(To the theme from Gilligan's Island)

Come sit right back and you'll hear a tale
A tale of fateful trip
That started from a small lake town
Aboard two tiny ships

The mates were a bunch of pole dancers
But the wait staff was too pure
The Vikings team set sail that day
For a three hour tour, a three hour tour

The action started getting hot
The dancers strutted their stuff
If not for the prudes in the fearless crew
There wouldn't have been such a huff

The boats turned around and went back home
The authorities came aboard
But fear not friends, 'cause all's not lost
The Vikings finally scored!

NEWS STORY: (Mineapolis Star-Tribune) - The names of 17 Minnesota Vikings who were identified as being aboard two charter boats last week where sex parties allegedly took place have been given to Vikings officials in a controversy that has put the team's bid for a new stadium and its standing among fans and community leaders in jeopardy.

At least six crew members who allege they were confronted with out-of-control Vikings players on the boats met Wednesday with Hennepin County Sheriff's detectives who are investigating allegations of prostitution and lewd behavior.

"If the allegations are true, it's awful," said Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

"We understand that athletes aren't necessarily role models," the governor said, "but we at least expect them to abide by the basic laws of the state."

How far-reaching the fallout will be from last week's alleged sex party is unclear.

The claims involve players aboard two boats on Lake Minnetonka. Because of the ongoing investigation, the repercussions are hard to gauge. But what is known is this: The NFL once again is monitoring a legal issue involving the Vikings, anti-stadium opponents are having a field day, public relations is at its lowest point in memory and the Vikings are the butt of jokes.

At the time of the party, Vikings officials were heavily lobbying state legislators to convene a special session to get public funding for a stadium.

The incident casts a "dark shadow" over the team and "it certainly does negatively affect the opportunity" for legislative approval of the financing package that the team and Anoka County officials seek, said state Rep. Andy Westerberg, R-Blaine, chief House sponsor of the Vikings bill.

No one has been charged with a crime in connection with the charter boat cruises, which occurred last Thursday night on Lake Minnetonka.

The Star Tribune also obtained a list of the players but is not publishing it because the newspaper could not verify its accuracy.

Employees of the boat company and a resident of the lake community of Mound described players having public sex, drinking heavily, urinating on a lawn and aggressively propositioning female crew members.

Vikings players gathering Wednesday at their Winter Park training center in Eden Prairie either declined to comment or denied involvement in any sex parties on either cruise.

"Yeah, I was on the boat," said running back Mewelde Moore. "But I don't know exactly what the problem is because nothing happened."

Moore said he "didn't see anything," including sex acts.

"Sex? What are you talking about?" Moore said. "That's crazy. ... Look, I'm engaged. So none of that. That will put me in trouble."

Allegations denied

Stephen Doyle, the cruise company's lawyer, said cornerback Fred Smoot was one of the players who arranged the event.

At Winter Park, Smoot called the allegations "completely slanderous," and said, "I'm going to take legal action against whoever put my name out there." He added that "I didn't do any" of the organizing.

Quarterback Daunte Culpepper declined to comment Wednesday when interviewed by a Star Tribune reporter at his locker at the team's Winter Park training facility in Eden Prairie.

A source with direct knowledge of the accusations stressed that not all of the players identified as being on the boats have been accused of lewd behavior. Some of the players on the list may have protected some crew members who were allegedly sexually propositioned by other players, the source said.