NFL Traditions---Do you have any?

Beer

Vikings flag goes out front on gamedays. Also, not NFL specific but sports wise my dad taught me the Double-Logo Rule when I was a kid. Unless you're attending the game in person or if it's the playoffs, rocking double matching logos (ie a jersey/shirt AND a hat) is bad luck. Either a Vikings hat or a shirt, never both for me unless i'm in the stands.

I'm not one of these "one before I die" guys. I want a Lombardi as much as anyone, but it wouldn't improve the quality of my life one iota. I think of my Viking fandom as more of a hobby now, not unlike fly fishing. I get excited for the season, I research new gear, new rivers, talk about it on forums. But if I get skunked, I don't go into a state of depression and start yelling at the fishing gods. It's all part of the experience. Life is a journey, right? Not a destination.

If you told me the Vikings could win a Lombardi this year but I'd have to give up being a fan for the next 5, I'd say no. HELL NO. I love the yearly free agency and draft research, posting on this board, going to one game a year with my kids and soaking up the environment outside the stadium. And I love my at-home, game-day ritual of letting my pre-game nervous anticipation drive a Rosey-the-Robot-like house cleaning. When I finally sit down to watch the game, my house looks like the Home & Garden pick of the month.

Well I recently moved back to Minnesota after 40 years, so at the very least an NFC Championship should be imminent! 😇 I too inherited my fandom from my father who is now 90, so damnit it’s time! My tradition is to start out every season with hope and an open mind, so SKOL Viking fans, this could be our year… 😎

Vikesrock wrote:

So for me, I had one tradition. Long story behind all of it, but when I joined the Army in 92, it wasn't on the best of terms with my dad. Lots of things in between to make it a tough relationship. Fast forward to 2010. Year after the Minnesota Brett Farvians lost to the Saints in the NFC Championship game, I had finally moved back home to Montana after living in Louisville, KY since 1998 after I got out of the military. Anyways, moving back, we ended up watching that first game together. My dad was always one of the few people in this world that could shut me up when I was running my mouth. Him being a Cowboys fan, he talked huge stuff to me that night as Farve and the Vikings laid an egg. Anyways, that game brought us back together. We made it a point to watch the first game and the last game of the season (Super Bowl) together every year until he passed in 2021. So since then, every new season I raise my glass to pops for a new season and the hopes that the Vikings finally shut him up and get one before I die. If they don't, he will be waiting for me at the Pearly Gates to give me a hard time, once more.

Where u live in montana

Viking1987isback wrote:

Where u live in montana

Helena. Grew up in Wolf Creek.

Traditions for football Sunday were really started on my own as my Dad wasn't much of a sports fan (he was a hunter/outdoorsman)....by all rights I should either be a Packer's fan or Lion's fan being from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I'm as much about the journey as I am the destination, so I love my gameday rituals and nervous excitement that builds throughout the morning until gametime. I'm an early riser, so the wait for kickoff is always wonderfully long on Sundays. Lots of texting with friends, surfing the 'Net, flag up/food/drinks lined up, Vikings jersey on the dog, slap the wife on the ass and we're off. Oh yeah, the pacing....lol. Nervous energy galore which of course ramps up. Since moving to Florida 13 years ago, might sneak in some beach/pool time just before kickoff to keep the wife sane for me sitting on my ass watching football all day/night. That's really the cliff notes version.

I love it. It was great to see live action last night. LFG, Skol.

Kentis wrote:

Well I recently moved back to Minnesota after 40 years, so at the very least an NFC Championship should be imminent! 😇 I too inherited my fandom from my father who is now 90, so damnit it’s time! My tradition is to start out every season with hope and an open mind, so SKOL Viking fans, this could be our year… 😎

Welcome back Kentis, thats a big move back from the Desert!!

MaroonBells wrote:

I'm not one of these "one before I die" guys. I want a Lombardi as much as anyone, but it wouldn't improve the quality of my life one iota. I think of my Viking fandom as more of a hobby now, not unlike fly fishing. I get excited for the season, I research new gear, new rivers, talk about it on forums. But if I get skunked, I don't go into a state of depression and start yelling at the fishing gods. It's all part of the experience. Life is a journey, right? Not a destination.
If you told me the Vikings could win a Lombardi this year but I'd have to give up being a fan for the next 5, I'd say no. HELL NO. I love the yearly free agency and draft research, posting on this board, going to one game a year with my kids and soaking up the environment outside the stadium. And I love my at-home, game-day ritual of letting my pre-game nervous anticipation drive a Rosey-the-Robot-like house cleaning. When I finally sit down to watch the game, my house looks like the Home & Garden pick of the month.

so well stated, I feel the same way and have posted similar thoughts on my other board. The Vikings are a beloved hobby and only used for entertainment. I have a great life and my fandom is a small part of it. I SB win would be great, but in reality how would it change any of our lives?

My 2 posts;

1. I am in NO WAY happy about LOVING a team for 50+ years of my life without a championship, specifically the '98 season where we were clearly the best team.  But I am smart enough to know that it is not, and never has been easy to win the SB.  
   
   There is no magic solution, you need so many things to be just right and just because the stars have not lined up perfect for the Vikings YET is no reason to be a miserable ass sitting at home throwing the remote at my TV.  You need to have a QB, a good receiving core, a good Oline, a good defense, be fairly injury free and be good when the other top 4 or 5 teams in that elite group are not peaking, and then a big chunk of luck.
   
   This is like hitting a grand slam in your first MLB at bat... Making a hole in 1 on a par 4... hitting the lottery twice in your lifetime...  I personally know all of those things are have happened and witnessed the first 2, but my life is not miserable going down the drain because it hasn't happened for the Vikings.

2. I am happy about the great life I have and wonder how I got so lucky to have all that has been bestowed upon me.  I have an amazing beautiful wife that loves me, great children and and grand children.
   
   I had an amazing career and I was lucky enough to come through it unscathed. 
   
   I have witnessed 5 men and countless women's UCONN championships.  Watched the Redfsox reverse the curse and the Celtics continue their greatness many times. 
   
   Having your team win a championship is great, but it is nowhere on the list of what makes me truly happy.  
   
   It is a game and I enjoy watching it and rooting for my favorite team to win.

purplefaithful wrote:

Welcome back Kentis, thats a big move back from the Desert!!

Yeah that was no picnic, but I’m happy to be back. You will find me fishing weekdays from now ‘till eternity, as I now call St Cloud home…! 🎣😎