MANKATO – She sits in the first row, behind a chain-link fence next to the Vikings' main practice field during training camp.
Her nickname is Panda Vike. Her business card reads more like a leisure card, listing her name, nickname, then "THEE Viking World Order.'' A crest on the card bears the words "Valkyrie Division; Choosers of the Slain.''
She is wearing knee-high fuzzy purple boots, a purple tank top, a Vikings medallion, purple eye shadow, six tattoos honoring Vikings players, two tattoos honoring the franchise, and a purple bow in her hair, some of which is colored, yes, purple.
She reserves a section of her closet for Vikings apparel, and part of her office for Vikings jerseys.
Who are these people, who devote so much time, money and enthusiasm?
One is Erin Darsow, 30, of Burnsville. She is exactly what she seems in terms of team loyalty, and she is far from what the stereotype of face-painting fans would have you believe.
She works part-time at Starbucks. She is closing in on a law degree at William Mitchell College of Law. She hopes to work in criminal law.
The easy line would be that the rowdier Vikings face-painters may require her legal skills some day, but Darsow described a group of fans who collect Toys for Tots and shave their heads to raise money to fight cancer.