Worth Noting
The Twins begin interleague play tonight
at Colorado in a three game series, the first time ever that Minnesota
has played regular season games in Denver. The Twins and Rockies played
regular season games in the Metrodome in
2003 with Minnesota winning two of three games.
The schedule for the 12th season of interleague competition between the
American League and the National League will have 252 games played in
two segments: Friday thru Sunday and from June 13-29,
according to a major league baseball press release. American League East
teams will play primarily against the National League Central; the N.L.
East versus the A.L. West; and the A.L. Central against the N.L. West.
Interleague play drew a record 8,795,939 fans in 2007, an all-time high
of 34,905 fans per game. The average 2007 interleague attendance was 7.3
percent greater than the season's average intraleague attendance of
32,529. Since its inception in 1997, interleague play has drawn an
average attendance of 33,034 fans, a total that is 11.9 percent higher
than the intraleague average of 29,517.
The American League had a 137-115 interleague record last season. It was
the fourth consecutive season the A.L. won the season-series and
extended its all-time lead over the N.L. to 1,387-1,317.
Canadian native and hockey fan Justin Morneau
of the Twins is pulling for
Pittsburgh in the NHL playoffs. He wants to see Sidney Crosby be
part of a Stanley Cup champion.
The Amazing Hondo, the well-known
local magician who played basketball at Winona State, e-mailed to report
he entertained earlier this month for Joe Mauer’s golf benefit to
provide funding for St. Paul playgrounds and ballparks. “He’s about as
nice a kid as they come,” Hondo wrote.
Candice Wiggins’ dad, Alan, played seven seasons of major league baseball and
died in 1991 from AIDS, a Minnesota Lynx spokesman told Sports
Headliners. Candice, the Lynx’s No. 1 2008 draft choice, makes her
WNBA debut Sunday night at Target Center against Detroit.
There’s conflicting opinion about whether the Timberwolves want to trade
Rashad McCants, a talented scorer who can be inconsistent in his
performance and emotions. McCants averaged 14.9 points in 2007-2008,
the first time in three NBA seasons he’s been in double figure
scoring. He was the team’s second leading scorer after Al Jefferson, 21
points per game.
Even in today’s college football with
teams having multiple captains, it’s unusual to have a sophomore captain
like Adam Weber of the Gophers. This week he was named one of
Minnesota’s captains for next season, along with junior wide receiver Eric
Decker, senior linebacker Steve Davis and senior defensive
end Willie VanDeSteeg. Weber’s captaincy reflects coach Tim
Brewster’s expectation of leadership from his starting quarterback.
Weber was a third-team freshman All-America and freshman
All-Big Ten selection by The Sporting News last season. He
started all 12 games, passed for 2,895 yards and 24 touchdowns, setting
school records for pass completions, attempts, yards and touchdown
passes. Weber ranked second nationally among freshmen and third overall
in the Big Ten with 241.2 passing yards per game.
Kent Patterson,
who played with Cedar Rapids of the United States Hockey League the past
two seasons, has signed a National Letter of Intent with the Gophers.
Patterson, a 6-1, 180-pound goaltender, was recruited to replace junior
Jeff Frazee who recently signed a pro contract with New Jersey.
Patterson, who played prep hockey for The Blake School, was a
fourth-round draft choice by the Colorado Avalanche and the 113th player
taken overall in the 2007 NHL draft.
Steve Erban,
who owns race horses that run at Canterbury Park and operates Creative
Charters for local sports fans, e-mailed to report that
Gayego is running in the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore with a
Minnesota connection. Steve’s dad, Ed Erban, is rehabilitating
in a Stillwater nursing home with a picture of Gayego signed by trainer
Paulo Lobo, exercise rider Jody Piper and owners Carlos
Juelle's and Dr. Jose Prieto. They all met previously at the
Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs. Two days before the
Kentucky Derby earlier this month the owners sent Ed a Gayego hat to
wear on Derby Day. He can wear it again Saturday for the running of the
Preakness. Gayego’s jockey will be Mike Smith who was riding
horses at Canterbury Park in the 1980s.
Four MIAC students who participate in
winter sports have been awarded NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships of
$7,500.00 each. Concordia's Melanie Hageman and Gustavus'
Margaret Dorer, Trevor Wittwer, and Connor Ziegler
received the honor. To qualify for a scholarship, a student-athlete must
have an overall grade-point average of 3.2 (on a 4.0 scale) or its
equivalent and must have performed with distinction as a member of the
varsity team in the sport in which the student-athlete was nominated.
The student-athlete also must intend to continue academic work beyond
the baccalaureate degree.
