We live in an interesting time. Historic times as we watch President-elect Obama select the staff that will be responsible for the next four years.

It’s been somewhat awe-inspiring to watch as Obama has gotten great talent to either continue in their present posts such as Defense Secretary Robert Gates, or give up very responsible positions such as Senator Hillary Clinton, to serve in his cabinet.

President-elect Obama went through the interview process when selecting these capable people. They weren’t chosen by an election, a coin flip, or because of friendship. They were chosen by personal investigations and the interview process. The same processes all of us use when choosing an employee, an associate or even our spouse. Sure, the questions and vetting may differ, but all are interviewed in one manner or another and you go with the one that best survives the interview and promises to be the most help in your business or whatever.

Building a football team is no different. You choose the players that can best help the team. Whether it is on the NFL draft day or when choosing a free agent, prospects are viewed as to past performance and character with both being evaluated.

It is interesting to look at the current Vikings, for like it or not, it is a new team differing substantially from the past. They are Wilfs and Childress’s team. That’s not bad, for the Vikings have not performed well when the need was there in recent years. They folded their tent when playing the New York Giants for the conference title. After the game Randy Moss declared, the Vikings were not a team that comes back during a game. That pretty much described the team both then and recently.

Brad Childress and the Wilf’s have dismantled that team with the most recent important additions being all-pro Jared Allen and wideout Bernard Berrian. In addition to Allen the Vikings have five all-pros with Kevin Williams (3), Steve Hutchinson (2), Darren Sharper (2), Pat Williams (2) and Adrian Peterson, who is probably the best back in the NFL and possibly the best player in the league. They have, finally, a good secondary with Cedric Griffin, Antoine Winfield, Darren Sharper and Madieu Williams. And in non pro-bowler Antoine Winfield the most underrated defensive back in the NFL. But the defensive front four is the most impressive of the Vikings with the Williams boys, Allen and the recently fined Ray Edwards.

Given all the talent, why were the Vikings faltering during the first half of the season? Was it the interview process for not pin-pointing the right players or was it the coach? Much like the concern over Obama’s “Team of Rivals,” will Childress be able to control and direct the team and get the desired outcome? In other words, can the Vikings be a consistent winner?

I certainly had my doubts about Childress being able to coordinate the team’s efforts. One game it was the offense, particularly the passing game that didn’t perform well. Another game it was the special teams. In yet another, it was the defense that played poorly.

Through it all, Childress remained calm and his team came together on Chicago Bear Sunday. The whole team looked good with the exception of Benny Sapp, unnecessary roughness penalty, that could have cost the Vikings an opponent’s touchdown. However, one game does not make a season.

If the Vikings can continue that Sunday’s Bear effort, they have a bright future. However, I’m still not convinced of Gus Frerotte’s playoff capabilities. But as my wife’s English grandmother used to say, “Don’t borrow trouble.”