Minnesota is leading the Cowboys 27-3 with just two minutes left to play. They've got the ball at the Dallas 11 on a 4th-and-3. Dallas is out of timeouts. What do the Vikings do? Unbelievably, they call a fade pattern for tight end Visanthe Shiancoe. Favre hits him in the end zone for another touchdown. Final score: Minnesota 34, Dallas 3.
Dallas linebacker Keith Brookings rightly labels this stunt as classless. I'd go farther and say that this was a horrible and unnecessary example of a complete lack of sportsmanship.
Quick: name the last time a team that scored 3 points in 58 minutes went on to score 24 points in the final 120 seconds. What's that? You think there was a chance the Cowboys scored three TDs with three 2-point conversions in that time - with no timeouts? Ok, I'll give you that. Then the Vikings should have kicked the field goal. Surely, Dallas might be able to score three times - but not four!
This is the team that featured Daunte's Sex Boat Adventures...that inexplicably and conveniently sold out their historic hatred of the Packers in embracing #4...and now pulls this crap. My question: is there a more classless organization in the four major American sports?
The Vikings are an utter disgrace, and I hope with all of my heart that Brees & Co. stomp all over them next Sunday.
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wow... i was agreeing with you throughout the entire article, until you got to the end and called them the most classless organization. that's a bold statement and to be honest, i've never thought of who deserves that dubious distinction.
it's tough because every organization has its ups and downs.
It's a subjective determination, Gutsy - but I challenge you to name another team that, top to bottom, conducts itself with so little class. I can name specific players, managers/coaches, front office personnel, owners, and groups of fans that are contemptible...but I honestly can't think of another team that features such a collection of lowlife scum at every level.
If you want another example of how despicable the Vikings are as an organization, click the "I Hate the Horn" label after my post and check out my 11/9/07 post about how the team docked former receiver Troy Williamson for attending his grandmother's funeral.
Going for it on 4th down and throwing a TD pass was definitely an over-the-top move. They should've just kicked the FG and been done with it. I agree that it was overkill and made the Vikings -- and Favre in particular, with his annoying celebrations -- look bad.
Having said that -- and fully understanding that you hate the Vikings the way I hate the Eagles -- I don't agree with the following:
"This is the team that featured Daunte's Sex Boat Adventures...that inexplicably and conveniently sold out their historic hatred of the Packers in embracing #4...and now pulls this crap"
Why is the sex boat thing such a big deal? Why does it bother you, or anyone, that much? Guys liked to have sex with whores...OK, what's so strange about that?
As for the part about selling out their historic hatred...also off-the-mark. The Vikings and the Packers may be divisional rivals but the franchise doesn't have to abide by some sort of cold war with its rival in order to please its fans. Have no Cardinals or Cubs ever played for both franchises? Have no Red Sox and Yankees ever played for both franchises? The Vikings wanted to improve their team. I'd argue that they owe it to their customers to do so every single year. It's hard to argue that Favre hasn't imrpoved the Vikings, even if it has also made the Vikings the easiest team to hate in the NFL. The Vikings haven't sold out...if anyone has sold out, it's Vikings fans. But, again, name me one fan that wouldn't root for "the laundry"? If Red Sox fans can root for David Cone and David Wells and if Yankees fans can root for Roger Clemens and Johnny Damon, then Vikings fans can root for their old tormentor, Brett Favre.
The Vikings aren't the most classless organization in all of American sports. They're just a team that wants to win at all costs, just like everybody else.
(The Troy Williamson thing is horrible, however).
1) Troy Williamson thing is off the charts awful
2) running up the score is awful
The sex boat wasn't the organization's fault... that could happen on any organization.
As for favre, MJ brings up a good point. It seems like lots of players in lots of sports seem to cross-over between rivals. It's always interesting when it happens, but that shouldn't be relevant to the "classless" distinction.
Why is running up the score such a big deal? I don't see anything in the post or these comments explaining why it's "classless" or "an utter disgrace," other than just saying that it is so. It's not as if the Vikings were playing a team of special-needs children in a charity event. They were playing the most well-known football franchise on national television in the playoffs, and they put everyone on notice that they're pretty effing good.
@BloodyGamebreak - I hear what you're saying but there is definitely something to be said about sportsmanship. No one's saying that the Vikings aren't allowed to play hard for all 60 minutes of the game but going for the TD on 4th down late in an already-decided game is pretty classless. Kicking the FG would've been fine. Going for the TD was overkill.
It's no different than not hoisting up 3-pointers when you're up by 20 late in the 4th quarter or not stealing bases when you're up by 5 or more runs in the 9th inning. It's uneccessary.
1. There is no doubt that my hatred for the Vikings colors my thoughts. Guilty as charged. But:
2a. MJ wrote: "Guys liked to have sex with whores...OK, what's so strange about that?" Nothing's strange about it. It's not unexpected human behavior. But that doesn't make it classless. The whole field of ethics and morals is all about how certain impulses and urges, no matter how natural are understandable, are thought of as inappropriate in some measure.
2b. @Gutsy: No, the sex boat wasn't necessarily the organization's fault. I am merely illustrating the quantity of issues that the organization has had, at one level or another.
3. Favre: MJ writes that "The Vikings haven't sold out...if anyone has sold out, it's Vikings fans." I'll agree with that. I understand why the front office brought Favre in. But I draw a parallel to when the Bulls acquired John Starks as an afterthought piece of a trade: the fans here rejected Starks so vociferously that the team stopped suiting him up, and then quickly released him. Now I know that Favre is a much different type and quality of player than Starks, but nevertheless I find it disgusting to so eagerly embrace a guy who the fans purportedly hated just a short while ago. So maybe this wasn't classless by the front office, but it was by the fans.
4. Running up the score: MJ's last comment says it best. The TD was classless.
Geaux Saints.
Correction under #2a above: That something is expected human behavior doesn't mean it's NOT classless.
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