Clogtown: The Minnesota Loons At Allianz Field!

I hadn't been to a professional soccer game since the Minnesota Kicks days, so when my friend Christian called up and asked if I'd like to join his family to see a Minnesota Loons game at the new Allianz Field in St. Paul, I was all the way down. They're really called Minnesota United, I suppose to sound like a British football club that is already super established, but to me, they're the Loons. And I love that (and that they play a loon call when they score!).

Allianz Field is lovely and modern and cool, and SUPER hot when you're on the sunny side before the sun sets. The heat didn't put a damper at all on the very impressive team spirit that was in effect the entire game. The chanting ("M.N.U.F.C!!! Minnesota Black and Blue! Come on, You Loons!!") and singing and flag waving didn't let up ONCE during the entire game, and even though they're a new team, the Loons have very clearly already found a place in Minnesota's hearts. They love their Loons, waving their scarves in support throughout the whole game.

The area where all the flag waving and chanting begins is called "The Wonder Wall" and if there is a victory (which there was not for our game vs. Vancover's Whitecaps - it was a draw), I guess the whole crowd sings the Oasis song, "Wonderwall". I don't really get that, as it would be cooler if there was a victory song by any number of awesome Minnesota bands ("Let's Go Crazy" at every other Minnesota sports team score, for example) to celebrate, but it sounds like it's pretty fun when everyone sings along - and the Loons win!

There's good food, good looking men (and women, to be fair) in the stands, good drinks, good sight lines, and it's all a pretty affordable night out, with a gorgeous view of the Minnesota sunset to top it off.

It's exciting that football/soccer seems to be gaining more fans here again, and you can count me in as a Loons fan, because my first experience was a complete blast! I'm impressed. Thank you, Doten Family, and GO LOONS!

A Venice High Weekend - Go Gondoliers!

In all the years I've lived in Venice, I had never been to the Homecoming game at Venice High, which I guess is fine because I didn't go there, but as a resident of its town, I think we should all support the local schools - and Venice High is awesome.

The whole place is under construction for a massive school grounds makeover, but that didn't stop any of the fun. The Venice High side of the bleachers was packed - standing room only. The Gondolier kids are great, with a ton of school spirit, and I even got to meet their mascot, Gondo the Mighty Gondolier! Adorable.

There was homecoming royalty, and a Hall of Fame induction. There were cheerleaders, a dance squad, and a marching band that always makes things more festive. I ran into a whole bunch of people that I knew, and it was almost more a community event than just a high school one. I also learned that the concession stand makes some great tacos! Maybe my favorite in town, probably because someone's Grandma is making them or something. They were delicious.

The Gondoliers were not victorious in their game against Fairfax High, but they were victorious in having the most fun, and making even folks well past high school that didn't attend their school feel welcome and included. I loved it.

Then, the very next night, Venice High (aka Rydell High) hosted the annual Grease singalong! Back to back fun events hosted at this awesome school! I was only there briefly, as Game 7 of the Dodgers game was happening at the exact same time, and my friends, the Halverson's were having a party a half a block away, so I split right after "Greased Lightning" this year. I was there long enough to see all the fun folks in costume, and the old hot rods - and to have another quick taco!

Thank you to all the great kids and families that make having Venice High a blast not just for the kids in attendance, but to the friends and neighbors that  live nearby. Thank you to parents who send their kids to public schools ... your resources help to make them better. Rowing, Not Drifting. You're all awesome.

Go Gondos!!!

Vikings In Los Angeles!

It's common knowledge that I love my Minnesota Vikings, so when they were playing in L.A. for the first time since I've lived here - I was there. And so were like a zillion other Vikings fans - WOW! The train down to the Coliseum was jam packed with folks decked out in purple and gold, but that was nothing compared to the sea of purple on the visitors side once inside the massive and iconic old venue. Lines were LONG to get in, and team chants went back and forth getting everyone pumped up for the barnburner of a game.

You could tell the Rams fans were kind of taken aback, because it was hard to tell who the noise was for because the Vikings were just as loud - if not louder - than them every time something good happened for us. Viking horns and braids were well represented also, and I had one woman marvel as I passed by, "Ooh, you have REAL braids!" Yes, and they're real blonde too - another rarity in Los Angeles. I've now lived in L.A. almost as long as I lived in Minnesota, so I would definitely be rooting for the Rams if they weren't playing Minnesota. But they were, and I bleed purple. You understand.

