Wallace “Jack” Jackman is definitely someone who will be missed. Jackman, who recently passed away at the age of 81, had a profound impact on my journey as a photo journalist. It was the summer of 1996 and I was looking for a place to write a sports column and photograph Black high school student […]
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
Michigan State’s ‘65,’66 Spartans subject of book/film controversy
Former NFL and Michigan State football player and local corporate executive Gene Washington, his family, and other former student-athletes have been battling with Michigan State University officials over a published book and a film project based on it that is full of falsehoods and plagiarism. Washington and his daughter Maya have led the fight against […]
Posted inAnother View
St. Thomas men poised to excel on national stage
Tommies football Amari Powell recently put on a show for the ages. The senior QB from California in his first start of the season threw for 265 yards and three TDs, and rushed for a score himself, accounting for four of the seven touchdowns St. Thomas scored in its 55-17 victory over Valparaíso Oct. 18. […]
Posted inOdds and Ends
St. Thomas hockey transfer likes being closer to home
Before the 1970s, hockey uniform numbers typically ranged from 1 to 31 or so, rarely past number 35. Nowadays they are like a Jackie Wilson song: They’ve gone higher and higher. Charlie Schoen wears No. 82, the highest number on St. Thomas men’s hockey team this season. After the team’s first-ever game at Lee & […]
Posted inThe Prep Scene
North defeats Pine Island in state playoffs
This week’s Fab Five photos feature the Minneapolis North Polars football team’s 50-21 victory over Pine Island in the Class 3A state quarterfinals at Totino Grace High School Saturday afternoon November 8, 2025. The defense and blocking of linemen Anthony Palmer, Malachi Tolliver, Jaylen Peterson, Adonis Baker and Musa Abdus-Sahid allowed quarterback Logan Lachermeier to […]
Posted inSports
Former prep standouts come home to local fans
D.J. Jefferson played his first-ever game at The Barn, Williams Arena, last week. The redshirt junior is in his first season at Gardner-Webb, and it was his first time back in town after he attended Minnesota Preparatory Academy (MPA), a local prep school. “For me, I think it was just getting more exposure,” said the […]
Posted inOdds and Ends
Men’s basketball newbies
Minnesota has 13 new additions on its 2024-25 men’s basketball team. Jaylen Crocker-Johnson played for Niko Medved at Colorado State last season. “I set the tone early for the guys on the glass,” said the 6’8” junior forward from San Antonio, Texas. “I’m just trying to be a good two-way player on defense and offense.” […]
Posted inAnother View
Gopher hoopsters get new Black coaches
Both U of M basketball teams have coaching additions this season. Corey Green is in his first season as basketball operations director for the women’s basketball team. He formerly spent four seasons at Old Dominion in a similar position, and served on coaching staffs at Memphis (three seasons) and Detroit (two years). He got his […]
Posted inOdds and Ends
‘25-’26 U basketball players proud to be representing
There are approximately 100 African American and other student-athletes of color this school year at the University of Minnesota. In an occasional series throughout the 2025-26 academic and sports year, the MSR will highlight many of these players. This week: Gopher WBB redshirt junior Niamya Holloway; MBB newcomers soph Nehemiah Turner, junior Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, and […]
Posted inThe Prep Scene
Two City teams make it to state
Two City teams make it to state North, Washburn qualify for playoffs It’s hard to remember any time when two football teams from the Minneapolis City Conference have qualified for the state playoffs in the same year. After last Friday evening, that concept will be etched in the memory of fans, alumni, and former student […]
Posted inCoaching while Black
St. Thomas boasts college hockey’s only Black assistant coach
St. Thomas assistant coach Leon Hayward reflects on his 20-year coaching journey and his status as the only Black assistant coach in college hockey, helping lead the Tommies through a successful DI transition.
Posted inAnother View
Alcorn State takes on ‘monster challenge’
They play Minnesota Nov. 8 Alcorn State assembled a “monster” non-conference schedule for its 2025-26 season that, according to their coach, will better prepare them for conference play and a tournament run later in the campaign. “I am really excited about the opportunity to come up to Minneapolis to play the Minnesota Gophers,” first-year Head […]
Posted inOdds and Ends
Cost cited as obstacle to hockey diversity
Colorado College senior goalie Kaiden Mbereko is an established star in the nets. He is one of four team captains on this season’s Tigers squad. “We’re all going to have each other’s backs and obviously have our teammates’ backs,” said the 5’11” Mbereko, a business, economics and sociology major from Aspen, Colo. One of the […]
Posted inThe Prep Scene
Players contribute to good season for the WNBA Lynx
Fab Four Photos This week’s Fab Four photos feature the WNBA Minnesota Lynx, who finished with a 34-10 record and a top seed in the playoffs before losing to the Phoenix Mercury. The players include Napheesa Collier, who had a season worthy of MVP consideration; Kayla McBride, who hit clutch shot after clutch shot; Courtney […]
Posted inSports
Black athletic trainers feel held back by bias, study shows
Athletic trainers (AT) do more than just tape ankles and pass out water to players during practices and games. In essence they are the first responder to the athlete whenever needed. “From a sports perspective, athletic trainers are servants,” explained Dr. Nicolette “Nikki” A. Harris, associate professor and director of student recruitment at A.T. Still […]
Posted inOdds and Ends
New Tommies digs crowns DI status
St. Thomas opens its first Division I season with the debut of Lee & Penny Anderson Arena, a new 253,000-square-foot complex for basketball and hockey that also promises community access and renewed focus on diversity in athletics.
Posted inThe Prep Scene
Tommies victorious in Division I matchup
The Tommies rolled to a 55-17 win over Valparaiso behind quarterback Amari Powell’s three-touchdown performance and strong contributions from Cobb-Butler, Todd, Juette, and Sneed.
Posted inAnother View
On-air Black sports analysts relish the authenticity
During ESPN’s Oct. 15 NBA media call, Chiney Ogwumike, Malika Andrews, and Kendrick Perkins shared why representation and authenticity matter on air and how their work resonates with young Black fans. The NBA will honor trailblazers Chuck Cooper, Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, and Earl Lloyd throughout the season.
Posted inSports
Wolves ‘in the mix’ in stacked conference
The Minnesota Timberwolves open their 2025-26 NBA regular season on the road Wednesday, October 22 at Portland. Here’s what some say about the Wolves’ chances this year: CHRIS FINCH, Minnesota Timberwolves HC – “One of the things we know we have to get better at is our second unit or our non-Rudy [Gobert] defense. I […]
Posted inAnother View
Angel Reese mistreatment is a sport lens on ‘digital misogynoir’
The WNBA ended its decades-long search after the 2024 Draft last year when at last they found their heterosexual great white hope (Caitlin Clark) with whom they could draw new fans. It also begot a convenient Black villain (Angel Reese) who helped conjure up a faux rivalry to keep fans coming — and hating. This […]