"Never Give In"
by Skol Girl on Nov 9, 2010 7:16 PM CST
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Whatever good luck ritual Vikings fans observed this week as the underachieving Minnesota Vikings rallied for an overtime win against the Arizona Cardinals at the Metrodome-please, do it again next week.
Joking aside, luck had less to do with Sunday's win than simply the will not to give up. Our DN fearless leader Chris wrote about how the Dallas Cowboys were in essentially the same situation as the Minnesota Vikings, as an underperforming, talent-laden team. But for all the similarities in their records, the Vikings have stayed scrappy even in their losses. While making it close won't negate a loss, it does show that the Vikings didn't give up. Not giving up doesn't guarantee a dramatic win like the one over Arizona on Sunday, however, giving up does guarantee you won't have an opportunity to turn things around. Clearly, the Vikings' players aren't giving up and that give this fan reason to hope.
My pessimistic side actively fights getting carried away with hopes of a winning streak because I know it's going to take more than one win to salvage the Vikings' 2010 season. But, despite my highly-developed pessimistic side, I'm going to give over to some giddy optimism for a little bit longer.
Why not hope that Sunday's victory marks a turning point for the Minnesota Vikings and their 2010 season? If they've done it before, I have great hopes that they can do it some more.
Part of what made the Vikings' win on Sunday so exciting is that, for most of the game, it really looked like the Vikings had every intention of sleepwalking though all four quarters and waking up to yet another loss at the hands of a beatable opponent. The Minnesota defense let Cardinals quarterback, Derek Anderson, have all the time in the world to throw the ball. Vikings special teams allowed the Cardinals to score 14 points. And, while Brett Favre marched the Vikings offense down the field consistently throughout the game and spread the ball out to so many different receivers one almost needed a copy of the roster to figure out who had the ball on any given play, the offense struggled to punch it into the end zone.
There were great plays, like the Herculean effort where Greg Camarillo dashed from the opposite side of the field to knock the ball out of Arizona safety Kerry Rhodes hands and turn what would have been a pick-six into a touchback giving the Vikings back the ball. But even with great plays like Camarillo's, the Vikings suffered from the same uneven play that has been an issue all season.
Then, with the Vikings trailing by 14 points late in the fourth quarter, they flipped a switch and they started playing like the team they knew they could be. And, if they believed the sound bites they have been feeding the media all season, they played like the team they knew they were.
In Monday's issue of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reporter Jeremy Fowler in his article "Stay of Execution" had this interesting glimpse into the Vikings' mentality during Sunday's game, something that might have been eclipsed in the excitement of the Vikings' much-needed win, but may have had a role in making it happen:
But the most important throw Favre made all day was a bullet in the direction of his locker room, calling anyone who criticizes coaches behind the scenes "a coward."
Look in the mirror, he challenged, and make the team better.
Much has been made of Randy Moss' moving half-time speech to rally the Vikings when they struggled against the Dallas Cowboys and I don't doubt that it was inspiring, but when Favre told his teammates to look in the mirror and find a way to make the Vikings better, they could see him living out those words on the field in every play. Favre's list of injuries are starting to read like a bad joke, the pass blocking has been sub-standard, the available receivers change each week, and yet he's out there on his broken foot trying to make something happen-not giving up.
This coming Sunday the Vikings, a team that's probably better than their record, will face the Chicago Bears, a team that probably isn't as good as their record, in Chicago. If the Minnesota Vikings team that showed up at the end of Sunday's game against the Cardinals is the one that shows up to face the Bears, and if the Vikings are still looking in the mirror for ways to help the team, it's hard not to believe they could win it.
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Here it is
the ultimate never give up song
"Baseball is the only major sport that appears backward in a mirror" ~George Carlin
by thewild_viking_twins on Nov 9, 2010 8:24 PM CST reply actions
Not completely terrible.
“London Calling” by The Clash was the album of the decade, it wasn’t all bad.
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
+1
I saw the Clash in Houston, Texas in the 80’s. Great show!
Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted. - John Lennon
by JethroBoViking on Nov 11, 2010 8:45 AM CST up reply actions
There's a blast from the past
I don’t know the last time I heard that song. Seems like “St. Elmo’s Fire” would work too :)
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
OMG
Even for the cheesy video standards of back then, the lip-syncing is the worst! LOL
Dysfunctional Family - Family in disarray. Fractured and lack of communication of family. Minnesota Vikings 2010 season surpassing any nightmare brought upon by the 1989 aquisition of Herschel Walker or the 2005 Love Boat Scandal on Lake Minnetonka.
Aww I've just been Rick Roll'd!!!
