Sports Illustrated named all-decade teams in its December 28 issue and several athletes with local ties are on the lists. Four Vikings made the NFL offensive and defensive teams, running back Adrian Peterson, offensive tackle Steve Hutchinson, defensive tackle Kevin Williams and cornerback Antoine Winfield. On the baseball team are Twins catcher Joe Mauer and two former Twins, designated hitter David Ortiz and pitcher Johan Santana. Minneapolis native Larry Fitzgerald, who played at Pittsburgh, is a wide receiver on the college football offense while former Outland Trophy winner Greg Eslinger of the Gophers is the center. Hutchinson, who played collegiately at Michigan, is an offensive tackle on the team. Former Wolf Kevin Garnett, a power forward, is on the NBA second team.
In the same issue, Vikings practice squad running back Ian Johnson is featured. It was almost three years ago that Johnson, playing for Boise State, proposed marriage to girl friend Chrissy Popadicks on national TV following the end of the Fiesta Bowl. They now live in a suburban Minneapolis apartment now and she works for Victoria’s Secret at the Mall of America, according to the article.
How will the relationship between Vikings coach Brad Childress and quarterback Brett Favre evolve? Writer Steve Wyche speculates about that subject at https://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d815396ce&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true.
Minnetonka High School’s Beau Allen, perhaps the best prep defensive tackle in the state, committed to Wisconsin last week but the Gophers might have a better player coming this way in Princeton, New Jersey tackle Sean Ferguson. He’s a Rivals.com three star player and is 6-6, 303 pounds, according to the Website.
The Gophers basketball team lost three consecutive nonconference games on the road against quality opposition in late November and early December. Since then the team has defeated five (ah, um) less imposing teams but the Gophers have impressed, winning each game by 30 or more points. But reality returns with the opening of the Big Ten Conference schedule tomorrow night in Williams Arena against Penn State.
A 3-1 start to the conference schedule seems doable with potential wins versus Penn State, at Iowa on Saturday and January 9 back home against Ohio State. A road game on January 5 against undefeated and top five nationally ranked Purdue looks like a loss.
Evan Turner, who might be the Big Ten’s best player, has been sidelined since early December with a back injury, but could make his return against the Gophers, according to the Columbus Dispatch, https://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2009/12/19/osu_mbk_12-19.ART_ART_12-19-09_C1_2UG208K.html?sid=101.
The Gophers have five players averaging eight points or better per game, Ralph Sampson III, 8.4, Devoe Joseph, 9.8, Damian Johnson, 10.8, Lawrence Westbrook, 10.9 and Blake Hoffarber, 12.9.
Tomorrow night the Gophers will have a reunion of the 1989-90 Elite Eight NCAA tournament team, and commemorative pennants will be given to fans, according to a promotional email from the athletic department.
As of Saturday, tickets were still available for the Penn State game. Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.gophersports.com/ or by calling 1-800-UGOPHER weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Congratulations to Minneapolis Community and Technical Community College coach Jay Pivec who has been named to the National Junior College Athletic Association Men’s Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. https://www.njcaa.org/newsArticle.cfm?articleId=9972.
The Wild rank fourth in NHL home attendance, second among American franchises, according to a report posted yesterday by ESPN.com. https://espn.go.com/nhl/attendance/_/sort/homePct.
Five Minnesotans were named to the U.S. National Junior Team: Jake Gardiner (Minnetonka), Danny Kristo (Eden Prairie), Mike Lee (Roseau), Jordan Schroeder (Prior Lake) and Derek Stepan (Hastings).
Xcel Energy Center is hosting a 15 day run of hockey with the Wild, Schwan Cup high school tournament and the Qwest Tour featuring the U.S. Women’s National Team.