I know, I know, this is a day late..but in the spirit of Hemmingsen’s National Day of Apology, I would like to extend a belated “I’m sorry” to the Arizona Cardinals football team..its fans and everyone who lost money wagering on the Super Bowl.Kurt’s obviously not superstitious but I am
It’s all my fault; the Lund jinx.After the Cardinals impressive performances during the playoffs and because they’re Linda and my home team for one month out of the year, and because I usually cheer for the underdog, I decided to declare my support for them in the big game. I should have realized that was a bad idea especially considering my long track record rooting for the Minnesota Vikings. Need evidence?I was there in person at the Metrodome for the NFC championship game between Minnesota and Atlanta in 1998. The Vikings were practically a shoe-in to win but they must have noticed me in the stands during the 4th quarter and crumbled like Jessica Simpson’s diet plan..becoming the first 15 and 1 team to NOT make the Super Bowl.
I was also there in 2003 when the Vikings got off to a 6-0 start under head coach Mike Tice. It was Sioux Falls day at the stadium and team owner, Red McCombs actually came to our special tent before the game to say hi and hinted strongly that, yes indeed, he was giving serious consideration to moving the Vikings training camp from Mankato to Sioux Falls. Well, not only did Minnesota’s perfect season come to a crashing halt that day (they only won three more games all season and lost the last one and a chance for the playoffs, to the Arizona Cardinals) but it turned out that McCombs little guest shot was just a spoonful of sugar buried in a Texas longhorn cow pie.
Last Sunday, though, against my better judgement, I did allow myself a moment to believe that the jinx had been broken when the Cardinals came roaring back to take the lead against the heavily favored mighty Steelers. Oh, it was going to be so much fun listening to all those smug sports radio talk show experts, like Colin Cowherd, squirm on Monday morning having to admit their game prediction of a Steelers rout, was full of the same pile of cow poop as a Red McCombs promise. But it was not to be, of course, so, again, I apologize.
While I’m at it, I might as well accept responsibility for the latest sub-zero temperatures that have descended on Keloland. They rolled back in about the same time Linda and I did from our warm-weather sojourn to Arizona; a state where Cardinals fans are hoping we never return. (On a related note: I had been rooting for Tom Daschle to be confirmed as the new HHS secretary. My fault, Tom, Sorry.)