Sports in Minnesota
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sports in Minnesota include professional teams in all major sports, Olympic Games contenders and medalists, especially in the Winter Olympics, collegiate teams in major and small-school conferences and associations, and active amateur teams and individual sports. The State of Minnesota has a team in all four major professional leagues (MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL), and the University of Minnesota is part of the oldest major college conference still running (the Big Ten).
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[edit] Professional Sports
[edit] Baseball
The Minnesota Twins are a Major League Baseball (MLB) team that moved to Minnesota in 1961 from Washington D.C.,[1] where they were known as the Washington Senators. The Twins have played their home games at the Metrodome in Minneapolis since 1982. They have been to the World Series in 1965, 1987, and 1991, winning in 1987 and 1991. In 2001, the Twins and the Montreal Expos were threatened with extinction in a contraction scheme of the Commissioner of Baseball.[2] That effort was unsuccessful, and the next year the team made it to the ALCS. Notable current and former Twins include Kirby Puckett, Bert Blyleven, Harmon Killebrew, Paul Molitor, Johan Santana, Joe Mauer, Torii Hunter, Eddie Guardado, David Ortiz, A.J. Pierzynski, Corey Koskie, and Kent Hrbek. At one time, there was a Major League Baseball team based out of Saint Paul called the Saints, the teams has since moved to Chicago, Illinois and are now the Chicago White Sox.
The current St. Paul Saints are an American Association team. The team was formerly of the Northern League. The team was founded in 1993 as an inaugural team in the league. They won the Northern League Championship in 1993, 1995, 1996, and in 2004.[3] Notable current and former players include Kevin Millar, Darryl Strawberry, Jack Morris, and Ila Borders. The Saints play their home games at Midway Stadium in St. Paul and are not affiliated with Major League Baseball.
- See also: Sports_in_Minnesota#Baseball_2 below for information on amateur and other minor league teams.
[edit] Basketball
The Minnesota Timberwolves are a National Basketball Association (NBA) team founded in 1989[4] and play their home games at Target Center in Minneapolis. The "Wolves", as they are called by fans, have yet to appear in an NBA Finals series. In 2000, NBA officials ruled that the Wolves violated league rules when signing then free agent Joe Smith. They then declared the contract was henceforth invalid, fined the organization $3.5 million, and took the team's next 3 first round draft picks.[5] Notable current and former players include Sam Cassell, Kevin Garnett, Stephon Marbury, Latrell Sprewell, Wally Szczerbiak and Malik Sealy.
The Minnesota Lynx are a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) team founded in 1999 and play their home games at Target Center in Minneapolis. The Lynx have made the playoffs in 2003 and 2004, but have never appeared in the WNBA Finals. In 2005, the Lynx drafted Seimone Augustus from LSU. She has become the center of the franchise, and has been the center of many WNBA ads.
The Minneapolis Lakers were an NBA team that was moved from Detroit, Michigan to Minneapolis in 1947.[6] During their stay in Minneapolis, the Lakers won the 1947–48 National Basketball League (NBL) championship, then joined 4 other NBL teams in joining the Basketball Association of America (BAA), where they won the 1948–49 BAA championship. After the 1948–49 season, the NBL and the BAA merged to become the NBA. The Lakers then won 5 championships in 6 years, winning in 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, and 1954.[7] They are considered to be the NBA's first "Dynasty". Notable players include George Mikan, Jim Pollard, Vern Mikkelsen, Slater Martin, Clyde Lovellette and Elgin Baylor. In 1960, the Lakers moved to Los Angeles, California, where they became the Los Angeles Lakers.
[edit] Football
The Minnesota Vikings are a National Football League (NFL) team founded as an expansion team in 1961. They have played their home games at the Metrodome in Minneapolis since 1982. The Vikings have won one NFL Championship in 1969, a year before the AFL-NFL Merger. The Vikings were the first team to appear in four Super Bowls, but also lost all of them. Their last appearance in the Super Bowl was Super Bowl XI against the Oakland Raiders (who were coached by Austin native and TV commentator John Madden) in 1977. Notable current and former players include Warren Moon, Randall Cunningham, Jim Marshall, Ron Yary, Mick Tingelhoff, Paul Krause, Cris Carter, Carl Eller, Fran Tarkenton, Chuck Foreman, Randy Moss, Daunte Culpepper, Brad Johnson, Alan Page, the Purple People Eaters and Adrian L. Peterson. Before the Vikings, Minnesota also hosted the Marines/Red Jackets and Kelleys/Eskimos, see Minneapolis (NFL) and Duluth (NFL).
The Minnesota Vixen are a Women's Professional Football League founded in 1998. They have not appeared in the WPFL Championship. They are the oldest professional women's football team in the United States.
