Boston Celtics

Lakers-Celtics Rivalry. The 10 dead are usually a reference to a massive group of injuries or an offense or defense that plays sub par. HEAD COACH: Doc Rivers
ASSISTANT COACHES: Dave Wohl, Tony Brown, Jim Brewer, Kevin Eastman, Armond Hill and Paul Pressey
. The 22 Norwegians in this reference are a reference to the 22 players that play on a starting offense and defense on a football team. Bench. Legend has it that the runestone predicts the fate of the Minnesota Vikings in the future. Starters. The Vikings have the more esoteric rune stone curse, named for the Kensington Runestone, claimed to be Viking in origin, which was found near Alexandria, Minnesota.

Under current general manager Danny Ainge and coach Doc Rivers, the Celtics won the division championship in the 2004-2005 season, but lost to the Indiana Pacers in game 7 in the postseason. Many attribute their futilities to "curses", such as the Cubs' Billy Goat curse. In 1994 the Celtics moved from the Boston Garden into the Fleet Center. The Vikings, even though they are a very successful franchise, are faced with championship futility, much like the Chicago Cubs, the Toronto Maple Leafs and many other successful franchises in other sports. After the retirement of Bird, the Celtics yet again went into rebuilding. Ragnar drives onto the field at the beginning of games on a loud motorcycle. The three Finals where the Celtics played the Lakers featured the matchup of Bird versus NBA great Magic Johnson. Jurantich admits to being somewhat of an eccentric—he holds the current world record for fastest time shaving a beard with an ax.

Jones led the Celtics to four consecutive NBA Finals appearances against the Lakers and the Houston Rockets between 1984 and 1987, winning championships in 1984 and 1986. Ragnar (played by Joseph Juranitch) has been working for the Vikings since 1994, and claims to be the most widely-recognized mascot in the world. Jones was named head coach. The current team mascot is Ragnar, possibly the only "human" mascot in professional sports, meaning that he doesn't wear anything over his head. The team won a title in 1981, and the following year K.C. Skol is the Swedish word for a salute or a toast, as to an admired person or group. With the acquisition of NBA legend Larry Bird, Robert Parish, and Kevin McHale, the Celtics yet again became a dominant team in the NBA, playing in 5 NBA Finals in the 1980s. Often during Vikings games, the fans will be led to sing the Minnesota Vikings fight song, which has the following lyrics:.

The rebuilding phase only lasted two years. Viking fans are known to dress up in "Helga Hats" or purple hats mimmicking the helmets worn by Viking warriors while invading rival lands. After the 1976 victory, though, Boston went into another phase of rebuilding. The Vikings made history in 2005 by beating their rivals, the Green Bay Packers, in their first ever playoff meeting. In 1974 the team bested the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Finals, and in 1976 the team won yet another championship after defeating the Phoenix Suns. Ironically, the Cardinals hired Dennis Green the following season. However, with Dave Cowens, Paul Silas, and Jo Jo White, the Celtics became dominant again. Green Bay won the division at 10-6, while the Vikings were 9-7.

The next season was one of rebuilding as the Celtics had their first losing record in a long time. However, the Vikings ended up going 3-7 the rest of the season, missing the playoffs with a last second touchdown reception by the Arizona Cardinals' receiver Nate Poole. sports history. In Tice's first season, the Vikings had a dismal 6-10 record, which he turned around in 2003 with a fast 6-0 start. The streak of 8 consecutive NBA championships is the longest streak of consecutive championships in U.S. Tice is the 3rd of the 6 Vikings Head Coaches to be promoted from within the team's coaching ranks but is the 1st Head Coach to have played for the Vikings. Russell retired after the 1969 season, effectively ending a dominant Celtics dynasty that had garnered 11 NBA titles. On January 10, 2002, Mike Tice was named the 6th Head Coach in Vikings history.

