“I just wanted to come by… and say thank you very much for all the letters you wrote and the cards”, Blair said while addressing the class. “They’re very, very touching to me”. “For them to show that kindness and to show that, you know, empathy towards me, it’s remarkable”.
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Minnesota Vikings kicker Blair Walsh (3) misses a field goal during the second half of an NFL wild-card football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016, in Minneapolis.
Northpoint Elementary School teacher Judie Offerdahl had her first-graders in suburban Blaine write to Walsh.
Not many athletes had a worse Sunday than Blair Walsh.
The class will mail the letters of encouragement to the Vikings. “It meant a lot for me to come here today and sort of express my gratitude to them”. “I wrote to him, “The team still appreciates you” and showed him making a field goal”. I felt embarrassed. But you can still help the Vikings win the Super Bowl next year.
Walsh told the children “that’s a big lesson for you”.
There comes a point in sports fandom when you must face the fact that sports are a business, but to these first graders, football is still just a game.
In response to this outpouring of support, Walsh said in a later Star Tribune article that he will visit the school Thursday morning to take pictures and sign autographs for his young supporters.
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He left with the knowledge that Sofia Doffin summed up with her initial message to him earlier this week. “It’s nothing really to cry about”.
