Washington Wizards

Wizards games are announced by Steve Buckhantz and Phil Chenier. The 10 dead are usually a reference to a massive group of injuries or an offense or defense that plays sub par. All Wizards regular season games can be seen on Comcast SportsNet which is available in the Washington, DC area and other local areas. 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. Injured Reserve. Legend has it that the runestone predicts the fate of the Minnesota Vikings in the future. Bench
. 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.

Starters
. Many attribute their futilities to "curses", such as the Cubs' Billy Goat curse. Following this game, the Wizards were swept by the Miami Heat (#1 seed in the 2005 playoffs), ending a stellar season. 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. In Game 6, the Wizards won their first playoff series in 23 years defeating the Chicago Bulls 94-91 and became only the ninth team in NBA history to win a playoff series after being down 0-2. Ragnar drives onto the field at the beginning of games on a loud motorcycle. In a Game 5 victory against Chicago they took their first lead in a playoff series since 1986. Jurantich admits to being somewhat of an eccentric—he holds the current world record for fastest time shaving a beard with an ax.

In Game 3 of the first round against the Chicago Bulls, the Wizards won their first playoff game since 1988. 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. The 2004-2005 season marked the first time the franchise had ever made the playoffs as the Wizards; the last time the team had made the postseason was in 1996-1997, when it was still known as the Bullets. 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 MCI Center is also home to the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League and the Washington Mystics of the WNBA. Skol is the Swedish word for a salute or a toast, as to an admired person or group. Also that year the Wizards moved to the MCI Center located at 601 F Street in Northwest Washington, DC. Often during Vikings games, the fans will be led to sing the Minnesota Vikings fight song, which has the following lyrics:.

The names Seadogs, Express, and Monuments were also considered but rejected. Viking fans are known to dress up in "Helga Hats" or purple hats mimmicking the helmets worn by Viking warriors while invading rival lands. They had changed it because the name Bullets carried a violent overtone. The Vikings made history in 2005 by beating their rivals, the Green Bay Packers, in their first ever playoff meeting. On May 15, 1997, the Bullets officially unveiled their new name and logo. Ironically, the Cardinals hired Dennis Green the following season. During the transition, the Bullets also played home games at Cole Field House, the home of the University of Maryland Terrapins, while waiting for the completion of their new arena in Landover, the Capital Centre (later known as the USAir/US Airways Arena.) Through the mid-1990s, the Bullets still played a few games per season in Baltimore. Green Bay won the division at 10-6, while the Vikings were 9-7.

In 1973, the team moved to Landover, Maryland and became the Capital Bullets, and they changed their name to the Washington Bullets the next season. 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. And the season after that, they moved to Baltimore, Maryland and became the Baltimore Bullets, no relation to the 1940s Bullets franchise. 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 next season, they changed their name to the Zephyrs. 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. The team now known as the Wizards started as the Chicago Packers in the 1961-62 season. On January 10, 2002, Mike Tice was named the 6th Head Coach in Vikings history.

The Washington Wizards are a National Basketball Association team based in Washington, D.C.. Mike Tice coached the final game of 2001. C - #34 Peter Ramos (Puerto Rico). 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. SF - #24 Jarvis Hayes (Georgia). Offensive Lineman Korey Stringer died of heat stroke in training camp in Mankato, Minnesota. SF - #10 Damone Brown (Syracuse). Tragedy struck the Minnesota Vikings in the summer of 2001.

F/C - #36 Etan Thomas (Syracuse). 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. PF - #51 Michael Ruffin (Tulsa). The team had 2 disappointing losses of note during Green's tenure: The 1998 NFC Championship game and the 2000 NFC Championship game. G/F - #7 Laron Profit (Maryland). 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. SG - #8 Anthony Peeler (Missouri). He came to Minnesota after turning around a struggling Stanford University football program as head coach there from 1989-91.

G - #3 Juan Dixon (Maryland). On January 10, 1992, the controversial Dennis Green was named the 5th Head Coach in team history. F/C - #5 Kwame Brown (Glynn Academy, Brunswick, Georgia). He also led Minnesota to 3 playoff appearances, including a division title and an NFC Championship Game. PG - #2 Steve Blake (Maryland). In 6 seasons as Head Coach of the Vikings, Burns compiled a career record of 52-43 (.547). SG - #20 Larry Hughes (Saint Louis). On December 3, 1991, Jerry Burns announced his retirement.