[edit] Hockey
The Minnesota Wild are a National Hockey League (NHL) team founded in 2000 and play their home games at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. The Wild have not appeared in the Stanley Cup Finals. With their first draft pick in franchise history, the Wild Drafted Marian Gaborik, a player that currently holds the team's record for most points in a season.[8] The Wild made it to the Western Conference Finals in 2003, before being swept by the then Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.
The Minnesota Whitecaps are an all women's team that plays in the National Women's Hockey League.
The Minnesota North Stars were an NHL team that was part of the 1967 NHL Expansion and played their home games at Met Center in Bloomington. They appeared in the 1981 and 1991 Stanley Cup Finals, but did not win either one of them. In 1993, the North Stars moved to Dallas, where they became the Dallas Stars. Notable players include Harry Howell, John Mariucci, Gump Worsley, and Mike Modano.
The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Eveleth, on the Iron Range.
[edit] Lacrosse
The Minnesota Swarm is the state's professional lacrosse team. All home games for the Minnesota Swarm are played at the Xcel Energy Center. The National Lacrosse League (NLL) awarded St. Paul the inactive Montreal Express franchise on August 10, 2004. On December 10 of the same year the team played its first exhibition game against the Colorado Mammoth. In the 2005 season the Swarm missed the playoffs, finishing fifth in the eastern division. In the 2006 season, it qualified for the playoffs for the first time, but was eliminated by the Buffalo Bandits in the first round. In 2008, the swarm finished the season as the best team in their division.
[edit] Soccer
The Minnesota Thunder are an USL First Division team founded in 1992 as an amateur Men's team, then joined the USL in 1994. [9] Notable former players include Tony Sanneh and Manuel Lagos. The Thunder play their home games at the James Griffin Stadium in St. Paul, with rare exceptions.
The Minnesota Lightning are a W-League team founded in 2006.
[edit] Golf
Minnesota plays host to several professional professional golf events. The Champions Tour has an annual stop in Minnesota. What was formerly was the Burnett Senior Classic played at Bunker Hills is now the 3M Championship played at TPC Twin Cities. Minnesota was the host of the LPGA Classic from 1990 - 1998 at Edinburgh USA. The Nationwide Tour stops annually at Tom Lehman's Somerby Gold Club and Community. Though Minnesota is not a stop on the men's PGA tour, the state has hosted several major events. The U.S. Open has been played in the state four times, twice at Hazeltine National Golf Club, in 1970 and 1991, once at Interlachen Country Club (1930) in Bobby Jones' historic win, and once at The Minikahda Club (1916). Hazeltine then played host to the PGA Championship in 2002, and will again in 2009. The Ryder Cup will then visit Hazeltine in 2016. The U.S. Women's Open will be at Interlachen Country Club in 2008.
[edit] Table of professional teams
[edit] Motorsports
[edit] NASCAR
There are currently two racetracks in Minnesota that hold NASCAR sanctioned events. Elko Speedway in Elko is a 3/8 mile paved oval, which has held NASCAR events for over twenty years. Raceway Park (Minnesota) in Shakopee is a 1/4 mile paved oval. NASCAR drivers from Minnesota include:
- Joe Frasson-Ran several races in 1970s, best career finish is third (three times)
- Mike Garvey-Last drove #51 car in NEXTEL Cup
- Brent Sherman-Drives #36 car in NASCAR Busch Series
- Blackie Wangerin-Best career finish was 13th[10]
[edit] NHRA
Minnesota is known for being the home of the Brainerd International Raceway, which opened in 1963. It has hosted drag racing, road racing, and kart racing.[11] NHRA drivers from Minnesota include:
[edit] Open Wheel
Perhaps the most successful driver from Minnesota is Tommy Milton. Milton became the first driver to win two Indianapolis 500s with his wins in 1921 and 1923. Amazingly, Milton was completely blind in his right eye.[12] The aforementioned Brainerd International Raceway also hosts a 3-mile road course, which held a USAC race in 1969 among other events.
[edit] Rally
Rally America, based out of Golden Valley, holds an annual event in the woodlands near Bemidji. Known as the Ojibwe Forests Rally, the event is held near the end of August each year. Rally America also holds events in Michigan, Missouri, Oregon, Washington, Pennsylvania, Maine, and Colorado. X-Games superstar, Travis Pastrana, is a regular in the series.
[edit] World of Outlaws
There is a yearly World of Outlaws (WoO) sprint car event held at Princeton Raceway. Known as the PolyDome Princeton Nationals, the event is most likely held at the track due to WoO driver, Craig Dollansky, being from nearby Elk River. The 1/4th mile track leads to some exciting, action-packed racing.
[edit] College
The state of Minnesota has 27 schools competing in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Minnesota is one of eleven US states that do not have a school listed as an National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) member[13], though there are schools transitioning from the NAIA to the NCAA.
