Set the dial on Ch. 5 tonight at 9 p.m. to see Brett Favre on “Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2009.”
Favre, who appeared confused at times facing Arizona’s pass coverage in the 30-17 Vikings loss on Sunday night, remains a possibility for NFL MVP despite throwing two interceptions in the game. NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth said early in Sunday night’s telecast that the 40-year-old Vikings quarterback is playing the “greatest football” of his career.
Rookie linebacker Jasper Brinkley, who replaced E.J. Henderson after he was injured in the Arizona game, was drafted by the Vikings on the fifth round this spring. He only played three seasons at South Carolina where he started all 30 games. He was second team all-SEC last season.
If Joe Mauer hasn’t signed a contract extension with the Twins before the team begins the regular season then it’s a great guess that negotiations really went “south.”
Mauer and new shortstop J.J. Hardy, acquired earlier in the fall from Milwaukee, were once teammates playing for the USA Junior National team.
The Twins cleared (at least temporarily) their glut of outfielders by sending Carlos Gomez to Milwaukee for Hardy. But two of the organization’s best prospects are outfielders Ben Revere and Aaron Hicks.
Food offerings at Target Field will have a Minnesota taste including a Murray’s steak sandwich selling for about $10. Murray’s Restaurant downtown has been known for its steaks since 1946.
Nice fit: Tom Tipton, a former Morgan State basketball player whose rich singing voice has been heard around town for years, was scheduled to perform the national anthem last night prior to the Gophers-Morgan State game.
Former Gopher Travis Busch, who had surgery last summer for a torn ACL, played in his first game for Colorado State on Saturday and helped the Rams defeat Denver. https://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_13938220.
Gustavus junior guard Phil Wirtjes made a 50-foot shot with 0.8 seconds left in overtime to allow the Gusties to defeat Concordia (Moorhead) 57-54 last Saturday. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_MUfQ5M8G4
The Gophers are headed to the Insight Bowl for the third time in four years. Minnesota was in repeat mode earlier this decade, too, making three trips in four years to the Music City Bowl. Here’s the rest of the school’s bowl history: Rose and Sun bowls twice, with one trip each to the Hall of Fame, Independence, Liberty, and Micronpc.com bowls.
To publicize the December 31 Insight Bowl, Gophers coach Tim Brewster and Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads will ring the NASDAQ opening bell in New York City next Monday morning. Insight Investments is a technology company and its stock is listed on the NASDAQ.
Minnetonka nose guard Beau Allen might be the best defensive prep lineman in the state. Michigan and the Gophers are among schools that have made scholarship offers.