Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING TAKEOUT NEWS: 2-6-23.
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For the most part, an NHL All-Star Game and Pro Bowl “Flag Football” free zone. The only thing saving the NHL from having the worst All-Star weekend is the NFL. Skills night was disjointed, and you couldn’t tell which players were on each team. The NFL? Meh. Kirill Kaprizov befriending little Sergei Ovechkin was cute, though, moreso than the Blue Man Group doing the Griddy. The Wild returns in Arizona tonight.
Interview of the Weekend
Have your headphones on for this interview with the Saskatchewan Rush (lacrosse) goalie.
Wolves Blitz West Leading Nuggets
Just two days after a bad home loss that included an embarrassing fight, the Wolves rebounded in a big way, torching West leading Denver 128-98 at Target Center. The teams play again Tuesday in Denver.
Now, the Nuggets were playing the second of a back to back and didn’t have their full complement of players. But Minnesota forced Denver into 21 turnovers, and got 20 points from Anthony Edwards and 18 from D-Lo. Six Wolves players scored in double figures and no one played more than 32 minutes.
Friday? Five players were ejected, including Minnesota’s Austin Rivers, who was the main participant along with Orlando’s Mo Bamba.
It was an embarrassing incident for the NBA and the Wolves.
Mavs Trade for Kyrie Irving
Elsewhere in the NBA, the Brooklyn Nets traded disgruntled guard Kyrie Irving to Dallas. Thirty other fan bases are thrilled their team didn’t get Kyrie.
We’ve long mentioned in The Takeout that so-called bad locker room guys don’t change their spots just because they’re in a different position. Yes, the Mavs window is closing, but it’s a huge risk for Mark Cuban’s team especially giving up so much.
Who Will be Vikings’ New Defensive Coordinator?
The Vikings haven’t actually been told no, but it sure seems that they may wind up with the bottom of the scrap heap for their new defensive coordinator.
Ejiro Evero was considered a front runner, but after new Denver coach Sean Payton coach blocked briefly from interviewing, he did let him out of his contract but Evero signed in Carolina.
Next up? Reportedly Brian Flores, but the former Dolphins coach is interviewing for a second time for the Arizona Cardinals head coaching position. Considering he hasn’t even interviewed with Minnesota yet, that doesn’t appear likely.
Mike Pettine could be the default third choice; he was the senior defensive assistant last season.
Gopher Hockey
No. 1 and No. 3 left Ridder Arena Saturday night where they entered Friday evening, two points separated in the WCHA standings. The third-ranked Gophers are still up two on the Buckeyes, after the teams split.
Friday was an entertaining 4-2 Gophers win, but Saturday Ohio State exacted revenge by a 5-1 margin. The Gophers basically put two pucks in their own net, and hit three posts in a second period they dominated. But the third belonged to Ohio State.
So, both Minnesota and Ohio State have two series left, against Wisconsin and St. Thomas. The Gophers host the Badgers this weekend. I’m interested to see what the voters do this week, although it doesn’t really matter. Yale is No. 2.
The top-ranked Gopher men return to the ice this weekend at Wisconsin.
Gopher Hoops
Both Gopher basketball teams are in a rough spot. Ben Johnson - can he survive this? Fans are disgruntled, and they have every right to be as his team is 1-11 in the Big 10, including an 81-46 loss to Maryland on Saturday. Things can change very quickly in college basketball today, but how is Johnson supposed to recruit better players when his team is routinely blown out. They’re shorthanded, but that’s not likely to change even with the transfer portal.
The Gopher women lost their fourth straight (2-10 in Big 10), 69-62 at No. 24 Illinois yesterday.
Minor League Hockey Team No Shows Home Game
I love me some minor league hockey drama, having killed a couple teams in my own right. The Vermilion County Bobcats of the low tier Southern Professional Hockey League no showed for their own HOME game. Dave Eminian of the Peoria Journal-Star notes that visiting Quad City took warmups, lined up for the national anthem and faceoff, skated a lap then saluted the crowd and was awarded the win. The Bobcats have nine wins in two years and are drawing less than 400 fans per game, while having just 10 players left.
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