Twins president Dave St. Peter said broadcaster Herb Carneal’s status for next season hasn’t been determined. The two meet after every season to decide on future plans. Carneal, 83, has worked a limited Twins radio schedule in recent years and has been doing play-play here since 1962. Carneal’s longevity with one major league team is exceeded only by Vin Scully with the Los Angeles Dodgers. St. Peter said if Carneal returns he will be employed by the Twins, not KSTP, the team’s new broadcast home.
Viking quarterback Brad Johnson talking about the team’s rebuilt offensive line that includes free agent tackle Steve Hutchinson: “They have a little nasty attitude about them. That’s really what’s going to take us the distance.”
Johnson, who will be 38 later this month, pretending to be upset while joking about Jeff George, 38, and Kerry Collins, 34. coming back into the NFL with Oakland and Tennessee. “I a little hot (about it) right now. I want to be the oldest guy in the league for another four or five years.” (Not to worry, George turns 39 in December).
Viking linebacker Napoleon Harris played varsity basketball for Northwestern during his red shirt year in football. He averaged 4.9 points and 5.1 rebounds in 18 games during the 1998-99 season. He scored 18 points against Ohio State and had 13 rebounds versus Indiana.
Defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin likes the communication skills of Harris, describing him as a “great communicator and also as a “highly motivated guy.”
Big Purple/Little Purple: The biggest of the Vikings is offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie, 6-8, 335; the smallest is cornerback Antoine Winfield, 5-9, 180.
That was often injured Troy Hudson of the Timberwolves working out on his own at a local health club earlier this week.
John Bell Wilson, who for 30 years was the official scorer for Gopher men’s basketball and for 20 years the public address announcer for Gopher men’s hockey, will volunteer his time to be the public address announcer for the Eden Prairie High School girls hockey team this season. He is a vice president of investments for UBS.
Kevin Gorg, University of St. Thomas women’s hockey coach, will again this hockey season provide Minnesota Wild and Minnesota Gophers pre-game and post game analysis on Fox North telecasts. Gorg is also media relations manager at Canterbury Park and the Star Tribune’s horse racing handicapper.
Edina High School senior Whitney Taney, undefeated in her high school tennis career with a 146-0 record, probably will make a college choice by the end of September, according to her father, Ted. Official college visits next month likely will be Minnesota, Michigan, Penn State, Illinois and Pepperdine. In the national USTA rankings for girls’ 18, Whitney has been ranked as high as 16 this year.