Major League Baseball’s Reviving Baseball in the Inner Cities (RBI) youth baseball and softball program operates in all 30 MLB franchise cities. This season the Minnesota Twins, through its Community Fund, is handing out free baseball gloves to all participants ages eight and under in Minneapolis and St. Paul. An estimated 5,000 youth in the […]
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.
Posted inSports
Hallman will lead his alma mater
DeLaSalle alum named head football coach C.J. Hallman was settled in his role as associate director of Lasallian Ministry, assistant football coach, and ninth-grade basketball coach at DeLaSalle High School. “I was very comfortable,” said Hallman, a 2002 graduate of the school located on Nicollet Island in downtown Minneapolis. “I loved what I was doing […]
Posted inSports
Magazine cover gives WNBA some overdue respect
For 20 weeks, to commemorate the WNBA’s 20th season (the MSR having covered each season), the MSR sports section will feature a column or article on the W in our “20 in 20” series. This week: a 20th anniversary layup line Minnesota Lynx forward Maya Moore led the current and former WNBA players’ layup line […]
Posted inTimberwolves/NBA
Before the finals: Tom Thibodeau’s Timberwolves vision
Golden State vs. Cleveland in the NBA Finals — I can’t wait. There’s nothing quite as enjoyable as being on the inside watching two great, gifted teams loaded with talented players that worked into a position in the NBA Finals’ best of seven seeking NBA glory. Kevin Love, once the face of the Timberwolves, was […]
Posted inSports
Youngsters inspired by WNBA trailblazers
For 20 weeks, to commemorate the WNBA’s 20th season (the MSR having covered each season), the MSR sports section will feature a column or article on the W in our “20 in 20” series. This week: That first thought of playing professional basketball These are the post-1997 players. These women hoopsters saw first-hand America’s longest […]
Posted inSports
Clayton caps brilliant career at City meet
Sophomore Jackson also dominates Como Park’s coach for boys’ track and field Roy Magnuson was confident about the way Trevon Clayton would complete his brilliant St. Paul City Conference career at the conference meet last Thursday at Griffin Stadium on the campus of St. Paul Central High School. “He’s about to close out an outstanding […]
Posted inSports
Creating opportunities for coaches of color
The headline writers for the local Minneapolis daily newspaper — well known in our community for its culturally conditioned coverage, especially in sports — were recently in rare form: The headlines “In Good Hands” and “We finally got it right” were placed above photos of White faces along with one columnist’s thesis that they provide […]
Posted inSports
Lynx come to Minnesota’s rescue
What is the primary purpose of sports? Is it to win? Or is it to perform as beautifully as one can financially and, in doing so, to shine a light on what it means to be human? Sports Illustrated asked that question recently, and it got me to thinking. The defending WNBA Champions are 3-0 […]
Posted inSports
Tales of the Only One: Privileged mistreatment
My normal sports journalist routine is to arrive at the ballpark or the arena at least two hours before game time. It allows me time to work without being bothered by noise or noisy people. I usually get a good start on some pre-writing details before White privilege arrives like a Billie Holiday song “Good morning (or evening) headache.”
Posted inSports
A ‘simple’ job: marketing the WNBA
It’s not often when the head of a pro sports league is seen taking selfies and glad-handing with common fans, sitting among them as well. Or fist bumping this reporter and politely correcting him afterwards on the proper way of flashing the “W.”
Posted inSports
Inner City All-Star Classic a success
Derek Reuben was hoping for a better turnout for the 23rd Annual Inner City Classic held last Sunday at Schoenecker Arena on the campus of St. Thomas University.
The game — which featured 40 senior boys and girls basketball players — had been held annually in June after the participants had graduated from high school.
Posted inSports
Saints triple their Black players (from one to three)
Last year’s “Only One” installment subject St. Paul Saints outfielder Alonzo Harris quickly pointed out this year, “We got a few more brothers on the team.”
Posted inSports
NBA final four: Warriors, Thunder, Cavaliers and Raptors
It is actually harder to the miss the playoffs in the NBA than it is to reach them. With 30 teams, 16 teams make the post season and 14 qualify for the NBA Lottery.
Posted inSports
NBA playoffs: Two Black coaches take center stage for Raptors vs. Caviliers series
This year’s Eastern Conference winners will ensure that the 2016 NBA Finals will have a Black head coach on the sidelines. Black coaches oftentimes aren’t given enough credit, especially during game telecasts of their leadership ability on and off the court.
Posted inSports
WNBA 20th season kicks off this weekend
It’s almost here — the WNBA’s landmark 20th season is close to tip off.
Posted inSports
Mothers of pro athletes face unique challenges
A Lifetime biopic on Kevin Durant’s mom that aired last Saturday talked about one mother’s tireless dedication to bring her soon-to-be NBA star up right. A local mom of a current NBAer can testify that such dedication is not so unusual.
Posted inSports
Winfield finalists named
The Winfield Awards Committee recently announced the 10 student-athlete finalists for its 40th annual banquet to be held next month.
Posted inSports
The star who could’ve been…
What happened to Brandy Reed? The answer could make an UnSung episode on TV One.
She was Seimone before Seimone. She was Maya before Maya. She potentially could have been this area’s first Black female pro superstar, recognized on a first-name basis.
Posted inSports
Wild hire Bruce Boudreau
Four years in a row the Minnesota Wild have reached the Stanley Cup playoffs, and tickets are very tough to get at Xcel Center — 19,000 occupied seats with standing-room only has been the attendance for virtually all 41 home dates.
Posted inSports
Lynx players add chemistry to Team USA
There is less than 100 days until the 2016 U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team takes on the world in Rio in August. The team’s Olympic record is 58-3.