So There I was in Kansas City Last Year...

Several of the gang from Vikingstailgate.com all headed down to KC last year for the Vikings game with the Chiefs. It was a great time, but losing 13-10 to a team that ended up 4-12 sucked.

In the Arrowhead Parking Lot, hours before game time, I can't count how many times that Chiefs fans kept pointing out that there "Superstar" #69, Jared Allen would be returning for this game, and the Vikings would get whooped.

It was sickening. It seemed like every time we'd strike up a conversation about the game, a Chiefs fan would "nuke us" with a "Jared's back, and you'll be sorry!" line. After hearing this ad nauseam, and seeing a sea of Red #69 jersey's walking all over the lot (most of them on women), I snapped,

"WHO THE F IS JARED ALLEN? AND WHY SHOULD I CARE?"

Admittedly, I was not familiar with this KC icon, and I my loud comment drew laughs of assurance from my Vikings brethren, and gawks of "You call yourself an NFL fan?" from stunned Chiefs fans. I mean really, who ever heard of this guy, hidden in the small markets of KC?

It became sort of a running Joke with my tailgate friends the rest of the year. We would spam each other with quotes from KC newspapers all lauding the great Jared Allen. As the e-mails became more frequent, we started seeing his sacks totals, and tackles add up. Then, we learned that he was named to the Pro Bowl, prompting one of my friends to write,

"WHO THE F is Jared Allen? He is the best damn defensive player in the AFC, playing on a cruddy team."

Well, the off-season came, and in late February, we jokingly prodded each other with more e-mails.

"Jared Allen is a restricted Free-Agent. Maybe Zygi should cough up the $ and 2 first round picks and go get him. Problem solved."

Last week, we got an e-mail from Notre Dame Dan,

"HEY, I Think we are Actually Going After this guy, Is this real?"

The e-mail cited a hot NFL rumor that the Vikes and Bucs were going after the star."

Today, it all came to a sudden, pleasing end.

"Who the F is Jared Allen?"

"He is your starting DE for the next wave of the Purple People Eaters, 'Purple Peeps Part Deaux"

I am amazed. Who ever thought this running joke between tailgating hard cores would lead to the actual acquisition of this Super Star? I mean, he is EXACTLY what this team, this town needs. He is good ol football in a town that sorely needs this character. He's the type of guy that shows up to a team MVP dinner, a black tie affair, wearing a fake tux t-shirt, cowboy hat and jeans to pick up his "Player of the Year Award."

I love it. This is my kind of football player. I dig what this team is trying to do. This is Fantastic.

See you all at the draft.