I swore I was never going to do this again.

I promised myself, I promised my wife, I promised my best friend. I may have even promised you, the readers of the Faribault County Register.

I was finally going to give it up, once and for all.

What was this terrible thing, this nasty habit, that I swore to give up?

Writing about the Minnesota Vikings in this column space.

I know, I know. It is a waste of my time and effort, your time reading it, and a waste of ink and newsprint.

But Lord help me, I cannot stop myself.

Just like I could not stop myself from watching the game this past Sunday night. All of it. The whole thing. Beginning to the very bitter end.

Now I will admit that I started reading the new C.J. Box novel, Battle Mountain, while having the game on, especially during the second half. But still, I watched the game at the same time. Yes, I often read with the TV on.

My best friend Bryan quit watching it at half time. He had had enough. I think a few million other people probably did the same thing. (In Bryan’s defense he was on the East Coast and halftime was about his bed time anyway.)

The Vikings were pretty pathetic. I mean, scoring only six points. Really? In fact, pathetic might not be strong enough.

Embarrassing is another word I could use.

I can’t put all the blame on J.J. McCarthy, like some pundits have tried to do. The whole team was bad. The line couldn’t block, couldn’t give McCarthy any time. That is why he was sacked so many times and threw interceptions. The D-line couldn’t do much, the defensive backs were not doing much except making the Falcons quarterback look good.

I thought it was a total melt down.

In the Vikings defense, I have to admit that they have more players out injured than Carter has pills. And more went out during the game, including the starting quarterback and running back, so now it is something like half the team gone.

Backups will be playing on Sunday against Cincinnati.

I personally blame all this terrible performance on the fact that they were once again on national TV, this time on Sunday night football. The Vikings never play well on national TV. And, they have five more nationally televised games coming yet this season. Looks like it will be a long season.

My friend (and fellow curmudgeonly grumpy old man), John Huisman, says he has quit watching the Vikings and has switched to Minnesota’s winningest professional sports team. And that sure ain’t the Minnesota Twins either.

It is the Minnesota Lynx. I, too, started watching them over the past couple of years, especially in their post season, like they are in now. John has even gone to some of their games in person.

I watched the game the other night, and started to think that maybe I was the kiss of death for all Minnesota teams. The Lynx were struggling against a team they had defeated by 20-plus points in the previous play-off game. But after struggling for three quarters, and being behind by 17 at one point, they came back and won the game with a big performance in the fourth quarter.

You know, very similar to what the Vikings did in their very first game this season.

Oh, oh. I just mentioned those darn Vikings again. I just can’t help myself, it seems.

I guess I give up. But I have been a fan for way too many years to just give up and walk away. My wife and others suggest that I just quit watching them and thus keep my blood pressure down where it should be.

But I just can’t seem to do it. It might be that I am addicted. And besides, a real fan supports his or her team no matter what, no matter if they win or lose. So, I am going to try and do that, and keep watching them with all my Vikings garb on, including my lucky Vikings socks, jersey and sweatshirt.

But, I might keep a book handy, just in case the game gets really ugly.

And I hate to admit it, but maybe John Huisman has a good point. I might have to watch more of the Minnesota Lynx. They are fun to watch and cheer for, and hopefully will do well in the playoffs.

And one more thing. I pinky swear, no more columns about the Vikings.

Unless….