Yea, OK Whatever
The Minnesota Vikings' pre-holiday win over the Giants contains listless nothings, a punishment for anyone who felt stakes in the season. Was it good for you?
The Minnesota Vikings beat the New York Giants 16-13 in a sloppy game that saw veteran center Ryan Kelly sustain his third concussion of the year and J.J. McCarthy suffer his third injury of any type this year.
The game contained nothing for those hoping for the Vikings to establish continued growth for their young quarterback or a winning culture. It contained even less for fans who want to see the Vikings lose in order to generate some more capital in the draft.
I type this from Burlington, Vermont, where I visit my brother for Christmas every year. He knows the deal; I have to be away from friends and family while I cover the game, something I will continue to do on Christmas Day when the Vikings unmercifully will play the Detroit Lions, probably without McCarthy.
These sacrifices are known elements of the job, ones that fans have virtually no sympathy for. It’s understandable why they wouldn’t — not only do you know about these holiday difficulties well before you dip your toes into the industry, but it’s generally considered a dream job.
Understanding how blessed I can be to do this for a living, even on Christmas, it’s still a soul-sucking experience to see a low-impact game turn suddenly meaningless when you have to turn down Christmas festivities in order to watch it in a separate room while a party is happening in the rest of the house.
Certainly, that pain is nothing compared to the pain Ryan Kelly experiences, both physically and emotionally, as he contemplates the end of his career. McCarthy’s short NFL life thus far has been its own hell.
But the pointlessness persists, permeating the process of watching a game.
