Making ourselves whole again.

That guy right there is Jim Thome. The picture was taken back in 1991. He doesn't really look like that now -- none of us look like we did in 1991 -- but Thome can still hit on occasion and he's going to be a solid influence in what is already considered to be one of the most stable clubhouses in all of baseball. We really needed some good news yesterday and the Twins gave it to us by signing Thome. One of our favorite ball players of the last fifteen years is gonna be a Twin and that will help us begin the process of mending our broken hearts because the Vikings couldn't get out of their own way and get to the Super Bowl.

A disappointing finish

There isn’t much we can say about the loss to the Saints that hasn’t already been said. We won’t ever fully recover from a loss like that. How could you fully recover? If the loss in 1998 taught us anything, it’s that you shouldn’t get your hopes up too high for anything to happen when it comes to the Vikings. And when you do get your hopes up, you will get burned. The latest loss not only makes us question why we cheer for the Vikings, but it makes us question why we watch sports at all. It all seems pointless. Instead of rehashing the fumbles, the missed opportunities, and the well…the fumbles again…we thought we would just give you a sample of some of the text messages we received during the game:

I hate the Saints.

You better hope they keep Chester, AD is never going to be the same.

There aren’t words. I guess that’s why we got Favre. Same way Packers lost to Giants.

Who dat? You ain’t dat!

Do you bench Adrian?

You think Chilli will get out-coached in the pro bowl next week?

Tjack would have avoided those hits.

Just like the Atlanta game in reverse - never get too high they always find a way to screw it up.

Does Jared Allen still play for us?

Isaac needs cheering up - can u call?

That last one was a text from my sister about 20 minutes after the game ended. My little nephew was not handling the loss very well. When I called him, I could hear the disappointment in his voice. I wanted to tell him to get out now, that he should become a fan of some other team or better yet, just forget about football and focus on enjoying music or reading, or something more worthy of his time. But…I couldn’t do it. I wanted to tell him to run… but I told him the same thing I would have wanted to hear at that moment – “we will get them next year.”

And who knows if we will. Chances are we won’t. But we might. So we will all be back watching and waiting again hoping this will be the year the Vikings actually get over the hump.

Until then, it’s GO TWINS.

Wishing away the weekend.

Those mini helmets don’t belong to me. They belong to the boy. But I had helmets something like those when I was a kid. Those helmets remind me of good times. When you are a kid, all you know is now. Sure, you think about things and you want things. But for the most part, you are happy just having your mini-football helmets, your bike, and your baseball cards.

As you get older, you notice how much time is spent waiting for things to happen instead of just living in the moment. We wish it was Friday, we wish it was summer, and we wish Buddy the Pug would stop freaking barking at every sound he thinks he hears.

This week we can’t stop wishing that the Vikings game would hurry up and start already. Sure, Percy Harvin probably won’t play and sure…the Vikings might break our hearts again for the 4th time since 1987. But at this point we don’t care. We want to have that pain in our hearts if they lose and we want – we need – to feel the joy that only a trip to the Super Bowl would bring. We want to carry those mini-helmets around the house and be reminded that our team is actually playing for a title.

I was 3-years-old the last time the Vikings played in a Super Bowl and thankfully, I don’t remember anything about that loss. But I do remember Darrin Nelson getting stopped at the 1-yard-line in Washington. I was there when Morten Andersen hit that kick and Denny took a knee. I hate to admit that I watched every painful minute of 41-Donut against the Giants because I wasn’t sure when I would see my team in the NFC Championship again. Well…again is now. When it’s over I hope it was worth the wait.

Gopher Nation!

Editors Note: 2010 is a new year, we are turning a new leaf. Time to get positive.

Now that was an exciting game!

We can't figure out why people keep complaining about Golden Gopher Football. The loss to Iowa State yesterday was one of the best games in the history of Minnesota football. It was well-coached and simply a joy to watch.

Congratulations to Coach Brewster for such a great season. You should be proud -- we all should be proud. We look forward to another successful recruiting class and we can't wait to see you work your magic next year. There isn't a better coach in the conference. Check that -- there isn't a better coach in the country!

Rose Bowl baby!