I was expecting eye of the tiger maybe – didn’t expect this – touche sir
by Loki The Viking God on Nov 10, 2010 11:31 AM CST up reply actions
I always thought it was this...
The badass climbing hills with logs while the other dude works out with HGH and blonde nutbusters
There is just no reason to give in, especially this year, in this conference. Almost every team still has a reasonable shot at the playoffs. Don Banks breaks it down over at Si.Com in a really good article posted today over on their site. Somehow he fails to mention the Vikings at all, but we still have plenty of division games left, that could make a swing in the standings.
Skol Vikes. I think we have a great shot this weekend.
The NFC North could still be up for grabs...
If the Vikings continue to play the rest of their games the way they played at the end of Sunday’s game, they could compete to be the NFC North division champs a again. It would be tough, but not completely impossible. The Green Bay Packers have had a string of costly injuries all season, the Chicago Bears aren’t as good as their early success suggested, and the Lions, though improving significantly, aren’t going to take the division this year.
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
Stafford has the worst luck.
I think it might have been a mistake for the Lions to get a good, young quarterback, but not invest in a line to keep him in one piece.
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
Yeah I see that as well.
A lot of coaches go with skill positions early when they get in. However many skill positions die out quickly while a lot of line men can stay easily into their thirties. Give me a coach that packs the line then starts working on skill positions and I think you have a guy with his head on right.
A good line will make a bad QB and RB look good.
It's a lot easier to love the Vikings when they win...
The Lions could have coppied the Vikings game plan.
Get the oldest QB in the business and “not invest in a line to keep him in one piece”.
Thank God Brett is an android. He can’t be human.
Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted. - John Lennon
by JethroBoViking on Nov 11, 2010 8:52 AM CST up reply actions
No, he really can't be human.
When it was first reported that Favre had two fractures in his left foot, we all thought that would cause him to sit a game or two out. Now, we’re referring to two fractures as a “minor injury” because Favre not only played on the injury, but played well. Dude is crazy.
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
Scary thing is
I still have that soundtrack on LP…….. vinyl. Only reason why I got it was for Eye of the Tiger. lol
Dysfunctional Family - Family in disarray. Fractured and lack of communication of family. Minnesota Vikings 2010 season surpassing any nightmare brought upon by the 1989 aquisition of Herschel Walker or the 2005 Love Boat Scandal on Lake Minnetonka.
by VikesFaninNM on Nov 9, 2010 10:00 PM CST up reply actions
Very nice!
Love that movie.
Thought I would throw this one in being the resident Star Wars junkie.
Dysfunctional Family - Family in disarray. Fractured and lack of communication of family. Minnesota Vikings 2010 season surpassing any nightmare brought upon by the 1989 aquisition of Herschel Walker or the 2005 Love Boat Scandal on Lake Minnetonka.
I see the makings of a poll!
Best inspirational movies and songs.
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
The Hives really are one of the best bands to see in concert!
I got to see them once and their lead singer is great, he has that “thrilled to be here” quality when he performed and he maintained it for the entire set. And, they’re out of Sweden—kind of sort of works when writing about a team called the Vikings. Am I stretching it? Yeah? Well, I just really like the Hives.
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
Haven't seen them, would love too
But the way you describe it, takes me back to 2007, when I got to see Black Sabbath with Ronnie James Dio (fav singer for Sabbath) here in Albuquerque. 4th row. Much the same qualities, thrilled to be there, thrilled to be doing what he was. The whole place was alive.
Glad I got to see him before he left us.
Dysfunctional Family - Family in disarray. Fractured and lack of communication of family. Minnesota Vikings 2010 season surpassing any nightmare brought upon by the 1989 aquisition of Herschel Walker or the 2005 Love Boat Scandal on Lake Minnetonka.
It was such a good concert
And the really dumb thing was I didn’t even know the Hives until then. A friend dragged me to the concert because she was a fan of one of the opening acts.
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
I love in this clip of the Hives and how much Letterman loves the group.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shbwokU0Y_c
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
LOL....
That’s awesome….I have NOT seen them in concert yet…but I’ve loved them ever since their “Veni Vidi Vicious” album. Lots of their songs have gotten me pumped up for Vikings games over the past years!
by gerkvoltage on Nov 10, 2010 12:19 AM CST up reply actions
Here's my entry
Love the “Douglas C. Neidermeyer” actor reprising his role in a roundabout fashion. Takes me back to the days when I had hair to my waist, torn jeans, reeboks hightop tennis shoes, AC/DC shirt and denim jacket.
