About 1,000 tickets remain for the Timberwolves regular season opener on Wednesday, November 1 but president Chris Wright said the game will sell out.
Timberwolves assistant coach Randy Wittman said he was interested earlier this year in returning to Indiana University as head coach to succeed Mike Davis. Wittman, almost a legendary player at Indiana, said the school showed no interest in interviewing people with ties to the school.
Minnesota’s homecoming game against Indiana on Saturday, November 4 (11 a.m. kickoff) will be shown on ESPN360, a broadband service available only through a computer and free to fans that receive high-speed broadband service through an ESPN-affiliated provider. The Gophers’ season opening game at Kent State was also on ESPN360.
Aaron Sickman, Minnesota Wild communications manager, estimated more Wild players (about 10) are living in Woodbury this season than any other area community. Downtown Minneapolis is second, with seven or eight players.
“Miracle on Ice” goalie Jim Craig, one of the stars of America’s 1980 gold medal winning Olympic team, will be the keynote speaker at the Herb Brooks Foundation’s benefit gala on Friday, November 3, at the RiverCentre Ballroom in St. Paul. The foundation will provide funding for the Herb Brooks Training Center opening in January at the National Sports Center in Blaine. Tickets to the gala (available through Saturday) can be purchased by calling Tracy Adams at 952-473-5580, or via e-mail, herbbrooksdream@mn.rr.com.
Rich Decker, long time Minnesota high school basketball coach, hopes to be elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives next month. He would represent District 29-B (Rochester).
Condolences to the family of Don Dix, former public address announcer for the old St. Paul Saints baseball team. Dix, 92, died last week and survivors include daughter Barbara Pfaender and husband Jay, a volunteer leader with the local section of the United States Tennis Association.
Bethel University now has the MIAC career record holders for rushing yards and passing yards. Phil Porta set the conference rushing record last Saturday when he increased his career MIAC total to 3,979. In 2003 quarterback Scott Kirchoff set the conference record for career passing yards with 6,168.