Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald

Park Center Football Coach Paul Strong may not remember our exchange at a basketball game at the school last winter, but the former University of Minnesota player, who took over when former Gopher standout Ricky Foggie left to coach at Red Wing last year, invited me to attend a Pirates game this season.

The football game that everyone wanted to see last year finally happened on a cool, rainy night last Friday. Minneapolis North and St. Paul Central — two of the state’s top teams — finally squared off in a Twin City District matchup before a capacity crowd at James S. Griffin Stadium in St. Paul.

St. Paul Highland Park put on a clinic in both defense and offense in a high school football matchup against St. Paul Johnson last Saturday evening in a Twin City District contest.

John Kipper remembers how he felt after shattering a tibia and fibula in his right leg cost him his sophomore season as a member of the Academy of Holy Angels varsity football team.

“I was devastated,” the senior said. “It was hard not playing and being with my teammates and coaches. Very hard.”

Jamire Jackson was everywhere.

The defensive tackle totally dominated, leading Minneapolis North to a 42-8 Twin City District football victory over Minneapolis Washburn last Saturday afternoon before a near-capacity crowd (on both sides).

One moment Charles Hallman was in familiar territory. Then, in the blink of eye, he found himself on unfamiliar ground.

The veteran sports columnist for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder was in familiar territory while covering the presentation of the Sam Lacy Pioneer Awards during the 40th Annual National Association of Black Journalists Convention in Minneapolis last week.

Lucas Olson-Patterson was going through a self-identity crisis in the late 2000s. The former Robbinsdale Cooper and Augsburg college basketball player, who starred at both schools during the early 2000s, had come to the realization that his basketball career was over.

After 20 years, 14 state tournament appearances, eight Class 3A titles and two three-peats at different schools (Minneapolis North from 2003-2005 and DeLaSalle from 2011-2013), former Marshall University High School and University of Wisconsin star Faith Johnson Patterson is leaving DeLaSalle to coach Eden Prairie.

On June 15, 2015, the University of Minnesota announced that former DeLaSalle star guard and top in-state basketball recruit Jarvis Johnson will sit out his freshman season after failing to clear a medical exam due to a heart condition.

Craig Henderson walked into the Park Center High School gymnasium with a smile on his face.