New Jersey Jewish News
Sports Story

by Ron Kaplan
NJJN Staff Writer

The NJ philanthropist and developer looks back on his first season as owner of the Minnesota Vikings

Zygmunt “Zygi” Wilf, the owner and chair of the Minnesota Vikings, was in a relaxed mood. On March 8, the day before his interview with NJ Jewish News, he and fellow National Football League owners had agreed to the players’ union’s proposal to extend their collective bargaining agreement for six years.

The press reported the deal as a victory for the union, but owners like Wilf are relieved to have avoided the strikes, lockouts, and other labor woes that have plagued baseball and hockey.

“If the countries in the Middle East could work the way we did yesterday, there would be peace all over,” said Wilf, a resident of Springfield and part of a group who purchased the Vikings in June 2005 for a reported $600 million.

A lifelong sports fan, Wilf’s accomplishments with the family’s real estate business, Garden Homes Development, gave him the opportunity to fulfill a dream.

It took a while for Wilf to break into the NFL. He had been part of a group who sought to buy the New York Jets in 2000, but it seems he might have gotten into the game much sooner.

Wilf is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth Wilf, part of a small group of Holocaust survivors in central New Jersey who built family real estate businesses and became major philanthropists for Jewish and non-Jewish causes.

In the early 1960s, Joseph Wilf had the opportunity to purchase the Jets, then known as the Titans, which was on the verge of bankruptcy. “They could have been bought for the price of all the players’ contracts, probably $100,000,” Zygi Wilf said, but his father nixed the idea. “I joke that it took me 40 years to become an owner — but it cost me a little bit more than $100,000.”

The past nine months have been “a whirlwind, a very exciting time,” Wilf told NJJN in a phone conversation. “Yesterday was part of that…. It was very helpful in my learning curve to understand the other owners and how being involved with the NFL is a special experience in terms of how the league approaches all its issues: with the utmost class and professionalism. I’m proud to be part of this [group].”

As with the Wilfs’ business and philanthropic endeavors, running the Vikings has become very much a family affair. The family is synonymous with Jewish communal life. Past president of the Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey and current chair of its endowment foundation, Zygi Wilf serves as secretary-general of the American Society for Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial and museum in Jerusalem, as well as numerous other organizations.

Having family members involved in the new venture — brother Mark Wilf and cousin Leonard Wilf serve as the Vikings’ president and vice chair, respectively — is icing on the cake. “Absolutely,” he said. “Our philosophy on how we run our family business, together with my cousin and my father and Mark, allows us the opportunity to share responsibilities. Not just in [the real estate] business but in football.”

The responsibilities, however, are fraught with highs and lows. “The whole season has been a high point,” said Wilf. “Just getting involved in every aspect of the sport.”

Wilf said the Nov. 13 victory over his former favorite team — the New York Giants — in a 24-21 nail-biter, was particularly sweet. “When I look back on it, it seems so surreal.”

Wilf addressed the team personally, making clear that such behavior would not be tolerated. “You have to go through situations that are sometimes unpleasant. I felt there was a responsibility as owner to be responsive to the needs of the community and what we were going to do to get the team going in the right direction.”

Contrary to media reports, however, Wilf said his remarks “were not profanity laced,” due in part to the presence of the team chaplain. “It was a pointed argument, and I think [the team] realized I was concerned about the situation. It allowed me to work together with my staff and respond by issuing a code of conduct for the organization that didn’t exist before and to lay out what we expect from our team.

“I didn’t want it to happen, but it gave me the opportunity to respond in a positive way and allowed me to put our imprint on the team.”

While he characterizes himself as a hands-on type — and despite following the game for decades — Wilf knows his limitations. “I let the guys who know what they’re doing do their work.

“I’m finding out there are a lot of people behind the scenes who are important to the well-being of the team. It’s not just trainers making sure that players have physical well-being. We have the type of people who can approach their mental attitude and any problems that might affect their game performance.”

Wilf believes players do care about who’s running the show. “I wasn’t sure at first, but as I got through this year, I got to realize that it’s a very important part of the whole makeup of the team, that the owner has to be there for the players and for the staff, and it’s important they see you have the passion for what they’re doing.”

Pride in ownership

There’s a responsibility to the fans as well, he said. Teams often threaten to take their ball and move to other cities if their demands for a new stadium or other concessions are not met by the local municipality. Wilf pledged from the outset that the Vikings would always remain in place.

“Owners have to be honest with the fans. That was the first thing I stated. I would feel that way if I were a fan. I realized it was the right decision from day one, regardless of what negotiating position I might have lost. I always will feel that it’s Minnesota’s team.”

His real estate background will come in handy as the team, currently playing in the 25-year-old Metrodome, seek a new stadium. As a traditionalist, Wilf wanted an open-air stadium, but has compromised: Plans now call for a facility with a retractable roof.

Ideally, Wilf would love to have everything fall into place to coincide with the Vikings’ 50th anniversary in 2010.

He has also learned that there is no off-season. “As a fan I was used to the season beginning and ending and that’s it. As an owner, you realize that there’s a lot more to it than that…. You realize there’s a lot of hard work in between and there are a lot of people behind the scenes making sure we can put the best team on the field.” He is already looking forward to next season as the Vikings embark on attaining his number one priority: a trip to the Super Bowl.

After spending much of his initial season living out of hotels, Wilf recently bought a house in the Minneapolis area but emphasized that his heart still belongs in the Garden State. “I live in New Jersey; my home is Jersey. I’m just getting a residence in Minneapolis to make my time there much easier.”

Wilf recalled growing up in Hillside, where his home was the one with a backyard large and open enough to accommodate an assortment of sports and games. “We were the official playground of the neighborhood.”

Wilf has been a lifelong sports fan; legendary pitcher Sandy Koufax was a particular favorite.

“I couldn’t have enough of him,” he said. “Of all sports, he was way and above my idol. I was just proud that he was Jewish. Who could forget the time when we were sitting in shul [for Yom Kippur in 1965], and we realized he wouldn’t be pitching in the World Series.” That particular game took place in Minnesota against the Twins; legend has it that Koufax spent the day at a local synagogue. He came back on two days rest to pitch the Dodgers to the world championship.

Wilf became the ninth Jewish owner in the NFL, joining Arthur Blank (Atlanta Falcons), Al Davis (Oakland Raiders), Malcolm Glazer (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Robert Kraft (New England Patriots), Randy Lerner (Cleveland Browns), Jeffrey Lurie (Philadelphia Eagles), Daniel Snyder (Washington Redskins), and the Giants’ Robert Tisch, who has a 50 percent stake in the team.

“I guess that means if we have one more,” Wilf said, “we’ll have a minyan.”

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