Hidden Lead
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I promised myself that I wouldn't do
it. The plan was clear ... I was going to extricate myself from the entire
world ... to avoid all sports related media ... until I had the opportunity to
watch my beloved Vikings on NFL Game Pass. Once the game was over I could
watch the re-broadcasted event as if it were new to me. At about 10 am
Sunday morning the plan was to drive home from Boston. I was fine all the
while watching the clock ... seeing that 1 pm EST kickoff approach ... dealing
with that creeping uneasy feeling. As we were passing through New Jersey,
something drove me to turn to an NFL broadcast. It was the Eagles
network.
Every available moment on the Eagles radio network focused upon that game with
commentary. The mundane was only broken by an Eagle Fart, with the
announcement of some cash amount being sent to some charity, brought to you by
some sponsor. Of course the fart was a sack, or some such thing, however
there was no news about the Vikings, or any other NFL team for that
matter. For all purposes, I was cut from the source & I desperately
needed to re-connect ... as something was driving me. Just before half
time, it was announced the score was Titans 10, Vikings 0. I was
officially tied in. Up to that point, not much was going the Vikings
way. Later that day, when I had the chance to see the re-broadcast ... it
became apparent that at the very moment of reintroducing myself to the game
... the hand introduced himself once again.
If you had said before that contest that neither Sam Bradford or Shaun Hill
would throw a TD or if you had said that Adrian Peterson would have less than 2
yards per carry or that Blair Walsh would miss two (2) field goals and an extra
point, I'd probably would say ... tell me, which one do you think might
happen? Any one of these facts would mean certain death to this
squad. Your response ... taken incredulously ... actually was all three
would occur. So then I'd make the statement ... "So the Vikings
lost?". "No ... actually they would win." We all
would probably say you were a great story teller but you were out of your
mind. Something incredible is happening here. What was once feared
... is no longer feared.
Then it hit me. Teddy's statement, "You cannot give testimony without
being tested." At first I thought that was just and only about Teddy
Bridgewater, as he referred to his mothers fight ... overcoming every and all
obstacles however we missed something. Teddy was asked to lead this
team. He can no longer do it from or on the field of battle however that
doesn't diminish his leadership role. The test that he's actually
referring to goes well beyond his left knee ... the test is being applied to
every aspect of this organization.
For example, can Mike Zimmer withstand the test imposed upon him by Blair
Walsh. Zimmer's faith will be tested beyond its endurance. He may no
longer get to chose how his team wins. What is clear is that Bill
Parcell's, as Zimmer's mentor, is actually a good thing because his Giants won
ugly ... but they won nonetheless. After Walsh missed that playoff kick
last year, my first reaction was that I wanted him gone. I was beyond
upset. I was unwilling to accept that result. Now, I'm not so sure
anymore. Now, when someone says that we got lucky in our recent victory
... it only means one thing ... at every step each foe will underestimate our
every move. There is no warning. There is no better place.
Zimmer's faith in Walsh must endure as now he must face any and all tests
without question. We are all flawed but we do not cut our nose to spite
our face.
Peterson was tested. Patterson was tested. Walsh was tested.
Theilen was tested. Trae Waynes was being tested. The list is
enormous. Heck, even Xavier Rhodes has had the rug yanked from beneath his
feet. Now LaQuon Treadwell & Mackensie Alexander are being thrown into
the cauldron or into the fire. One to identify with the concept that only
elite play will be accepted while the other asked to absorb the
surrealistic. Either the fire burns within you ... or you shall be burned.
Maybe Zimmer didn't
realize what he was doing when he scowled at that camera instead of singing but
that scowl once roamed the frigid sidelines with steely eyes that could
penetrate steel. The scowl sent a message ... that something dear to us
all has returned. SKOWL!
Watch the reaction.
Hearts will turn to our favor like none have turned before. Do you fear
the fudge packers & A. A. Ron? Do you fear the Patriots? Funny
... there is no fear anymore.
The Viking Ghost Writer
http://MyVikingBlood.org
Date: September 14, 2016
