Joe Mauer’s grandfather, Jake, Sr., has macular degeneration but he’s participating in an experimental program at the University of Minnesota and his sight is improving. Grandpa is back for another year at Canterbury Park selling his tip sheet.
Collector card authority Dave Mona reports the following sports trading cards are the most popular nationally: Daisuke Matsuzaka, Sidney Crosby, Alex Rodriguez, JaMarcus Russell and Adrian Peterson.
Matsuzaka, the Red Sox pitcher, was the first choice in a Sports Illustrated players poll to win American League Rookie of the Year honors. The Twins’ Matt Garza, currently in AAA with Rochester, was the fourth choice (one percent of the vote).
The Gopher football team will play four of its seven home games at night, including three of its four Big Ten Conference home games. Those games are Bowling Green, September 1; Purdue, September 22; Ohio State, September 29 and Illinois, November 3. The Purdue game starts at 8 p.m., the others at 7 p.m.
KARE 11 meteorologist Belinda Jensen, who is expecting a baby in late July, remains interested in tennis and participates in weekly drills.
FSN North hockey analyst Kevin Gorg predicts Buffalo will defeat Anaheim in seven games to win the Stanley Cup.