The ROB - A - DOME
Where do you park the car? Who cares?
In my quest for finding Fanatics for my "Page of Fame", Rob came in via email and sent along a great story AND some pretty great pictures of his Minnesota Vikings sanctuary.
Here is Rob's story:
---Hi Gene,
I was born with the Vikings. My dad was...and still is...a huge fan. Every Sunday the game was on and it was in black and white. Man do I feel old. I have watched almost every Vikings game ever played. Whether it was by TV or radio I always had the Vikings game on. I’m a huge fan of the players from the sixty’s and seventy’s. Scrambling Fran, Chuck Foreman, Carl Eller, Alan Page, the list goes on. In 1975, The Purple People Eaters had the most dominant defense football had ever seen. We probably will never see another defense like that ever again.
Back in the eighty’s my brother would place a TV in a snow bank in the back yard to watch the game. Across the alley from his house was a Church. People leaving mass would come over and ask us what the score was. Weekly the number of people grew and some would stay and watch the game. After the 12:00 mass one Sunday the priest paid us a visit. He asked us if we would turn down the volume because everyone in church could here it. We had no idea this was happening and agreed to help out in this matter. Of course we still laugh at this story. It is like an episode of the Simpson’s when Homer is listening to a football game in church and jumps out of the pew and yells, "Touchdown!".
The first time Fox 9 News visited me was in 2000. My garage was in the early stages but they were still impressed. In the year 2002, out of the nowhere, Rob Olsen from Fox 9 calls me and asked if I was going to watch the Twins game. It was game 7 of a playoff game against Oakland. The Vikings were on a bye week. I replied, "Yes". He then asked if he could come out for the game. I said, "Sure". He asked if I updated the garage since they were there last I laughed and said, "Yea, a little" and left it at that. His assignment for the day was to find out what the Vikings fans were doing while the Vikings were off. He didn’t want to go to a bar or restaurant and thought of me. He laughed when I told him that I own ZERO Twins apparel. His comeback was to have everyone wear purple..."OK! I’ll see you in a while. Bye". They showed up. Side by side Rob Olsen and the main editor from Fox 9 News entered the ROB-A-DOME took a quick look around then at each other and commented, "This guy is nuts...look at this". We were all interviewed and wound up on the news. They wanted to go live from my garage but Bert Blyleven rambled on too much during post game highlights and we were cut out because of time slots. Oh well, it is still cool knowing that it had a chance to make the show...maybe next time.
I have an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Sports Facility Management. Who knows, some day I may work for the Vikings.
I was never a collector of autographs until now. A neighbor of mine asked me who Carl Eller was and I almost went into shock. "What!? You don’t know who the MOOSE is?" Well the next generation doesn’t have a clue. I felt that I owed it to him and a lot of other Viking greats to start a Vikings Wall of Fame. The great players that entertained me must live on and not be forgotten. All Vikings that are in the Hall of Fame have a signature on my wall.
I have been a fanatic since the franchise began in 1961. The ROB-A-DOME effect also makes it fun when changing oil in the vehicles.
Rob Olsen and crew from FOX 9 News made an appearance and had as much fun as we did. A great time had by all at the DOME. The Twins won 5-3 I think.
The Twins did win game 7 against Oakland. The Vikings were on a bye week. That information is in the other letter I sent you.
Rob Olsen has autographed this photo. It is hanging on my wall.---
