Nick Punto had his 16th multi-hit game of the season last night as the Twins beat Cleveland 5-4. It was his second three-hit game of the season. He’s played in 107 games and is hitting .232.
Joe Nathan saved his 40th game. The 40 saves this season are the most since he had 43 in 2005. It was his 240th career save and he is 40 for 45 in save opportunities this year.
Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell, who has been in the NFL since 1997, said Adrian Peterson’s 64-yard touchdown run in which he broke several tackles and stiff armed a defender was the “greatest” he had seen. Longwell called home after the game to his family in Orlando to tell them they had to see that run.
On Monday, the Vikings had about 1,000 tickets remaining for their home opener on September 27, according to a team spokesman. The game is expected to be available on local TV. The Vikings have tickets remaining for all eight home games.
Former Vikings coach Jerry Burns, 82, said Fran Tarkenton and co-author Jim Bruton sent him an autographed copy of their new book, Everyday Is Game Day.
Burns ranks Tarkenton among the five greatest quarterbacks of all time and thinks the 1961 Vikings’ third round draft choice had the athleticism to play in the modern era including the shotgun formation. Burns was the Vikings offensive coordinator when he and Tarkenton were part of three Super Bowl teams in the 1970s.
Gophers’ athletic director Joel Maturi said the Athletic Department will lose a minimum of $1 million as a result of changes made to accommodate customers because of the Legislature’s decision to stop the University from selling alcohol in premium seating areas at TCF Bank Stadium, Williams Arena and Mariucci Arena. Maturi said recently that several full refunds have been made to premium seating customers at the stadium while discounts of 10 percent have been made to others.
Maturi doesn’t know if the unexpected reduction in income means the athletic department will operate in the red during this fiscal year. “Well, we don’t know because much depends on what our revenues will be, too,” he said. “We know it’s going to be a challenge.”
New Wild coach Todd Richards admitted that before the start of training camp last week he was nervous. He told Sports Headliners his biggest early season concern is getting in enough teaching time before preseason games this week.
Retired Patrick Henry football coach Don Swanson, for decades a strong leader and advocate for prep football in the state, passed away from cancer yesterday. Beloved by his friends and colleagues, “Swannie’s” projects included befriending the Minneapolis football programs, assisting with the high school all-star game and coordinating a popular coaching clinic each spring. His passing is a huge loss for our community. Funeral arrangements are pending.
Edina High School will recognize legendary coaches Billy Bye and Stav Canakes on Thursday night during halftime of its home game against Washburn. Bye, who had gained fame as a Gopher running back, coached at Edina from 1958-1960, with his last team recognized as mythical state champions. Canakes, was head coach from 1961-89, compiled a 203–69–1 record (.755 winning percentage) with 16 Lake Conference championships and five state titles.
Bye and Canakes passed away in recent months. Their families will be on the field tomorrow night when announcements about the careers of Bye and Canakes will be made. The Edina football team will be on the field with the families and the captains will present each family with an Edina helmet. The team is honoring Bye and Canakes this season with two football shaped stickers with the names Billy and Stav that are on the back of all helmets.
The Gustavus and Saint John’s men’s golf teams have been honored by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) for their academic performance during the 2008-09 academic year. Gustavus was also named as the GCAA Academic National Champions for Division III. Coach Scott Moe’s group was the only team in Division III to have a cumulative team grade point average above 3.50. Saint John’s, coached by Bob Alpers, was the only Division III team to earn All-Academic team honors and finish in the Top 10 at the NCAA Division III Championship last May.
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