What fans don’t love to relive the good times of their favorite team? Likewise, in a twisted sort of way, what fans can really resist a self-pitying look back on some of those times that tested their allegiance? Those forgettable games, seasons, and plays that made the good times even better? The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly presents all the best moments and personalities in the history of the Minnesota Vikings. It also unmasks, but doesn’t revel in, the bad, the regrettably awful and the unflinchingly ugly. In entertaining—and unsparing—fashion, this book sparkles with Vikings highlights, lowlights, wonderful and wacky memories, legends and goats, the famous and the infamous. You’ll relive the Purple People Eaters, but also reminded of that 41-0 loss to the New York Giants in the 2000 NFC Championship (thought you had forgotten that, huh?). TheGood, the Bad, the Uglyincludes the best and worst Vikings teams and players of all time, the most clutch performances and performers, the biggest choke jobs and chokers, great comebacks and blown leads, plus overrated and underrated Vikings players and coaches. There are Vikings you loved for all the right reasons, and those you couldn’t stand, sublime and embarrassing records, and trades, both savvy and savagely bad. Brawls and fights. Rivalries. Compelling photos. And much, much more. If you’re a through-thick-and-thin Vikings fan, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Vikingsis especially for you. It will remind you of the good and great times and bring a knowing smile about some of those other times, when you proved to yourself just how loyal you are. For everyone else, this warts-and-all portrait of the Vikings will provide countless fond memories, goose bumps, and laughs.
Some cool random factoids and quotes from Viking greats or those who played against them, but WAY too repetitive. This book tells the same stories multiple times in different ways. Not a waste of time but I wouldn't go out of your way. Skol.
3. This book follow the history of the viking even when they weren't part of the NFL (National Football League)to the present-day Vikings we know today. It starts out in the 1950's and tells how we betrayed the AFL (American Football League)in our early years as a football team. We did this by telling the AFL we would join them, but at the last second we went to the NFL instead of the AFL. The rest of the book goes on and tells how the Vikings rest of their years went, which included the great years of the 1970's and 1990's, but also included the ugly years of the 2000's.
4. One motif that the book said over and over was leadership. Leadership was occurring in this book many times because it was describing the coaches that have coached the Vikings in the years, but only the ones that were successful in their years of coaching. Leadership represented what characteristic was the most important to a NFL coach. For example Bud Grant was described as "...a leader on, off and between the field...not only in the spot light but in the locker room." (pg 63). This shows that was a leader everywhere all the time and showed that leadership was the most important characteristic a coach can have. Also it shows that leadership isn't easy to get, but hard work and a great personality will get you there. Lastly the quote shows that Bud was a leader and being a leader isn't meant for everyone and you have to be willing to sacrifice opinion and listen to others.
The other motif in the book that was repeated and important was honesty. Honesty showed up to show what players need to have with each other to able to have a great season. Honesty had to be with everyone counting the coach. If players and coaches didn't trust each other the season never turned out great. For example the honesty and trust between Cullpepper, Randy Moss and Cris Carter was described as "...there was no way anything could get between these guys...they knew everything about each other it was scary." (pg 107). This quote showed how important it was to have honesty and trust between each other because whenever there was a doubt of honesty between the coaches and players the team never went far in the season.
5. The population that would enjoy this book would be Vikings fans or people who have a curiosity about the history of NFL teams. Also the age group that would like this would be from 16 years old and up because you need to know the players the author is talking about to make the book more interesting than history lesson.