Sports

A celebration of the life and achievements of Kwame McDonald is scheduled for Friday, October 7, 6-9 pm, at Central High School, 275 Lexington Parkway N., St. Paul. The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder encourages all readers of Kwame’s many contributions to the newspaper over the years, especially his “Kwame’s Kapsules” and “Wise Owl” columns, to attend and […]

By Charles Hallman Staff Writer Not since the 1995 NCAA Women’s Final Four championships, and not since the Minnesota Timberwolves played a couple of games in the 2004 Western Conference title series, has the downtown Minneapolis arena served as host of a national championship event. But Sunday the nation’s spotlight — well, actually, as much […]

By Charles Hallman Staff Writer WNBA President Laurel Richie says her “rookie season” as league president has been a great one. Speaking to reporters Sunday prior to the first game of the 2011 WNBA Finals in Minneapolis, Richie cited increases in attendance and television ratings and “great engagement in the online digital space” such as […]

People over the years have helped me along the way to be the Black journalist I am — yes, I am a Black journalist, not a journalist who happens to be Black. I learned and listened to them, hoping to glean as much knowledge and veteran seasoning as I could to somehow apply it to […]

Since graduating in 2002 from the University of Minnesota, Alana Glass has diligently mapped out a path that she hopes someday leads her to her ultimate goal. “My big dream is to be a WNBA owner,” admits Glass, now a lawyer in Detroit. She always has been involved in some level of sports, either as […]

A new report strongly suggests that big-time college football and men’s basketball players should be paid for their efforts while in school. “The Price of Poverty in Big Time College Sport” was released Sept. 13 by the National College Players Association and Drexel University Sport Management Program. It contends that the NCAA rules force players […]

The NCAA reinstated three Ohio State football players last week who were suspended for taking $200 each from a university booster at a charity event earlier this year. Other team members were found trading their celebrity status for benefits from a local merchant, and a former University of Miami booster, now in jail, admits that […]

Only in boxing can you just about expect the bizarre. You always have more questions than answers. Saturday night in Las Vegas, the welterweight title was on the line, 5-1 favorite unbeaten Floyd Mayweather, Jr, vs. welterweight champion Victor Ortiz. If you were not in Las Vegas, the fight was available only on pay per […]

To finish first, you must first finish. The Vikings had better figure that out fast, or the 2011 season could go up in smoke. Last week against San Diego they led 17-7 at half and did literally nothing in the second half. They did not block and tackle; they did not catch the ball or […]

Last week there were some outstanding performances in the St. Paul and Minneapolis City Conferences, while two suburban quarterbacks continue their outstanding play in leading their respective teams. 1. KIERRE RHODES (St. Paul Johnson) — The RB had three touchdowns in the Governors’ 34-13 St. Paul City Conference victory over Harding. 2. ANTONIO WAGENER (St. […]

Some say sports and Christianity don’t mix. When an athlete says, “Thank God” after a score or a big win, some question their sincerity. But not the following locals. “We all share a mutual best friend — Jesus,” says Lynx guard Candice Wiggins. She, Taj McWilliams-Franklin and Maya Moore spoke last month to fans after […]

While local reporters and others openly lobby for Lindsay Whalen as this year’s WNBA most valuable player, the MSR last week asked Chicago Sky Coach-General Manager Pokey Chatman her opinion on the subject. “Seimone,” she said simply as she referred to Minnesota Lynx guard Seimone Augustus, Whalen’s teammate. While she recognized point guard Whalen’s accomplishments […]

Now it’s time for what we’ve been waiting for: The NFL regular season starts this week, along with the 10th anniversary of that horrific day 10 years ago, September 11. The NFC North looks like the strongest Division in the NFL. The defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers, a wild card team with Aaron […]

Everything I’ve read these days about the state of Minnesota sports has come mainly from the media know-it-alls. For a change of perspective, “View” recently heard from two local “experts” on the local sports scene, Bernard and Rose: Black fans. Bernard Walters is a barber at TNT Barbershop on the corner of 38th and Nicollet. […]

The Minnesota Lynx soon will be in unfamiliar territory — the post-season. They have home court advantage throughout this year’s WNBA playoffs, but it won’t mean squat unless the Lynx do take full advantage of it. “You’re measured by what you do in the playoffs,” explained Lynx Coach Cheryl Reeve. Now that Minnesota is there […]

When SCOTT HOWELL took over St. Paul Central’s football program in 2000 after legendary coach FLOYD SMALLER retired, he wanted the Minutemen to be competitive and remain in contention for the City title every year. After coming so close for several years, it all came together when Central won the championship in 2008 and then […]

It’s easy to say it’s just the preseason, but the Dallas Cowboys, an NFC team, took advantage of two costly turnovers that led to touchdowns in beating the Vikings 23-17 in preseason game number three. It was the first game back at the renovated new roof-new turf Mall of America Field. The place looked good, […]

Championship teams, no matter what level, aren’t formed in the season in which they are crowned — oftentimes the pieces come together before that. “We were more talented [in 1998],” admits Tony Johnson, then DeLaSalle High School head football coach. He remembers running into Derreck Robinson and Dominique Sims shortly after their basketball season concluded; […]

It is nearly a year away, but the 2012 Summer Olympics will impact the 2012 WNBA regular season. “The WNBA traditionally stops the season to allow the players to play in [the Olympics],” notes USA Basketball Women’s National Team Director Carol Callan on the fact that the start of next year’s WNBA season will coincide […]