The Bite Of A “Timberwolf” & The Heart Of A Loon

Whether you root for the Vikings, the Twins, the Timberwolves, the Wild, or the United, at the end of the day you root for Minnesota. Only a handful of states proudly host teams in all five major professional leagues, and Minnesota sports fans take this pride to a whole new level.

I have always been a soccer fan, a fact that is largely attributed to my own experience with the sport. Some of my fondest childhood memories involve time spent on the pitch, the smell of freshly cut grass tickling my nostrils, fine beads of perspiration pooling their way into my eyes and casting the scene in an almost heaven-like reverential glow. Growing up, I spent more time playing soccer than I did with almost any other pursuit, and the sport taught me more about persistence, dedication, and teamwork than I can ever put into words.

For me, soccer wasn’t just a game; rather, it was an experience, a mentality, a lifestyle. I spent countless hours getting as many touches on the ball as possible, honing my conditioning skills, and traveling all across the Midwest in pursuit of something greater. And, while my team may have never climbed to the apex of success, we fostered incredible respect for the sport and embraced the many lessons it has to offer.

Recently Cam and I attended a Minnesota United game in conjunction with an event offered through the Notre Dame Club of Minnesota. As a newly appointed director on the board, I helped coordinate the event[1] and was excited for the opportunity to finally see a game at the newly constructed Allianz Field in Saint Paul. From the vantage point of interstate 94, Cam and I watched as Allianz Field progressed through its final stages of construction, and we were thoroughly impressed by what we saw. The new stadium certainly felt grand and gave the impression that soccer has long played a dominant role in the legacy that defines Minnesota sports legend. Clearly, the United must reign as a well-established powerhouse in order for this new shrine to soccer to even exist in the first place, right?

As always, the history is a little more complicated than that.

In fact, while Minnesota has hosted a professional soccer league for nearly forty years, the United has only existed as part of MLS (Major League Soccer) since March 2015. Prior to 2015, Minnesota soccer grew as part of the NASL (North American Soccer League), and the professional team went through a series of significant rebrandings, saw changes in ownership, and even experienced a bankruptcy filing. First christened as the “Kicks,” Minnesota soccer soon gave way to the “Thunder.” Several years later, the “Thunder” dismantled, and the Minnesota “Stars” was born. Finally, after additional change and transformation, the Minnesota United FC was formed in January 2013 with a refreshed spirit and new mascot: The Minnesota Loon.

…But why a Loon?

Notably, as far as mascots go, the loon doesn’t instill any spectacular notions of fear. In fact, other than honorably holding the title of “state bird,” loons seem relatively unimpressive. And yet loons are some of the most beautiful, majestic birds in the world; their diving abilities are top-notch and their yodeling talents are unparalleled. And, as Cam and I recently witnessed on the local news, perhaps loons even possess the ability to teach humans something valuable about conflict resolution and unity.

More than anything, loons have come to serve as a symbol for Minnesota identity and thus embody a palpably vibrant state pride and an untamably wild northern spirit. Cam and I have witnessed this pride firsthand on several occasions, the first being when we inadvertently crashed a Minnesota United game watch while grabbing a drink at a new local watering hole, Finnegans Brew Co. It was early March, and after desperately brainstorming ways to escape the near-hallucinogenic effects of cabin fever, we made plans to venture downtown and use our pub passes. Finnegans was our first stop, and as soon as we entered we quickly realized we were encroaching on a pre-planned pre-game of massive proportions. People filled every nook and cranny of the large industrial space, and nearly everyone donned blue and black in support of the hometown heroes: The Minnesota Loons.

After much navigating and ingenuity we finally secured a seat outside the fray where we could witness the passion and fervor unfold. From our fly-on-the-wall view, we watched in awe as fans of all ages and backgrounds huddled around the numerous TVs and cheered their team to victory. I don’t know if these people knew one another or not[2], but the whole event took on the optics of a synchronized gathering, with fans rhythmically bursting into festive song without a moment’s notice. Indeed, without any signal or clear indication of commencement, United fans erupted into chants praising their Loons and professing their loyalty with the common refrain, “Oh United, we love you!” The energy was invigorating, the passion palpable, and we knew we had to make our way to a United game as soon as the earliest opportunity presented itself.

