Vikings Training Camp 1999

Normally, if left alone with no alarm, I'll wake up at noon at the earliest. Even though the alarm didn't work, I managed to be up and at 'em at 8am. Not bad.

We packed up our stuff, I got mad that the video camera battery didn't charge and we substituted toothpaste with the complementary mints that were in our room.

We got to the stadium around 9am, parked in the same exact spot as the day before. There were a few people around, but not to many. It was drizzling and somewhat chilly. We grabbed a football from my car and played catch under stadium overhang where it was dry. Someone started playing "The Eagle's Greatest Hits Volume 1" CD over the stadium loud speakers. Life was good.

We headed up to the seats, which were completely wet. Fortunately, the guy who sat down next to us brought a towel and was gracious enough to let Tony and I use it. We waited while listening to Jimmy Buffet's greatest hits over the loud speakers. Life was good.

Red McCombs came out and everyone was yelling for an autograph. McCombs answered back "Hey, I'm trying to get some autographs myself!" and everyone laughed. He said "I've been trying to get Cris Carter's autograph since I got here!"

The team came out and the kids went nuts trying to get autographs. They were only 5 feet away from the players, who were having a tough time ignoring them.

Carter finally yelled over "I can't guys, I'm kinda busy right now. I gotta work." He was trying to be nice about it but the kids didn't give up.

Later during the game, some kids were begging Cunningham to throw them a ball. He smiled and said "Red would get mad if I gave all the balls away."

For the most part the players tried to be nice, Cunningham flashed his charming smile more than once for the cameras, as did Gary Anderson.

Everyone got a laugh when number 11, a guy trying to get Mitch Berger's kicking job tried to start off the game kicking from the 35 yard line. Berger started yelling about it and he backed up to the 30.

The crowd was pretty quiet, so even from the stands when I yelled "Hey Superstar" Mike Morris turned around for a smile and nod. Then I yelled "How many fingers am I holding up" and his friend found it amusing, Morris did not. Hopefully he won't track me down and long snap me into a wall.

Randy Moss did a bunch of push ups for dropping an easy pass. Reminded Tony and I of the movie Major League.

On a fourth down play, they lined Palmer in the back field. Everyone on the defense (and in the stands) were confused. It was nearly 30 yards for a first down, but the defense started to react to a fake, but Palmer booted a pretty good punt.

Kleinsasser made a fantastic grab down the middle while being hit by three guys. He's gonna make a great impact this year.

Walsh handled punt coverage and got the first "tackle" (it was a no pads game). He didn't participate in kickoff returns or coverage however.

After the game, most of the players headed off the field without signing autographs. A few stuck around to sign a couple. Tony and I found Andrew Glover signing like mad, completely surrounded while trying to get to the dorms. As Kleinsasser headed for the showers I yelled "nice catch of the middle!" and he yelled thanks and headed inside.

Burger got shoved into a pine tree by a bunch of kids trying to get his autograph. He just keep saying "woah" over and from the second he came out the door until he got through the tree. I yelled at the kids to be careful, but it didn't help.

Tony and I headed for the car to make the voyage home. Neither of us could believe how much fun we had and how up close and personal we got with some of the players. The players must dread these two days, they signed thousands of autographs and people were still yelling "jerk!" when they finally would head inside. No matter how much they do, it is still not enough to please everyone.

Tony and I are already anticipating next year's trip.

Day 1