Newly acquired Vikings’ defensive end Jared Allen has the second most sacks in the NFL since 2004. His 43 sacks in 61 games are second only to Miami’s Jason Taylor’s 46 in 64 games. Allen averaged 15.5 sacks last season and was also in double figures in 2005 with 11.
A Sports Headliners reader from southern California e-mailed suggesting the possibility that the San Diego Chargers, instead of the Vikings, may move into the new stadium targeted for opening in 2011 near Los Angeles. The Chargers are free from their stadium agreement after next season. Meanwhile, it hasn’t gone unnoticed among worrisome Viking fans that the seats in the proposed new L.A. stadium will be purple.
Twins closer extraordinaire Joe Nathan has been almost perfect in the first month of the season. He has yet to give up an earned run in eight innings while allowing seven hits and striking out eight.
Center fielder Carlos Gomez has sometimes looked feeble at the plate in recent games. Tuesday night he struck out four times. In his last 10 games he has eight hits in 43 at-bats, a .186 average. He did have two hits yesterday, including his first home run, to raise his average to .230. .
The Wild released television ratings recently for the Western Conference Quarterfinals against Colorado and they were the best ever for the local franchise in a first-round playoff series. The Wild averaged a 12.2 rating and a 22 share on its three broadcasts on KSTC-TV. On three FSN North telecasts the Wild averaged an 8.2 rating and a 15 share.
In 2003, the Wild averaged a 7.7 rating and a 15.6 share for the first round, a seven-game series against Colorado. Last season, the Wild’s five-game series versus Anaheim averaged a 6.6 rating and a 14 share.
Nielsen Media Research measures the size of a TV audience in household rating points. Those points are a percent of a household that viewed a program. Each rating point represents one percent of a target audience reached. Share is the percentage of households in the market watching TV. For example, against Colorado on Thursday, April 17, 13.8 percent of the Minneapolis/St. Paul market watched the game, while 23 percent of the households in the market with their televisions on viewed the contest.
The Wild’s Derek Boogaard is the second worst skater in the NHL according to a Sports Illustrated players poll published in the April 28 issue of the magazine. Derian Hatcher of Philadelphia was first in the poll.
Former Gopher Jason Giannini, who a year ago was competing with Joel Monroe for the placekicking job, would have been in his last season of eligibility in 2008 had he stayed on the team. A Gopher spokesman said Giannini, still on scholarship, is attending classes at Minnesota. He will be remembered for kicking the winning field goal against Michigan in 2005.
The Twin Cities Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame will honor former Gopher coach Murray Warmath, 95, with its Distinguished Minnesotan award on Sunday at a dinner at the University of St. Thomas. Warmath, the Gopher coach from 1954-1971, won the 1960 national championship and took two Minnesota teams to the Rose Bowl. Minnesota coach Tim Brewster will be the keynote speaker.
Djorn R. Buchholz, Minnesota Thunder general manager, said he will be “extremely disappointed” if the team doesn’t qualify for the USL playoffs. The Thunder hasn’t made the playoffs since 2004 but has a mostly new roster. The Thunder opened their season on the road last night losing 2-1 to Portland.
Saint John’s University senior Matt Bohlig and Gustavus Adolphus College sophomore Kali Griggs are the MIAC men’s and women’s golf athletes of the week as chosen by conference coaches. Bohlig shot a four under par 67 to tie for medalist honors at Monticello CC in a dual between Saint John’s and Saint Cloud State last Friday. He followed that up with his first college win at the Bobby Krig Invitational hosted by Gustavus April 21-22. Bohlig shot scores of 70-73-and a three under 69 to win the event by two strokes and help Saint John’s to the team title.
Griggs finished first with a 36-hole total of 76-73–149 at the Minnesota Women’s Collegiate Golf Association Invitational (MWCGA) at Pebble Creek Golf Club in Becker, Minnesota last Saturday and Sunday. Gustavus, ranked third in the nation, topped second place St. Thomas by 41 strokes and scored an 18-hole total of 297 on Sunday which set a new school record.