When former Minnesota Vikings players came to Albert Lea Sunday to play players from Albert Lea Tribune All-Area boys’ basketball team and Red Bull National Guard at Southwest Junior High what followed was a lot of jokes, a lot of good shooting and most of all a lot of smiles.

Players and fans watching couldn’t help but smile throughout the game, which was put on to raise money for local organizations, as Matt Blair’s Minnesota Vikings Traveling Basketball Team entertained the crowd of nearly 300 with jokes on the court.

Former Viking Ted Brown served as the court jester with his pranks and banter while the crowd and players ate it up. Brown played nearly the entire second half with a whistle around his neck and acted like a referee while making several calls on his own team’s behalf.

Referee Tom Jones got into the act by wearing a Packers jersey during one part of the game and a Vikings jersey the other part while announcer Aaron Worm kept the comedy going from the microphone.

Despite Brown’s best efforts and some scoreboard malfunctions the Red Bull National Guard members and All-Area team prevailed.

American Legion Post 56 sponsored the event and manager Todd Utpadel said it was the type of event that embodied the ideals of the legion.

“It is community first at the legion and anything we can do for the community is going to be of utmost importance,” he said.

Other Vikings included Leo Lewis, Joey Browner, Rufus Bess, Reggie Foggie, John Swain and John Turner, many of whom brought their families to the game and on to the court.

“You can see family means a lot to the Vikings,” Utpadel said. “They all had their families here with them.”

The Red Bull National guard and All-Area players had some tricks of their own during the game. All-Area selection Cory Camerer tried to block one of Brown’s free throw attempts in the second half and at the end of the game the entire roster from the national guard members and All-Area team stormed the court.

“It was a great event to be a part of,” Utpadel said. “I would say there is a very good chance that we’ll be doing it next year.”