Dysfunctional Family - Family in disarray. Fractured and lack of communication of family. Minnesota Vikings 2010 season surpassing any nightmare brought upon by the 1989 aquisition of Herschel Walker or the 2005 Love Boat Scandal on Lake Minnetonka.
Woops, meant that as a reply to you Skol Girl
Dysfunctional Family - Family in disarray. Fractured and lack of communication of family. Minnesota Vikings 2010 season surpassing any nightmare brought upon by the 1989 aquisition of Herschel Walker or the 2005 Love Boat Scandal on Lake Minnetonka.
by VikesFaninNM on Nov 9, 2010 10:23 PM CST up reply actions
Link
Since it didnt go through, let me try that again.
Dysfunctional Family - Family in disarray. Fractured and lack of communication of family. Minnesota Vikings 2010 season surpassing any nightmare brought upon by the 1989 aquisition of Herschel Walker or the 2005 Love Boat Scandal on Lake Minnetonka.
by VikesFaninNM on Nov 9, 2010 10:30 PM CST up reply actions
That song reminds me of when Arnold ran for governor in California!
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
Well, didn't have that in mind, but........
Do it!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry, had to go there.
Dysfunctional Family - Family in disarray. Fractured and lack of communication of family. Minnesota Vikings 2010 season surpassing any nightmare brought upon by the 1989 aquisition of Herschel Walker or the 2005 Love Boat Scandal on Lake Minnetonka.
by VikesFaninNM on Nov 9, 2010 10:44 PM CST up reply actions
YAY!!!!
AC/DC shirt! My first loved band. Still awesome!
by gerkvoltage on Nov 10, 2010 12:34 AM CST up reply actions
STATEMENT SUNDAY
I am confident we will end up blowing the bears out. last sunday was wakeup day. now its time to go out and show the bears were not messing around. SKOL VIKES and its game over son .
by Judas Childress on Nov 9, 2010 11:04 PM CST reply actions
I'll cross my fingers
And I won’t wash my jersey. The Vikings have talent, but, the way this season has gone, I don’t think a little good luck would go amiss.
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
Luck is
when opportunity meets preparation.
by Paul Mooney on Nov 10, 2010 12:17 PM CST up reply actions
I'm not washing my underwear either just in case.
It's a lot easier to love the Vikings when they win...
Hope they win it all but before we go ga ga
The only difference between the Cards win and the NE loss was at the end of regulation the Defense needed to get the ball back to the offense. Last week it did the week before it didn’t. Did the Vikings D improve. No. The difference was we were playing the CARDS and not New England. I hope they win it all, but before we go ga ga lets realize that they have 3 wins over 3 teams with a total of 3 victories. The next two game 2-0 and we have a chance. 0-2 we are done AND LET THE FIRE CHILLI AND HIRE TONY DUNGY CHANTS BEGIN.
Bottom line if they play like they did last week against a good time - they lose.
If BF did indeed make that mirror speech that means alot because people know he does not care for Chilli either. Of course you could ask BF if that is really so do you think showing up to practice before the season might also help the team?
3 Questions for folks.
1. Has a good/great team ever won the Superbowl with a bad coach? (One could say Gruden after the teams was his look what happened) Any others?
2. Has any team ever won the Superbowl with a poor QB (Other than the Redskins).
3. Today what are the chances you think this team going 2-0?
Just finished riding in the care listening to Chicago station 670 talk about the game and to summarize the section I heard.
Most afraid of - AP.
Second concern - the second half of their schedule
Best hope for the bears - Brad Childress remains Viking Coach
Most Confusing - How the heck can the VIKES be 3-5 with the amount of talent they have?
Yes we can!!
1. George Seifert. Hand picked and inherited Bill Walsh’s team. Walsh remained the GM, I believe. They did win the Super Bowl twice. Sucked as a head coach in Carolina. I think they may have even had a season where they won a game or two. Fell off the face of the planet after that.
2. Ravens (See Dilfer, Trent)
3. 98%. Goes up to 100 if AP hangs onto the rock against the strip-happy Bears.
GO VIKINGS!!!
I hope.....
I see Tillman crying on the sideline cuz NONE OF HIS JABS works against AP’s ball-carrying skills this year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by gerkvoltage on Nov 10, 2010 12:26 AM CST up reply actions
Yeah, I don't want to jinx it by noticing
But Adrian Peterson has been doing really well with ball security.
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
This Viking Team needs........
some icy stares from Bud Grant and Carl Eller to find a black board somewhere to smash at the BEGINNING of the game! The players will have to find the pride and determination within themselves; Childress does not appear to possess the leadership skills to mold their substantial talents into a winning team effort for a full game. We can hope that the taste of the last five minutes of the Cardinals game stays with every Viking player and they come out like hellfire in Chicago from the opening kickoff.