The aging team managed two more championships, though, in 1968 and 1969, each against the Lakers in the NBA Finals. Mike Tice coached the final game of 2001. Russell took over as a player and coach. However, that year the Celtics' string of NBA titles was broken. Later in the season, Dennis Green, who was such a polarizing force in the Viking fanbase, despite having a successful coaching tenure with the team, had his contract bought out after a 5-10 season in 2001. After the 1966 championship, though, Auerbach retired. Offensive Lineman Korey Stringer died of heat stroke in training camp in Mankato, Minnesota. The Celtics would eventually meet the Lakers a total of 10 times in the NBA Finals. Tragedy struck the Minnesota Vikings in the summer of 2001.

During that timespan, the Celtics met the Lakers in the Finals six times, starting an intense- and sometimes bitter- rivalry. The former was lost 30-27 in overtime to the Atlanta Falcons at the Metrodome and the latter was lost 41-0 to the New York Giants in the Meadowlands. Under coach Red Auerbach, the Celtics won another seven championships for eight championships in a row. The team had 2 disappointing losses of note during Green's tenure: The 1998 NFC Championship game and the 2000 NFC Championship game. In 1959, with Russell and Jones, the Celtics won the NBA Championship with the sweep of the Minneapolis Lakers. In his 10 seasons as the coach of the Vikings, he won 4 NFC Central division titles, had 8 playoff appearances, 2 NFC championship game appearances and an all-time record of 97-62. Jones, the Celtics began a dynasty that would last 8 seasons. He came to Minnesota after turning around a struggling Stanford University football program as head coach there from 1989-91.

However, with the acquisition of K.C. On January 10, 1992, the controversial Dennis Green was named the 5th Head Coach in team history. In 1957, the Celtics again advanced to the NBA Finals, this time losing to the Hawks in 6 games. He also led Minnesota to 3 playoff appearances, including a division title and an NFC Championship Game. Louis Hawks in seven games, giving the Celtics the first of a NBA record 16 NBA Championships. In 6 seasons as Head Coach of the Vikings, Burns compiled a career record of 52-43 (.547). Russell had an immediate impact; that year, the Celtics advanced to the NBA Finals and defeated the then St. On December 3, 1991, Jerry Burns announced his retirement.

After the merger of the BAA and the National Basketball League to form the NBA, the Celtics acquired rookie Bill Russell in 1956. The final result of the trade gave the Vikings Walker, a 3rd (Mike Jones), 5th (Reggie Thornton) and 10th-round choice (Pat Newman) in 1990 and a 3rd-round choice in 1991 (Jake Reed), while Dallas received all 5 players, a 1st, 2nd and 6th-round choice in 1990, a 1st and 2nd-round choice in 1991 and a 1st, 2nd and 3rd-round choice in 1992. The Celtics were formed in 1946 as a team in the Basketball Association of America. On October 12, 1989, the Vikings acquired Herschel Walker from Dallas for Issiac Holt, David Howard, Darrin Nelson, Jesse Solomon, Alex Stewart, a first-round choice in 1992, conditional 1st-round choices in 1990 and '91, conditional 2nd-round choices in 1990, '91 and '92, and a conditional 3rd-round choice in 1992. The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Vikings would make what would be considered its biggest blunder in team history. G - #13 Delonte West (Saint Joseph's). Minnesota upset New Orleans, 44-10, at the Superdome and San Francisco, 36-24, at Candlestick Park in the first 2 rounds of the playoffs to earn a trip to the conference title game.

SF - #9 Justin Reed (Ole Miss). Trailing 17-10, the Vikings drove to the Redskins' 6-yard line with a little over a minute left in the game but failed to get the ball into the end zone. C - #43 Kendrick Perkins (Clifton J. Ozen HS, Beaumont, Texas). The Vikings played the Redskins in the NFC Championship Game on January 17, 1988, at RFK Stadium. PF - #7 Al Jefferson (Prentiss (MS) HS). In his second season, he led the Vikings to the NFC championship game. G/F - #12 Ricky Davis (Iowa). He served as the Vikings offensive coordinator from 1968-85, when the team won 11 division titles and played in 4 Super Bowls.

