Dear Minnesota: You may own the frozen tundra, but the Saints will own Sunday
In some respects, Minnesotans and New Orleanians live parallel existences.
You travel between the Twin Cities. We travel along the Twin Spans.
The Mississippi River begins in your state and ends in ours.
In 2016, you lost music legend Prince, while we lost music legend Pete Fountain.
The roof of your old Metrodome was partially destroyed by snow. The roof of our Superdome was partially destroyed by a hurricane.
Running back Adrian Peterson spent 10 years with the Vikings and what seemed like 10 minutes with the Saints.
During football games, you blow a Gjallarhorn, an instrument of Norse legend whose name translates as the distinctly unmusical-sounding “yelling horn.” We groove to the decidedly more melodic Mardi Gras anthem “Second-Line, Pt. 1.”
We prefer ice in our drinks, not coating our eyeballs.
In short, you get cold, while we get crunk.
At first glance, naming a landlocked team the Vikings makes about as much sense as naming a team that plays within staggering distance of Bourbon Street the Saints.
The Saints posted several decades' worth of pitiful records. The Vikings, by contrast, have consistently rung up impressive win totals during the regular season.
But you inevitably lose the games that matter.
And at least two of the most bitter losses were in New Orleans.
In 1974, you triumphed in two playoff games outdoors in the frigid cold of your hometown, only to blow Super Bowl IX against the Steelers at Tulane Stadium.
Overall, I suspect any Vikings fan would gladly trade your four Super Bowl losses for the Saints’ single Super Bowl appearance/win.
And we all remember how the Saints got to that Super Bowl — by beating the Vikings in an NFC Championship Game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. When Garrett Hartley’s field goal sailed through the uprights in overtime on Jan. 24, 2010, New Orleans was thrown into a state of ecstasy. Minnesota was thrown into an all-too-familiar state of despair.
You’re no doubt eager to avoid another disaster. But be warned: Saints fans, players and coaches are hyped.
Coach Sean Payton, in his rhythmically challenged way, led his players in a goofy, utterly un-self-conscious dance. A clip of the scene inspired local musician Shamarr Allen to write a song. His “Hit the Sean Payton” has subsequently inspired even more dancing citywide.
Could your head coach bust a move like that? Probably not. And “Hit the Mike Zimmer” just isn’t as snappy.
No NFL team has ever played a Super Bowl in its home stadium. You’re two wins away from being the first.
Honestly, none of us expected the Saints to be one of your roadblocks. Certainly not after the Vikings and Patriots dealt Saints fans a double dose of pessimism early in the season.
But our young defense has jelled, and the team as a whole has filled the gaps left by injuries. Like the molten, liquid-metal “Terminator,” we’ve been damaged, only to re-form stronger than ever.
Drew Brees turns 39 on Monday. He’s nine years older than your upstart, similarly undersized quarterback, Case Keenum.
But Brees isn’t bound for the broadcast booth anytime soon. As the Panthers learned the hard way, you underestimate him at your peril. He carved up the Panthers like an ice fisherman filleting a walleye.
Provided, of course, your stretch of the Mississippi isn’t frozen.
Love,
The Who Dat Nation
http://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/entertainment_life/keith_spera/article_503e174c-f71e-11e7-9e01-4b5570f69c88.html
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
I hope Zimmer frames this and puts it in the locker room.
this fucker started early on mardi gras because thats the only party they have left this year.
Screw Dat That boy has been playin with Voodoo talkin to marie laveau. There's a price to pay for that. Pullin on the heart strings of Vikings fans won't fuel the anger that you need. Y'alls coach was dancing because his mistake didn't cost him and when you suck on lemons too long it's got to come out somehow. rest easy...big chief cuz your 2nd line's gonna meet the Vikings Main Line and ain't gonna be no pretty packaged up planned fancy parade like them new 9th ward lines. Nah we fixin ya up some mighty fine alligator wine. I do believe it's time, fa the Big Payback. SKOL Dat
Louisiana is in the shitter.
Saints due for some of dat bad purple voodoo...
Actually, I'm impressed he researched the Viking team and Minnesota culture so thoroughly. It was fairly well written, but the author isn't being honest with the motivation of this opinion piece.
He wrote it for one reason: it made him feel better because he's scared sh!tless about his team's season ending. He's totally underestimating the excitement, mayhem, and total caos that Minnesota crowd is going to unleash tomorrow.
I fully expect the Vikes to come out well prepared, pumped up full speed, and ready to Rock-n-Roll!
And, yeah, F the Saints! SKOL!!!
@"HappyViking" said: Actually, I'm impressed he researched the Viking team and Minnesota culture so thoroughly. It was fairly well written, but the author isn't being honest with the motivation of this opinion piece.He wrote it for one reason: it made him feel better because he's scared sh!tless about his team's season ending. He's totally underestimating the excitement, mayhem, and total caos that Minnesota crowd is going to unleash tomorrow.
I fully expect the Vikes to come out well prepared, pumped up full speed, and ready to Rock-n-Roll!
And, yeah, F the Saints! SKOL!!!
You mean the fans are going to do more than just a Minnesota nice golf clap?
I'm so tired of the talk from Saints' fans. They're a real cocky bunch. I know it's not *all* of them, but damn. I mean, who thinks of actually ordering and sending a broom to Cam Newton after the wild card game? Apparently, Saints fans do. I never really thought much about their fan base before now. And now, I don't think much of them in a completely different sense.
It's good to have confidence in your team. Good for you. But just shut the fuck up.
I'm with y'all. Seriously. Fuck the Saints.
undeniable proof that there is more hot air in New Orleans than there is in Minneapolis
Hilarious.
Yeah you get "crunk". Your bountygate coach dances a jig in the locker room. You act like giddy schoolgirls cuz of hype.
Vikings handle their business. They lock down and focus. They wait for the release of rage while you giddily smile and dance and show flashy crap, and when it comes to blows you wonder what hit you. Please, write another 20 of these. Please stir the deep anger of a group who knows how to contain, channel and put every bit of it back on you wrapped around an iron fist.
We don't need to react spuriously. You'll simply feel the reaction on the field.
PS... don't even try to bounty and cheap shot this team. I've never in all my years seen a team look after each other like this one. You want rage, try it. I dare you.
Green Bay is the Frozen Tundra. The Vikings play in a state of the art modern climate controlled stadium that is the envy of the NFL and the best home field advantage in the league. This guy needs to try to keep up.
Fans often have fantasies, but reality is going to bite them in the ass Sunday. They have no chance. They just don't realize it yet.
This is the confidence of a fanbase with a great QB and a somewhat recent Superbowl victory.
Viking's fans, on the other hand, are puckered and concerned no matter what the bravado might be. Too many bitter endings to have real confidence.
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