Most young sports fans grow up idolizing certain athletes, and if they’re lucky, they get to meet them.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer recounted his own story of meeting a sports hero while the Vikings visited Friendly Hills Middle School in Mendota Heights for their Team Up To Give Back event.
“I had dinner with Gale Sayers one time,” said Zimmer. “They were recruiting one of my dad’s players. It was pretty cool. I went to his house.”
Zimmer’s late father, Bill, was the head coach at Lockport High School (Ill.) for 34 years, while Sayers was a local icon thanks to his career with the Chicago Bears, as well as a Kansas University alum.
Sayers was hoping to convince one of Bill Zimmer’s players to become a Jayhawk.
According to Mike Zimmer, the group shared a meal and played some pool, but it wasn’t enough to coax the prospective athlete.
“He ended up going to Purdue instead of Kansas,” Zimmer remembered.
As for Wednesday’s event, the Vikings split up and attended three different middle schools to spend some time with local students. General manager Rick Spielman, owners Zygi and Mark Wilf and Executive VP of Public Affairs Lester Bagley were all in attendance as dozens of Vikings players put kids through drills.
“There’s some good athletes here,” said Zimmer. “I’ve been impressed.”
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