The Vikings have two players in the NFL’s top 100 as voted on by league players and reported by the NFL Network. Running back Adrian Peterson is No. 3 and defensive end Jared Allen No. 80. Quarterbacks Tom Brady (New England) and Peyton Manning (Indianapolis) are No. 1 and 2.
Coach Leslie Frazier said in a video on the Viking website that Peterson reminds him of his former teammate in Chicago, Walter Payton, who Frazier described as perhaps the best back of “all time.” Both Peterson and Payton have built reputations on attacking tacklers.
Joe Mauer, who made his Twins debut at first base last night, drove in two runs with three hits and is batting .324 in his last 10 games to raise his average to .242.
WCCO TV’s Mike Max reported on Tuesday that the St. Paul Saints had interest in signing former major leaguer Jose Canseco but didn’t want a package deal that included brother Ozzie.
Gophers forward Trevor Mbakwe is participating in the LeBron James Skills Academy this week in Akron.
Although Craig Leipold is a passionate fan, the Wild owner doesn’t determine personnel decisions, a hockey source told Sports Headliners. General manager Chuck Fletcher has been busy in recent weeks with personnel moves that Leipold has been made aware of in advance.
Franchise player Mikko Koivu has been informed about potential trades and may comment about players but Fletcher makes the decisions, the source said.
Josh Harding is expected to compete for the Wild starting goalie job in training camp but the source also said the position is Niklas Backstrom’s to lose.
This has been a notable year for Minnesota’s Joe Laurinaitis who was inducted into the WEE Hall of Fame and has written a book about his pro wrestling career. Known as “Animal” during his wrestling career, the book documents the rise of the Road Warriors tag team. Son Jim Laurinaitis. who played football at Wayzata High and Ohio State before joining the NFL Rams, is the No. 1 Laurinaitis to many sports fans now.
The Wolves could add credibility and marketing pizzazz by hiring Kentucky coach John Calipari to fill their expected head coaching vacancy. Calipari coached in the NBA before going back to college coaching with Memphis and now Kentucky.
The MIAC was one of just six NCAA Division III conferences to place more than one school in the top 30 of the final 2010-11 Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup standings. Six MIAC schools were in the top 100 nationally: Gustavus 21st, St. Thomas 26th, Carleton 71st, Saint John’s 74th, St. Olaf 75th and Hamline 97th. The cup is awarded annually to the institution accumulating the most points in a scoring system that rewards teams based on their postseason finish.