Yes, I am a huge Vikings fan, but, I would feel the same way if it happened to anyone from any team in the league.
MANKATO -- Minnesota Vikings right tackle Korey Stringer died early this morning due to complications from heat stroke, the team said.
On Tuesday, four team representatives confirmed that Stringer had had a severe reaction to the heat. A team representative said that Stringer arrived at the hospital with a temperature near 108 degrees.
Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Korey Stringer during practice Tuesday.
Earlier Tuesday, team trainer Chuck Barta said Stringer had a "serious" condition that was "heat-related."
Medical officials were not able to contact Stringer's family until Tuesday evening. His wife, Kelci, had been out of town and was attempting to fly into Mankato on a late flight. Kevin Burns, the hospital's director of communications, referred all questions to the Vikings. Coach Dennis Green issued an organizational news blackout and would not comment himself.
The Stringer family -- Kelci, Korey and Kodie, 3.
Stringer, 27, had been unable to finish the Vikings' first practice Monday morning, vomiting on the field several times before retreating to an trainer's trailer that was air-conditioned. Two team representatives said Stringer, a Pro Bowler in 2000, was deeply disappointed with his performance Monday and was determined to redeem himself despite the severe weather conditions.
Temperatures soared into the 90's during the morning practice session, for which the players wore full pads. It began at 8:45 a.m. and concluded just after 11 a.m. The weather conditions were especially tough on the 6-4, 335-pound Stringer, who has had trouble keeping his weight down in the past but had reported to camp this summer at his lowest weight since joining the Vikings in 1995.
He vomited at least three times during Tuesday morning's practice and got the wind knocked out of him during one-on-one drills. He nevertheless finished the practice, his purple jersey soaked with sweat, and joined his fellow offensive linemen for post-practice conditioning.
Stringer had displayed no overt signs that he was ailing, but he suddenly summoned Barta to meet him in the trailer. There, he fell sick and was rushed to the hospital by ambulance. The team held a special-teams practice during the afternoon, and players streamed into the hospital steadily as the evening wore on.
Barta, offensive line coach Mike Tice and coordinator of medical services Fred Zamberletti spent much of the day and evening there. Quarterback Daunte Culpepper and receivers Randy Moss and Cris Carter arrived around 6 p.m., while the entire offensive line and former Vikings running back David Palmer, a close friend, also came through the lobby.
Korey Stringer
A first-round pick out of Ohio State in the 1995 draft, Stringer stepped into the starting lineup immediately and started 91 of the 93 games he played in. He was a native of Warren, Ohio, but makes his year-round home in Bloomington.
Stringer was one of the Vikings' most active community members, having established his Korey's Crew program at local schools and with the St. Paul public library. He leaves his wife Kelci and a 3-year-old son, Kodie.
MANKATO -- Minnesota Vikings right tackle Korey Stringer died early this morning due to complications from heat stroke, the team said.
On Tuesday, four team representatives confirmed that Stringer had had a severe reaction to the heat. A team representative said that Stringer arrived at the hospital with a temperature near 108 degrees.
Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Korey Stringer during practice Tuesday.
Earlier Tuesday, team trainer Chuck Barta said Stringer had a "serious" condition that was "heat-related."
Medical officials were not able to contact Stringer's family until Tuesday evening. His wife, Kelci, had been out of town and was attempting to fly into Mankato on a late flight. Kevin Burns, the hospital's director of communications, referred all questions to the Vikings. Coach Dennis Green issued an organizational news blackout and would not comment himself.
The Stringer family -- Kelci, Korey and Kodie, 3.
Stringer, 27, had been unable to finish the Vikings' first practice Monday morning, vomiting on the field several times before retreating to an trainer's trailer that was air-conditioned. Two team representatives said Stringer, a Pro Bowler in 2000, was deeply disappointed with his performance Monday and was determined to redeem himself despite the severe weather conditions.
Temperatures soared into the 90's during the morning practice session, for which the players wore full pads. It began at 8:45 a.m. and concluded just after 11 a.m. The weather conditions were especially tough on the 6-4, 335-pound Stringer, who has had trouble keeping his weight down in the past but had reported to camp this summer at his lowest weight since joining the Vikings in 1995.
He vomited at least three times during Tuesday morning's practice and got the wind knocked out of him during one-on-one drills. He nevertheless finished the practice, his purple jersey soaked with sweat, and joined his fellow offensive linemen for post-practice conditioning.
Stringer had displayed no overt signs that he was ailing, but he suddenly summoned Barta to meet him in the trailer. There, he fell sick and was rushed to the hospital by ambulance. The team held a special-teams practice during the afternoon, and players streamed into the hospital steadily as the evening wore on.
Barta, offensive line coach Mike Tice and coordinator of medical services Fred Zamberletti spent much of the day and evening there. Quarterback Daunte Culpepper and receivers Randy Moss and Cris Carter arrived around 6 p.m., while the entire offensive line and former Vikings running back David Palmer, a close friend, also came through the lobby.
Korey Stringer
A first-round pick out of Ohio State in the 1995 draft, Stringer stepped into the starting lineup immediately and started 91 of the 93 games he played in. He was a native of Warren, Ohio, but makes his year-round home in Bloomington.
Stringer was one of the Vikings' most active community members, having established his Korey's Crew program at local schools and with the St. Paul public library. He leaves his wife Kelci and a 3-year-old son, Kodie.
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