I was reading Sid “Grandpa Sports” Hartman’s piece on sharing the Gophers stadium and stumbled on this blurb. I about shot coffee all over my computer.

Unfair to Childress

No doubt many of those fans had consumed enough alcohol, and stadiums on a typical Sunday can be the scene of fights and plenty of ugly insults.

The gall of either Goodell to say that fans can’t criticize a coach like this, or at least Sid believing that blows my mind. We do not live in some sort of dictatorship yet where the authorities can dictate what can be said or not said. Then to blame it on the alcohol is another thing. I’m sure not everybody yelling “FIRE CHILDRESS!” was drinking. You can be perfectly sober and see that he sucks as a Vikings head coach. Sid then goes on with the “could have beens” about the record, but the fans can do the same thing making Childress’ incompetence even more apparent. Oh, but we can’t criticize, yeah right! Where is that in the fan code of behavior?

Are you trying to equate a drunken slob at the World Series game you attended with fans at a regular season game fed up with a pompous, condescending, underacheiving coach?

Fans were just about out of patience with Childress BEFORE the season started. Now, with his T-Jack flip-flop, giving up with 2 mintes left vs. the Titans, throwing Kluwe under the bus, the uninspired perormance vs. the Lions, including the very questionable 2-point decision, his continued failure to own up to his own mistakes, fans have had enough.

I was not at the game, and don’t know how nasty or profane things got. I certainly don’t endorse R-rated behavior (or worse). I’m all for being positive, and have been so for the vast majority of my time as a Vikings fan. But not pollyanna positive. Not I’m-going-to-cheer-no-matter-what positive. It seems to me that the booing on Sunday was not fueled by alcohol, but by 2+ years of pent-up frustration with a coach who has done incredibly little to earn our confidence or respect.

If and when things improve (i.e.: we show a pulse on offense) I’m quite certain the fans will let up. If they don’t, I hope the booing continues, as it seems to have finally gotten the message across.

The first…

You know, before I start I just have to say that there is a guy outside my window making chimp noises. Jesus christ…lol.

Okay, the first is an incident I can recall back from my college days at the University of North Dakota. As some of you may know, UND was given a gift by Ralph Engelstad (a former UND goalie turned casino tycoon) to build a new Ralph Engelstad Arena. The finished arena was/is incredible – way nicer than the Xcel center.

But the atmosphere was completely different. It used to be that student fans at the UND hockey games were some of the rowdiest fans in college hockey, but after this arena was built – it seemed to be stressed that that would change. The atmosphere would be more “kid and family friendly”.

A few friends of mine went to a game at the new arena, and when the “kid cam” panned down to their section, they proceeded to give the camera the bird. Which was then shown in all it’s 12 foot glory on the jumbo screens on the scoreboard for everyone in the arena (and on TV) to see.

As it turns out, their conduct got them banned from the arena. When they tried to come to another game at the arena, they were turned away at the door. When they asked why, they were given directions to meet with the school athletic director, who presented them with a picture of the incident (which was broadcast for everyone to see). Which was promptly framed, and displayed above the bar at their apartment…

The point of this story: What’s to stop something like this from happening at the Metrodome? And is it even worth the trouble for those involved?

I happen to enjoy watching people make fools of themselves at sporting events, as long as it doesn’t directly harm anyone else (i.e. fighting, threatening). And I also think that if you bring a child to a sporting event, that they should be prepared to see or hear something that isn’t going to be “age-appropriate”.

Maybe even take a second to say: “Kids, alot of the people at this game are going to be using curse words because they don’t like Coach Childress…BUT it’s still not okay for you to say these words! Daddy loves you.”

It’s either this scenario, or you leave your children at home in their cages to live their sheltered lives.

I happen to be of the opinion that everyone should lay off Childress until the Vikings either:

1. Miss the playoffs
2. Lose two or more in a row

I know, this may not be exactly what some Vikings fans want to hear. They want to scream, shout, and run Childress out of town – I feel the same way sometimes.

But I also think that if the Vikings are to have a serious shot at making the playoffs, they really don’t need the distraction. Especially with a huge game coming up in Chicago.

The last thing is that we all know the Vikings are capable of great things against great opponents. Look back to last year – the dismantling of San Diego and Chicago – two good teams (although I despise both of them greatly) who fell to the axe.

Now is not the time for division. It’s the time for unity – if only to take care of a hated rival.

If we do happen to lose badly in Chicago – then forget everything I’ve just said.

My prediction – another close one: Vikings 19, Bears 16

Longwell FG in the closing minute.
Chester Taylor passes for 102yds. :)

“It takes a lot for Minnesotans to boo. It’s about time Minnesotans stop acting like Minnesota Nice and act like a big-time sports town, and it was about time on Sunday.”

This is absolutely true no matter how much we don’t want to admit it. You wanna know why we are so championship deprived here in Minny? We aren’t hard enough on our teams, plain and simple. Although I don’t know that Childress deserves all of what he’s gotten, I am glad to see Minnesota sports fans up in arms for once.

The only criticism of this e-mail for me is the whole Tim Brewster part. I too did not think he was going to be able to do what he’s done this year and I’m thoroughly impressed. This makes me wonder what everyone will be saying if the Vikes roll off 3 or 4 more wins in a row here….? I definitely think we need to see how the year plays out instead of creating an unstable environment by firing Chilly midseason.

To see if The Vikings make the playoffs. If not, thats when Childress will make his run from the great state of Minnesota. As much as we all seem to want him gone right now, we all know that won’t happen until the end of the season. So I agree in trying to support our team as hard as it is sometimes this season. I look at it this way and it does help… Just like when I am on the golf course, if I have one great putt or one monster drive that stays straight down the middle of the fairway, it makes a bad game just a little better. I may be the old guy on this comments page only because I can say I have watched the Vikings lose 4 Superbowls, and does anybody remember The Drill Sargent Les Steckle? When I think back to those days things right now don’t seem quite as bad. If there are no EXTRA games this year… it will go along way in helping to forget the old days. So I choose to wait and Cheer for my team, and look for that one play that makes a bad game better.

I agree mavikesfan, Childress needs to go. My point is, He won’t be fired during the season (unfortunately). The Vikings management, I believe just won’t do it during the season. So we Vikings fans either have to make the best of it for now or be miserable talking and bitching about it. I personally, as I said before choose to wait to see what happens at the end of the season. Reguardless of what happens I was born and raised in The Great State Of Minnesota and will always stick by My Home Teams no matter who the coaches and players are. But as I said I Do Agree with what you have posted. As I do agree with what most people have posted. Here’s a thought… Wouldn’t it be great if the Vikings made the playoffs, did well and then they fire Childress! That would make my season!

Ummmm, Les Steckel……..Hello !

I don’t mind people booing the coach either.

I have only attended one Viking game, which was a preseason game against Kansas City in 2003.

Even though the Vikings were losing, and losing badly, I had a good time. I got some good old fashioned hollering in, but nothing that was obscene as my 11 year old niece as well as some other kids were in the area.

It was actually me, who was calming my 11 year old niece down by the end of the game which I thought was pretty funny.

I would imagine some of the people booing have been to many Viking games over the years and just can’t quite take it anymore. I know it’s hard to take it from the general vicinity of my couch (Anyone that knows me, knows I don’t sit down during games!) God only knows what I would do after spending mucho bucks on tickets over the years.