Swap that purple for some green --- Published in the CSB/SJU Record Newspaper 01/28/11

For lifelong fans of the Minnesota Vikings, this year’s NFL playoffs have been a bit of a sore spot.

This was supposed to be the year of the purple and gold. The year that our two-year, $25 million savior, gets personal and organizational redemption by leading our pro-bowl packed line-up to the bright lights of the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, where we could watch No. 28 shred the turf on a basketball-court-sized flat screen. Yet, instead, most of us probably spent last Sunday lazily sunk into our futons, drinking flat beer from the night before, eating out-of-season guacamole and watching our two most hated rivals hack out the NFC title game in a woeful, defensive slugfest.

The only treat of these playoffs thus far was watching Marshawn Lynch and the rest of the mediocre-at-best Seattle Seahawks team gently dismantle the defending World Champions.

Nobody wants to hear any more stories about heartbroken mini-mart owners from New Orleans whose only ray of sunshine in the last five years was watching the Saints win the Superbowl.

Sunday came in its usual manner, only instead of getting to watch the purple, we were forced to lather in the success of our foes and swallow any ounce of pride that has not headed South for the winter.

However, in a game where most Vikings fans would probably rather see Soldier Field go up in flames than see either team celebrate a trip to Dallas, I found myself quietly recycling that pride for a team that is probably much more deserving of such a season this year, the Green Bay Packers.

Notice how I use the word “recycle” here, indicating that it is more of a second hand intrigue as opposed to a first hand passion.

I will admit I am all for white-washing an unruly Packer fan in the snow if they have gone too far with their sultry smack talk, but I have found that there is no use crying over spilled milk (and our team has spilled a lot of it). On the advisory of my good friend and roommate (who happens to be a Packers fan), Vikings fans should avoid eating sour grapes and instead move for some humble pie.

The Pack have faced just as much if not more adversity this season, losing their top two running backs for the entire regular season, among many other injuries that plagued them (Clay Matthews, Aaron Rodgers, etc.). Sure, they might not have had the Young and the Restless feel our season has had, but I must acknowledge that A-Rodg and co. have earned it this year.

Perhaps if we would have opted to draft him in 2005 instead of stone hands Troy Williamson or Erasmus James, it might be our turn. Of course, we did not, so I wish the green and gold and any CSB/SJU Packer fans the best of luck on Superbowl weekend. Though, I’d appreciate it if you’d munch on some humble pie pre-game instead of 98 cent Hass avocados in order to avoid bathing in the snow after the game courtesy of us grumbled old Vikings fans.