[edit] Division I
The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers compete in NCAA Division I as member of the Big Ten Conference for all sports but hockey. In the latter sport the school is a member of the NCAA's Division I Western Collegiate Hockey Association. The Golden Gophers have won 23 total national collegiate championships, including 6 in football, 5 in men's hockey, 3 in baseball, 3 in women's hockey, 2 in men's basketball, 1 in men's golf, 1 in men's track and field, and 2 in men's wrestling.[14] The entire list of collegiate national championships can be found here. A list of notable former Golden Gophers can be found at Minnesota Golden Gophers#Notable Gopher athletes and coaches.
Four other universities in Minnesota maintain NCAA Division I ice hockey programs, and all five field both men's and women's teams. The other four Division I schools (for ice hockey only) are Bemidji State University, the University of Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota State University, Mankato, and St. Cloud State University. All five schools participate in the WCHA, with the exception of the Bemidji State men's team which is a member of College Hockey America.
[edit] Division II
The NCAA Division II teams in Minnesota are from the North Central Conference (NCC) or the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). There are 10 Division II classified schools for the 2006–2007 year.
The NCC, founded in 1921,[15] has three Minnesota members:[16]
- Minnesota State University, Mankato - Mavericks
- St. Cloud State University - Huskies
- University of Minnesota Duluth - Bulldogs
All three of these school were members of the NSIC, and will rejoin that conference as of July 1, 2008. In men's and women's ice hockey however these three schools compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Minnesota State, Mankato has produced three NCAA Division II titles, and the University of Minnesota-Duluth has produced three NCAA titles, all in Women's Division I ice hockey. St. Cloud State has no national titles.[17]
The NSIC was founded in 1932 and joined the NCAA in 1992.[18] Teams competing in the NSIC are:[19]
- Bemidji State University - Beavers
- Concordia University, Saint Paul - Golden Bears
- University of Minnesota Crookston - Golden Eagles
- Minnesota State University Moorhead - Dragons
- Southwest Minnesota State University - Mustangs
- Winona State University - Warriors
Bemidji State notably competes in Division I in men's and women's hockey, as members of the WCHA. Bemidji State University has won five NCAA Division II titles. Winona State has won two NCAA Division II titles. Concordia, St. Paul, UM-Crookston, MSU-Moorhead and Southwest Minnesota State have not won any NCAA team titles.[17]
The University of Minnesota Morris Cougars, formerly a member of the NSIC, are transitioning to Division III and the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference. They are still considered as a Division II member.[20]
[edit] Division III
The NCAA Division III teams in Minnesota play in one of two leagues, the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) or the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC).
Teams competing in the MIAC:[21]
- Augsburg College - Auggies
- Bethel University - Royals
- Carleton College - Knights
- Concordia College, Moorhead - Cobbers
- Gustavus Adolphus College - Gusties
- Hamline University - Pipers
- Macalester College - Scots
- College of Saint Benedict - Blazers (women only)
- College of St. Catherine - Wildcats (women only)
- St. John's University - Johnnies (men only)
- St. Mary's University - Cardinals
- St. Olaf College - Oles
- University of St. Thomas - Tommies
The MIAC was founded in 1920.[22] Conference schools have won 30 total NCAA titles.[17] Among those titles are Augsburg's nine wrestling titles, and St. Thomas' eleven total titles.
Teams competing in the UMAC:[23]
- Bethany Lutheran College - Vikings
- Crown College - Storm
- Martin Luther College - Knights
- Northwestern College - Eagles
- College of St. Scholastica - Saints
The UMAC was founded in 1972.[24] The conference is currently in the process of becoming an NCAA Division III conference. There are eight full members, six from Minnesota. Five of those members are listed as Division III members. Additionally, the University of Minnesota Morris is transitioning from Division II to Division III.
North Central University in Minneapolis, is an independent school that is also transitioning into the NCAA Division III .[25]
[edit] Olympians from Minnesota
The United States hockey team won the Olympic gold medal for ice hockey in 1980, coached by Minnesota native Herb Brooks. Eleven of the twenty players on the roster were from Minnesota. The team beat the long-dominant Soviet team in what has been called the Miracle on Ice, and went on to win the gold medal by defeating Finland.
Similarly, the majority of players on the 1972 Olympic silver medal hockey team came from Minnesota.[26]
In the 2006 Winter Olympics, both the bronze medal U.S. men's and the women's curling teams came from the Bemidji Curling Club.
Bloomington native Tom Malchow won a gold medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics and a silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in swimming.
Carrie Tollefson was on the 2004 Summer Olympic team as a distance runner and looks likely to return in 2008.