This game had me up and cheering
- taking things over in the 4th quarter and showing everyone he still has what it takes to be Brett Favre was sensational. Definitely the high spot on the season for me. I hope this ignites the Vikes. If they’re gonna try to make a run for the title, it needs to start now.
________________________________________________
www.lordkayoss.com
# 4 that is (taking things over).
Not sure where the “1.” came from.
________________________________________________
www.lordkayoss.com
It really was one of the best comebacks I've seen in football.
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
Agreed
And ESPN didn’t do the highlights complete justice. Favre made some crazy throws in that comeback that they didn’t even show. Wish the game would’ve been on in my area so I could’ve DVR’d it.
I settled for the justin.tv version.
________________________________________________
www.lordkayoss.com
That sucks.
Hope you get this coming Sunday’s game in full. And that it is a game you want to watch in full :)
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
I'm hoping so
Would love to see it on my nice TV, instead of the crappy web streaming.
________________________________________________
www.lordkayoss.com
by LORD KAYOSS on Nov 11, 2010 12:53 PM CST up reply actions
Well, if there's going to be a turn around
it almost has to be Sunday. Another loss and the Vikes have 6 on the year, and are 1-2 in the division, with losses to Green Bay and Chicago.
The Daily Norseman
Off Tackle Empire
SB Nation Minnesota
"A parent's only as good as their dumbest kid. If one wins a Nobel Prize but the other gets robbed by a hooker, you failed."
So, Ted, have you got a prediction for us?
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
Late game defensive heroics
Forgive this re-hash of something I posted already, but I thought it worth mentioning again here. One coaching decision that stood out to me above all others was taking Allen and Edwards out of the game in the mid/late 4th quarter. Allen looked befuddled. Edwards came over to stand next to Allen perhaps in the hopes of getting into a “what’s going on?” conversation with Allen. Later, when they were back in, the whole line went to town on Arizona’s front five. Blitzes helped (even Madieu Williams doing his favorite superball impression as he bounced off of the Cardinals’ QB offered a moment of distraction and perhaps levity for Arizona’s Anderson before Greenway came in and cleaned up). The offense has generally done its part late in games. Recently it has been the defense’s inability to stop the run and pass late in games that has put the final nails in the coffin for the Vikes. There aren’t very many pass rushers that can stay in for every play of a game (maybe none). As much as Allen wants to stay in, I think being told to sit a few out was long overdue. The results could be coincidental, but I don’t think so. I’d like to see more of this new approach to resting players throughout the game from now on. Our D-line back ups are not slouches.
Agree with playing d-line backups more
The backup guys almost seem to play with more energy than Allen or Edwards. Evans and Robison can fill in well, and I think resting those guys now and again is a good thing. Did anyone notice or know why that Frank Walker wasnt playing last week? I thought he had done a decent job in prior weeks, didnt seem to get burned as frequent as A. Allen.
Depth
After the way the Vikings defense couldn’t stop opposing offenses late in the game so the offense could get another chance to score, I have to say that whatever they were doing late in the game against Arizona they really need to do it again. The back-ups for the Vikings defensive line could probably be starters for a lot of other NFL teams, it’s a position with some quality depth—makes sense to make use of that talent to spell the starters so they can maintain pressure throughout the game.
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
I remember an excellent 80's band called Triumph
and they had a song called “Never Surrender” as well. Another fine write up!
never give in
Unfortunately, barring any serious collapse of the rest of the Conference teams, every game from here on out is a MUST WIN game for the Vikes. If they pull it off, they will go down as a team of unfathomable resilience. That is a really tall order for them to do this because of the hole they’ve dug, & anything less than running the table from here on out may not do it. Even if they do, they still might need some help. if there ever was a time to: NEVER GIVE IN…..this IS that time!
by jjlovesfootball on Nov 10, 2010 1:54 PM CST reply actions
Yep, that time is now.
The Vikings really are in a hole, but, when you consider how this team is built, it’s possible that they could run the table. That might not be likely, but, talent-wise, I think it’s possible. However, talent-wise, they shouldn’t be in a hole to begin with. The opportunity that the players have this season will probably not come around again. Next year there’s the possibility of a lockout looming on the horizon. Some of the veteran players on the team, like Pat Williams, will probably retire. And, if the Vikings have a new coach next season, that coach could change the roster significantly and it would take time for them to achieve chemistry. If these players want to go to the Super Bowl, there is the very real possibility that they might not have another chance.
