Tough week for the Minnesota teams

I have been a Minnesota sports fan all my life win or lose and unfortunately it has been more losing than winning.


It does not matter what sport, I love it all. Who can forget back in 1991 as we heard the call in Game 6 of the Twins-Braves World Series game at the Metrodome after Kirby Puckett hits the game winning home run to send the series to game 7, “and we’ll see you tomorrow night.
If that did not send chills through your body as sports fanatic I do not know what will. It has been so long since Minnesota has brought a championship to this state.


In 2011 we finally got a team to bring it home to the state and that was done by the Minnesota Lynx beating Atlanta in the WNBA Finals. I took my wife and kids up to the airport to be part of the mass of fans that were there to greet the ladies as they came home. It was one of the most unreal feeling to be part of this. These ladies are a true treat to watch at the Target Center.  The players that include Minnesota’s own Lindsay Whalen really play good ball and is worth the price of admission.


They made another run only to fall short this past year but again at least they made it to the finals.


I am such a big Twins fan even with the last 2 seasons ending up with so many losses. I am even a bigger fan of the beautiful Target Field. I paid the money to take a 2 hour tour of the stadium and was worth every cent and recommend it highly to you to take the tour.


I went to the first game in Target Field history but it was an exhibition game against the St. Louis Cardinals. It was so neat to be part of history.
I also went to my first Twins home opener in my life as I went in 2012 to watch the Twins- Los Angeles Angels and got to see my favorite Twins player in Torii Hunter as I sat in right field seats and he was right in front of me.


I do not know what to expect in 2013 but the one thing I know for sure is they are 0-0 with anything that can happen. I can’t wait for the season.


The Timberwolves I believe if they can ever get healthy will give the fans something to be hopeful in the future. I love the play of Ricky Rubio. The game Friday night home game against the New York Knicks the team looked so good for much of the game and then failed to put their foot down and claim the win. The play of Derrick Williams was inspiring. The team missed some critical free throws along with an 11 point lead blown. I saw hope but also know there is a ways to go. I will add I am a big fan of Nikola Pekovic and hope when it is time to give him money he is paid for his work.


The Minnesota Wild I have watched every game and the one for sure is Zach Parise is a worker. I love to see his hustle and never end work habit he brings to the rink.  The game Saturday against Nashville was the best I have seen this team play. I love the physical play they brought. It is a 48 game schedule so not much room for loses. The team seems so snake bitten to get a goal. The chances they had were unreal. I will say for once a Minnesota team finally got a win they deserved. I was so happy for Devin Setoguchi as he blasted the puck past the Nashville net minder in overtime. The team now goes on the road where road wins have been rare.


I will say the Minnesota men’s Gopher basketball team has been my most disappointment thus far. It was not too long ago where Williams’s Arena featured to top 10 teams squaring off with Michigan and Minnesota. The Gophers had such a chance to make a statement but failed. I watched the game Sunday against Illinois as the Gophers got out to such a nice lead. Illinois almost went 10 minutes in the first half before scoring an actual basket. It was such a much needed game. The Gophers had a chance to take a lead into the half but an Illini 3 pointer right at the half but the Illini up 31-30 at half.  The game is coming down to the end and with 18 seconds left the Gophers bad luck hit again. Illinois player, Tracy Abrams who has been cold tonight puts up a 3 pointer and puts the dagger in the Gophers heart. The season has a long ways to go but these games have to be won.


I will write a weekly column with my thoughts on each of the Minnesota teams. I know one day we as Minnesota sports enthusiast will once again be rewarded.
Thanks for reading


Purplestick