The popular Rams chant "WHOSE House?!" (which was kind of funny since it's really USC's house, and the visual looked like it was the Vikings' house) was often drowned out by the Vikings "SKOL!" chant ... but the whole thing was very civil considering. Stefon Diggs (whose jersey I was wearing) and Adam Thielen were awesome, and you'd hear Rams fans saying so. The Rams guy (Goff?) was also excellent, and we'd shake our heads in envy when they'd complete another long pass. All the ribbing seemed to be in good humor - even though everyone still thinks it's clever and hilarious to do an exaggerated "Oh Yah, You Betcha!" to you when they see you in purple. Hint: It's not. And it gets pretty old. But we're Minnesota Nice, so we smile tightly and nod, keeping our disses to ourselves (usually).

The Vikings were not victorious this time, but they could have been. The game was a slug-fest the whole time, and if not for a fumble late in the game (and for Cousins taking forever to make a pass every time so he always gets sacked), might have gone the other way. But as I told a Rams fan guy at work - we won in our hearts. Because when you see that much purple in your chosen second hometown, it lets you know that you're not alone out here, and that feels good. As does finding out that our new kicker (Dan Bailey) can actually make a field goal - even if the first one did clank off the goal post in a brief moment of horror for any Vikings fan. They'll know what I mean.

So, SKOL, Vikings in L.A.!!! That was awesome. Glad to know you're all here! See you next time!

Vikings In Venice!

There are some things you just can't really understand how much they mean to an entire state unless you were born and raised in Minnesota. The Minnesota Vikings. Prince. And maybe the accent.

When I moved to California, it almost made those things MORE special, because I missed them. The good news is that there are several Vikings in Venice, and all of us have never been more happy than when the "Minneapolis Miracle" took place last Sunday. I'm still laugh-crying about it, especially when you re-watch the play for the thousandth time, and realize that IT REALLY HAPPENED. And it will never get old.

You have to know that things like this just do not happen to the Minnesota Vikings. We've always been the ones on the other end of miracle plays, or more often, they've just blown it. But we love them anyway. To be a Vikings fan is to know how to handle disappointment. It - and the extreme weather - are probably why people are so nice back home ... you just have to be. You have to look out for each other, and you have to keep up your chin up through crushing blows.

But not on Sunday. Sunday was our turn to REJOICE!!! You've never heard such pure jublilation than when Case Keenum threw a miracle pass to Stefon Diggs who made a miracle catch, and ran it in for the first ever walk-off NFL Playoff touchdown in history. The crowd slowly realizes that all might not be lost, and then it become pure pandemonium. Just listen ... !

🎥 #MinneapolisMiracle Sideline Cam#BringItHome pic.twitter.com/fRe9CZTlwt

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) January 15, 2018

Even then we couldn't believe it. We were sure it would be called back for a penalty, or out of bounds or some such nonsense, but nope. Not this time. It was real, and our involuntary, out of control celebration really hasn't ended. Calls and texts came in from across the nation, as everyone knows how much that moment means to a Minnesotan.

If you're not into sports, you would still get the excitement of this miracle. I had just returned to Venice from Minneapolis, and all I wanted was to be back there, yelling and hugging with all my people. They could probably hear us from here, though. It was - and is - just so good.

I was sad to see the garbage New Orleans coach, Sean Payton, mocking the crowd with our "Skol!" chant when we very briefly trailed on the scoreboard ... but his karma was almost immediate. HAAAA. He screwed us over back in 2009 with "Bountygate" (Look it up. Awful.) We STILL rooted for New Orleans in that Superbowl (Well, I did), because the people of that city needed it after the nightmare of Katrina, but now it's our turn to go for it. Fairly and squarely, I might add. And they should root for us. The Vikings still have to play the NFC Championship this weekend, of course, but we're feeling pretty good about it. As far as we're concerned, there is no other team to cheer for. The Vikings are by far the coolest team left, and if victorious this weekend, they will be the first team in history to play in their own town's Superbowl. Minnesota will be going OFF. Who can't get behind rooting for that?

No matter what happens, no one can take away that moment of collective JOY on such a scale that we'll all remember it all of our days. There is a meme going around of an angel Prince stepping in to make the block for Diggs on that last catch, and I honestly wouldn't be surprised. It was that miraculous.

Minnesotans will never get over the sadness of losing our Prince, and now we'll never get over the sheer elation of that Minnesota Vikings victory that will be one of the best ever for all time. We'll also never get over the accent.

You gave us all something to celebrate the rest of our days. It's more than a game, it's the spirit of a people. The spirit of home. SKOL VIKINGS!!! BRING IT HOME!! But above all, THANK YOU!!!