Vikings Have a Chance to Make Minnesota Sports Fans Feel Good Again

It was less than a year ago when Brett Favre made his way back to the Twin Cities for a second time after contemplating retirement once again.

Favre came back roughly eight months after he and the Minnesota Vikings suffered yet another heartbreaking loss in the postseason.

The 2010 National Football League (NFL) season was supposed to be a year of unfinished business for the Vikings as they once again had future Hall of Fame quarterback, Favre, calling out signals.

Optimism was full, even after a tough season opening loss to the New Orleans Saints.

Shortly after, the Vikings season became a near embarrassment and it trickled down the all of the major sports organizations, both professional and college, in the Twin Cities.

With a 6-10 season, the Vikings finished tied for last in the National Football Conference (NFC) North, had to deal with Favre’s off-the-field issues involving Jenn Sterger, who worked for the New York Jets while Favre played one season with them in 2008.

Head coach Brad Childress eventually was fired after the Vikings were embarrassed by their rivals, the Green Bay Packers and to conclude, the Metrodome collapsed and the Vikings had to play home games at Ford Field in Detroit and at TCF Bank Stadium on the campus of the University of Minnesota.

The Gophers

Speaking of the Gophers, their football program was not any better.

After some crushing defeats and losses to non-Bowl Championship Series conference teams, head coach Tim Brewster was also let go midseason and Jeff Horton took over the rest of the way, which was highlighted by an upset victory against Iowa, the only win the Gophers had over a rival since previous coach Glen Mason was sent packing.

That wasn’t the only Gophers sports team to struggle. Both the men’s basketball and hockey teams failed to make the postseason.

Tubby Smith’s basketball team didn’t even get invited to play in the NIT, while Don Lucia’s hockey team, once regarded as one of the elite programs in the nation, have not been in the NCAA tournament for three years.

To make matters worse for the Gopher hockey team, the NCAA Frozen Four was held in St. Paul and two rival schools, North Dakota and Minnesota-Duluth, played in it with the Bulldogs taking home their first national title.

... and the Wolves

Once again, the Timberwolves had another one of those seasons.

Bottom-feeders of the league, coach Kurt Rambis fired, questionable moves by David Kahn, the man behind all the personnel decisions and now it appears the National Basketball Association is headed for a lockout that will more than likely continue into the regular season at the very least.

The Wild and the Twins

In St. Paul, the Wild had another down year, more so a horrendous end and also saw their coach, Todd Richards get his pink slip.

The bad vibes even took to the diamond.

While the Vikings were having their issues, the Twins did make the playoffs, but were quickly dismissed by the New York Yankees in the opening round.

This season has pretty much left off where 2010 ended. The Twins are a dismal 12 games below .500 and are essentially out of the playoff picture.

Trying to Turn it Around

So, here we are again as fall approaches and the Vikings season about a month away from beginning.

Back where we started a year ago and as Minnesota sports fans, looking for something good to come from the football season after a year of losing, having coaches fired and 12 months of embarrassment.

Leslie Frazier is now the head coach, brought in a new offensive coordinator in Bill Musgrave and a notable friend from back in his playing days with the Chicago Bears, Mike Singletary, who will coach the linebackers.

In addition to drafting Christian Ponder with the 12^th overall pick, the Vikings traded for veteran signal caller Donovan McNabb to at least take charge this season.

Ponder has conceded to the notion that he will be second-string, but said he will work hard to at least compete for the starting job.

Frazier has stated that the goal for the Vikings is to at least win the NFC North.

For a team that finished 6-10, with only one win in division play, that task is going to be even more difficult.

First, there is the defending Super Bowl champion Packers, which will be as strong, if not stronger, as they played with numerous injuries and an abundance of youth.

Plus, there’s that Aaron Rodgers guy at quarterback, that has proven to be one of the elite one’s in the NFL.

Chicago made it to the NFC Championship game after winning the NFC North and will most likely have a pretty strong defense again.

Similar to the Packers, they are also set at quarterback with Jay Cutler, who has a 3-1 record against the Vikings.

As it may be painful for Vikings fans to hear, the Detroit Lions are even a team to be looked at as trouble on the schedule. At least for the Vikings that is.

They will have an improved defense as their youth continues to gain experience and confidence.

Detroit beat Minnesota in the season finale last year.

If the Vikings want to climb out of the cellar door of the NFC North, it will not be an easy task.

There is some pressure on them to perform well as Minnesota sports fans are foaming at the mouth for something good to come.

Changes have been made all over the organization and the Vikings have an opportunity to turn the mood of the Minnesota sports fan base around.