About two hours before kickoff on Monday the Vikings were still selling tickets at the Metrodome for their game with New England. The team later announced a sellout of 63,819.
A ticket seller on the street near the dome said tickets in the lower level for Saturday’s Minnesota-Indiana game will be available for $10 each.
Warren Moon, honored at the New England game for being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame earlier this year, was the first African American quarterback to be inducted. The former Viking is also the first NFL undrafted quarterback to be inducted and the first player to be in both the Canadian and American football halls of fame.
Matt Birk’s Viking teammates have voted him as the 2006 recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award. The award exemplifies commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage. Each NFL team selects an annual recipient. Vikings who won the award while playing for other teams are: Tony Richardson (2001 Kansas City), Pat Williams (2003 Buffalo), Fred Smoot (2003 Washington) and Tank Williams (2005 Tennessee).
New England tight end David Thomas talking about first impressions last summer of teammate and former Gopher running back Laurence Maroney: “You could see how athletic he is. He’s so quick once he has the ball in his hands. He has got the speed to take it the distance. He’s getting better every day. He’s just working hard and trying to learn.”
Matt Spaeth, who despite a bruised shoulder may play against Indiana Saturday, needs only 44 yards to pass Ben Utecht as the Gophers’ all-time leader in receptions for a tight end.
Minnesota Wild wives Nicholle Parrish, Jen Rolston, Jessica Schultz and Sarah White will present their husbands’ favorite dessert recipes at The Sugar Association’s Celebrity Bake Sale and Live Auction to benefit Toys for Tots at the Mall of America East Rotunda from 1 to 2 p.m. on Sunday, November 5.
Whitney Taney, who finished her high school career last week with a third state singles title and record of 166-0, will focus on building strength and conditioning in the months ahead, according to her father, Ted. The Edina super star will play in national United States Tennis Association tournaments but not in local USTA tournaments.
That was sportscaster Randy Shaver’s son, Ryan, who scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery last week in Benilde-St. Margaret’s playoff win over Columbia Heights. Ryan, a junior, is a defensive end and offensive guard.