Al Davis, who passed away last weekend, started up the Oakland Raiders AFL franchise after Minneapolis interests gave up that franchise and accepted an invitation to join the NFL in 1961.
Team marketing executive Patrick Klinger told Sports Headliners a successor to Twins radio play-by-play man John Gordon is likely to be announced between Halloween and Thanksgiving. Analyst Dan Gladden is “probably” going to remain in that role and not take over the lead assignment for play-by-play, according to Klinger.
Klinger also said the Twins finished sixth highest among all major league teams in local TV ratings. The Twins were No. 2 in that category in 2010, he said, referencing Sports Business Journal.
The club’s annual TwinsFest will be the last weekend in January at the Metrodome.
Andy MacPhail, the former Twins executive who earned praise when the Twins won two World Series titles, has left the Baltimore Orioles but it would be a surprise if he came back to the Twins.
The Lynx made historical local basketball history winning the WNBA title. This was the first time since 1954 that a Minnesota pro basketball team won a league championship. The Minneapolis Lakers won the last of their five titles in Minneapolis in 1954.
Former Timberwolves executive Fred Hoiberg, now preparing for his second season as head coach at Iowa State, turns 39 on Saturday. With multiple transfers, including former Gopher Royce White, there’s opinion the Cyclones could be among the surprise teams in college basketball this season.
St. Thomas football coach Glenn Caruso will be the speaker on Thursday, November 10 at the C.O.R.E.S luncheon in Bloomington. C.O.R.E.S members can contact Jim Dotseth for more information, dotsethj@comcast.net. C.O.R.E.S is an acronym for coaches, officials, educators, reporters and sports fans.
Sports advisor Jac Sperling, deeply involved with the Wild’s early success, is an advisor with the Minnesota Competitiveness Fund, a business group trying to help the Vikings stadium effort. Sperling’s company Grit Rock Ventures is working on the business side for the New Orleans NBA team including looking for a new owner.