

A Perfect Defect
A major character flaw that has always been apart of my personal make-up, which
has a great deal to do with the history of the Minnesota Vikings, is to detest a
new entity to its very core whenever we are forced to accept something
new. However it is always tempered with an open accord ... with the
acceptance toward change. The reason for this flaw lies within the word
respect. No one has the right to demand respect from anyone ... as respect
can only be earned. The accord is an understanding that effective change
lies within the answer to our plea ... hope!
In short, how could I
hate the man Brad Childress, when he first came to us ... a man that I did not
know ... however, my personal demons stirred deeply within me ... under a
low-level broil. He came from Philly! My hope was that he would
bring to me the answers to my daily prayers ... which was to implement a crew of
chiseled specimens that would bend under no ones will. Although physical
attributes like size and speed were important, the robust chiseling that I'm
referring to lies deep within a mans soul. It is these very traits that
are now overwhelming me and I am now compelled to confront an issue ... a
concept. It is called the "Perfect Defect".
It is without doubt that
the keys to our demise shall come at us, not from a frontal assault, but from
the primordial slime gnawing at us from the back door. Just as the
Patriots perilously gutted the Bronco's so shall the league of 31 others
organizations, and their base, shall be upon our throats ... that is, if we let
them. Today we are told that Brad Childress has cast his lot ... onto a
high risk bet ... that will either pay off handsomely, or there shall be a great
reckoning that shall shake the Viking Nation at its core ... to its perilous
demise. We must now clearly recognize that a wedge is being driven into
our back door ... a common card, a ploy, that brings an insatiable instability
upon us ... where avoidance shall prove to be the tools of our demise. As
Chuck Noll once said, "Anxiety and nervousness are the traits of someone
that does not know exactly what he intends to do." Herein lies the
words to a road map. His next words, "You're all cut"!
There is one undeniable
fact ... there is no such thing as the perfect coach. In fact, the
Minnesota Vikings history is littered with imperfect coaches that at some point
in their careers appeared to be a step behind the competition. That is
because we are trained to see things in terms of a snap shot rather than to
admit the true reality. Do we reflect upon Denny Green's numerous failures
or do we remember the man that brought aboard players like Randy Moss and Larry
Fitzgerald? Do we remember the eccentric nature of Buddy Ryan or do we see
the culmination of that 85 Bears defense and players like Reggie White and Cris
Carter ... the tip of the proverbial ice berg? What these thoughts
represents are coaches that are Perfect Defects that changed the game forever
and for all time.
As much as that
fire broiled and still broils within me, it is time to confront Chilly head
on. With all of his faults, mistakes, gaffs, and his little intricate
failures that drove us all perfectly nuts ... in time, he has achieved the
status of a Perfect Defect. Our organization, in its painful growth, has
transformed itself under a very different class of
player ... a very different class of coach ... the very chiseled organization
that we all once desperately hoped for. Now if we measure ourselves in
terms of winning and losing ... then we have no choice but to accept
defeat. This I will not do! What I choose to remember is John Wooden
of the UCLA Bruins that never used the words to win anything ... he always
focused on what it would take to get there. Herein, once again, lies the
words to the map.
At this juncture in time,
it would be completely out of character for our owners to press to extend
Chilly's contract. Firstly, there are numerous top flight future head
coaching prospects to consider, not the least of which is our own Leslie Frazier
or someone like Shanahan. Yes, the grass is always greener, but yada yada
yada! Secondly, Brad is under contract throughout the 2010 season.
Why would our owner do something so completely out of character? The
answer lies within Chuck Noll's statement ... remembering that in 1969, he
hadn't won a thing, except a team with a very very poor history. The only
thing Coach Noll had in 1969 was a guy name Joe Green and a vision.
The Minnesota Vikings
greatest asset lies within the word stability ... the very thing that we are reviled
for, as the concept is foreign to the blood thirsty sharks of this world.
Our history lies behind this stability. The question is ... do we wait and
see ... like everyone else does ... or do we act based upon the intrinsic value
of an unquestioned vision. Do we pay homage to it with words? At
what point do we choose to shred the space time continuum? Are we
the goose or are we Bull Goose Looney? Do we have a
choice?
For well over 2 years the
foreign concept of #4 wearing purple was an unwavering focus ... the problem
was, the fate of Brett Farve just couldn't be seen by the man that was standing
within those shoes. Either you're cutting the stone, polishing the stone,
or your building the Cathedral. The question is ... what should we
do? Do we signal strength and stability ... or do we flounder like the
rest of the unfortunate souls out there!
Mr. Farve
Mr. Farve: Exactly, at what time, of what day, did you first imagine yourself donning
those Minnesota Viking horns? At the time, we're you an indentured
servant? Did the very thought of wearing those horns reflect your chance
to breath free ... to choose your own destiny? Would you say that at that
time, did you imagined yourself to be closer to the age of 9 or the age of
40? Exactly how foolish can you be? Have you ever wondered exactly
what was the true source of your majestic abilities? Can you explain how
all of these things have come to pass? Can you promise to flourish within
your unique passion under the final wish bestowed by, and upon, the gods?
There is only one person
that needs to seek and have the answer to these questions but always keep in
mind that the gods have always been fans of its
passion.
Nix Pic 6
There is one undeniable fact. A stop by our 2008 defense anywhere in front of
that goal line meant that you might end up kicking 3, but the probability of
scoring 6 was dubious at best. This defense was just that tenacious and
now they get to add a guy named EJ to that insatiable squad.
This
is an invaluable bullet in Brett Farve's arsenal, as it lends itself to degrees
of freedom. There is no greater feeling than that gained from
freedom. The bottom line is that any interception that doesn't result in a
pick-6, means that Brett, and his offensive group, can recover from just about
any adversity. In his 18 years, he has never had such a powerful card to
pull from his pocket. The best part of all of this is that this defense
thrives upon adversity as they see it as an opportunity to dictate their will
upon an opponent.
One
thing can be said unequivocally, from behind this pen, we are all certainly glad
that we don't have to face a prospect such as this.
The Viking Ghost
Writer
MyVikingBlood.com
Date: September 12, 2009