Both Minnesota squads opened their respective 2015-16 season Friday in a rare home doubleheader and both teams came away with a win. The women played Wofford, and the men played against University of Missouri Kansas City. Next up: the men play Sunday and the women next Friday.
Charles Hallman
Charles Hallman is a contributing reporter and award-winning sports columnist at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.
Posted inSports, Twins/MLB
Torii Hunter transitions to off-the-field play
It took him two years to finally put away his Gold Glove, but nonetheless Torii Hunter says he’s only “transitioning” and not retiring from baseball.
Posted inNational, News
Public radio and the diversity problem
Public radio historically has been diversity-challenged. This American Life’s Stephanie Foo recently wrote for broadcast a “manifesto on diversity in public radio” that uniquely pointed out “all the excuses” often heard by station execs and others “and offers simple ways to override them.”
Posted inNational, News
Code Switch deepens race conversation on the airwaves
“Diversity is such a loaded term,” said National Public Radio (NPR) journalist Kat Chow, who since 2013 covers race, ethnicity and culture for NPR’s Code Switch team. She spoke at the November 2 Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) Broadcast Journalist Series fall program at the University of St. Thomas’ St. Paul campus.
Posted inLynx/WNBA, Sports
Parting thoughts on Laurel Richie’s departure
The WNBA’s top leadership over the course of its nearly 20-year history has exhibited qualities both worth noting and sometimes forgetting.
Posted inLynx/WNBA, Sports
Richie resigns as WNBA president
Laurel Richie’s announcement last week of her stepping down as WNBA president caught nearly everyone by surprise.
Posted inArts + Culture, Movies
Actor-director team create unparalleled body of work
Roger Guenveur Smith over the course of his three-decades-plus acting career has appeared in many Spike Lee works. But in a MSR phone interview last month, he let known that the successful collaboration with the famed director got its beginning in Minneapolis’ Uptown area.
Posted inOpinion
U-M Athletes Village — Who “needs” it?
At first it was a promised place that ultimately convinced Tubby Smith to leave Kentucky for Minnesota. Then after he was fired, it became Teaguetown, which was named for former U-M athletics director Norwood Teague, who dreamed and lobbied for it.
Posted inGophers/College, Sports
Corporation man takes leap of faith into coaching
Mike Sherels played for the Gophers from 2003-07 and was a two-year captain, the only Minnesota walk-on ever so named. He graduated with his business and marketing education degree in 2007 and earned his master’s degree in May 2014.
Posted inSports
St. Paul boxer ‘all the way Minnesota’
The road to the top hasn’t been smooth but St. Paul’s Antonio Johnson is still fighting. The junior middleweight boxer admits he’s a huge Minnesota sports fan, and watching the Minnesota Lynx fight their way to the WNBA top this year was inspirational for him.
Posted inLocal & State, News
U of M moves ahead with new sports facilities
The proposed University of Minnesota’s Athletes Village will be the school’s first new sports facilities development in over three decades. The University Board of Regents last month approved the $190 million plan, which includes three new buildings: an academic, leadership and nutrition center; a football development center, and a basketball development center.
Posted inGophers/College, Sports
Gopher volleyball taps elusive chemistry of team spirit
Team chemistry is not an exact science. It can’t be recruited or acquired, and it certainly isn’t a guarantee of success at any level in any sport. But when it does materialize, and flourishes, it’s beautiful.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Blue Line transit extension through North Mpls revised
Metropolitan Council officials are optimistic that the estimated $1 billion Metro Blue Line Extension (Bottineau) light rail transit project is becoming much closer to realizing its anticipated 2018 construction start date.
Posted inGophers/College, Sports
Mentoring a natural fit for Gopher coach
Gopher Linebackers Coach Mike Sherels did a one-year internship at the U-M athletic department’s African American Student-Athletes mentoring program in his senior year in 2007.
Posted inArts + Culture, Movies
‘Mavis!’ director offers fresh insight into living legend
After witnessing Mavis Staples perform in concert several years ago, Jessica Edwards went beyond just going home and binge listening to the singer’s songbook — she produced the first feature-length documentary on the legendary singer.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Students protest their arrests for protesting
Two University of Minnesota graduate students arrested and jailed earlier this year for a protest on campus are facing additional sanctions. Rahsaan Mahadeo and David Melendez are two of 13 students arrested, jailed and sanctioned by the school’s Office of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity after they took part in a protest at Morrill Hall in February.
Posted inSports, Timberwolves/NBA
‘Smooth as Silk’ Wilkes reflects on a stellar career
Almost as soon as the final buzzer went off and they were handed the championship trophy back in June, Golden State’s 2015 NBA crown has been oft-questioned. Jamaal Wilkes, a key member of the Warriors’ 1975 title-winning squad, sees similarities between how Golden State’s victory was viewed then, 40 years ago, and now.
Posted inSports
Champion soccer goalie advocates for greater sport safety
Briana Scurry is as fiercely protective about her sport today as she was as a championship goalie during her illustrious soccer career, which began back at Anoka High School in the late 1980s.
Posted inSports, Timberwolves/NBA
Timberwolves begin 2015-16 season on the road with heavy heart
Prior to the announcement of Saunders death, the MSR spoke with Mitchell, players, and Wolves GM Milt Newton regarding Mitchell’s coaching style. “Sam has his own style of doing things,” said Newton. “He has a certain way of running things and we will give him the leeway to do that.”
Posted inLocal & State, News, Sports, Timberwolves/NBA
‘Flip’ Saunders passes
The basketball world far and wide has expressed condolences on the passing of Phil “Flip” Saunders (1955-2015), who on October 25 lost his battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He was diagnosed with the ailment in June.