The Vikings ownership, and executive staff, has steadily poured resources and personnel acumen into, what is now, a jewel of a franchise amongst all NFL teams. Considering the success of the Vikings’ college draft classes this decade, the purple fans may be able to ride a wave of success as they did during the 90s, under head coach Dennis Green.
During those Dennis Green days, the Vikings had excellent teams with a tendency to not close the deal when the pressure of the playoffs got piped in. Those teams seemed to be a bit more homegrown, whereas the Vikings team that enters the 2010 to 2020 decade is something much more engineered. Perhaps the additional engineering will lead to seasons that end with more polish than the shocking exits of old. And then again, perhaps when old Brett Favre exits, then the team will be shocked back into the reality of not having one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time leading their team (by the way, The Tarvaris Jackson Fan Club is accepting applications).
What has been proven in recent years is the commitment of the Vikings ownership to try and provide for the best entertainment product on the field. And plain and simple, the people of Minnesota haven’t been accustomed to this type of east coast, brash investment style that the Wilf Family exhibits. Thankfully at the same time, the Wilf’s have not been equally as brash in media appearance as some sports franchise owners tend to do. One of those brash, visible, owners that come to mind is actually the one the Vikings most recently defeated in the Dallas Cowboys (Check back at www.insightnews.com if the Vikings beat the Saints). Jerry Jones is the media magnet owner of the Dallas Cowboys, and he is well known for his tendency to throw around large sums of money and controversy every chance he can. I mention Jones in particular because the style of ownership that the Wilf family exhibits seems to slightly mirror that of Jones, and as such, is almost polar opposite from the other Twin Cities major sports franchise ownerships.
The Vikings recent aggressive pursuit of free agents, along with the steadily successful formula of collegiate recruiting, is the same overall formula that Jones has used to keep the Dallas Cowboys amongst the NFL elite for the last couple of decades. Here in the Twin Cities, sports fans are accustomed to ownership examples such the grassroots approach of the Minnesota Twins, who rely on their scouting systems to find inexpensive, young, “diamonds in the rough” rather than spending big money to bring in high-priced veterans. The Timberwolves franchise seems to lean towards the conservative approach to team development also. Interestingly, the year that the Timberwolves made a major run at a championship coincided with their coughing up some money to bring in high priced veterans Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell. The Minnesota Twins’ championships of 1987 and 1991 were led by a combination of star players and veteran players, similar to when the Timberwolves were at their best.
It is interesting to observe the methods by which sports franchise ownerships go about their business, and all strategies have their merits, but some common principles in life still seem to apply: “You get what you pay for.” Sometimes that payment may come through patience, and at other times it may come through swift financial action, but championships cost. Whether paying to keep the right players and coaches, or paying to pick them up when they are needed and available, it takes an interesting balance to reach success, and championship teams typically exude that balance. That balance is generally born from the temperament and character of the teams’ ultimate leadership, the owners.
The Wilf family seems to carry that championship ownership gene, in that they have a steady, balanced approach towards development of their franchise, while staying alert to sudden opportunities (See: Brett Favre, Jared Allen, Visanthe Shiancoe). And thankfully, when those opportunities arise Viking fans can rest easy, that unlike Jerry Jones, their owners won’t be greedy and throw out millions of dollars to pick-up somebody named Pac-Man with a stripper fetish. I’m just saying; that’s important.
Insight News
Thursday
Sep 02nd
The Vikings ownership has invested well thus far
Most Read Articles
- Know your tax exemption, deduction options
- Olson Middle School Students Poetry: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
- 14 year old honor student records tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King
- Voting justice, voting hope: Progressive faith taking action in 2008
- Jackson and Sharpton say their activist roles will not change
Insightnews.com