There were a few other teams that felt special both in the moment and in memory. The Savage 2003. The Vikings 2009. The Twins 2019.
All ridiculously fun seasons to cover for different reasons.
The Wild’s 2003 playoff run was the definition of unexpected. This was a young, giant-slaying team, overcoming two 3-1 series deficits to reach the conference finals. And the nicest group of players and coaches I’ve encountered in this profession.
The 2009 Vikings had the most assembled talent of any team I’ve covered. This team featured colorful personalities and tons of star power, led by Brett Favre, Adrian Peterson, Steve Hutchinson, Jared Allen and Kevin Williams. It’s a shame the team didn’t seal the deal with a championship parade.
The Twins Bomba Squad hit a record number of home runs and made the baseball park even more fun. Nelson Cruz provided a case study in the importance of leadership in the locker room.
Vikings 24 is funny. This season has all the ingredients that make being a sports fan so captivating: unexpected success (14-2 record), gripping storylines (the rebirth of Sam Darnold), intense drama (eight wins over a score), shining stars (Justin Jefferson, Jonathan Greenard, Jordan Addison, Andrew Van Ginkel…), emotion (Kevin O’Connell’s locker room speeches), fun personalities (Camryn Bynum and Josh Metellus) celebratory dances).