Since NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s non-standing statement during the playing of the national anthem in late August, more talk seems to have been centered on what he did rather than why he did it. Dave Zirin, who writes for The Nation and his own Edge of Sports blog, succinctly wrote last week, “Kaepernick is on […]
Sports
Local and national sports reporting and commentary by the state’s leading African American sportswriters, including award-winning columnists Charles Hallman and Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald, with a special emphasis on the local prep scene and disparities in sports administration and media coverage.
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Key victories for North and Johnson
Minneapolis North and St. Paul Johnson earned important football victories last weekend. North is quietly picking up where it left off last year — finishing runner-up in Class 1A —sitting at 5-0 after a 36-29 victory over St. Paul Central. Johnson defeated Harding 16-7 for bragging rights on St. Paul’s Eastside in what is traditionally […]
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WNBA’s Cooper has coached many of the best
For 20 weeks, to commemorate the WNBA’s 20th season (the MSR having covered each season), the MSR sports section is featuring a column or article on the W in our “20 in 20” series. This week: best seat in the house Michael Cooper’s place in W history is well secured and most deserved. He is […]
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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 […]
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Lynx take 2-0 lead against Mercury in semifinals series
A retired basketball official who I sat next to at the Lynx’s 10-point win against Mercury Friday night consistently shook his head at the officiating. During halftime he received a text at halftime that called one of the three zebras “single-handedly terrible.” It may have been an ugly win, but “Every time you get a win, […]
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Lynx overcome slow start to win playoff opener
The Minnesota Lynx outscored visiting Phoenix in the second quarter by almost two-to- one en route to a 113-95 victory in the first game of the semifinals. Lynx Assistant Coach Jim Petersen told the MSR afterwards that giving up 57 second-half points to the Mercury simply won’t do.“We got to do better,” he said. Phoenix got 25 points […]
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Lynx again test their special chemistry in this year’s playoffs
For 20 weeks, to commemorate the WNBA’s 20th season (the MSR having covered each season), the MSR sports section is featuring a column or article on the W in our “20 in 20” series. This week: Four-square success The Minnesota Lynx has qualified for the playoffs six straight seasons, the league’s second-longest such stretch behind […]
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Mpls Patrick Henry undefeated
Don’t look now, but Minneapolis Henry’s football team is undefeated. The Patriot’s improved to 4-0 after defeating St. Paul Como Park 28-19 last week at James S. Griffin Stadium in St. Paul. The match-up featured teams in the Twin City Red Division. Quarterback Todd Johnson threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Laryountae Taylor and ran […]
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Black Twins fans give the sport a thumbs-up
This column continues the Only One series in which this reporter shares his experiences as the only African American journalist on the scene. The 2016 Minnesota Twins season concludes this weekend. All season long we searched, and on the last unofficial day of summer, Labor Day, the Only One finally located a Black family at […]
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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. […]
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WNBA playoffs notebook
Each spring March Madness signals the start of the college basketball’s post season, but league officials have yet to coin a catch phrase for the new WNBA playoff format, which begins Wednesday. The first two rounds —“one and done” is the first such post season elimination setup since the league’s first season, when only three […]
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Athletes continue tradition of using platform to fight against injustice
Athletes are making their voices heard on social injustice, be it WNBA players wearing T-shirts in protest of police shootings or NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick and others refusing to stand for the national anthem. “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and […]
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Hometown peeps representing in the NFL
There are five NFL players with ties to the Twin Cities that have been contributing to their respective teams two weeks into the season. Defensive back Marcus Williams — who starred in football and basketball at Hopkins High School before going on to star at North Dakota State University — has eight tackles and two […]
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WNBA regular season wrap-up
For 20 weeks, to commemorate the WNBA’s 20th season (the MSR having covered each season), the MSR sports section is featuring a column or article on the W in our “20 in 20” series. This week: Watch them work Like the ’60s series Naked City, there are thousands of WNBA stories to tell: Such as […]
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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 […]
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New coaches begin season on a high note
I recently attended my first high school football game in over a decade. Fellow colleague Mitchell McDonald does such a fine job in his prep coverage that he doesn’t need me to entreat on his beat. However, last week, as opposed to the press box, this college and pro sports reporter sat near midfield, on […]
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Founding WNBA president proud to see league flourish
For 20 weeks, to commemorate the WNBA’s 20th season (the MSR having covered each season), the MSR sports section is featuring a column or article on the W in our “20 in 20” series. This week: Fond memories Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman proudly looks back at what she was an integral part of and […]
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Lynx clinch top seed, play first two playoff games at home
On Sunday, the Minnesota Lynx clinched the top overall seed and home court advantage throughout this year’s playoffs, which begins September 21. However, the team officials announced Monday that the first two home playoff games will be held at the Minnesota Wild’s home due to scheduling conflicts at the Lynx’s home arena in downtown Minneapolis. […]
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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 […]
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‘Country girl from Dayton’ helped lay Lynx foundation
For 20 weeks, to commemorate the WNBA’s 20th season (the MSR having covered each season), the MSR sports section is featuring a column or article on the W in our “20 in 20” series. This week: watching the box scores One can’t blame Tamika Williams Raymond if she keeps a daily watch on the league’s […]