The Minnesota Vikings, the lastest stop on the Brett Favre “I don’t know what to do when I am retired so I will play for every team in the NFL” tour, held a great event this past week in which players and team officials – remember, it is not only players who should be expected to contribute to the community – donned aprons and served food and drinks and collected tips to raise money for the team’s Children’s Fund. The word “fun” was used often to describe the event, and adding a little competition into the mix – players worked the room to come away with the most tips – certainly made this something the players could embrace.

The full article can be found at http://www.twincities.com/allheadlines/ci_13191365, with an excerpt provided below.

(Excerpt)

There wasn’t a practice Sunday, but the Vikings Blitz was on in Eden Prairie.

Vikings coach Brad Childress and many of his biggest stars served dinner to 180 guests at a fundraiser for the Vikings Children’s Fund at the upscale restaurant Wildfire in Eden Prairie.

“It’s a great cause,” Vikings defensive end Jared Allen said, “and you get to have fun.”

Allen was one of 14 starters (among them Bernard Berrian, Cedric Griffin, Chad Greenway, Bryant McKinnie, Adrian Peterson, Sidney Rice, Antoine Winfield and Kevin Williams and Pat Williams), and special teams ace Heath Farwell and kicker Ryan Longwell were also on hand for the event.

All of the team’s vice presidents were also on hand, as well as numerous other staffers.

Paul Allen, the KFAN personality who is also the voice of the Vikings, emceed the event, which featured an abundance of beers, wine and food, including tenderloin tips and the restaurant’s signature chopped salad.

Guests also had a chance at live auction items, headlined by a special road trip to Arizona to watch the Vikings play the Cardinals.

But what made the dinner special: the players donned aprons and served food and drinks and collected tips.

A bell was rung every time there was a $100 tip.

And the bell seemed to go off every few minutes Sunday night.

The players are competing over tips,” said Debra Jones, the Vikings manager of special events. “It turns quite competitive.”

Last year, Peterson earned the most tips, followed by Allen and former safety Darren Sharper. Peterson appeared serious about repeating as the tip champ (“It’s fun,” he said), but Allen seemed to be collecting hundreds like he usually does sacks.

But while Peterson humbly offered water and wine, Allen had a completely different approach. First, while nearly all of his teammates wore at least dress slacks and dress shirts, Allen showed up in jeans, with a t-shirt and hat. (The article continues at http://www.twincities.com/allheadlines/ci_13191365)