Twas a cold Christmas night some two decades ago
And the Vikes with a win to the playoffs would go.
But so would the Bengals, 'twas win-or-go-home
vs. last season's AFC champs in the Dome.

After church, after gifts and a Yuletide repast
It was time for the Monday night kickoff at last.
So everyone (Gramps, Uncle Kim, little Matty)
Nestled snug in the den to watch Vikes/Cincinnati.

Minnesota could not cross the goal line at first,
Three Rich Karlis field goals their sole scoring burst
But the defense of Doleman, of Lee and Millard
Kept the Bengals from scoring by hitting them hard.

The signs of a blowout then graced the horizon
When the Vikings free safety picked Boomer Esiason.
The game seemed in hand, exaltations were many
When they scored on a Wade Wilson pass to Rick Fenney.

A nineteen-zip lead, what a great Christmas present --
But this is the Vikings, so no game is pleasant.
The Bengals touchdown that came shortly thereafter
Served somewhat to dampen our mirth and our laughter.

Then just before halftime, the lead it was padded.
Another stalled drive, but a field goal was added.
A 22-7 Vikes halftime advantage,
Not enough to collectively un-bunch our pantage.

For we Viking fans knew, though we tried not to show it,
No lead was so big that our team couldn't blow it.
Both the crowds in the Dome and the TV room tensed,
As a big Bengal comeback we all surely sensed.

And that's just what happened, when Boomer connected
On a long touchdown bomb, leaving Vikes fans dejected.
The Vikings offensively couldn't keep pace,
The anxiety thick at my grandparents' place.

To our deep, deep dismay, Cincy scored one more time.
Subject us to this?  And on Christmas?  A crime!
O, why bother with sports and these endless frustrations
That Vikings fans suffered for three generations?

Keith Millard and the Vikings gave their fans plenty to celebrate on Christmas Day 1989.

22-21 with nine minutes to play,
A one-point Vikes lead, the game slipping away,
When, what to our wondering eyes should appear
But a Viking defense of the very top tier.

On Browner!  On Noga!  On Rutland and Berry!
On Thomas and Studwell, make Christmas be merry!
They stonewalled the Bengals the rest of the way,
Six sacks and three picks their statistics that day.

But the game was still close, the result still in doubt;
A clock-killing touchdown drive sure would help out.
We nervously watched as the Vikes took possession
Expecting the worst, I now make the confession.

But Herschel and Wilson and Anthony Carter
And coach Jerry Burns somehow all got much smarter,
Controlling the ball as they marched down the field,
It finally looked like they just wouldn't yield.

Toward the end zone they marched, but eventually stalled.
Fourth-and-goal from the one, do you know what they called?
They lined up to go for it, taking a chance
As we watched and we tried not to go in our pants.

A touchdown would clinch it, we'd play past December.
No two point conversions back then, you'll remember,
So eight points in those days was more than enough,
And the lead would be eight if the Vikes did their stuff.

Wade Wilson dropped back in a two-tight-end set,
Threw a pass up for grabs and I'll never forget
The rapturous glee that enveloped us all
When Brent Novoselsky came down with the ball.

Uncles, cousins and aunts in a loud celebration,
Not just in that room, but across Viking nation.
A holiday memory twenty years later,
A Christmas the Vikings made just that much greater.

And that's what sports do for us, isn't it, really?
Watching huge men bang into each other is silly
Until you consider the memories created;
That part of sports fandom is quite underrated.

Those warm thoughts of family and football, the reason
For one little wish in this holiday season:
As I watch my own child, as she gaily cavorts …
May she someday develop a passion for sports.

-- JOE MULDER