Sports

(Mr. T's Sports Report) The power of the ballpark

Thursday, 16 July 2009 15:43 Ryan T. Scott

Before we ease into a new era of iconic urban baseball and collegiate football stadiums, I thought it important to acknowledge the importance of those parks and the people that fill them. I have mentioned each of the two new parks in previous articles, but recent discussion about the best baseball towns in America gave me the feeling that Minnesota doesn’t get its propers for sports “fanship”(“propers” and “fanship” should be words). Like many other industries where Minnesota quietly thrives, Minnesota sports industry seems to be recognized, but not celebrated.

(Mr. T's Sports Report) McNair almost always played through the pain

Friday, 10 July 2009 16:03 Ryan T. Scott

Steve “Air” McNair was the first Black quarterback to make African American football players exhale with regard to a certain plateau in equality having been achieved. Before McNair there were the high-profile names of Doug Williams, Randall Cunningham, and Warren Moon, amongst a few others from waaaay back, who stood tall as the giants that laid the yellow brick road for McNair and those that followed him in success. Yet McNair was the first to see the Wizard of Oz. It is unfortunate that it took his death for people (including me) to recognize his brilliance and importance.

Minneapolis basketball standout holds first Youth Basketball Camp

Friday, 10 July 2009 12:27 Mike Shelton

Friday, mid –afternoon no school for most children; community centers are buzzing with energized young people excited about summer. One community center in particular, the Richard Green Central Gymnasium and Community Center in South Minneapolis, is the host of the 1st Annual Kammron Taylor Youth Basketball Camp. There were over 150 boys and girls each day in attendance over the three days, with hoop dreams and aspirations of becoming the next basketball star.

(Mr. T's Sports Report) A barber shop rap on the Timberwolves 2009 NBA draft

Thursday, 02 July 2009 18:16 Ryan T. Scott

Timberwolves absurdly had four of the 30 first round picks in this year’s NBA Draft. With this much equity there had to be some noteworthy activity from new General Manager David Kahn. Kahn cleared house before the draft, sending away former first round pick and slight disappointment guard Randy Foye, and in addition to failed-sharpshooting forward Mike Miller.

AAU State Track Meet shows the strength of TC youth

Thursday, 02 July 2009 16:53 Ryan T. Scott

There are a lot of complaints about a lack of things to do for youth, but I am here to say that this notion is an absolute lie. Anyone who takes a moment to observe the activities of the several youth track institutions that exist in Minnesota understands that there is too much “good” out there for children of all socio-economic and cultural backgrounds to participate in.

European's racist taunts toward soccer star sparks lawsuit

Thursday, 02 July 2009 16:17 Special to the NNPA from GIN

(GIN) — During eight years of professional soccer in Europe, American-born Oguchi Onyewu (Gooch) had grown accustomed to monkey noises and racial remarks made by fans toward Black players.

(Mr. T's Sports Report) A whole lot of golfin’ goin’ on

Thursday, 02 July 2009 15:02 Ryan T. Scott

The Tiger Woods Effect is in full swing. Everybody is playing golf. On top of the many local, older and younger, faces and events that are dominating the golf scene, we have a big punctuation to this year’s golf season when Tiger Woods comes to town for the final major championship of the professional golfing year. The PGA Championship is that event, and it will be held at the acclaimed Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota during the week of August 10-16 this year.