Over 750,000 votes were made by fans from 83 countries in the polling to determine their favorite Vikings players past and present. The announcement event at the Convention Center on December 19 will include players being honored, plus NFL Films video and special guest speakers. Tickets at $50 each are available at www.vikings.com.
While the Vikings are considering other sites for a new stadium, the Metrodome property remains a strong possibility to be approved by the legislature. The land is public and not subject to acquisition issues. The site is likely to be more cost efficient than others because of existing infrastructure. Also, a multipurpose covered stadium available for large sports and entertainment attractions is a better fit in a downtown locale than the suburbs because of proximity to public transportation, hotels, bars and restaurants.
Vikings owner Zygi Wilf was upset by media criticism of his remarks made at the news conference announcing the firing of Brad Childress. Wilf was attacked for using few words and providing minimal information, but the media criticism won’t negatively impact the owner’s decision to keep the franchise in Minnesota.
The Vikings reported their 134th consecutive home sellout last Sunday.
A former NFL coach watched Tarvaris Jackson throw two touchdown passes and three interceptions on Sunday against Buffalo and said the Vikings fifth-year quarterback still has problems making decisions while passing.
Vikings wide receiver Bernard Berrian continues to under perform. In six games he’s caught 19 passes for 190 yards and no touchdowns. There have been plays where he ran a sloppy route or didn’t fight for a reception.
Gophers marketing leader Jason LaFrenz said standing room only tickets remain for this weekend’s home hockey series with Minnesota Duluth.
LaFrenz also said the Gophers will wait until after football season ticket renewals come back next winter to see if they will start a season ticket campaign to sell new seats. A renewal rate of more than 90 percent is possible and would leave such a minimal number of open seats that a campaign seems unlikely.
The No. 22 ranked (AP) and 7-1 Gophers basketball team plays in Philadelphia tonight against Saint Joseph’s, 3-5. The Hawks were 11-20 last season and the program has fallen off since the powerful 2004 NCAA tournament team.
In last Saturday night’s win over Cornell the Gophers were at times awful shooting free throws, but a late game spurt enabled them to make 26 of 44, finishing at 59.1 percent. Minnesota has not shot free throws effectively this season but senior guard Blake Hoffarber said the team doesn’t have problems in practice and thinks the problem is mostly mental. “…But I think we’re gonna be fine,” he said. “We have to take it out of our heads and focus in practice on what we normally do.”
Last Saturday’s Bethel-St. Thomas playoff football game was broadcast by WCCO Radio, stirring memories of the 1950s when the MIAC had prominent media coverage with Saturday night football games televised locally.