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
Unrelated comment
Sorry, this is very unrelated to any previous posts. However, I’m wondering how the Brett Favre-Sterger story was top news for so long, now it just died out completely. I’m guessing it was about 70% BS used by an attention grabbing liar in order to generate publicity for herself. The league seemed to willingly feed the monster, now it just died (probably for lack of anything substantial). I think Goodell should get on national TV and apologize to Favre and his family for letting the leaks happen, and helping the media perpetuate the story. Just a thought, maybe someone knows more about it than me.
Anonymous source claims:
(Just heard this today over the radio) That Jenn Sterger and the BF had a concensual agreement over the whole ordeal. However, Jenn Sterger decided to hold onto the pictures primarily for black-mail reasons. Apparently, she must have been finding herself falling out of the spot-light and decided to leak the news.
Which in my mind, will only be pushing this whole drama further and further under the carpet.
I doubt we really see anything seroius out of this ordeal except some jokes here/there down the road.
Strange situation
I keep wondering how Brett Favre could do this to his family, but that is just me. The league’s biggest concern is to determine if this incident is considered workplace harassment because then they would be vulnerable to lawsuits. The lawyers will hone in on the deep pockets and the NFL’s pockets are even deeper than Favre’s. If they ignore the allegations, then the NFL is demonized for allowing sexual harassment. If they explore it too zealously it becomes a witch hunt.
As a woman, I can understand why Sterger might be afraid to immediately report something she found offensive. Her job was a lot less important to the Jets than Favre’s job was and it would be easy to get labeled as a troublemaker and risk losing her job. That said, the timing of all of this stuff coming to light just happens to coincide with Sterger’s show on Versus being canceled and it would be naive not to wonder if she was just looking for her next payday by holding onto those incriminating photos.
Honestly, how dumb is Favre to cheat on his wife and give the woman he’s cheating with evidence that she can use to make his life miserable later? That just seems incredibly stupid.
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
Thanks for the upbeat attitude SKOL GIRL
of all the writers on this site, I like you the best. Keep it up, Thanks.
Sorry to see Colt Anderson leave for philly. He is just as good as Kroy Bierman (The Beer Man) in Atlanta. I have no doubt he could have helped our pass coverage.
I just think we should all hang in there and not say nutin bad about anybody, Childress included, during the season; ALL FOR ONE, ONE FOR ALL…….Then once its over and ZIggy needs a coach that will help him get a new stadium, then we all jump on the fire childress bandwagon….but this mid-season stuff? Naw I say everyone should give him their support and hope, pray, dream for the best…..SKOL VIKINGS
Thanks BigSky :) And, you raise a good point
While I understand the criticisms of Childress and agree with some of them, I don’t think anything good will happen for the team if Zygi Wilf fires Childress in the middle of a season. If there was no salvaging the season, it probably wouldn’t make any difference if the coach was fired now. But, even though the Vikings are in a hole, things aren’t hopeless. While it will be difficult for them to win a play-off berth, it isn’t out of the realm of possibility. Shoot, considering the NFC North, they could still win the division. I can’t believe that the fans shouting for Childress to be fired encourages the players—with the hole they’re in they need all the encouragement they can get. During the off-season, hate the coach as much and as vocally as you like, but when the players are on the field it only seems right to shut the hell up for the sake of their morale.
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
Just to make my point>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
what if randy moss had actually been smart enough to keep his mouth shut, play with everything he’s got and get a nice new contract with Ziggy, who seems to adore him. And then take us to the promised land in a new stadium with a new coach, like Tony Dungy or somethin? Awe, Tony probably won’t coach even to save our Vikings, but, everyone has a right to dream, right? Moss could have been part of THAT. But no he only thinks about the very next play. He has NO vision. We all need to think LONGER TERM. OK?
Randy Moss is a special breed...
I really don’t know why Randy Moss didn’t put forth a real effort when he had everything to gain—finally teamed up with Favre, back with the team that drafted him, and with the real chance of a long-term contract. Seems short-sighted of Moss to wear out his welcome in a month.
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
No Surrender
“We made a promise we swore we’d always remember
No retreat no surrender
Like soldiers in the winter’s night with a vow to defend
No retreat no surrender”
Bruce Springsteen
Somehow that just seems to fit…
Ah, and you know how much I love Springsteen :)
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
"Thunder Road" and "Born to Run" got me through high school.
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
Great Songs
I remember when two major news magazines had Bruce on their covers; not because they saw his appeal but to mock his music and his fans….Boy, did that ever backfire! I’ve always been a big fan of his “The River” CD. I play it whenever I’m in the mood for good rock along with the soulful ballads.
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