After some complaints, the Minnesota Vikings have decided not to charge fans admittance to view training camp which starts this summer. New Vikings owner Zygi Wilf has agreed to cover the cost of the admittance for all fans who would attend. "We greatly appreciate this action taken by the Wilf family and the Vikings organization," said Paul Wilke, president of the Greater Mankato Training Camp, LLC. "We have an outstanding working relationship with the Vikings, and we are thrilled that our shared goal of keeping training camp accessible to all fans will be met."

For the first time in 40 years, the Minnesota Vikings will charge fans to view the team?s daily practices. In a decision made by the Greater Mankato Training Camp LLC, it will cost $5 to enter the Vikings Village and watch practices Sundays through Fridays and $10 on Saturdays. Children 5 and under will be admitted for free. Minnesota State University, Mankato, will charge $2 for parking. "Last year we charged for camp programs and interactive games, and this year both will be free [once people pay the admission]," said Paul Wilke, president of the Greater Mankato Training Camp. "Now we only have to staff one point of entrance, and that's the main gate. People won't have to keep reaching into their wallets or purse." "We're disappointed that an admission charge is happening on daily basis," said Steve LaCroix, the team's vice president of sales and marketing. "We understand the challenges the Mankato group is under financially. In a perfect scenario there would not be an admission to the fans."

After being slapped with a $100,000 fine for scalping his Superbowl tickets, Minnesota head coach Mike Tice is feeling fine according to Vikings owner Zygi Wilf. "He apologized to me, to the team and to the fans," Wilf said Friday. "He explained to me that it was a big mistake and that he wanted to move forward. We understand that people make mistakes. Let's hope we can move forward and create great things here." Tice will have to earn a contract extension this year as he is entering into the final season of his current contract. "I have my own personal goals, but I'm not going to put those goals out as benchmarks for people to reach," Wilf said. "I hope that by me reaching out for those goals, I'll achieve them through the people we have. They know what my goals are, and hopefully we'll achieve those." "When it comes to contracts, I'm going to sit and wait and we'll take care of it in a timely fashion," Wilf said. "I've developed a good relationship with Rob, and I think he and I together will go a long way."

The Minnesota Vikings pro bowl center Matt Birk is still recovering from a surgery he underwent six weeks ago to repair a torn labrum in his right hip. However, he is confident he will be ready for the season opener against Tampa Bay in September. "I feel great; this right hip will not keep me out of the regular-season opener," said Birk, 28, who has been working out regularly at Winter Park. "That's 100 percent guaranteed. I'm like superhuman. At least that's what I tell myself."

Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Tice was fined $100,000 by the NFL on Thursday for scalping his Super Bowl tickets. Running backs coach Dean Dalton and special teams coach Rusty Tillman were also each fined $10,000 for scalping their tickets. Commissioner Paul Tagliabue notified the three coaches of their punishment in a letter. Tice was on vacation and unavailable for comment, but he issued a statement through the team, in which he said he used "poor judgment." "It will not happen again," Tice said. "I apologize to my family, Commissioner Tagliabue, the NFL, the entire Vikings organization and the fans. I consider this matter closed and remain focused on the upcoming 2005 season, which should be an exciting year for Vikings fans everywhere."