The Minnesota Twins brought major league baseball to the Twin Cities after relocating from Washington D.C. in 1960. Players like Harmon Killebrew and Jim Kaat helped the Twins win their first World Series title in 1987. With players like Justin Morneau, the Twins have continued success, becoming division champions multiple times in the 2000s. The team looks forward to starting the 2010 season in a new outdoor ballpark in downtown Minneapolis.
2. Twin
Cities
sports
Itâs no wonder why MInnesotans The Minnesota Twins brought major league
are sports-crazy; the Twin Cities area is home to baseball to the Twin Cities after Calvin Griffith
every major sport from basketball to soccer. No moved the Washington Senators to the area in
matter what time of year or how pleasant or nasty 1960. Players like Harmen âThe Killerâ Killebrew
the weather, fans will always be fired up and in a and pitcher Jim Kaat (both players top the Twins
frenzy; in return, the teams and players give 110 all-time list with most home runs and most career
percent on the playing field. Minnesota has been wins), showed that the Twins could shine by
home to the best of legends and famous fresh becoming the American League champs and
faces such as the late Kirby Puckett, hometown making it to their first World Series in 1965. But
hero Joe Mauer of the Minnesota Twins and what the Twins lacked in the 1970s, they made
Minnesota Vikingsâ record-breaking running up for in stellar players. Tony Oliva and Rod Carew
back Adrian Peterson. Weâve also seen some of (who won his seventh American League batting
the greatest moments in sports history and have title in 1978) kept the Twins alive during the final
hosted nationally known events such as the Super years the team played at Met Stadium. With the
Bowl. With three professional arenas between the new Metrodome stadium in the 1980s came new
two downtowns and a slew of entertaining pre- young players like Kent Hrbek, Gary Gaetti, Frank
and post-game hangouts nearby, the Twin Cities Viola and fan-favorite Kirby Puckett to bring the
is a prime spot to get your game on. Twins their first World Series win in 1987.
new Venues have a horseshoe design, where
Future Twins stadium
fans walking on campus will be
Minnesota sports are about to able to look inside the stadium.
get even better, with two new The Minnesota Twins will start
OppOsite page phOtO COurtesy Of MinnesOta twins
sporting venues to be ready for their 2010 season in a new ball-
action in the next two years. The park located in the Warehouse
University of Minnesota Golden District of downtown Minneapolis.
Gophers football team will start The new ballpark will seat fans
their 2009 season at TCF Bank closer to the field than most other
Stadium. The new stadium, ballparks and âKnotholesâ in the
located on the universityâs cam- stadium will let fans take a peek at
pus, will seat 50,000 fans and will the game without buying a ticket.
Twin Cities | Guestguide 2009 83
3. Ă Not only did he break three records during his rookie season, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson received two
Player of the Month and Rookie of the Year awards and was named the NFLâs Pro Bowl MVP in 2008. Ă The Minnesota Thunder
faced David Beckham and the L.A. Galaxy in November 2007, attracting 20,123 fans, the largest soccer crowd in more than 25 years.
Red, white and blue arenât the only colors that fill the
Metrodome; thereâs purple and gold, too. Even though they
havenât gripped the top title yet, the Minnesota Vikings are
considered one of the leagueâs top powerhouses each year. The
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1960s and â70s marked four Super Bowl losses, and then in
1998, 2000 and 2003, the Vikingsâ efforts led to National Foot-
ball Conference title games. Past greats Fran Tarkenton and
coach Bud Grant highlighted the teamâs earlier success, while
in more recent years the Vikes held their hopes in quarter-
back Daunte Culpepper and wide receiver Randy Moss. Af-
ter trades and drafts picks, the team has found exciting fresh
talent, such as running back Adrian Peterson, who broke the
NFLâs single-game rushing record during his rookie season in
2007. Head coach Brad Childress and the revamped Vikingsâ
team and staff hope to create a cohesive offense and defense to
put the purple back in the playoffs.
