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Meet the man who makes the Vikings' custom kicks

Since the NFL loosened uniform rules last season, a Connecticut artist has designed dozens of creative cleats for Vikings players to wear on the field.

MINNEAPOLIS - From Harambe, the late Cincinnati Zoo gorilla to Bobby Boucher, Adam Sandler's character from Waterboy, you might have noticed an uptick in creative cleats among Vikings players the last couple seasons.

They are all courtesy of New York Artist Dan Gamache -- of Mache Custom Kicks -- who's been a Vikings fan his whole life.

"Living in New York, my mom was a Bills fan and my dad was a Vikings fan. It was kind of like pick which side. And I picked purple," Gamache said.

Gamashe's creation last season went viral -- a depiction of Randy Moss shooting the moon to Green Bay Fans, worn by Stefon Diggs as he scored twice on the Saints.

And just last week, MSU-Mankato alum Adam Thielen scored while repping the fictional Minnesota State from the TV show Coach.

Gamashe says the players often give him full creative control.

"Once I sprung it on him, he was all about it. Anytime it's something local, Minnesota, Adam's always the guy," Gamashe said.

On Monday Night Football versus Seattle, Thielen's cleats feature Minnesota's Caribou Coffee to highlight the partnership that leads to some proceeds from Caribou's SKOL blend to help the U of M's Children's Masonic Hospital.

"Whether that's holiday gifts during this time of year or other needs that come out throughout the year," said Ashley Lawson of Masonic Children's Hospital.

Meantime, Gamashe also made custom kicks this week for self-professed Starbucks lover Diggs.

"It's going to be a fun little coffee battle," Gamache said.

"We need to figure out a way to get Stefon Diggs over to this side. You know, the longer he stays in Minnesota, the more he's going to get addicted to it, so we're not worried about it," said John Butcher, Caribou Coffee president.

In the league sometimes referred to as the "No Fun League," Gamache is having a blast proving that name wrong.

The NFL loosened up its rules on shoes last season. Before that, players got stiff fines for wearing shoes like this.

Gamache says pairs cost from $500 dollars up to several thousand depending on the artwork. Some take a couple hours. others take a couple days to complete.

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