How long have you been a "REAL" Viking fan?

[mosscarter]

melanie: yes, in all actuality i did watch it into overtime, and you are right, the worst came afterwards. with that said, how does a 39 yr old veteran qb not know better than to throw across his body like a total idiot?? in my opinion, that was the worst throw i've ever seen under the circumstances. with his experience, he should simply KNOW BETTER. but, that is the vikes curse we all live with. no team in the history of the nfl has been more talented than the vikes have over the years, and look at our results. sickening.

[BGM]

I loved the Vikings since I was a little kid, about 1974 or so. It was soon after that I received a Vikings helmet, jersey and shoulder pads for Christmas, and never looked back. Suffered through the lean years, and then my fandom came into its own with the advent of this message board (back it the Usenet days!!) and the 1998 Vikes. Have always been die-hard, but that season galvanized it!

[KilgoreT]

I've bled purple for all 4 Super Bowl losses as well as all failed NFC Championship games which we have participated in. Been a real and true Vike fan since 1967...Always have and always will be for better or worse.

Still waiting for our 1st SB Championship!!!!

From Canada: Me too, Joe Kapp, Fran Tarkenton, the uncalled push off pass penalty by the Cowboys that kept the Vikings out of the SB

[majorm]

You're two years ahead of me! I've been a fan since 1969 so I too have suffered through all those painful postseason losses.

'69 for me as well. I was 10 years old. My dad wasn't really a Vikings' fan but he loved Joe Kapp. The first game I really remember watching was the NFL title game against the Browns. My dad was going nuts when "The Toughest Chicano" KO'd Jim Houston. Then we watched the Super Bowl with a bunch of people all rooting for the Chiefs. We were the only ones cheering for the Vikes. Although there was little to cheer about that day of course, I was hooked. I loved their helmets. I still tell people to this day that I'm a Viking fan because I fell in love with their helmets when I was 10. I'm so glad they've kept them basically the same after all these years.

Though it has remained tough at times to stick with them, they get into your heart and you couldn't give up on them if you tried.

I have to say, I've not been this excited for a new season to start in a long time. Of course I have no doubt we'll all end up having a hearts ripped out. They wouldn't be the Vikings if they didn't.

My favorite all-time Viking is Chuck Foreman. Although Adrian is pushing him.

[KilgoreT]

'69 for me as well. I was 10 years old. My dad wasn't really a Vikings' fan but he loved Joe Kapp. The first game I really remember watching was the NFL title game against the Browns. My dad was going nuts when "The Toughest Chicano" KO'd Jim Houston. Then we watched the Super Bowl with a bunch of people all rooting for the Chiefs. We were the only ones cheering for the Vikes. Although there was little to cheer about that day of course, I was hooked. I loved their helmets. I still tell people to this day that I'm a Viking fan because I fell in love with their helmets when I was 10. I'm so glad they've kept them basically the same after all these years.

Though it has remained tough at times to stick with them, they get into your heart and you couldn't give up on them if you tried.

I have to say, I've not been this excited for a new season to start in a long time. Of course I have no doubt we'll all end up having a hearts ripped out. They wouldn't be the Vikings if they didn't.

My favorite all-time Viking is Chuck Foreman. Although Adrian is pushing him.

Chuck for me too on Offense and Randle on D for me

[DanAS]

You're two years ahead of me! I've been a fan since 1969 so I too have suffered through all those painful postseason losses.

A "real" fan? Not sure exactly when I crossed that line, but it was in the late 60s. I was rooting on the Twins a year or two before that.

[NextQuestion]

Try having a guy smash a huge window at the bar you work at after losing the NFCCG

[Funkytown]

Try having a guy smash a huge window at the bar you work at after losing the NFCCG

...can't say I blame him.

When I lived in Minnesota, my property manager was telling me about a guy he knew who committed suicide after the loss in '98. Obviously he had a lot of OTHER issues going on--and it wasn't just because of the game--but the loss to the Falcons was the last straw. He committed suicide that night or the next day. Not quite sure on the details--either way, shortly after.

Football is serious, especially Vikings football. Really, really serious. Too bad we are often on the wrong side of the "serious."

[PacificNorseWest]

Shoot, I'm not that serious about it. Still a big fan, but the losses and losses in big games don't cut as deeply as they did when I was a kid.

I didn't live in Minnesota so at my school I was the only one wearing purple as a young kid. Also, having your own team always carried more pride back in the day. Bragging rights on the playground for the kids team who was doing the best that year or that weekend. Going to school after a Vikings loss was killer because I knew the jokes would ensue.

[majorm]

...can't say I blame him.

When I lived in Minnesota, my property manager was telling me about a guy he knew who committed suicide after the loss in '98. Obviously he had a lot of OTHER issues going on--and it wasn't just because of the game--but the loss to the Falcons was the last straw. He committed suicide that night or the next day. Not quite sure on the details--either way, shortly after.