This event marked the beginning of our education on the enthusiasm for all things “Loon,” and from prolific United merchandise at Target to feature segments shared on the local news, we began to recognize even more signs of unwavering devotion. Thus it didn’t come as a surprise when Cam showed me a fascinating United video he had found on social media. Here in this clip was an unprecedented display of fandom, an ode to unwavering loyalty and devotion. For inside the walls of the newly erected stadium, fans stood huddled together and bonded in unity as they sang a familiar chorus from a popular 90s anthem:

Because maybe, you’re gonna be the one that saves me.

And after all, you’re my wonderwall[3].

In that moment we witnessed a multitude of different voices coming together as one[4] to celebrate the common identity of a team with a humbling fitting name. With that video it became readily apparent: “Wonderwall” wasn’t so much a song as it was a movement fans adopted to epitomize what it truly means to be “Minnesota United.”

The origin story behind the adoption of “Wonderwall” is a bit ambiguous, but sources point to the team’s assistant coach, Carl Craig. Craig, who used to be a Brit punk rocker and even once toured with Chumbawamba, sought to instill a sense of pride and vibrant enthusiasm in a team that had withstood its fair share of setbacks and turmoil. Soon Craig began playing popular songs during practice, empowering players to sing along, come together as one, and celebrate what they were called to accomplish together as a team. Before long “Wonderwall” was established as a team favorite, and players would regularly sing-shout its lyrics as they prepared in the locker room before each match.

With that, a tradition was born[5].

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With this introduction to the world of Minnesota soccer, Cam and I were elated to finally have the opportunity to experience a game for ourselves. Entering the stadium was surreal: Allianz Field is nothing if not a beautiful spaceship-like futuristic oasis that proudly marries aesthetic design with all the convenient bells and whistles fans could ever dream of. The facilities are clean, readily accessible, and above all comfortable—the stadium possesses a welcoming, familiar quality that invites fans to set aside the chaos of everyday life and give themselves over to a love for all things Minnesota soccer.

HOLA

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However, despite the stadium’s innovative beauty, nothing could surpass what transpired at the end of the game.

The evening’s defining feature: “Wonderwall.”

It was incredible to partake in this tradition firsthand, and we joined the rest of the crow by belting out the lyrics to this proudly anthemic, wildly spirited classic:

Today is gonna be the day
That they’re gonna throw it back to you
By now you should’ve somehow
Realized what you gotta do.
I don’t believe that anybody
Feels the way I do, about you now.

Backbeat, the word was on the street
That the fire in your heart is out
I’m sure you’ve heard it all before
But you never really had a doubt
I don’t believe that anybody
Feels the way I do about you now.

And all the roads we have to walk are winding
And all the lights that lead us there are blinding
There are many things that I
Would like to say to you but I don’t know how.

Because maybe, you’re gonna be the one that saves me
And after all, you’re my wonderwall.

The night was perfect: The weather was flawless, the stadium was pristine, and the United won. By itself, one fan’s spirit is impressive, but this spirit is unstoppable when thousands of voices unite as one and give life to the infamous “Wonderwall” effect.

Here was a team that endured struggle—the “winding” roads, the “blinding” lights, and the unspeakable faith that comes with wanting to properly thrive without having the resources to “know how” to do so—and underwent numerous identity transformations with no guarantee that it would even survive.

And yet, fans never wavered, clinging to the fervent hope that maybe, just maybe, this team was going to make it, that this team would possess a certain saving quality that would bolster not just a pair of cities but also an entire state. After all, this “wonderwall” of a football club withstood the ambiguity of change and the peril of uncertainty to defy the odds and capture the hearts of thousands.

Maybe, you’re gonna be the one that saves me
And after all, you’re my wonderwall.

Surely that’s something to celebrate.

Go Loons!

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[1] And, the pre-game happy hour: Cheers!

[2] Presumably not.

[3] Or, if you are singing it properly:

Because maybeee, you’re gonna be the one that saves meee
And after alllll, you’re my wonderwalllll.

[4]On a scale grander than all the Whos down in Whoville singing on Christmas morning…

[5] Other sources indicate “Wonderwall” derives its connection and deeper meaning from the popular TV series, Game of Thrones. According to theory, the “wonderwall” (the United’s stellar back line and last bastion of defense) parallels “the wall” John Snow and his fellow members of the Night’s Watch defend with fierce loyalty in order to keep the rest of the seven kingdoms safe from harm. I must admit, this interpretation does possess a certain sense of literary appeal…

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