[edit] Amateur sports
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[edit] Baseball
Summer Collegiate Baseball is present in Minnesota with the SCBA-sanctioned Northwoods League. All players in the league must have NCAA eligibility remaining in order to participate, and therefore are not paid. Minnesota's Northwoods League teams are the Alexandria Beetles, Brainerd Blue Thunder, Duluth Huskies, Mankato Moondogs, Rochester Honkers, and St. Cloud River Bats. The Northwoods League Offices are located in Rochester, Minnesota. There are also Northwoods League teams operating in Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, and Ontario, Canada. The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks are a Northern League team founded in 1996. They won the Northern League Title in 1998 and in 2003.[27]
Other Minor League Baseball teams associated with Minnesota include the Rochester Red Wings (AAA), the New Britain Rock Cats (AA), the Fort Myers Miracles (High-A), the Beloit Snappers (Low-A), the Elizabethton Twins (Rookie), the DSL Twins[28] of the Dominican Summer League, and GCL Twins of the Gulf Coast League, all sponsored by the Minnesota Twins.
American Legion baseball is played throughout the state in summer.
[edit] Golf
Minnesota has more golfers per capita than any state in the U.S. [29] Hazeltine National Golf Club played host to the 2006 United States Amateur Championship (men's golf). [30]
[edit] Curling
In addition to the Bemidji Curling Club whose members competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics, there are over two dozen curling clubs in the state.
[edit] Roller derby
Minnesota is home to both the Minnesota RollerGirls (Saint Paul) and North Star Roller Girls (Minneapolis). Founded in 2004 and 2006 respectively, both leagues have shown increasing popularity over their existence, with the Minnesota RollerGirls having reached attendance levels of 3,900 spectators at their venue, the Roy Wilkins Auditorium. The North Star Roller Girls started their 2007-2008 season in a new home, the Minneapolis Convention Center, having outgrown the capacity of Coon Rapids' Cheap Skate roller rink.
[edit] Soccer
Every year in summer (generally in July) at Blaine's National Sports Center the Schwan’s USA CUP is played: the largest international youth soccer tournament in the Northern Hemisphere with over 1,000 teams and participants in 22 countries.[31][32]
[edit] References
- ^ Twins Timeline. MLB Advanced Media, L.P. (2006). Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
- ^ ESPN.com Selig says baseball will try again in 2003. ESPN Baseball. ESPN (2002-02-13). Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
- ^ Tyler, Wm R. (2006). nlfan.com St. Paul Saints. nlfan. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
- ^ Timberwolves.com Timberwolves Statistics. NBA Media Ventures, LLC (2006). Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
- ^ Allen, Nate (2000). SportsLawNews.com Timberwolves Heavily Penalized for Secret Deal. Mark's Sportslaw News. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
- ^ D. Barreiro, The Fab Five. NBA Encyclopedia Playoff Edition. NBA Media Ventures, LLC (2006). Retrieved on 2007-01-07.
- ^ NBA.com Year-by-year results - NBA Finals: All-Time Champions. NBA Encyclopedia Playoff Edition. NBA Media Ventures, LLC (2006). Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
- ^ Wild.com Marian Gaborik. State of Hockey. Minnesota Sports and Entertainment (2005). Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
- ^ mnthunder.com Team History. Minnesota Thunder. mnthunder. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
- ^ [http://www.nascar.com/2006/news/headlines/cup/01/22/countdown.daytona.minn/index.html nascar.com
- ^ Brainerd International Raceway.
- ^ Tommy Milton, Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.
- ^ National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Member Institutions. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
- ^ Gophersports.com Minnesota Championships. Goldy's Locker Room. University of Minnesota (2006). Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
- ^ North Central Conference About Us Page. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
- ^ North Central Conference Member Page. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
- ^ a b c How many NCAA championships has your school won?. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
- ^ Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Media Guide. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
- ^ Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
- ^ NCAA's UM-Morris information page. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
- ^ Minnesota Athletic Intercollegiate Conference member page. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
- ^ Minnesota Athletic Intercollegiate Conference History. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
- ^ Upper Midwest Athletic Conference member page. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
- ^ Upper Midwest Athletic Conference history page. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
- ^ NCU affiliations. Retrieved on 2007-08-06.
- ^ Caraccioli, Tom (2006). Striking Silver: The Untold Story of America's Forgotten Hockey Team. Sports Publishing LLC. ISBN 1596700785.
- ^ Tyler, Wm R. (2006). nlfan.com Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. nlfan. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
- ^ DSL Twins - Dominican Summer League (R). Baseball America (2006). Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
- ^ Explore Minnesota Golf...
- ^ 2006 U.S. Amateur
- ^ Schwan's USA Cup
- ^ About Us
[edit] External links
- Minnesota Wild Official Site
- Minnesota Twins Official Site
- Minnesota Vikings Official Site
- Minnesota Timberwolves Official Site
- Minnesota Swarm Official Site
- Minnesota Thunder Official Site
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