Saints Rain On The Vikings Parade 14-9 in the season opener

For the Champions a win is a win. To win a low scoring game like this really boost the confidence of their team knowing their defense can bail them out every now and then. Hence my typing sarcasm J. I’m a California girl who goes all in for my Vikings, so yes I’m a bit hurt *wink*.

The Saints could have had more points, but a variety of mistakes made the game a lot closer. Brees completed 27 of 36 passes for 237 yards & 1 touchdown. Robert Meachem dropped a ball in the end zone, and Garrett Hartley missed two field goals. The defense played well in the second half, in whole they limited Favre big time. Special teams coverage on kickoffs was great! Sedrick Ellis is back, Glad Vilma is still Vilma, moved around pretty well. iCandy Darren Sharper looked handsome on the sidelines, while Malcolm Jenkins filled in for him. Jenkins had a few good plays but was lost a few times & was replaced by Pierson Prioleau for the remainder of the half.

My Vikings had No CHEMISTRY & I blame the QB. Have you training camped much Brett? Favre only completed 15 of 27 passes for 171 yards, a touchdown, & interception. Adrian Peterson averaged 4.6 yards for 87 yards on 19 carries. Shiancoe finished as the leading receiver with 4 receptions for 76 yards &making the Vikings only Touchdown. The extra point was blocked. I’m still trying to figure out why a CART was used to carry off Bryant McKinnie? What a way to scare us fans for only a finger injury! The Vikings defense is the Real Deal, D-line will be unstoppable & will shine if they stay focused! Key player Sidney Rice who is rehabbing his hip was definitely missed! He was with my Vikings in spirit & via Twitter: Rice tweeted, “Let’s go Vikes. Ad, Percy, BB, GC and B4 PUT IN WORK!” - @sidneyrice

Bottom line is we all love intense high scoring games, but the Vikings needed to win just to redeem themselves. It wasn't the most spectacular way to open a title defense, considering it was a rematch of the 2009 NFC title this past January, in which the Saints won in overtime. Tough game for both teams, mostly a battle between our defense. The Saint’s need to change up their pass/run game. Good win for New Orleans. Now we have 10 days to get it together & gain a few extra days rest. Skol Vikings Just WIN me some games! The Vikings next game is against my boy Charles Grant former (New Orleans Saint) & the Miami Dolphins September 19, 2010 in MN.

~ O'neika "The Touring Empress"

R.I.P. Chris Henry

26 year old NFL Receiver Chris Henry of Cincinnati Bengals has died 12/17/09 at 6:36 a.m., approximately 11 hours after falling out of the back of a pickup truck in what authorities described as a domestic dispute with his fiancee.

Henry was rushed to the hospital Wednesday after being found on a residential road "apparently suffering life-threatening injuries," according to police. Police said a dispute began at a home about a half-mile away, and Henry jumped into the bed of the pickup truck as his fiancée was driving away from the residence.

In the past Henry had has his brush with the law but Henry changed his personal life, spending more time with his fiancee and the three children they were raising.

I know how they feel, We (Vikings) lost Korey Stringer August 1, 2001 during Training Camp. The brotherhood from the teammates & sisterhood from the wives & significant others is a force to be reckoned with.

My heart felt condolence goes out to the Family & Loved ones of Chris Henry. May his children be blessed. Prayers also to his Fiancee as well. Their are no winners in this. So unfortunate.

Monday Night Football: Vikings 30, Packers 23

I'm very happy that I made my flight...The Metrodome is a tough place to play in, the NFC rivalries there are unexplainable....Noise Level is off the charts, Beer & Food being thrown...Welcome to Viking Country!

After last night’s performance Favre is ranked number 3 in the NFL with a 104.7 rating after 4 games! Only P. Manning and Drew Breeze are ahead of him. They have 9 TD's to Favre’s 8 but he only has 1 interception even after being sacked 9 times. Manning has only been sacked twice, and Breeze 4 times. Both have thrown interceptions. If the O-line keeps playing like they did last night Favre will top the NFL QB rating chart....the first 40 year old to do it. Aaron Rodgers is a gifted quarterback but the problem with the Packers is that they DON’T have a LEADER. Brett Favre is also Leader whether you like it or not. This is an AMAZING time in history. But honestly I want people to get of Favre’s jock, because he has GREAT Teammates. The Offensive line needs to protect Favre to make sure he lasts the entire season. If the offense keys on AP, the short passing will be unstoppable.

Let me point out some very troubling this about last night’s game which are getting glossed over. The Packers drop a TD pass, had their QB sacked 8 times and hit a ton more and scored 23 points, The Vikes got a huge break when a penalty overturned a stupid interception. The Vikes had only 1 penalty on them last night. I didn’t get too excited about last night’s win.

