Losing Effort
I imagine that watching Minnesota Vikings football is a little like having bought a ticket to the lottery, but I can’t say for sure, because I don’t buy lottery tickets. I would guess that a lottery ticket provides inspiration to dream of becoming independently wealthy. A Vikings fan can only hope for the possibility their team won’t come up short of a necessary victory.
I have suffered the psychological abuse of being a Vikings fan my entire life. It’s been hard, because the franchise has often fielded great teams of incredible athletes. When I was a kid, the team was respected by fans and foes for having a dominating defense. The Minnesota Vikings were good teams and won enough games to earn their way to 4 Superbowls, from which they came away losers, all 4 times.
It’s the repeated dashing of hopes that begins to feel like some kind of a mental endurance test.
Yesterday’s game was one of the worst kind. Leading for most of the playoff game, then falling behind late, and finally achieving a position on the field where they had a chance to win as time runs out. The field goal attempt was wide left. Game over.
Season over.
Hopes dashed.
I wonder what I would do with a billion dollar lottery win.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Relative Something 
I’ve learned to just root for the Vikings and accept the results. Particulary at this time of the season: you are playing one of the better teams and they are as hungry for that win as your team. Yesterday, I had some mixed emotions: I definitely was rooting for the Vikings but Seattle has become another favorite of mine and I would love to see them redeem last-years SuperBowl loss.
As for the lottery: they say that one of the biggest issues for winners is the long-lost relatives, friends, and plain ol’ strangers who feel that you cannot deny them a piece of your good fortune. Particularly when the prize approaches the size of the current prize. To deny them the bucks they seek makes you lower than whale sh*t! “You can’t take it with you!” I would not mind dealing with those kinds of problems! I know one thing for certain: no more Minnesota winters!
obsidcomm
January 11, 2016 at 4:29 pm
I am always able to look at a Vikings playoff loss with the silver lining that they have spared me any similar anguish the next week. I can sit back and enjoy the rest of the playoffs without trepidation.
Yes, 1 in 292M odds that you win the lottery; 100% chance you will meet with untold number of relationship challenges if you do win.
johnwhays
January 11, 2016 at 5:42 pm