The California Legislature has exempted a proposed downtown Los Angeles football stadium from state environmental laws, according to a September 13 online Los Angeles Times article. The article reported governor Jerry Brown hasn’t signed the legislation. A Sports Headliners source believes L.A. interests want an NFL team in southern California by 2012 and playing in a new stadium by 2016.
Sometimes criticized Vikings center John Sullivan was a standout on Sunday against the Bucs and so, too, was tight end Jim Kleinsasser.
The Hollywood produced movie “Smith of Minnesota” made its national debut in September of 1942 in Faribault, the home town of Gophers Heisman Trophy (1941) winner Bruce Smith, according to a September 27, 1942 article in the Minneapolis Sunday Tribune & Star Journal. The shy halfback played himself in the movie and had a clause in the movie contract stating he didn’t have to kiss an actress, according to the newspaper article.
Former Gophers coach Glen Mason, who provided color commentary for the Big Ten Network on a Minnesota game for the first time last week, will also work the North Dakota State game this Saturday.
Westbrook-Walnut Grove coach Carter Ross will try for career win No. 100 on Friday against Cleveland High. His career record is 99-46.
Detroit Lakes prep coach Flint Motschenbacher is also after win No. 100. Motschenbacher, 99-41, coaches his team on Friday against Staples-Motley.
The MIAC announced its football players of the week are Tyler Maxwell (offense), Billy Morgan (defense) and Fritz Waldvogel (special teams). In his first college game Maxwell ran for 173 yards, the most for an Augsburg running back in seven years as his team defeated Hamline last Saturday. Morgan, a Bethel linebacker, had 17 tackles in a win over Carleton. Waldvogel, a wide receiver and kick returner for St. Thomas, had 228 all-purpose yards against St. Olaf including punt returns of 40, 29 and 22 yards.
Don’t think the Gophers aren’t under pressure already to gain a verbal commitment from nationally-pursued Apple Valley sophomore point guard Tyus Jones.
Expect another big crowd at Target Center tonight for game three of the WNBA Western Conference semi-finals between the Lynx and San Antonio. Friday night’s game drew 11,891. In previous playoff games the Lynx attracted 4,227 (2004) and 3,622 (2003).
Only Houston (14) has been swept in more series than the Twins, Mariners and Pirates (13 each) among major league baseball clubs this season. The Twins were last swept at least 13 times in a season in 1978 when the total was 17, according to Elias Sports Bureau.