These events in sports were covered by me this year. I was there and saw it with my own eyes. The Timberwolves finished 29-53, missing the playoffs for the 12th straight season. They fired Sam Mitchell as interim coach even though the team improved from just 16-66 the previous year under the late Flip Saunders. […]
Larry Fitzgerald
Larry Fitzgerald is a longstanding contributing columnist at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. He can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, on WDGY-AM 740 Monday and Friday at 9:10 am, and at www.Gamedaygold.com. He also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). Follow him on Twitter at FitzBeatSr. Larry welcomes reader responses to info@larry-fitzgerald.com, or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com.
Posted inSports
Playoffs? Forget about it!
The end is near. The Vikings are now 7-7 with two games left on this injured season. Adrian Peterson returned Sunday, and what many thought would be a much-needed, no-excuses spark turned into a reality check. It’s not likely going to happen in 2016. The Vikings are alive for the playoffs but need a respirator, divine intervention, […]
Posted inNews
No place like home! Vikings win 30-24
After four straight losses, three of which were on the road, the 6-4 Vikings were back at U.S. Bank Stadium Sunday looking for a spark. They may have started a fire after getting a team-record two 100-yard touchdowns to beat the Arizona Cardinals 30-24. Cornerback Xavier Rhodes turned the Vikings’ season around with an electrifying 100-yard interception […]
Posted inUncategorized
Can Timberwolves finally show a growth spurt?
How long is too long? And at what point do fans decide enough is enough? After 12 years of the Timberwolves missing the playoffs, I feel being patient and trusting have just about run their course. Every organization experiences tough breaks, losing star players in free agency and injuries. Some teams fail because management and […]
Posted inNews
NFC North up for grabs!
Over the years, the Vikings it seems have always been able to get healthy against the Detroit Lions. And with six starters out, it was a tumultuous week. Head Coach Mike Zimmer (no excuses) had eye surgery Monday, and during the week Offensive Coordinator Norv Turner resigned. After back-to-back losses, the Vikings’ 31st-ranked offense needed to […]
Posted inNews
Nightmare at Soldier Field!
Bears 20, Vikings 10 CHICAGO — In the midst of the 2016 World Series, 24 hours after the hometown Chicago Cubs defeated the Cleveland Indians 3-2 at Wrigley Field in game five, it was the first World Series win by the Cubs at home since 1945, forcing game six in Cleveland with the Indians leading […]
Posted inNews
No love in Philly for Vikings — Eagles 21-10!
Philadelphia, better known as the City of Brotherly Love, was a rude host to the Vikings. Minnesota, the NFL’s then-only unbeaten team at 5-0, ran into the fired-up Eagles and were exposed for all to see. For the ninth time in Vikings history, they started on a road to a perfect season: 1973, 9-0; 1974, […]
Posted inSports
Lynx keep dream alive
One of the greatest joys over my 38 years as a journalist who has weathered the test of time has been watching the growth of the WNBA and locally covering the Minnesota Lynx. I have a great appreciation for the business of sports, and believe me it’s a business in which you find out who […]
Posted inSports
Vikings fly high into the bye 5-0!
Could 2016 be the year of the Vikings? U.S. Bank Stadium seems to have cast an iron will with focus and determination on this team. This in a season in which no fewer than five starters have been lost to injury; quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (season), Adrian Peterson (eight weeks), left tackle Matt Kalil (season), defensive […]
Posted inSports
USA wins 41st Ryder Cup!
USA finishes the task and secures the 41st Ryder Cup at historic Hazeltine National convincingly 17-11 over Europe. For 20 years the United States has bitten the bullet, losing eight of 10, six of the last seven, and three in row. Ryder Cups calls for special measures. Indeed! U.S. captain Davis Love III, a task […]
Posted inSports
It’s here — Ryder Cup in Minnesota!
This is not the Super Bowl, but it’s close. The 2016 Ryder Cup is the biennial contest between American and European teams in the 41st annual event. Davis Love III is the U.S. captain, while Darren Clarke is the European captain. Clarke has played on five winning Ryder Cup teams and recorded a 10-7-3 record. […]
Posted inSports
Vikings beat Packers 17-14, but Adrian Peterson hurt!
It’s a new day and chapter in Vikings history. The experience has never been quite like this combined with the expectations. Quarterback Sam Bradford, in his first start with the Vikings, delivered a big time performance, outplaying Aaron Rodgers in a 17-14 hard-hitting Vikings win before 66,813 at U.S. Bank Stadium. Sunday’s early season showdown in […]
Posted inSports
Fitzgerald scores career No.100!
GLENDALE, Ariz. — For their first game of the season, the New England Patriots were without quarterback Tom Brady who was suspended for four games by Roger Goodell. And even without All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski, the team still managed to survive. A missed 47-yard field goal by Arizona’s Chandler Cantanzaro secured a 23-21 win against […]
Posted inSports
Vikings pull trigger, move on
This is the 38th year for me covering the Vikings and the NFL, and never has there been a season with quite the built-in pressures and expectations for the Vikings as this season. Head Coach Mike Zimmer, now in his third season, already was rewarded with a contract extension. The Wilf brothers ownership really believes […]
Posted inSports
No place like home — Vikings 23-10 over San Diego!
Since 1982, the MetroDome was home to Minnesota Vikings football. U.S. Bank Stadium is now the spectacular new home on the old Dome site. Since training camp, the Vikings have been wearing black tee-shirts reading “No-Excuses.” That will serve as the theme into 2016 and the new horizon of Vikings football. The Vikings, with 66,143 […]
Posted inSports
USA dominates in Rio
My, how time flies. The 2016 Rio Summer Olympics are over, and what a remarkable job our hardworking, dedicated athletes did. I feel as if I allowed the threatening hype and the enormous fear of the mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus to cloud my view on these games. In a career that has spanned nearly […]
Posted inSports
NFL owes us one
As we know, the NFL’s Hall of Fame (HOF) game in Canton, Ohio between Green Bay and Indianapolis was canceled because of poor field conditions. Lawsuits have been filed by angry, frustrated fans left empty-handed. A settlement offer has been made in the HOF lawsuit of $450 per ticket-holder. Tony Dungy, inducted into the Pro […]
Posted inSports
Minnesota six go for Rio gold!
Minnesota Timberwolves President and Head Coach Tom Thibodeau and Lynx Head Coach Cheryl Reeve will both work as assistant coaches with the men’s and women’s 2016 Olympic basketball teams in Rio de Janeiro. Four Lynx stars — Lindsay Whalen, Maya Moore, Seimone Augustus and Sylvia Fowles — all earned spots on the women’s team. The United […]
Posted inVikings/NFL
Vikings hit Mankato running
Defending the NFC North after winning their first Division title since 2009, the Vikings are talking big stuff. This is the 51st consecutive year the Vikings, the state’s most prized sports franchise, is in Mankato, Minnesota — but only for nine days. This week the Vikings break ground on construction of their new Eagan practice […]
Posted inSports
Vikings have spectacular new home
If you have not had the opportunity yet to see the fabulous new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings, you are in for a treat. The remarkable new home for Vikings football is finished. The historic ribbon cutting ceremony was Friday, July 22. “It’s a special day, said Vikings COO Kevin Warren. “A lot of work […]