Reusse: Where do the 2024 Vikings rank among Minnesota sports surprises?

OK, they were upset by the K.C. Chiefs in the Super Bowl, but anyone claiming they saw that regular season coming in August is fibbing.

Zany Norm Green was the new owner, there were under 5,000 people for a game vs. Montreal in January, and Norm called me (not exactly Mr. Hockey) at home the next morning, almost weeping, saying: “What am I going to do?”

Three months later, he was waving like Nero from his Met Center perch as the full house saluted him with “Norm” chants as his 15th-place team made a run to the Stanley Cup finals.

As the Judge of Unlikely, no matter what happens now, it will remain forever mind-boggling that this team — with a seven-win projection in preseason betting — stands at 14-2 at the New Year.

Lindsay Whalen returned from a broken hand to resume star production, Janel McCarville imposed her strength inside, and Williams Arena was full with new-found zealotry to start the NCAA tournament.

And as a No. 6-seed with a collection of personalities hard to match, the long-shot Gophers made it to the Final Four.