We had to have a chuckle at ESPN’s Sports Nation poll, the other day. Not because it was a predictably stupid question, but because of the results, which showed a distinct disparity between Minnesota and the rest of the nation.

The question: How are excited are you for the Super Bowl?

The choices: More excited than most years, About the same as most years, and Less excited than most years.

As you would expect, most of the nation was red, which equates to About the same as most years. A few states were blue, which equates to More excited than most years. Those states have a moderate to strong rooting interest in the game – Indiana, Louisana, Mississippi and Tennessee (which barely made the blue, but is also home to Peyton Manning’s alma mater).

And then there’s the anomaly, Minnesota, which is all alone in green Less excited than most years-iness.

Sports Nation map

As much as this makes me laugh, I can’t really say I blame Minnesota for not caring about the Super Bowl, this year. The Vikings were looking awfully good this season. You felt like you were destined for great things. The Vikings were in the NFC Championship game and had every chance to win it, until a late turnover derailed your efforts.

Kind of reminds me of 2007. The Green Bay Packers were looking awfully good that season. We felt like they were destined for great things. The Packers were in the NFC Championship game and had every chance to win it, until a late turnover derailed their efforts.

It’s almost as if history repeated itself.

Almost.

In actuality, one Brett Lorenze Favre just repeated himself, flinging an ill-advised, poorly-thrown duck into the waiting arms of an opposing defender.

So, Minnesota, this is the one and only time I will not make fun of you for being, well… Minnesota Vikings fans. We’ve been there. I didn’t even bother to watch the New York Giants upset the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. Didn’t care. The Packers should have been in the game. All of the hope and meaning was sucked out of a season of promise with one errant pass and the Super Bowl became just a showcase for some really good commercials.

If you weren’t aware of it before…

The Favre giveth, and the Favre taketh away.

Of course, in the playoffs, he mostly just taketh away.

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