Through eight games of an NFL season, Jim Brown’s 1,194 yards rushing in 1963 ranks as the best production ever. The Vikings’ Adrian Peterson ranks eighth on the list with 1,036 yards. Peterson is the only rookie in NFL history to have two games of 200 yards or more rushing. If he has two more, he will tie Earl Campbell’s NFL record of four 200 yard games in one season.
Last Sunday the Vikings’ rushing total of 378 yards (Peterson had 296) was the second best team total since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970. Cincinnati had 407 yards in a game against Denver in 2000.
The Vikings have about 5,000 tickets remaining for their next home game, Sunday, November 18 against Oakland, according to an e-mail from Steve LaCroix, vice president of sales and marketing. Ticket sales haven’t surged since Peterson’s NFL single game rushing record last Sunday against San Diego.
Gophers basketball coach Tubby Smith has been a coach at Michael Jordan’s fantasy basketball camp that has included celebrity coaches like Smith, Rick Pitino and Jim Calhoun.
Glen Taylor told Sports Headliners that earlier this year Kevin Garnett expressed a willingness to remain with the franchise after the Timberwolves’ owner told him that he would be playing with younger players. However, when Taylor informed Garnett he would need to accept a lesser salary as part of a contract extension, the superstar forward said no. “He told me he wanted $60 million for the next three years and that’s what he got out there…,” Taylor said. In two games with Boston Garnett is averaging 22.5 points and the Celtics are 2-0.
Center/forward Mark Madsen, now entering his fifth season with the Wolves, has the most longevity of any player on the roster. Popular inside the organization and in the community, Madsen has modest career stats but brings intangibles to a team. Asked about his role this season, Madsen said, “I feel that my role is to basically do whatever the coach (Randy Wittman) asks me to do. …Some nights it’s going to be energy. Some nights it’s going to be leadership. Some nights it’s going to be being positive and communicating with all the guys on the team.” More specifically, Madsen said one game he may be trying to bolster a teammate’s confidence and on another playing extended minutes because of a favorable match-up with an opponent.
Goaltender Niklas Backstrom, right wing Marian Gaborik and center Brian Rolston of the Wild have been named to the NHL All-Star Ballot. Players were selected by the NHL’s Hockey Operations Department. The balloting process will be entirely digital. From November 13 through January 2, fans can “vote now, vote often” for the Eastern and Western Conference starters for the 2008 NHL All-Star Game online at NHL.com. U.S. fans also can vote through Verizon Wireless cell phones.
As part of a series of Coke appearances involving Minnesota Wild players, Gaborik is scheduled to sign autographs at the Holiday Stationstore located at 8401 Lyndale Avenue South in Bloomington from 5 to 6 p.m. tonight (Wednesday). Tomorrow Derek Boogaard is scheduled to sign autographs at the Holiday Stationstore located at 4167 Ball Road N.E. in Blaine from 5 to 6 p.m.
A crowd of about 25,000 is expected at the Metrodome on Sunday when superstar David Beckham and his Los Angeles Galaxy teammates play against the Minnesota Thunder in an exhibition soccer match, according to an event spokeswoman. “We are going to be bringing the full team to Minnesota, including David Beckham who is fully fit and has been back training for the last few weeks,” said Galaxy coach Frank Yallop. This is Beckham’s only scheduled US visit to a non-MLS city. The event is being referred to as Copa Minnesota and ticket prices range from $15-$125, with field seats available for $175. A family four-pack for $100 is also available. To purchase tickets, go to www.ticketmaster.com, visit any Ticketmaster outlet, or call 651-989-5151.
Kickoff time for the Minnesota-Wisconsin football game on Saturday, November 17 at the Metrodome will not be announced until Sunday, November 11. The Big Ten Conference has until then to determine TV plans for the game.
Two Bethel players are MIAC Football Athletes of the Week along with St. Olaf senior punter/kicker Paul Fortman who has been honored for a fifth time this season and 10th in his career as the special teams selection. Fortman was 11-for-11 on extra points, extending his streak to 54 without a miss, and averaged 39 yards on four punts in the Oles’ 85-28 win over Carleton on Saturday. Fortman leads the MIAC in punting (42.1 yards/punt) and scoring by kickers (8.7 points/game). Senior quarterback Ben Wetzell, the offensive player of the week, compiled 308 yards of total offense and accounted for three of Bethel’s six touchdowns in a 44-35 win over Augsburg. He gained 177 yards rushing on 22 carries, an average of eight yards per carry. Bethel senior safety Brandon Carr, the defensive player of the week, had eight tackles, (six solo, and two assists), plus an important fourth quarter interception and three pass break-ups in the win over Augsburg.