Vikings’ No. 1 draft choice Chad Greenway injured his left knee on August 8 in a pre-season game against the Oakland Raiders and shortly thereafter it was announced Greenway wouldn’t play until next year.  He has been rehabilitating the knee this fall and said recently he probably could play before the season is over but won’t. 

“I am quite a ways ahead (of schedule on rehab). …It’s gone very well (the last three months),” Greenway said.  “Technically, I could push harder and get back.  But there’s no point in pushing it because when you start pushing it you put more stress on the patella and you get tendonitis and stuff. …I will be 100% by mini-camps (next spring) and I will certainly be looking to be 100% within the next month and a half, two months.” 

The rookie linebacker from Iowa, the No. 17 pick in the draft earlier this year, is working hard to regain his explosiveness and lateral movement.  He works on strengthening his legs and balance.   

Greenway injured his right knee in the spring of 2002 in Iowa City and had a major rehabilitation process.  He recovered to play in the fall and during his Iowa career became an All-America linebacker. 

In addition to participating in practice next spring, Greenway is looking forward to golf and perhaps playing every day.  He has a 10 handicap. “It’s not that great but it’s good for me,” he said. 

Minnesota Timberwolves Kevin Garnett, Mark Blount, Ricky Davis and Mike James are players fans can consider voting for as starters for the 56th NBA All-Star Game in February.  A media panel chose 120 players from throughout the NBA for the all-star ballot.  Among the ways fans can vote are at NBA arenas, on AOL.com/nba, and at T-Mobile-owned retail locations. 

Vikings coach Brad Childress talking about Daunte Culpepper’s comeback chances in Miami following his “devastating knee injury” while playing for the Vikings last season:  “He’s got all those tools.  Sometimes when you have one of those devastating knee injuries that next year is tough and really you don’t get back to have all of your faculties maybe until you’re 16-18 months out.” 

Gopher coach Glen Mason said on WCCO Radio Sunday that the improvement of offensive lineman Andy Brinkhaus, who is being red shirted this season, is “mind boggling.”  Brinkhaus played at Bloomington Jefferson last fall. 

Bill Lester, Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission executive director, recalled testifying before the Minnesota legislature several years ago about stadiums including Lambeau Field in Green Bay where there are seats just 17 inches wide.  “I said there isn’t a 17 inch derrière in the entire state of Wisconsin,” Lester chuckled.   

Patrick Reusse talking on KSTP Radio compared the glory days of capacity crowds and roaring fans with the now dwindling attendance and quiet atmosphere at Williams Arena for Gopher basketball games. He described the change as enough to make you “puke.” 

Former Minnesota Twins shortstop Jackie Hernandez is leaving the St. Paul Saints coaching staff to become the manager of the Charlotte County Redfish (Port Charlotte, Florida) in the newly formed independent South Coast League.  Hernandez, 66, will be in his 47^th year in professional baseball in 2007 and first as a manager.

Minnesota and Iowa play in the Metrodome on Saturday in the 100^th football game between the two schools.  Through the years the rivalry has sometimes been bitter.  Nothing symbolizes the emotions of the Gopher-Hawkeye rivalry like Floyd of Rosedale, the famed bronze statue of a pig that goes to the winner of the Minnesota-Iowa game each year. 

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz recalled that back in 1981 he was a young assistant coach with the Hawkeyes and not that familiar with the rivalry.  Ferentz’s roots had been out east, playing football at Connecticut and coaching as an assistant at his alma mater and at Pittsburgh.  In his first season at Iowa, 1981, Ferentz watched the Gophers defeat the Hawkeyes and saw the Minnesota players come charging across the field to claim Floyd. 

“I figured out real quick how important that (rivalry) was,” Ferentz said. “Then the other thing that really jumped out, and not quite so much now, but back in the 80’s there seemed to be almost a bitter rivalry between the states just in general.  There were a lot of Minnesota jokes about Iowa, and Iowa jokes about Minnesota.  That type of thing.  …” 

The 1981 Gophers were coached by Smokey Joe Salem who had a dismal career record at Minnesota, 19-35-1, but was 3-2 against Iowa.  As a player, Salem had helped quarterback the No. 3 ranked Gophers to a 27-10 win over No. 1 rated Iowa in 1960, a game that moved Minnesota toward the national championship.  As Gopher coach, Salem always wanted badly to beat the Hawkeyes and those around him said during Iowa week he had a different look in his eyes. 

As a kid, I recall my parents telling stories about Gopher games in Iowa City during the 1930s when fans threw whiskey bottles at the Minnesota players.  In 1935 both the Gophers and Hawkeyes were undefeated going into their game in Iowa City.  The year before, according to the Gopher media guide, the Gophers had “roughed up” Iowa star Ozzie Simmons so badly he had to leave the game.  As a prelude to the 1935 game, Iowa governor Clyde Herring said, “If the officials stand for any rough tactics like Minnesota used last year, I’m sure the crowd won’t.” 

Minnesota governor Floyd Olson was alarmed and responded, “Minnesota folks are excited over your statement about Iowa crowds lynching the Minnesota football team.  I have assured them you are law abiding gentlemen and are only trying to get our goat. …I will bet you a Minnesota prize hog against an Iowa prize hog that Minnesota wins.” 

The bet eased tensions and the Gophers won 13-6 in a game without major incidents.  The Gophers’ prize was a real pig, provided by Rosedale Farms near Fort Dodge, Iowa.  Later Olson commissioned the creation of the bronze pig, Floyd of Rosedale.