C - #30 Mark Blount (Pittsburgh). Longtime Vikings assistant coach Jerry Burns was named the 4th head coach in team history on January 7, 1986. PG - #11 Marcus Banks (UNLV). In 18 seasons he led the Vikings to a 158-96-5 regular season record. G/F - #34 Paul Pierce (Kansas). At the time of his retirement he was the 6th winningest coach in NFL history with 168 career wins, including playoffs. F - #8 Antoine Walker (Kentucky). On January 6, 1986, following the 1985 season, Bud Grant re-retired as head coach of the Vikings.

F/C - #45 Raef LaFrentz (Kansas). After Steckel's dismal season, he was fired and on December 18, 1984, Bud Grant was re-hired as the head coach of the Vikings. SG - #42 Tony Allen (Oklahoma State). Steckel, who came to the Vikings in 1979 after working as an assistant with the 49ers, was the youngest head coach in the NFL in 1984 at age 38. PG - #20 Gary Payton (Oregon State). Les Steckel, who was an offensive assistant with the Vikings for 5 seasons, was named the 3rd head coach in franchise history on January 29, 1984. Len Bias. The person that would take his place would be Les Steckel.

Broadcaster Johnny Most. In 17 seasons Grant led Minnesota to 12 playoff appearances, 11 division titles and 4 Super Bowls. His career regular-season record was 151-87-5 (.632). Loscy Jim Loscutoff (asked that his #18 not be retired). On January 27, 1984, Bud Grant retired as Head Coach of the Vikings. 35 Reggie Lewis. Rickey Young scored the 1st regular-season touchdown in the facility on a 3-yard run in the 2nd quarter. 33 Larry Bird. The 1st regular-season game in the Metrodome was the 1982 opener on September 12, when the Vikings defeated Tampa Bay, 17-10.

32 Kevin McHale. The 1st touchdown in the new facility was scored by Joe Senser on an 11-yard pass from Tommy Kramer. 31 Cedric Maxwell. Minnesota prevailed, 7-3. Jones. 21, 1982. 25 K.C. The Vikings played their 1st game at the Metrodome in a preseason matchup against Seattle on Aug.

24 Sam Jones. The complex was named "Winter Park" after Max Winter, one of the Vikings founders who served as the team's president from 1965-87. 23 Frank Ramsey. On May 15, 1981, the Vikings moved into a new facility in Eden Prairie that houses the team's offices, locker room and practice fields. 22 Ed Macauley. Minnesota lost to the eventual Super Bowl Champs, 23-6. 21 Bill Sharman. On January 1, 1978, the Vikings played Dallas Cowboys in their 4th NFC Championship Game in 5 years at Texas Stadium.

19 Don Nelson. The Vikings earned a trip to Super Bowl XI by defeating the Rams, 24-13, at Metropolitan Stadium on December 26, 1976, in what ended up being the last Vikings playoff game at the Met. 18 Dave Cowens. Minnesota lost, 32-14. 17 John Havlicek. The Vikings however, couldn't break its bad luck in the Super Bowl. 16 Satch Sanders. The Vikings played in their 3rd Super Bowl in 4 years against the Oakland Raiders at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, on January 9, 1977.

15 Tom Heinsohn. The Vikings played in their 2nd straight Super Bowl, losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 16-6, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans on January 12, 1975. Minnesota earned a trip to Super Bowl IX by defeating the Los Angeles Rams, 14-10, at Metropolitan Stadium on December 29, 1974. 14 Bob Cousy. The Dolphins prevailed, 24-7. Minnesota earned the trip to Super Bowl VIII by defeating Dallas, 27-10, in the NFC Championship game. 10 Jo Jo White. On January 13, 1974, the Vikings played in the 2nd Super Bowl in franchise history against the Miami Dolphins at Rice Stadium in Houston, TX. 6 Bill Russell. In 1972 the Vikings traded Norm Snead, Bob Grim, Vince Clements and a 1st-round choice in '72 and '73 to the New York Giants to reacquire the popular quarterback Fran Tarkenton.

