Former Minnesota Vikings Coach Talks About Conditions In Iraq

KELO-land News ^ | 05/11/2004 | Amanda Spicer

[SoDak]

Minnesota Vikings Legend Bud Grant is spreading the word and it's not about the upcoming football season at the metrodome. Instead, the World War II vet wants Americans to know what it's truly like in Iraq. Grant was overseas a month ago as part of a group that entertained the troops. And now he's passing on a message from our service men and women.

You've seen the bombings and you've heard about the men and women who've died. But one man says you're missing out on what's really happening in Iraq.

Bud Grant: "The morale is very high."

Grant visited our soldiers. He ate with them, traveled with them and said he would share a message for them.

Grant: "One soldier said to me 'hey, we are in the Army, this is what Army guys do, you know if I was a fireman I couldn't expect not to go to a fire. If I was a policeman I couldn't expect not to go to arrest anybody. We're in the Army, we're volunteers or reserves almost the same thing and we're here to do a job that we are trained to do and this is our job and we will stay here until it's done.'"

Grant says schools, hospitals, roads and stores are open, electricity is on and water is running. And he says it's all because of our military.

Grant: "They paint the worst picture they possibly can, in other words if they see a truck blowing up they'll put that on television, but in the meantime there are 4000 other trucks that went down that road that same day and you don't see any of that."

Grant says most Iraqis say they are better off than they were a year ago. And the men and women in uniform are to thank.

Grant: "They feel very confident in what they're doing and they are doing a good job."

Grant says communication has also been a big morale booster for the troops. He says the men and women have been able to email or phone their families often.

[SoDak]

Bud Grant rocks. Skol Vikings!

[Old Sarge]

Thank you, for letting me read this, before it goes down the Memory Hole.

[wisconsinconservative]

BUMP

[stainlessbanner]

bump for bud!

[biggerten]

Skol Vikings Let's Win This Game,
Skol Vikings Honor Your Name,
Go Get That First Down, Then Get A Touchdown,
Rock Em, Sock Em Fight Fight Fight Fight
Go Vikings, Run Out The Score,
You'll Hear Us Yell For More
V - I - K - I - N - G - S Skol, Vikings, Let's Go.


Skol US Let's Win This War,
Skol US Honor Is Yours,
Go Take That Baghdad, Then Get That Saddam,
Rock Em, Sock Em Fight Fight Fight Fight
Go US, Run Out The Score,
You'll Hear Us Yell For More
U-S-A! U-S-A! Skol, US, Let's Go.

[Prime Choice]

Great find. Thanks for posting it. BTTT!

[CWOJackson]

Way to go Bud. You may have cost me several Super Bowl bets (grrrrrrrr) but I love yah!

[cake_crumb]

God bless our troops and Bud Grant!

BUMP!!

[Prince Charles]

My 6th grade English teacher was Bud Grant's daughter! Bttt.

[11Bush]

Long time Viks fan, go back to the Joe Kapp days. Bud Grant is the best coach of all times. Period, end of story.

I have heard, but have not been able to veify that Coach Grant was a player in the early years of the NBA. Anybody got the skinny on this?

[csvset]

Bud GrantBorn: May 20, 1927
Football and Basketball

only coach to win 100 games in both CFL and NFL and only member of both CFL and U.S. Pro Football Halls of Fame; led Winnipeg to 4 Grey Cup titles (1958-59,61-62) in 6 appearances, but his Minnesota Vikings lost all 4 Super Bowl attempts in 1970s; accumulated 122 CFL wins and 168 NFL wins; also All-Big Ten at Minnesota in both football and basketball in late 1940s; a 3-time CFL All-Star offensive end; also member of 1950 NBA champion Minneapolis Lakers.

Source

[Jonathan]

I remember reading that he was a basketball player.

He also won a CFL Grey Cup, I believe.

He remains a great man - and still hunts and fishes.

The Vikes should be fun to watch this year with healthy backs, a new WR, and a juiced up defense.

[Colonel_Flagg]

Bud Grant played for the old Minneapolis Lakers. He was a fine all-around athlete.

[11Bush]

If they field a defense like the Purple People Eaters, they just my have enough steam to go all the way this year.

Of course I have been saying that for the last 35 years.

[11Bush]

Thanks for he info. There are very few coaches that I hold in high regard. Bud Grant and Tom Landry head the list, and I hate the cowboys.

[VOA]

Former Minnesota Vikings Coach Talks About Conditions In Iraq
KELO-land News ^ | 05/11/2004 | Amanda Spicer

All I can say is that a reporter in South Dakota can be proud.
For having printed more truth about conditions in Iraq that ABC/CBS/NBC/CNN/etc. combined.

[nonliberal]

Our D hasn't been the same since Dungy left. Last year it was painful to watch.