PG - #0 Gilbert Arenas (Arizona). 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. C - #33 Brendan Haywood (North Carolina). 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. SF - #1 Jared Jeffries (Indiana). The Vikings would make what would be considered its biggest blunder in team history. PF - #4 Antawn Jamison (North Carolina). 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.

41 - Wes Unseld. 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. 25 - Gus Johnson. The Vikings played the Redskins in the NFC Championship Game on January 17, 1988, at RFK Stadium. 11 - Elvin Hayes. In his second season, he led the Vikings to the NFC championship game. Don Nelson. He served as the Vikings offensive coordinator from 1968-85, when the team won 11 division titles and played in 4 Super Bowls.

Chris Webber. Longtime Vikings assistant coach Jerry Burns was named the 4th head coach in team history on January 7, 1986. Rasheed Wallace. In 18 seasons he led the Vikings to a 158-96-5 regular season record. Ben Wallace. At the time of his retirement he was the 6th winningest coach in NFL history with 168 career wins, including playoffs. Rod Strickland. On January 6, 1986, following the 1985 season, Bud Grant re-retired as head coach of the Vikings.

Brent Price. 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. Robert Pack. 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. Gheorghe Muresan. 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. Bernard King. The person that would take his place would be Les Steckel.

Michael Jordan. 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). Gus Johnson. On January 27, 1984, Bud Grant retired as Head Coach of the Vikings. Juwan Howard. Rickey Young scored the 1st regular-season touchdown in the facility on a 3-yard run in the 2nd quarter. Bob Dandridge. The 1st regular-season game in the Metrodome was the 1982 opener on September 12, when the Vikings defeated Tampa Bay, 17-10.

Phil Chenier. The 1st touchdown in the new facility was scored by Joe Senser on an 11-yard pass from Tommy Kramer. Manute Bol. Minnesota prevailed, 7-3. Michael Adams. 21, 1982. Wes Unseld. The Vikings played their 1st game at the Metrodome in a preseason matchup against Seattle on Aug.

Earl "The Pearl" Monroe. The complex was named "Winter Park" after Max Winter, one of the Vikings founders who served as the team's president from 1965-87. Elvin Hayes. 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. Walt Bellamy. Minnesota lost to the eventual Super Bowl Champs, 23-6. On January 1, 1978, the Vikings played Dallas Cowboys in their 4th NFC Championship Game in 5 years at Texas Stadium.

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. Minnesota lost, 32-14. The Vikings however, couldn't break its bad luck in the Super Bowl. 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.

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. The Dolphins prevailed, 24-7. Minnesota earned the trip to Super Bowl VIII by defeating Dallas, 27-10, in the NFC Championship game. 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. 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.

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. 4, 1970, at Metropolitan Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Cleveland Browns, 27-7, in the NFL Championship Game on Jan. With the picks Minnesota selected Clinton Jones and Bob Grim in '67, Ron Yary in '68 and Ed White in '69.

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. Bud Grant, head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, became the new Vikings field leader. Jim Finks, then general manager of the Calgary Stampeders, was named as the new general manager. The Vikings went to Canada to get their replacements.

Rose resigned from his position in 1964 and Van Brocklin quit abruptly in the spring of 1967. Eventually the stadium capacity was increased to 47,900. 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. Minnesota's first management team was led by general manager Bert Rose and head coach Norm Van Brocklin.

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. P. Five months later in January 1960, the same ownership group made up of Bill Boyer, Ole Haugsrud, Bernie Ridder, H. 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.

Mike Tice is currently the team's head coach. The former owner Red McCombs, has recently sold the team to a group of investors led by Zygmunt Wilf. 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. Minnesota Vikings History (http://www.angelfire.com/mn/SqUaReD/history.html).

Mike Marshall. Gary Zimmerman. Wade Wilson. Herschel Walker.

Scott Studwell. Fuad Reveiz. Jake Reed. Ahmad Rashad.

John Randle. David Palmer. Darren Nelson. 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.