Club Members,
 
Training camp is over, a couple of pre-season games under our belt, an answer to a quarterback question and I made it back from Minnesota. Yes it’s time for some football. First the camp – we had another great year at camp. About 20 members were in Mankato for each day of training camp. The Vikings gave us the VIP treatment once again and we were present for some contact practices. The team really looked crisp in practice. The team was conducting practices with referees during drills and not too many yellow flags hit the ground. Nikki Myers (our club contact at the Vikings) stated that Zygi Wilf was spotted at training camp wearing this year’s club tee shirt. If anyone got the picture – please send it to me (website material).
 
The dinner was a huge success – approximately 30 members showed up for this event and we had a blast. Bob Lurtsema was there and was the life of the party. During Bob’s address to the club he told Randall McDaniel if Randall was playing when he was playing; he would have lined up across from him and ran right through him. Only when Bob tells the story he used a little more colorful language. The evening went from there – a real pleasure, it was truly a night to remember. Randall was there again and Dave Osborn and Bill “Boom-Boom” Brown both predicted (with incredible accuracy) the Brett Favre quarterback scenario. We had three different players mention that Mick Tingelhoff should be in the hall of fame. As a club our work isn’t done – we need to let the selection committee know what we think of this injustice.
 
And we can’t forget the Winter Park tour. This year was a little different because the team was back at Winter Park – all the lockers were full and the entire weight room was there. Visanthe Shiancoe is my new hero – when we passed his locker our club tee shirt, from last year, was hanging there, how cool is that. Nikki and CJ conducted the tour and joined us for dinner. I can’t thank the Vikings organization enough for how they treated us and continue to help us as a club and non-profit organization.
 
I personally hung out in Minnesota a little longer than most and caught the Chief’s game. I went into this game like everyone else – thinking it was the Brett Favre début, but left seeing one of the greatest defensive stands of all time. OK – the starters weren’t in, but, to win the game defending your goal line is impressive. What an effort – our guys defended that white line like it was their first born – nobody was going to cross that line and nobody did.
 
We now need to ramp up for the start of the season and that means dues time. Please submit your dues by September 10th to help facilitate the start of the season. For those of you who have submitted your dues – I thank you and I will be caught up by the end of the week.
 
Northwood Pizza is under new management; Bill sold to Brian An, who owns the yogurt shop in the complex. You would not believe the place now – new TV’s and a lot of other upgrades. This is still our home and we wish Bill the best as well as we hope the best for Brian. Stop down and check out the new place.
 
And finally – we will be meeting for the Monday night pre-season game against the Texan’s. New club tees will be there on display; but that is all, saving the rest for opening day.
 
Wm. R. Martin
President
Southern California Viking Club