Football is serious, especially Vikings football. Really, really serious. Too bad we are often on the wrong side of the "serious."

While I was far from suicidal after that game, that is easily my darkest day as a sports fan. And I doubt anything else will ever surpass it.

I was at the game and remember thinking as they were driving for the what would be at least a game clinching FG, "Man, the Vikings are actually going to the Super Bowl."

Well, we all know what happened from there. When the game ended I just sat there. Just sat in my seat in the Dome and didn't move for the longest time. I just couldn't believe what had just happened. I guess I was hoping that it was some kind of bad dream I might wake up from. Just the most awful feeling. That amazing season just was not supposed to end like that.

It just didn't feel AS bad in 2009 because I never had that "feeling" that the Vikings were going to win like I had in '98. It just did not crush me in the same way.

I'll admit something to you guys that may make some question my true "fandom."

I can NOT watch them live on TV anymore. I just can't deal with the stress it causes. I really just don't enjoy it anymore. I live in KC and they're not on that often anyway. But when they are, I DVR the game. I wait until it's over and I know the score, then I watch it. IF they win. Sometimes I watch it even if they lose if they played well. It just makes life easier for me.

I root just as hard as ever. I follow the off-season goings on closer than I ever have, but I just get too worked up when I watch them live. I spare myself and my family that misery.

[Mothman]

While I was far from suicidal after that game, that is easily my darkest day as a sports fan. And I doubt anything else will ever surpass it.

I was at the game and remember thinking as they were driving for the what would be at least a game clinching FG, "Man, the Vikings are actually going to the Super Bowl."

Well, we all know what happened from there. When the game ended I just sat there. Just sat in my seat in the Dome and didn't move for the longest time. I just couldn't believe what had just happened. I guess I was hoping that it was some kind of bad dream I might wake up from. Just the most awful feeling. That amazing season just was not supposed to end like that.

It just didn't feel AS bad in 2009 because I never had that "feeling" that the Vikings were going to win like I had in '98. It just did not crush me in the same way.

I'll admit something to you guys that may make some question my true "fandom."

I can NOT watch them live on TV anymore. I just can't deal with the stress it causes. I really just don't enjoy it anymore. I live in KC and they're not on that often anyway. But when they are, I DVR the game. I wait until it's over and I know the score, then I watch it. IF they win. Sometimes I watch it even if they lose if they played well. It just makes life easier for me.

I root just as hard as ever. I follow the off-season goings on closer than I ever have, but I just get too worked up when I watch them live. I spare myself and my family that misery.

That doesn't make me question your fandom. If watching them live stresses you out that much, I understand.

That '98 NFCC game was a rough ride for all of us but it must have been really hard to be there. I remember my reactions to the game well and I know emotions can easily be heightened when attending a game in person so I sympathize.

[MV711]

It's very tough being a real Viking fan and suffering through all the heart breaking losses over the years.

Have faith, our day will come!!!! SOON.

[Funkytown]

While I was far from suicidal after that game, that is easily my darkest day as a sports fan. And I doubt anything else will ever surpass it.

I was at the game and remember thinking as they were driving for the what would be at least a game clinching FG, "Man, the Vikings are actually going to the Super Bowl."

Well, we all know what happened from there. When the game ended I just sat there. Just sat in my seat in the Dome and didn't move for the longest time. I just couldn't believe what had just happened. I guess I was hoping that it was some kind of bad dream I might wake up from. Just the most awful feeling. That amazing season just was not supposed to end like that.

It just didn't feel AS bad in 2009 because I never had that "feeling" that the Vikings were going to win like I had in '98. It just did not crush me in the same way.

I'll admit something to you guys that may make some question my true "fandom."

I can NOT watch them live on TV anymore. I just can't deal with the stress it causes. I really just don't enjoy it anymore. I live in KC and they're not on that often anyway. But when they are, I DVR the game. I wait until it's over and I know the score, then I watch it. IF they win. Sometimes I watch it even if they lose if they played well. It just makes life easier for me.

I root just as hard as ever. I follow the off-season goings on closer than I ever have, but I just get too worked up when I watch them live. I spare myself and my family that misery.

I can only imagine.

As far as you not watching live--that is really interesting. I see your point, but that takes all of the excitement out of it. But, I suppose you don't want all of that excitement. I hope that I never get to the point where I can't watch them live. That just seems sad. But, I suppose one can only take so many heartbreaks and letdowns!

Was that the last game you attended at the Dome?

[Eli]

After seeing 4 Super Bowl losses the 98 deal as painful as it was seemed easier to handle.

Much easier. In fact, each Super Bowl loss after the first one became progressively easier and easier to deal with. After a while, maybe even expected, much as I hate to admit it.

[CapDB7]

Only since 2010.

Seen every game since and although the majority has been dire, I absolutely love it.