My Ex-Vikes Burgers-and-Beer Dream Team, From Tarkenton to Favre

Tom Woldum |

Oct 24, 2021

It’s Bye Week in Minnesota, and after six angst-ridden weeks we all deserve a break. For one weekend, we won’t sweat profusely and gnaw at our fingernails as we witness the good, the bad, and the ugly unfold right before our eyes. It’s a good time to just go have a leisurely good time at a dive bar somewhere to decompress a little. But who wants to do that alone? Sure, we could hang out with our family, or our friends, but let’s dream a little bit.

We’ve all had the “if you could have dinner with one person from throughout history, who would it be?” conversation. On Bye Week, it’s time to paint that conversation-starter a deep shade of purple. If you could spend a couple of hours grabbing burgers and beers with any former Viking—living or dead—who would it be? But I’m greedy – why not an entire bye-week out on the town with ex Vikings?

[brid autoplay=”true” video=”884903″ player=”26281″ title=”ADVT%207%20Offensive%20Line” duration=”196″ description=”Panther game offensive line” uploaddate=”2021-10-20″ thumbnailurl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/19439/thumb/884903_t_1634695193.png” contentUrl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/19439/sd/884903.mp4″]

Here’s my Dream Team, with one former player—and one excellent local bar–for every day of the bye week:

Fran Tarkenton – he was my favorite player growing up, so this one’s pretty obvious for me. He was there at the very start, in 1961—the stories he could tell! He’s also the first Viking in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, quarterback of three Super Bowl Teams, a boothmate of Howard Cosell’s on Monday Night Football, a network variety show host, a one-time host of Saturday Night Live—in the Belushi era, no less—and a hugely successful entrepreneur. There would be no shortage of conversation to be had with Sir Francis at the table. Sunday night at Matt’s Bar, South Minneapolis

Alan Page – who among the Viking alumni has been more inspirational than Alan Page? The first defensive MVP (and, with Lawrence Taylor, the only two to have ever won from the defensive side of the ball), Page was the heart and soul of the Purple People Eaters in the late sixties and seventies. While he was playing for the Vikings, he was taking night classes at the U of M, graduating from the Law School while still in his prime in 1978. He had bigger things on his mind. Like practicing law in the offseason, like becoming Minnesota’s Assistant Attorney General, like becoming the first African American to serve on the Minnesota Supreme Court. I can’t think of a Minnesota athlete who I admire more, and I’d gladly buy the beers for both of us. Monday night at The Driftwood Char Bar, South Minneapolis – right down Nicollet Avenue from Justice Page Middle School

Bob Lurtsema – In his playing days, he somehow gained more fame for being a “Benchwarmer” than many of the starters for those Super Bowl teams, thanks to a long string of popular commercials for Twin City Federal Savings and Loan. He was a restauranteur, and a well-known Mr. Nice Guy. I’d love to hear his from-the-bench take on those iconic mid-seventies teams, and how it felt to be traded for Ahmad Rashad. Tuesday night, and as long as we’re dreaming let’s go back in time to Lurtsema’s own 80s era bar on the 494 strip, Bloomington

Jerry Burns—The longtime Coordinator and mid-eighties-era Head Coach was known for creativity on offense, storytelling, and a seemingly endless array of F-Bombs. You know this would be one entertaining Dive Bar Dinner Wednesday night at Frenchman’s Pub, Richfield.

Cris Carter – The only player to win the NFL’s prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year Award while playing for Minnesota. The award, which honors a player’s volunteer and charity work alongside on field excellence, fits well alongside the work ethic that turned Carter from a discard of the Philadelphia Eagles to a self-made perennial Pro-Bowl Receiver with the Vikings and, eventually, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. As a broadcaster, he’s made the rounds on studio shows for HBO, ESPN and Fox. No doubt, there would be no shortage of conversation from another Viking legend who’s lived multiple lives. Thursday night at Tootie’s on Lowry, North Minneapolis

Randy Moss – Is this not the most obvious name on the list? Who wouldn’t want to spend a couple of hours reliving old football memories with Randy Moss? He says what’s on his mind, acts out in ways riveting and often hilarious, and, oh yeah, he may be the greatest wide receiver that ever lived. The only problem might be getting him to show up at the appointed time and place. The man has burgers and beer when he wants to have burgers and beer. Friday Night, Runyon’s, Downtown Minneapolis

Brett Favre – All I’d want to hear is how it all went down when he finagled his way into our hearts by betraying his longtime employers in Green Bay by coming to Minnesota. The whole episode was so fantastical, and the year that followed was probably my favorite season of Viking-Watching ever—right until the Saints basically cheated their way into the Super Bowl. We could commiserate about it all, but really, I’m pretty sure I’d have an awesome night drinking beers with Brett Favre, even if we never even talked about football. Saturday Night, Grumpy’s, Northeast Minneapolis

This is sounding like one of the best weeks of all time, and would definitely fill the void while the current Vikings rest up for the season’s final 11 games. And really, why wouldn’t any of these Viking legends want to spend one night in their illustrious lives holed up in a little bar eating cheap burgers and swilling beer with me?

Also Read: Minnesota’s Future at QB Remains Murky