3 Dennis Johnson. Minnesota became the 1st modern NFL expansion team to win an NFL Championship Game, which gave them a berth to the, Super Bowl which the heavily favored Vikings dropped to the Kansas City Chiefs 23-7. 2 Red Auerbach (legendary coach and executive). 4, 1970, at Metropolitan Stadium. 1 Walter Brown (founding owner). The Vikings defeated the Cleveland Browns, 27-7, in the NFL Championship Game on Jan. 00 Robert Parish. With the picks Minnesota selected Clinton Jones and Bob Grim in '67, Ron Yary in '68 and Ed White in '69.

Paul Silas. On March 7, 1967, quarterback Fran Tarkenton was traded to the New York Giants for a 1st and 2nd-round choice in 1967, a 1st-round choice in '68 and a 2nd-round choice in '69. Don Chaney. Bud Grant, head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, became the new Vikings field leader. Danny Ainge. Jim Finks, then general manager of the Calgary Stampeders, was named as the new general manager. Bill Walton. The Vikings went to Canada to get their replacements.

John Thompson (only played in the NBA for two years; inducted for his coaching career at Georgetown University). Rose resigned from his position in 1964 and Van Brocklin quit abruptly in the spring of 1967. Bill Sharman (inducted both as a Celtics player and as a coach, most notably with the Los Angeles Lakers). Eventually the stadium capacity was increased to 47,900. Bill Russell. From the start, the Vikings embraced an energetic marketing program that produced a first-year season ticket sale of nearly 26,000 and an average home attendance of 34,586, about 85 percent of the capacity of 40,800 Metropolitan Stadium. Arnie Risen. Minnesota's first management team was led by general manager Bert Rose and head coach Norm Van Brocklin.

Frank Ramsey. Skoglund and Max Winter first forfeited its AFL membership and then was awarded the National Football League's 14th franchise that was to begin play in 1961. Andy Phillip. P. Robert Parish. Five months later in January 1960, the same ownership group made up of Bill Boyer, Ole Haugsrud, Bernie Ridder, H. Kevin McHale. The pro football saga in the Twin Cities began in August 1959, when five Minnesota businessmen were awarded a franchise in the new American Football League.

Pete Maravich. Mike Tice is currently the team's head coach. Ed Macauley. The former owner Red McCombs, has recently sold the team to a group of investors led by Zygmunt Wilf. Clyde Lovellette. The Minnesota Vikings are a National Football League team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota along with fellow major pro sports franchises Minnesota Twins of the MLB, Minnesota Wild of the NHL, and the Minnesota Timberwolves of the NBA. Sam Jones. Minnesota Vikings History (http://www.angelfire.com/mn/SqUaReD/history.html).

Jones. Mike Marshall. C. Gary Zimmerman. K. Wade Wilson. Bailey Howell. Herschel Walker.

Tom Heinsohn. Scott Studwell. John Havlicek. Fuad Reveiz. Wayne Embry (inducted as a contributor, not as a player; he was the first African-American to serve both as a general manager and a team president in the NBA). Jake Reed. Dave Cowens. Ahmad Rashad.

Bob Cousy. John Randle. Walter Brown. David Palmer. Larry Bird. Darren Nelson. Nate Archibald. Randy Moss.

Warren Moon. Keith Millard. Randall McDaniel. Tommy Kramer.

Joe Kapp. Steve Jordan. Chuck Foreman. Chris Doleman.

Jack Del Rio. Anthony Carter. Joey Browner. Matt Blair.

Gary Anderson. Alan Page 88. Cris Carter 80. Korey Stringer 77.

Jim Marshall 70. Mick Tingelhoff 53. Fran Tarkenton 10. Nate Burleson.

Kenechi Udeze. Antoine Winfield. Matt Birk. Kevin Williams.

Fred Smoot. Pat Williams. Jim Kleinsasser. Troy Williamson.

Corey Chavous. Napoleon Harris. Daunte Culpepper. Michael Bennett.

Darren Bennett. Ron Yary. Fran Tarkenton. Alan Page.

Paul Krause. Bud Grant. Jim Finks. Carl Eller.