Steve LaCroix, vice president of sales and marketing, reported via e-mail that like a year ago at this time the Vikings have tickets remaining for their season opener. He wrote that the top five of 10 price levels for season tickets are sold out, and that 98 percent of the new $196 season ticket inventory is sold. “These have been a big hit with our fans,” according to LaCroix.
Friday night’s 7 p.m. pre-season game at New York against the Jets is nationally televised with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman providing commentary on Fox. Brooks Bollinger is familiar with the Jets defense having been with the team for three seasons before coming here last year. The game could be his only pre-season start.
Viking trivia: Tony Richardson is the oldest player at 35. Sidney Rice is the youngest at 20. Richardson has played the most seasons in the NFL, 13. Matt Birk has played the most with the Vikings, 10. Bryant McKinnie is the biggest Viking, 6-foot-8, 335-pounds, while Antoine Winfield is the smallest, 5-foot-9, 180-pounds.
Mike Morris, former long snapper for the Minnesota Vikings and now a KFAN talk show host, told Sports Headliners that an NFL player today with eight to 10 years in the league could expect to draw a pension at age 55 of $10,000 or more per month. Age 55 is full retirement age, although players can draw partial pensions starting at 45.
Jonas Gray, an outstanding running back from Detroit who the Gophers were pursuing, has committed to Nebraska, according to rivals.com.
Don’t be surprised if the Timberwolves make more player acquisitions. The team needs improvement at center and a healthy Joel Przybilla, the former Gopher stuck in Portland behind No. 1 pick Greg Oden, could help here. The “welcome mat” is probably out, too, for a good point guard.
Last week’s Sporting News includes a small photo of Twins reliever Pat Neshek on the cover, referring to him as a “weird and wired pitcher.” A flattering feature story describes Neshek’s unusual sidearm delivery, high socks, low cap and passion for his Internet site.
Canterbury Park’s annual Minnesota Festival of Champions is Sunday, with 11 races and a purse of $425,000. The festival is for Minnesota bred horses and showcases the state horse racing industry.