 Classic SI photo by David E. Klutho |
Rare Brooks
The author of countless "Herbisms" and head coach of the Miracle on Ice, Minnesotan Herb Brooks also played bench boss in the NHL (Rangers, North Stars, Devils and Penguins) after winning three NCAA titles at the University of Minnesota.
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GREATEST ATHLETES |
Bronko Nagurski, International Falls
All-America tackle for Gophers in 1929; All-Pro fullback led Bears to three NFL titles.
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Dave Winfield, St. Paul
Forward on Gophers' 1971-72 Big Ten basketball champions; 1,833 RBIs in 22-year career in majors; drafted by Hawks and Vikings.
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Kevin McHale, Hibbing
Averaged 15.2 points and 8.5 rebounds at Minnesota; won three NBA titles in 13 seasons with Celtics (1980-93); named one of NBA's 50 Greatest.
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FLASHBACK |
1991: A Series to Savor
In a World Series of delicious drama, the Minnesota Twins barely bested the Atlanta Braves
The truth is inelastic when it comes comes to the 88th World Series. It is impossible to stretch. It isn't necessary to appraise the nine days just past from some distant horizon of historical perspective. Let us call this Series what it is, now, while its seven games still ring in our ears: the greatest that was ever played.
FULL STORY
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SI COVERS |
Howlin' Wolf
A spindly kid from Farragut Academy, by way of South Carolina, Kevin Garnett went from high school to the pros to becoming the highest-paid athlete in team sports within four short seasons. "He signed a contract for so much money," wrote Sports Illustrated's Leigh Montville in 1999, "that the people in charge scared themselves into action ... He is the kid who broke the NBA bank."
Click here to see a gallery of every Timberwolves, Twins and Vikings cover
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THE SI POLL |
Who do Minnesotans for? SI asked the North Star State residents to weigh in* on sports.
Favorite major league baseball team
Minnesota Twins | 79% |
Chicago Cubs | 3% |
Favorite NFL team
Minnesota Vikings | 75% |
Green Bay Packers | 10% |
Favorite NBA team
Favorite NHL team
Favorite pro team
Minnesota Vikings | 48% |
Minnesota Twins | 18% |
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Greatest athlete who ever lived in or played for a team in your state
Kirby Puckett | 18% |
Fran Tarkenton | 15% |
Bronko Nagurski | 13% |
Harmon Killebrew | 7% |
State's biggest rivalry
Vikings-Packers | 66% |
U of Minn. - Minn.-Duluth | 13% |
State's biggest rival
Favorite announcer
John Madden | 24% |
Herb Carneal | 11% |
Bert Blyleven | 6% |
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More a fan of college or pro sports?
College | 70% |
Pro | 19% |
Equal | 11% |
Favorite sport to play
Golf | 23% |
Fishing | 15% |
Hiking | 12% |
Baseball/softball | 9% |
Favorite sports to watch on TV**
Football | 85% |
Baseball | 46% |
Winter Olympics | 45% |
**Multiple responses allowed | |
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*Harris Interactive poll, conducted online, of 414 Minnesota residents who identified themselves as sports fans. Margin of error +/- 5%.
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Sports Illustrated's 50th Anniversary |
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STATITUDES |
1 Heisman Trophy winner from the University of Minnesota. Bruce Smith, a halfback, was awarded the Heisman two days after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, and served as captain of the undefeated Gophers teams in 1940 and '41.
2 Consecutive NCAA men's hockey titles won by the University of Minnesota (2002, '03).
3 Consecutive NCAA women's hockey titles won by the University of Minnesota-Duluth (2001, 2002, 2003).
4 Career NFL categories in which Fran Tarkenton, the Vikings' quarterback from 1961-66 and again from 1972-78, led the NFL at the time of his retirement: attempts (6,467), completions (3,686), yards (47,003) and touchdowns (342).
4.8 Average yards per carry that Robert Smith gained during his eight-season Vikings career (1993-2000).
13 Number of Olympians provided by the state of Minnesota to the 1980 Miracle on Ice hockey team, Sports Illustrated's 1980 Sportsmen of the Year.
15 Age, in 1998, at which Minnesota native Natalie Darwitz became the youngest member to debut for the U.S. women's national hockey program.
122 Pass receptions made by the Vikings' Cris Carter in 1994, one shy of the NFL season record. Carter caught 122 the following season as well.
282 Consecutive NFL games started by defensive end Jim Marshall, 270 of which were with the Vikings. Marshall played from 1960-79 and was a mainstay of the Purple People Eaters crew that also included Carl Eller, Gary Larsen and Alan Page.
11,877 Points scored through eight NBA seasons by the Timberwolves Kevin Garnett, one of 15 individual franchise career records he holds, including field goals and free throws made and attempted, blocked shots, rebounds, assists, steals and minutes played.
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ENEMY OF THE STATE |
Brett Favre
He was the Enemy in two other Vikings hotbeds, North and South Dakota, so Favre's victory here is hardly a surprise. Minnesotans' most hated opponents are Favre's Packers (80%), Steinbrenner's New York Yankees (4%) and the University of Wisconsin (2%).
Brett Favre | 48% |
George Steinbrenner | 11% |
Bud Selig | 10% |
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FAST FACTS |
Admission to statehood: May 11, 1858 (32nd state)
Area: 86,943 square miles
Bird: Common Loon
Capital: Saint Paul
Economy: Agriculture -- Dairy products, corn, cattle, soybeans, hogs, wheat, turkeys. Industry -- Machinery, food processing, printing and publishing, fabricated metal products, electric equipment, mining, tourism.
Flower: Pink and white lady's-slipper (Cypripedium reginae)
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Nickname: North Star State/Land of 10,000 Lakes
Population: 4,919,479 (21st)
Pro sports teams: Minnesota Lynx, Minnesota Timberwolves, Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Wild, Minnesota Vikings
Major college programs: Bemidji State University Beavers, University of Minnesota Golden Gophers, University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, Minnesota State University Mankato Mavericks, St. Cloud State Huskies
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