An act of sportsmanship in the moment of victory was not lost upon Minnesota Vikings fans during Sunday's NFC divisional playoff game against the New Orleans Saints.
After Stefon Diggs' 61-yard touchdown catch clinched the victory for the Vikings, the Saints congratulated the Vikings on the victory and went to their locker room. After officials decided the extra point was to be attempted, punter Thomas Morstead was the first Saints player to come back to the field, even though he was in pain from tearing cartilage in his rib cage from a tackle on Vikings punt returner Marcus Sherels after his first punt of the game.
"I didn't really think twice about it," Morstead said after the game. "I don't feel like I was sitting on some moral high ground or did something exceptional. They needed 11 guys so I went out and that was it."
A Vikings fan posted to Reddit after the game, encouraging fans impressed by Morstead's sportsmanship to give to Morstead's foundation, What You Give Will Grow. His charity is focused on pediatric cancer and boosting Child Life departments at pediatric hospitals, inspired by Morstead's close friend who battled cancer.
According to KARE-TV in Minneapolis, Vikings fans had given more than $60,000 by Wednesday. Morstead, in an unexpected move, returned the favor by sending donations to the Children's Minnesota Child Life division. Of those donations, a $10,000 check came from Love Your Melon, a Minnesota-based organization that gives half of its profits to fight pediatric cancer.
Morstead tweeted that if donations hit $100,000, he'll fly back to Minneapolis in the days leading up to the Super Bowl to personally deliver the check.
By 6 p.m. Wednesday, with the help of the Vikings and the Saints, Morstead reached the $100,000 goal.
"We're inspired by your sportsmanship and want to help you reach your goal," the Vikings tweeted. "Us and the @Saints are teaming up to donate $10k to help you surpass $100k. We'll see you in Minneapolis."
True to his word, Morstead posted a video to Twitter on Wednesday night saying he would book his flight.
"You guys should all be proud of yourselves. That's a group effort, and it's gonna affect everyone in your community in a positive way. And I'm just totally humbled by this," Morstead said.
"I may be forced to root for you guys all the way through the Super Bowl now. I'm just totally blown away. Thank you very much."
By Thursday morning, ESPN.com reported donations totaled more than $150,000.
Loves racing, football
Dale Earnhardt Jr., retired as a full-time driver in NASCAR's top series, has an interest in being part of the ownership group of the Carolina Panthers.
Earnhardt, according to Forbes, has a net worth of about $300 million. A big Washington Redskins fan, he made it clear he would be nothing more than a minority owner if he became involved.
"I wouldn't have the kind of money where I would move the needle too much, but it would be something to have a lot of pride in, and a good Charlotte NFL team is good for the city of Charlotte," Earnhardt said. "I would certainly love to be supportive of the team and the success of the team to the community. That means a lot to me."
Sports on 01/19/2018