Zygi Wilf has been through plenty since he purchased the Vikings from Red McCombs in 2005. Wilf's first season was marred by the Love Boat incident on Lake Minnetonka. Mike Tice was fired as coach after that season and Brad Childress was hired in January 2006.

The Vikings went 6-10 in Childress' first season and there were certainly some bumps in the road early in his tenure, too. But Wilf considered that all in the very distant past on Sunday after the Vikings reached the NFC Championship Game with a 34-3 victory over Dallas. The Vikings owner talked to reporters for several minutes in the victorious locker room inside the Metrodome.

Q. You really stuck with what you started here. How important was that?

Wilf: "When you get the right people, the right players, the right members of the organization you stick with them. You let them learn one another, pluses and minuses and you work together. That's why we're here right now because a lot of these players worked together and they've been here before and it's great to be here right now where we are at."

Q. What do you feel Brett Favre has brought to this franchise? Wilf: "Brett has brought an excitement to this team, to the locker room, having fun, really enjoying the game. You can see it when he's out there, when the team is out there, they really pull for one another and that's what it's all about. Today the defense really stepped up the way we knew they always could, and I think that's what we need right now. We're in a good place right now. We're happy to be in the championship game." Q. How satisfying is this for you? Wilf : "Very satisfying because each and every year it's a stepping stone. Every year you try to improve yourself. Last year we didn't make it past the first round and a lot more things were expected of us and we've done that. We have a lot more to look forward to and we're going to fight to be there. It's great to see the spirit of this team really respond the way they did today with everything that was going on the past couple of weeks about how we were not the team to really do it. They did it today." Q. Is this what you were hoping for in terms of success when you bought the franchise? Wilf: "You don't know when that timing will come, but you hope that it gets [there] sooner than later because it's very rare to get where we are right now and we're going to enjoy it right now. The team is going to enjoy it. We're going to go down to New Orleans and have a good time." Q. When you sat down for Sunday's game did you ever think there was a chance you'd win 34-3? Wilf: "You always expect [close games], especially in the playoffs. Regardless of what happened to the other games earlier on. You always expect that no matter how good you think you might be football is a great game because at any time the tide can turn and we were kind of just holding back and waiting to see. But defense, offense, special teams, they all stepped up. That's what makes this team special." Q. You spent most of your life as a Giants fan before buying the Vikings. Where does Sunday's victory and making the NFC Championship Game rank with the Giants' successes through the years? Wilf: "It can't be any better than this. This is where we want to be. This time of year, going to the championship game. It's great to be part of history. I'm a big follower of all the championship games. It's just great to be in it so I'm looking forward to that challenge and so is the team. Whatever will be, will be." Q. Does this compare to any of the business success you've had? Wilf: "I don't think so. There's too much emotion involved in this." Q. How about how well bringing in Favre has worked out? Wilf: "I never had any doubt. I don't know about you guys, but I never had any doubt." Q. Is this the best $12 million investment you have made? Wilf: "I'm not going to say that because I've got a couple other guys here who are worth their money, too." Q. But is this what you imagined when you brought Favre here? Wilf: "You hope for it because you know that he brings such a great winning formula to the game and to see it come together the way it has is very, very fulfilling. I'm happy for him and for his family and for everybody on this team that we could all put it together and go down to New Orleans for a championship game, which there can't be anything better than that." Q. How happy are you for the fans? Wilf: "The fans are great. They were hearing a lot about past history, past Dallas [games] and how they were coming in and kind of felt like we were in the underdogs. [The media wasn't] talking much about our defense at all but to see everybody respond the way they have really is a testament to our ability to stand up to that outside type of pressure and really play the game that we have to play."