Through the years Riley received irate telephone calls at all hours of the “day and night.”  He changed his home telephone numerous times.  And someone once put glue in his typewriter.

Even the Packers got in on giving Riley a hard time.  He often didn’t attend games in person but one year went to Green Bay late in the season.  He expected to be assigned to the warm press box but instead was given a ticket to sit in the stands where his companion was a patch of snow apparently left deliberately for the “Bushers” basher.

Down in Florida Riley once met a Wisconsinite while playing golf.  The stranger asked if he was the Riley who inflamed Packers fans for years.  Riley confirmed his identity and so did the stranger, a prominent Wisconsin politician.  The guy admitted to hating Riley’s guts.

Riley picked on other Wisconsin targets besides the “Bushers.”  He referred to Wisconsin-River Falls as “Moo-U.”  That stirred up folks in western Wisconsin and someone once sent him a can of manure.

Riley has no dislike for Wisconsin and its teams, including the Packers.  He admires Wisconsin fans for not only their support of Wisconsin teams, but also their knowledge about Minnesota teams.  “I still say those fans over there are great fans,” he said.  “They’re a little crazy.”

Riley might argue that the Packers-Vikings rivalry is the greatest of pro sports rivalries not only because of the competitive games but also the large number of fans who travel to each other’s cities for games.  He is pleased about the rivalry he helped fuel.

“It goes on and the young people have carried it over,” he said.  “It’s as fierce, ferocious as ever.  I know a fellow that never had a fight, argument or anything in his life and he went over there and got in a fight with a Green Bay fan in the stands.  …He says, ‘Nobody did I ever want to fight, but a Green Bay fan.’  I think that sums it up.”

 

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Did you know Riley, ex-Gophers radio announcer Ray Christensen, WCCO Radio Sports Huddle co-host Dave Mona and former Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura are all graduates of Minneapolis Roosevelt High School?

The Teddies’ sports legacy was dimmed this year when there weren’t enough players to field a football team to compete in the City Conference.

Sunday’s game will be the 101^st between the Vikings and Packers.  Green Bay leads the series 51-48-1.  Since 2000 the Vikings are 6-5 against the Packers at Mall of America Field.

Vikings defensive end Jared Allen needs a sack against Green Bay to extend his sack streak to nine.  He, along with Carl Eller and Jim Marshall, hold the franchise record of eight games.

Allen has 10 career sacks against Green Bay, the most for him versus any NFL team.

Former Vikings defensive lineman Chris Doleman will be inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor during ceremonies on Sunday.  He is fourth in NFL history for sacks, 150.5.

Minnesota (1-5) plays Nebraska (5-1) tomorrow for the first time since 1990, hosting the Cornhuskers at TCF Bank Stadium.  Nebraska ranks No. 8 in Big Ten scoring defense allowing 27.2 points per game while the Gophers are last giving up 35.  Any hope the Gophers have of making the game close probably depends on keeping the Nebraska defense on the field for much of the game.

St. Thomas and Bethel, two nationally ranked top 10 teams, play on Saturday in a much anticipated MIAC game.  The undefeated Tommies (7-0 overall, 5-0 in conference) are gaining a reputation for having superior players compared to MIAC rivals but St. Thomas coach Glenn Caruso praises Bethel (5-1 and 3-1).  “Their talent is phenomenal,” he told Sports Headliners.  “They are among the most talented teams in the country.”

Bethel hosts the game and offers an outstanding and balanced rushing game that includes MIAC Offensive Player of the Week Brandon Marquardt, a freshman who ranks second in conference rushing.

Peter Franzen, who for years helped look after former Gophers football coach Murray Warmath, died last week.  Condolences to Peter’s family after his sudden death.

Athlon’s college basketball magazine includes Gophers forward Trevor Mbakwe as a  third team preseason All-American.  The publication forecasts an eighth place Minnesota finish in the Big Ten.

Former Timberwolves player and executive Fred Hoiberg, now starting his second season as head coach at Iowa State, had Twin Cities magician Hondo Hughes perform recently for his Cyclones. “I am now officially the newest Iowa State basketball fan,” Hughes wrote on Facebook.

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