BAAAAAAAROOOOOOOOOO!!!!! BAAAARRRROOOOOOOO!!!! The Viking horn is a noise that Packers players and Packers fans alike will not miss about the Metrodome in Minnesota. For years that noise has haunted Packers nation because whenever they heard that noise they knew that something was going wrong for the Pack and right for the Vikings. Even as a lifelong Packers fan I will be sad to see it go because of the fond memories I have experienced there and watched on TV. There are a few memories that will forever be etched into my subconscious as a Packers fan.
Vikings mascot ragnar that dumped the popcorn on me
Photo courtesy of http://footballpros.com/showthread.php/6321-Best-NFL-Mascot
My greatest memory of the Metrodome was easily when I was there in 8th grade. I was on a youth football team and the summer before the season started we went up to Minnesota for a USA football tournament in which we would face other youth football teams from around the United States. As a team participating we enjoyed some perks like going to a water park, eating free food, getting free merchandise and other things. However, the greatest perk was being able to go to the Metrodome for a preseason Chargers versus Vikings match up when Ladainian Tomlinson was in his prime. Best of all our seats were on the field right next to the Chargers bench in front of the cheerleaders, kind of a two for one deal. So halfway into the game the real Vikings mascot was trying to sneak up behind us to scare us but I saw him early and nudged my friend on the shoulder to tell him and the next thing I know the Vikings mascot dumps a whole bucket of popcorn on me. Remember this is a real human being dressed like a Viking. He then proceeds to steal my friends cell phone cause he thought it was mine and he gave it to the cheerleader in front of us. Needless to say I already did not like the Vikings and this just gave me more reason not to like them. Having said that, it was one of the most surreal moments of my life and it all happened in the Metrodome.
As a Packers fan the Metrodome was also home to other great moments like Brett Fave passing Dan Marino’s touchdown record in 2007, the Brett Favre’s first game against the Packers on Monday Night Football in 2009, the Packers NFC North clinching win in 2004, and the list goes on and on. The Packers and Vikings rivalry is one that was a staple of the black and blue division because they “hated” each other so much but at the same time they respected each other to an even higher degree.
Sunday will mark the final time the Packers file into the Hubert H Humphrey Metrodome
Photo courtesy of http://lombardiave.com/2013/05/15/packers-receive-a-gift-in-2014-and-2015-with-the-vikings-new-stadium-plans/
What I wouldn’t do to see one more Favre touchdown pass (as a Packer) in the dome, or another Favre versus Chris Hovan showdown, or watch the Packers silence another sold out crowd. Oh wait I can watch that this Sunday night on NBC as the Packers roll into the final meeting versus the Vikings in the Packers home away from Lambeau…the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.
Frozen Tundra Teammates 