Speaking of headlines, I ran across an unexpected one on Friday, while scrolling through Twitter. How many of you reading this are old enough to remember the Vikings 2005 Love Boat scandal?

Fred Smoot and the Minnesota Vikings Love Boat Scandal

What about the young Minnesota Vikings cornerback who organized the Love Boat party? The one and only Fred Smoot. The same Fred Smoot who played here for two seasons (2005-2006)… and the same Fred Smoot who organized the most iconic Minnesota Vikings off-field “incident” of it’s not-so-innocent history…

Not familiar with Smoot or the scandal? Of course you are… but just in case, here is a clip from the Barstool Sports Love Boat documentary. **Make sure to put your headphones in, it’s not safe for work.

Fred Smoot played 25 games as a member of the Minnesota Vikings. After a huge start to his career in Washington — 16 INTs in four seasons — the former 2nd round pick signed with the Vikings, as one of the top young free agent CBs in the league.

Unfortunately, his time in Minnesota pushed that career in the opposite direction. In two seasons wearing purple, Smoot totalled 104 tackles, 3 interceptions and 14 passes defended. Smoot ended up starting 19 of the 25 games he played with the Vikings.

Related: JJ McCarthy Update: Minnesota Vikings Future Franchise QB Back on the Field

He was benched by head coach Brad Childress right before he broke his jaw in a December 2006 car accident. The Vikings cut him that offseason, before he landed back in Washington DC, for the final three seasons of his NFL career, before being forced into retirement at age 30.

Fred Smoot hired by Barstool Sports

What does Fred Smoot do now? Well, he just got a new job… with the same company that did the Vikings Love Boat documentary over five years ago, Barstool Sports. Barstool’s president and founder Dave Portnoy announced the hire on Friday.

Very happy to announce new addition to the team starting next season. All locked and loaded. We don’t rebuild. We reload @Fsmoot21SeanT pic.twitter.com/2mBnS6s4ot

— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) January 17, 2025

For those who pay attention to Barstool, this signing won’t surprise you because he’s been seen on some of their more popular shows a lot, over the past few months. If you have ever watched Fred Smoot speak, it’s clear he has a talent for the microphone.

Related: Adam Schefter Weighs in What a Kevin O’Connell Extension Might Cost the Vikings

Fred Smoot played nine years in The League and totalled 21 interceptions, but he’ll always be remembered more around these parts for the Love Boat scandal. But who knows, maybe he’ll be best known for his media career, when it’s all said and done…

Fred Smoot is an absolute quote machine @Fsmoot21SeanT @PFFShow pic.twitter.com/P1Vv1rRT27

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) November 23, 2024

Jon Gruden didn’t draft Fred Smoot because of his combine interview

Presented by @ChevyTrucks #Ad #Chevy #Silverado pic.twitter.com/XAhIYsX2aq

— Barstool Gambling (@stoolgambling) December 21, 2024

This type of shit is par for the course. When you start blowing up like our 2017-18 Minnesota Vikings, people are going to air out your dirty laundry. That’s the way todays internet driven world works.

No Purple laundry is dirtier, pun intended, than that associated with the 2005 Love Boat Scandal. The vast majority of Skol Nation is acclimated with the infamous true story of the Lake Minnetonka sex party. Barstool Sports’ upcoming documentary will once again shed light on a dark day in Vikings’ history.

FYI – Cover your ears, kids

Coming Soon..Barstool Sports Documentaries Presents…This is the Minnesota Vikings Love Boat Scandal pic.twitter.com/0IkDuWFWqz

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) January 18, 2018

Our viewpoints on the pending release of the above short film may drastically differ. Before I express my stance, I want to convey that I DO NOT condone what happened that evening. With that piece of information said, get your popcorn ready. Like Bart Scott, can’t wait.

In no way, shape, or form should you be concerned about this release making the Vikings look bad. The actual event took place over a dozen years ago. The New England Patriots are considered by many as the greatest thing since sliced bread. Aaron Hernandez was on their team in 2013. During that time, the former NFL TE was smoking joints with a guy one second, and murdering him the next. They’re fine. We’re fine.

“We had $80,000. For one night, one party” – Fred Smoot

As confirmed by Smoot, our former DB was the “mastermind” behind the operation. The party took place on October 6, 2005. At the time of the incident, the StarTribune reported 17 Minnesota players present on either one of the two yachts. After complaints from crew members regarding being offered money for sex and concern for their own safety, what was to be a 3.5 hour journey was cut short after just 40 minutes.

In regards to what EXACTLY took place during that short period of time on the water, I’ll let the people over at Barstool take care of that realm. After spending the last couple of hours re-educating myself on the incident, just a heads up, shit gets aggressive.

If you don’t believe me, then wait for the Bryant Mckinnie details when the documentary is released on 1/23/2018. Thus far, there is no indication that it will be available for viewing outside of the media company’s website or app.

The aftermath from the Love Boat Scandal included four Vikings’ players receiving misdemeanor charges. The crimes, which ranged from indecent conduct, disorderly conduct and lewd or lascivious conduct were brought forth against Smoot, Mckinnie, Daunte Culpepper, and Moe Williams.

If it’s not Minnesota sports or news/crime related, I’m not watching it. The good folks involved in the production of Game of Thrones seem to be doing just fine without my support. This soon to be released documentary is going to involve all three of my preferred topics. In the State of Hockey, I believe that’d be referred to as a hat-trick.

In case you forgot, the 2005 Minnesota Vikings had a hat-trick of their own: Love Boat Scandal, Ontario Smith Whizzinator, and the Mike Tice ticket scalping fiasco.

Rather than illegally sell his Super Bowl Tickets, Mike Zimmer is taking a different approach than our former HC. Rather than avoiding the big game, he’s trying to take the entire franchise…… and he doesn’t have to travel far.

#SKOL

Update (1/23/2018): To view the entire documentary, click here: The Vikings Love Boat – A Barstool Sports Documentary

Johnny Minnesota @TheJohnnyMN
Minnesota Sports Fan MinnesotaSportsFan.com