Transcripts

SPEAKER: It could be a big night, should be a big night at the Metrodome tonight. In fact, a record crowd is expected to turn out tonight for the Minnesota Vikings game against the Green Bay Packers. The Vikings are currently first in the National Football Conference Central Division. The Packers trailed the Vikings by one game. The Packers, however, defeated the Vikings in the season opener so far.

Tonight's game is just the latest in a long series in a rich rivalry between the Vikings and Packers. And joining us now to talk a little bit about that rivalry is one of the Vikings all-time great players, Bill Brown. Good afternoon, Mr Brown.

BILL BROWN: How are you doing, [INAUDIBLE]?

SPEAKER: Just fine.

BILL BROWN: Good.

SPEAKER: I think we can hear you pretty well on your car phone there.

BILL BROWN: Good.

SPEAKER: [LAUGHS]

You played in any number of these games. The fans get all riled up. The Green Bay and Minnesota fans do. The players get riled up, too?

BILL BROWN: Oh, yeah. It's a good rivalry. I think the players get just as riled up as the fans do, and I think it's due to the fact that it is such a good rivalry.

SPEAKER: Now, you played in some of those classics when Green Bay was so good. Lombardi was coaching and I would imagine. If I recall right, you guys always gave them a good game, even when you weren't very good yourself.

BILL BROWN: We didn't-- when we weren't very good. And we got beat by some teams we shouldn't have, and we beat the Packers. We'd win one and lose one just about every year. We'd split with them. And they were the world champions, and we were supposedly nobodies.

SPEAKER: What do you suppose creates these kind of rivalries? What goes into the building of a rivalry between two teams?

BILL BROWN: Well, I think, one thing is that we have a state that's right next to the other state called Wisconsin. And the Packers are Wisconsin and the cheeseheads. And we are the Vikings in Minnesota. So, I mean, it's a natural rivalry when they're that close. And there's a lot of bantering going back and forth all year long.

I mean, it doesn't stop. I got people that give me [? heat. ?] I sell-- I'm in the printing business. I sell printing over in Wisconsin. I sell printing in other places, and I run into Packer backers all over the place.

SPEAKER: And they still buy from you?

BILL BROWN: Oh, sure, but I pick on them.

SPEAKER: [LAUGHS]

BILL BROWN: [INAUDIBLE] [? lunch ?] here and there or something with them. Not saying that, I wager, but I might. [LAUGHS]

SPEAKER: Well, yeah, sure. A $1 here, a $1 there. So I have to ask you before we run here, Bill, how would you rate the Vikings this year as compared to past Viking teams?

BILL BROWN: Well, I don't think I'd read them up with the teams that we took to the Super Bowl the three times I went. I don't think they're there yet. But I think-- and that's comparing as of the League.

I'm not comparing them as of just the Vikings against the Vikings of our era. But in the League, the way we SAT, we were good enough to play in and get to the Super Bowl. I don't know if they're ready for that yet.

They got a good team. I'm not knocking that. I think they should get in the playoffs. Hopefully they do well in the playoffs. I'm pulling for them. But I don't know if they're there yet. [INAUDIBLE] ball player or two away.

SPEAKER: Probably a Bill Brown away.

BILL BROWN: Well, I don't know about that.

SPEAKER: [LAUGHS] Thank you, sir. Good talking with you that way. But it doesn't always happen.