Book excerpt: Since the creation of the Minnesota Vikings in 1960, this football team has been more than just another franchise. To the fans who love them, and the haters who can’t help but admire them, the Minnesota Vikings are an unstoppable force in the NFL. In this heartwarming and inspirational book, Jim Bruton takes a look beyond the game and examines what the Minnesota Vikings have meant to fans and communities across the country. Covering the Vikings from every angle, A Tradition of Purple is an up-close look at the players, coaches, charities, Hall of Famers, and people behind the scenes who have come to define what it means to be Purple over the last fifty years. Readers will get an inside look at such famous Vikings as Norm Van Brocklin, Bud Grant, Fran Tarkenton, Carl Eller, Alan Page, Jim Marshall, Chris Doleman, Adrian Peterson, and more. This is not a book only about football, this is also a book about life, community, and the team that inspires a legacy.