Do you believe in Miracles? Wow — from 8-23 last year to 23-8? Richard Pitino is just 31-31 the last two years, I remind you, as Gophers men’s basketball coach. This is his fourth season, and just like Minnesotans, some fans are worried the famous name Pitino, son of legend Rick Pitino of Louisville, will […]
Gophers
Posted inSports
Let’s refocus a warped view of college sport
College sport has reached out-of-whack proportions when you read that we should feel sorry for a fired football coach with a half-million-dollar payoff, or blame a university president who doesn’t put athletics at the top of his priority list. This is the case among some local media who have suggested this over the recent negativity […]
Posted inSports
Urgently needed: Gopher culture purge
Big troubles in Gopherland Last week’s whirlwind moves by Minnesota AD Mark Coyle, firing Tracy Claeys and hiring P.J. Fleck in a three-day span, kept me from my usual unapologetic advocacy as a Black journalist. This time, however, I am glad I didn’t push for a Black coach. Coyle said January 3 after firing Claeys […]
Posted inGophers/College, Sports
Three newcomers to Gophers women’s hoops score big
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 2016-17 school and sports year, the MSR will highlight many of these players This week, three women’s basketball players: sophomore Kenisha Bell and freshmen Gadiva Hubbard and Jasmine Brunson First […]
Posted inSports
Gopher freshman athletes get a summer head start
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 2016-17 school and sports year, the MSR will highlight many of these players This week: Gopher freshmen Alexis Hart (volleyball) and Tyler Johnson (football) It’s becoming commonplace that college freshmen […]
Posted inSports
Sports were a refuge from childhood troubles for this student athlete
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 2016-17 school and sports year, the MSR will highlight many of these players. This week: Gophers defensive lineman Gaelin Elmore His story, which is as unique as one might imagine, […]