Reusse: Where do the 2024 Vikings rank among Minnesota sports surprises?

Posted by author December 31, 2024 Sports

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OK, they were upset by the K.C. Chiefs in the Super Bowl, but anyone claiming they saw that regular season coming in August is fibbing.

North Stars owner Norm Green gets a high five from a fan after the team’s 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues in Game 6 of the Norris Division finals at the Met Center in 1991. (David Brewster/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

4. 1990-91 North Stars

Zany Norm Green was the new owner, there were under 5,000 people for a game vs. Montreal in January, and Norm called me (not exactly Mr. Hockey) at home the next morning, almost weeping, saying: “What am I going to do?”

Three months later, he was waving like Nero from his Met Center perch as the full house saluted him with “Norm” chants as his 15th-place team made a run to the Stanley Cup finals.

5. 2024 Vikings

As the Judge of Unlikely, no matter what happens now, it will remain forever mind-boggling that this team — with a seven-win projection in preseason betting — stands at 14-2 at the New Year.

6. 2003-04 Gophers women’s basketball

Lindsay Whalen returned from a broken hand to resume star production, Janel McCarville imposed her strength inside, and Williams Arena was full with new-found zealotry to start the NCAA tournament.

And as a No. 6-seed with a collection of personalities hard to match, the long-shot Gophers made it to the Final Four.