Author: David Shama

The Arizona Cardinals franchise is in the news this week because of Sunday’s game with the Vikings in Glendale.  To most Minnesotans the Cardinals connection is likely to be Denny Green or Larry Fitzgerald Jr.  Green was the Vikings coach from 1992-2001 and coached the Cardinals from 2004-2006, while Fitzgerald, the Minneapolis native, is in his fifth pro season with Arizona and is the NFL’s third leading receiver with 1,148 yards.

But not nearly so well known is that in 1959 when the Cardinals were based in Chicago, the team played two regular season games in Minnesota at Metropolitan Stadium.  Minneapolis leaders had convinced the Cardinals and the NFL to move two of Chicago’s home games here as part of an effort to bring pro football to this area.

A group that included former Minneapolis Lakers owner Max Winter was later given an NFL expansion that started play in 1961.  The state can consider itself fortunate that the Cardinals never moved here.  The franchise wasn’t successful financially or on the field back in the 1950s and this has been a troubled franchise much of the time since then.

For many years the Cardinals had to share the Chicago market with the more popular Bears.  In 1960 the franchise relocated to St. Louis.  By 1988 the Cardinals had moved to the Phoenix area where for years they played in Arizona State’s stadium before small crowds.  Owned by the Bidwell family, the Cardinals had a reputation for being tight with money and not making good football decisions.

Today’s Cardinals, 8-5 and in first place in the NFC West, aren’t your father’s, or your grandfather’s, Redbirds.  Arizona has clinched the division title and hopes for a franchise first, a trip to the Super Bowl.  Prior to this season the Cardinals hadn’t won a division title in more than 30 years and the franchise hasn’t been in the playoffs since 1998.

Now you know why local fans should be grateful that the Cardinals never made Minnesota home.

Larry Fitzgerald, the local media personality, has attended all but one of his son’s games this season and will be in Glendale on Sunday for the Vikings-Cardinals game. Larry wrote via e-mail to Sports Headliners about the relationship between his son and quarterback Kurt Warner.  “He’s a winner, a Super Bowl champion, two-time MVP. He and Larry Jr. are close friends. They are good for each other. That’s why the Cardinals are a playoff team.  Warner was here in Minneapolis last April 11th for the annual Carol Fitzgerald Memorial Fund Gala Fundraiser at r. Norman’s. I invited him and he came along with Vikings star Adrian Petersonbecause they knew how important Larry’s mom was to him.”

Warner, a 37-year-old quarterback, is second in the NFL in touchdown passes and passing yardage.  In the December 8 issue of Sporting News magazine John Elway ranks Warner as his No. 4 candidate for league MVP.  Brett Favre of the Jets is his No. 1.

The Cardinals are fourth in the NFL in yards per game and second in passing.  Arizona’s defense is 10^th in the league in yards given up per game, while the Vikings are eighth.

With a 100-yard rushing performance on Sunday, Peterson can move into a fifth place NFL all-time tie for the most 100-yard games during the first two seasons.  Peterson has 14 100-yard games and Ottis Anderson of the Cardinals (1979-80) ranks fifth with 15.

With 109 rushing yards Peterson will break the team record for the most rushing yards in a single season.  He has 1,413 through 13 games this year, and Robert Smith has the record of 1,521 yards set in 2000.

Vikings coach Brad Childress talking about quarterback Tarvaris Jackson who took over for the injured Gus Frerotte last Sunday: “He certainly played with confidence and was about his business.  He was precise in what he did.  You didn’t see a whole bunch of inaccuracy.  You didn’t see extra steps.  He knew exactly what he needed to do…and that is what you want.  We talked early about any indecision or things like that, that you have got to let those things go.  So I thought he did a great job in terms of his preparation and obviously getting it on the field.”

Childress talking about whether he envisioned defensive end Jared Allen’s personality and leadership:  “No, I don’t think you could possibly (have done so). You have to have a really vivid imagination.  I’m not talking about the sack portion. I’m talking about cut up in the locker room, personality, etcetera.”

Allen is tied for fourth in NFL sacks with John Abraham of Atlanta, 12.5 each.

A source familiar with the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Association told Sports Headliners this week that Carleton, Macalester and St. Olaf have decided to remain members of the MIAC.  There had been a self examination by the three schools earlier this year to determine whether another conference might be more suitable.  The source said increased travel time and expense were major factors in the decision to remain in the MIAC where all 13 members are Minnesota schools.

Saint John’s football coach John Gagliardi deservedly receives a lot of attention including for his longevity, 56 seasons coaching the Johnnies.  But basketball coach Jim Smith, now in his 45^th season with the Johnnies, has a long resume, too.  Saint John’s, 3-0, and St. Thomas, 4-0, are the only unbeaten teams so far in MIAC conference games.  Smith became the winningest coach in Minnesota collegiate basketball history seven years ago.

Here’s more than a hat trick of personal info on the Wild’s Mikko Koivu who leads the team in scoring with 30 points on 10 goals and 20 assists.  Koivu’s favorite hobbies are soccer and badminton, but tennis great Roger Federer is his favorite athlete and the person he most wants to meet.  Downtown Minneapolis is Koivu’s favorite thing about Minnesota and 20.21 his preferred restaurant.  First job was scooping ice cream in an ice cream shop.

Koivu is ninth among forwards in voting for the Western Conference All-Star team with over 135,000 votes.  That spot would earn him a place on the roster for the January 25 All-Star game in Montreal.  Fans can vote by texting the last name of the player they wish to vote for to 81812, and also at www.fanballoting.nhl.com.

If the Twins fulfill speculation that the outfield rotation will consist of Denard Span (18 stolen bases last season), Carlos Gomez (33), Delmon Young (14) and Michael Cuddyer (five in 71 games), plus infielders Nick Punto (15) and Alexi Casilla (seven), the team may well increase its 2008 total of 102 stolen bases next season.  Speed and stolen bases received attention in major league baseball last season.  World Series champion Philadelphia stole 136 bases during the regular season, third best in the National League.  Tampa Bay, the World Series loser, led the American League with 142 stolen bases. The Twins were fourth in the A.L. and figure to improve their totals as young players Span, Gomez, Young and Casilla gain experience and more playing time.

The Twins announced yesterday that they have agreed to a two-year contract for Punto with a club option for 2011. “Nick has been an important part of the Twins success for the past five years,” said Bill Smith, senior vice president/general manager Bill Smith.  “He provides great defense up the middle and brings leadership and energy to our lineup.”

The Big Ten Conference will send two schools (co-champs Penn State and Ohio State) to BCS games for the eighth time in the 11-year history of the system and the sixth time in the last seven seasons.  Since the inception of the BCS in 1998, the Big Ten has qualified 19 teams for BCS bowls, more than any other conference. The SEC ranks second with 17 BCS bids followed by the Big 12 (16), Pac-10 (13), ACC (11) and Big East (11). In January Penn State will play against USC in the Rose Bowl, while Ohio State will be in the Fiesta Bowl against Texas.