Viking Owner’s Bio Included Inaccuracies

A public relations firm representing prospective Minnesota Viking owner Reggie Fowler issued a revised fact sheet on Fowler on Wednesday after questions were raised about the accuracy of an official biography.

Fowler’s original bio claimed he played in the NFL, the Canadian Football League and in the Little League World Series and implied that he earned a business administration and finance degree from the University of Wyoming.

The Star Tribune reported Wednesday that the claims were incorrect or overstated. Fowler, a former University of Wyoming linebacker, never made it out of an NFL training camp and doesn’t appear in player databases for either league.

Little League officials said they had no record of Fowler on any roster of teams that played in the Series, and University of Wyoming records show Fowler’s degree actually is in social work, the Star Tribune reported.

Fowler, 46, was introduced Monday at a news conference to announce a tentative $625-million deal for him to acquire the Vikings.

The bio sheet was given to reporters and attributed to Spiral Inc., his Arizona company.

A call to Spiral’s offices was referred to a spokeswoman, Leslie Kupchella, who didn’t immediately return a phone call.

Kupchella told the Star Tribune that a new “Reggie Fowler Fact Sheet” was issued with some changes that resulted from “conversations” with Fowler.

The new sheet includes no Little League mention and clarifies his degree was in social work, though it also lists “emphasis of study in business and finance” and “enrolled in MBA program.” It clarifies that Fowler attended training camp with the Cincinnati Bengals but still includes playing in 1983 for the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders.

Fowler stands to become the NFL’s first black owner if the league approves the sale. Owners are scheduled to meet in March in Hawaii; league rules require 24 of the 32 owners to approve a sale.

His Spiral Inc., based in Chandler, Ariz., has divisions that include real estate, aviation, manufacturing, agricultural and entertainment industries.