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Friday, May 16, 2008
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Adrian for president? Viking excites students
Sports Editor BAXTER - The way students reacted one might have thought Barack Obama was entering the building.
Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson received a reception worthy of a presidential candidate Thursday when he entered Forestview Middle School.
Peterson, team owner Zygi Wilf and the Vikings Community Tour appeared before more than 2,000 screaming students at Forestview, where Peterson encouraged them to become physically fit.
The Vikings' appearance was in conjunction with the "What Moves U" childhood fitness program sponsored by the American Heart Association. The association has joined forces with the Vikings and the NFL to encourage children to be physically active, part of the NFL's "Play 60" initiative to be active 60 minutes a day.
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Brainerd Warriors Athlete of the Week Steph Neugebauer posed with Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf (left), running back Adrian Peterson and KFAN radio personality/Vikings play-by-play announcer Paul Allen during the Vikings Community Tour on Thursday at the Red Roof Inn. See more photos spotted.brainerddispatch.com
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Brainerd Dispatch/Clint Wood
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The curriculum helps teachers incorporate physical activity into all courses, not just physical education classes. Peterson, Wilf, Vikings cheerleaders, mascot Viktor the Viking and Brainerd Warriors football coach Ron Stolski later watched groups of students from each grade participate in various jumping and throwing activities.
Later, a capacity crowd greeted Peterson and Wilf at Buffalo Wild Wings where they were interviewed on KFAN. Then they attended a luncheon at the Red Roof Inn, hosted by the Brainerd Sports Boosters Club and the Brainerd Lakes Chamber, and presented $1,000 to the boosters and Warrior Way Inc.
Before the luncheon, Peterson said talking to students is important to him.
"God has blessed me to be in this position, to be able to reach out and be able to talk to kids in the community," he said. "Coming from the small town that I came from (Palestine, Texas) we really didn't have a lot.
"Now I'm in a position where I can reach out to younger kids, inspire them to be better ... be better than me, at whatever they set their minds on to do."
Wilf said it's important that fans see members of the organization.
"We've done that from the first day we became owners," he said. "It was very important for us to get to know the fans and people throughout the state. First and foremost, being an out-of-stater and a new owner, I think it was very important to get a feel for the fans and get a feel for the community.
"I have to say the response from fans and the community has been overwhelming. It's really given us the impetus to make sure we can do everything we can to give back to the community, give back to our fans.
"That drives us even stronger to get the players we need to get a championship team. Nothing would do us more proud than to be able to bring back to Minnesota and its fans a championship team we all can be proud of."
On Wednesday, the Star Tribune reported the Vikings continue to negotiate to buy property owned by the newspaper near the Metrodome, even after the team canceled a $45 million deal to buy some of that land last summer.
The Star Tribune also reported that Wilf has already bought property in the area, which would surround a proposed new, $954 million stadium for the team.
"We're working very hard, first and foremost, to get a team that can win," he said. "We're also trying to put together plans to put the stadium and the package together. We're talking to officials throughout the state and to people who are interested in the state. We're putting together a plan that we can all be proud of.
"I think we all understand, since the Minnesota Vikings are so important to everybody here, that to watch a winning team in a new home would be something we all are looking forward to."
In his first NFL season, Peterson was the offensive rookie of the year, leading the NFC in rushing and ranking second in the NFL with 1,341 yards. In February he was MVP of the Pro Bowl, rushing for 129 yards and two touchdowns.
Peterson's ability, and offseason moves like the trade for defensive end Jared Allen and the free agent signing of wide receiver Bernard Berrian, make the Vikings early favorites to win the NFC North Division.
"As committed as we are (Wilf) is also committed to giving us the best chance to go for the ultimate goal," Peterson said. "I feel like we've got all the tools.
"It's all about being prepared. Whenever that time comes, if I have anything to do with it, and I do, we're definitely going to be prepared. I'm ready to get things going."
MIKE BIALKA, sports editor, may be reached at mike.bialka@brainerddispatch.com or at 855-5861.
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