful man). What are the players like? Like anyone from any walk of life - some great, some okay, some fun, some dull. And, even some jerks in there. But no difference really, just young men with money, trying to survive and fit in, in a short-term career.
Nothing was like 2017, but it sure felt deflating to cover in 2018 after 2017. I got to see one last hurrah in New Orleans in Jan 2020, and had the time of my life. I met many VikeFans members in person, and took 5 to games in the press box and locker room, and that was more fun that seeing the players.
The Vikings will be back, maybe with Zimmer, and maybe not. Don't give up the (Long)ship, stay true to a team that will eventually pay dividends. And, if you have time and don't distrust Twitter, give us a follow over there (or not, even just browse without joining Twitter) where we revisit the past, talk about the current team and draft, and even give our thoughts on game day during games to let fans vent.
Hope you are all well.
Tom (PurplePain, way back when....)