Did anybody notice who caught the passes on the last Packer drives? Backs and Tight Ends.... who is responsible for covering them and where were they? There was nobody within 10 yards when the catches were made. Why were all our linebackers in the game when GB had to pass the ball? Childress is going to get AP hurt if he does not change the play calling. First down? Predictable formation? Kleinsasser might as well come in and hold up a sign saying “Bro’s it's going to AP!" Teams used to have one spy keying on AP; Packers had three. Matthews ripped the football out of AP’s hands & ran it for a 42-yard touchdown. AP was shut down, it was a Grown Man’s game, he didn't have a chance, but the plays kept being called instead of play action and a pass to the Tight End. Some day, I hope to see a fake hand off to AP and then a short pass once he is past the line of scrimmage.

I’m a “Defensive Gal” so Jared Allen had me on my feet Several times! HE led the way with 4.5 sacks. Allen not only forced a fumble in the 1st quarter & sacked Rodgers for a safety in the fourth quarter…it was Déjà-Vu for Rodgers & Allen….Allen sacked Rodgers last year for a Safety. He stepped up for sure.


I'm not completely concerned over the big pass plays. When you put a team in a situation where they can't run the ball, there is bound to be passing yards given up, but that's when the sacks and turn over’s come. Attend and watch even though some of the coaching decisions drove me beyond nuts.

~ "O" The Touring Empress

Orlando Thomas vs Louis Gehrig

Henry Louis Gehrig is not only known as baseball player anymore. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) also known as Lou Gehrig's disease is a disease of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement.

Persons with ALS have a loss of muscle strength and coordination that eventually gets worse. This eventually makes one unable to do routine tasks such as going up steps, getting out of a chair, or swallowing. Breathing or swallowing muscles may be the first muscles affected. As the disease gets worse, more muscle groups develop problems.

ALS does not affect the senses (sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch), bladder or bowel function, or a person's ability to think or reason.

Symptoms usually do not develop until after age 50 but my 35 year old uncle Jabbar Kelley McCabe & 37 year old Retired Minnesota Viking Orlando Thomas are the uncommon are suffering from it now.

There is no known cure for ALS. The first drug treatment for the disease is a medicine called riluzole. Riluzole may prolong life, but does not reverse or stop the disease from getting worse.

There is progressive loss of ability to function or care for oneself. Death often occurs within 3 to 5 years of diagnosis, about 20% of patients survive more than 5 years after diagnosis.

Orlando Thomas or affectionately known as O.T. by close friends and family played his entire career for the Vikings as a Defensive Back from 1995-2001.

Thomas once weighed 225 pounds during his playing career. He was a second-round draft pick in 1995. He started 87 of 98 games for the Vikings, intercepting 22 passes along the way, before retiring following the 2001 season.

O.T. announced in June 2007 that he was suffering from Lou Gehrig’s. O.T. has been married to my friend Demetra for 11 years. Demetra is a God fearing, Dedicated, Wife, Mother & Full Time Nurse.


Demetra and I are high school friends, we not only share youth memories, but we share the Vikings NFL wife experience via our Louisiana men as well. Countless sleep-overs, gatherings, away games & parties at the Thomas' former home in Eden Prairie, MN.


This Disease doesn’t discriminate, and has hit home for me twice. Keep Former “Vikings Angel” Orlando Thomas & my uncle Jabbar Kelley in your prayers.



"O" The Touring Empress

Extra Extra Read all about A.P.

Sundays Season Opener with the Vikings against the Cleveland Browns ended in 34-20 victory for the Vikes.

180 rushing yards, 25 carries, 3 touchdowns and 1 that included a 64 yard touchdown run, Adrian Peterson the “Dominator”…is on the Cover of September 21, 2009 - Volume 111, Issue 11 of Sports Illustrated.

Get used to Adrian Peterson it is what I suggest. This past Sunday Pro Bowl running back Adrian Peterson played in between vomiting, a painful cut on his left arm & dehydration.

Watching Adrian I am at loss of breath, holding it in hoping that he doesn't get hurt. Adrian has the charisma, and star power to not only be the face of the Vikings but the NFL. Adrian has the power/speed ratio like Bo Jackson from MY Los Angeles Raiders (Shameless Plug). My suggestion to Adrian is to stop taking needless hits, stay as hydrated & healthy as possible.

Vikings should see the same kind of game next week against the Lions if they remain conservative and mistake free a win come very easily.

Adrian Peterson is also a finalist for the NFL Player of the Week. Other finalists are Seattle's Julius Jones and New York's Thomas Jones. Fans can vote for the award by going to www.NFL.com/FedEx. Voting ends Friday @ 11am so “Do the RIGHT thing” and Vote for A.P.

~ "O" The Touring Empress