After the 26-year-strong North Stars hockey team left the
Twin Cities for Dallas in 1993, Minnesota waited seven years
before the NHL returned to the State of Hockey. In 2000, the
Minnesota Wild made a name and home for itself at St. Paulâs
Xcel Energy Center. By the teamâs the third season, the Wild
The team proved their dominance by becoming World made it to the playoffs and after the NHL cancelled the 2005
Champions again in 1991. With first baseman Justin Morneau season, they brought the bite back by making the playoffs
(2006 American League MVP), pitcher Joe Nathan and other again in 2007 and 2008. In the top third of the NHL as far as
promising new players, the Twins are still hitting it out of the season ticket base, season ticket holders fill more than 16,000
park; the team became Central Division champs in 2002, 2003,
2004 and 2006. And with the team anticipating the start the 2010 Ă Before they became the Minnesota Wild, the team
tossed around the names Minnesota Blue Ox, Minnesota
season in a brand new outdoor stadium, the Twins are bound to Northern Lights, Minnesota Freeze, Minnesota White
bring more great baseball moments to the Twin Cities. Bears and the Minnesota Voyageurs.
84 Twin Cities | Guestguide 2009
5. Rashad McCants
Craig Smith
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Ă After a slew of trades during the off-season, Rashad McCants has become a
Timberwolves veteran and leader in only his third year in the NBA. Ă Forward
Craig Smith (a.k.a. Rhino) has been a dominating force for the Wolves. He
was named to the 2006-2007 All-Rookie Team by the NBA and ended the 2008
season among the league leaders in field-goal shooting.
Crunch
Minnesota
Timberwolves
T
he Minnesota Timberwolves have
lost a handful of familiar faces but
have also acquired the ripe talent
of eager new players. After the 2007
draft, rookie Corey Brewer joined fellow Ă Crunch, the
Randy Foye
young players Randy Foye, Craig Smith Wolvesâ daring
and Rashad McCants to form the new look mascot, entertains
fans throughout the
of the Wolves. Right before the season game with his wild
began they partnered with the Boston antics and stunts.
Celtics in a blockbuster trade that brought Ă By the end of his
them Al Jefferson who has anchored the rookie year in 2007,
Randy Foye was
teamâs unity and leadership. But amidst named Decemberâs
myriad changes on the court and behind T-Mobile Rookie
the scenes, the Wolves have embarked a of the Month and
played in the NBA
journey to rebuild the franchise by taking a All-Star Game as
step back and nurturing a young team that is part of the T-Mobile
anxious to prove its power on the court. Rookie Challenge in
Las Vegas.
86 Twin Cities | Guestguide 2009
6. of the Xcelâs 18,000 seats. Coached by Hall of Famer
Jacques Lemaire, the Wildâs stick-wielding greats,
such as Marian Gaborik, wonât let that fan enthu-
siasm fall anytime soon.
Basketball fans had to wait much longer than
Minnesotaâs hockey fans when the Minneapolis
Lakers moved to sunny Los Angeles in 1960. Fans
waited nearly 30 years, but in 1989, the Minnesota
Timberwolves emerged at the Metrodome. Al-
though the Wolves ended their first season 22-60,
it was the best record among the NBAâs four new-
est teams. The Wolves moved to the Target Center
the following year, and in 1995 they felt a change
in the wind when the team drafted forward Kevin
Garnett. During his second season, KG brought the
Wolves to the playoffs for the first time in the teamâs
history, and it wouldnât be the last. In 2004, Garnett Ă The Swarm, Minnesotaâs professional lacrosse team, has made it to
earned the leagueâs Most Valuable Player award, the playoffs threebe a fan favorite. to the Xcel Energy Center in 2005.
They continue to
times since coming
helping the team reach the Western Conference fi-
nals in the process. Last year, KG moved to the Boston Celt- Over the years, the University of Minnesota has had
ics, and recent changes on and off the court have momen- some tough times competing with other Big Ten schools
tarily cursed the Wolves in their playoff run. But starting a like Ohio State and Michiganâuntil now. Before the
new season with a new team and outlook, theyâre hoping to 2007 season, the Gophers hired Denver Broncos tight end
make Minnesotans fanatic about basketball again. coach Tim Brewster and Kentucky basketball coach Tubby
Our basketball talent doesnât stop with the Wolves; we Smith to shake things up. With a new TCF Bank Stadium
also boast the Lynx, top contenders in the WNBA. New to be ready for football action fall 2009 and the Gophers
Head Coach Don Zierden, former assistant coach for the basketball team fresh from a visit to last yearâs National
Wolves, guides key contributors Nicole Ohlde and 2006 Invitation Tournament, Gophers fans definitely have great
first overall pick Seimone Augustus. times ahead. Gg
Ă Fans cheer on the University of Minnesota Golden Gopher football team, which will play in the new TCF Bank Stadium in 2009.
phOtO at right COurtesy Of university Of MinnesOta; phOtO abOve Š 2004 bruCe kluCkhOhn
Twin Cities | Guestguide 2009 87
