WW: World Class

In case you hadn't heard, the US women's Soccer team just finished their fourth World Cup championship run, second straight for the program. That's world class in the world's most popular sport, albeit the much less popular version. But that's not what I'm talking about today.

Today's topic is much more regionally relevant.

With the exception of the bandwagon jumping Eagles fans and all the Bison fans that have jumped on since their strangle hold on the FCS started, there has not been much upper echelon achievement by team's professional or amateur across the Minnesota/Dakota divide.

Vikings

Timberwolves

Twins

Wild

Gophers

The list goes on

The Sioux won a Hockey championship not too long ago, and they aren't the only one's to raise the college Hockey trophy but if we're looking at it like a scale, that's like a drop of sand against a boulder. Here's the thing though, people keep coming back year after year. Gluttons for punishment maybe but indelibly hooked on each of the team's.

All the missed kicks, bad picks & horrible player signings haven't broken the spirit's of people to their favorite teams. It's a remarkable fact that each and every one of the team's and organization's should appreciate in tangible and undeniable ways. But in many ways it seems like they're going the other way.

The most recent example comes from the most popular team in the territory. After the 51 year run in Mankato, the Vikings transitioned to their castle in the hills of Eagan. The first year in the new digs was similar to how it had been previously. For year one they instituted a ticketing system for access to the grounds while keeping a much more noticeable divide between the players and fans. Several additions due to the campuses focus more than made up for those negatives. This coming camp will take things even further. Historically they had allowed public viewing for the morning walk through and the afternoon practice. Those in charge decided to cut that in half, eliminating the early portions of the event. Then they also changed the autography policy to only those 18 & under.

On one had I get the practicality of the changes. Plenty of people were trying to get the scribbles just so that they could hawk the stuff for a couple bucks. Since there's no easy way to filter out only those people, the change was made and plenty more kids will be happy about it.

But as each of you surely knows, it's not the kids that buy the merchandise or tickets or even pay much attention to the team. It's the adults, yet through the most recent changes, the Vikings have put up a barrier between themselves and their fan base. Which is merely the most recent example of it, but certainly not the only.

Yet even after all those decisions made to hold the adoring masses at arms length or further, people will still flock to Eagan in a couple weeks. Will still continue to fill the Baseball field downtown. Will still continue to watch, listen, read and talk about all of their favorite teams. It's an astounding thing to consider, the loyalty that all these undeserving entities have from the millions of people across the tri-state area. And I am one of them. I won't be going to training camp this year and possibly beyond, because it's no longer worth the cost but in my stead will be other's.

All in all, it's proof that the sports fans in our region are world class.

Maybe there will be points at which people stop caring but it hasn't happened yet so I have a suspicion that it will never come. There's a downside to that but it's darn impressive too!

But that's all I've got to say about it, have a great weekend!