 Classic SI photo by Tom G. Lynn |
Pile On
The University of North Dakota Sioux celebrates after winning the NCAA Men's Hockey championship against Boston University. The Sioux came back from a 2-0 deficit to take the game, 6-4. They tied a school record by scoring five goals in the second period. It was the sixth title won by the North Dakota men's hockey squad.
|
|
GREATEST ATHLETES |
Roger Maris, Fargo
Three-sport star at Shanley High; Yankees outfielder was AL MVP in 1960 and '61; broke Babe Ruth's record with 61 home runs in '61.
|
|
|
Phil Jackson, Williston
Played 12 seasons in the NBA; coached Bulls to six titles between 1991 and '98.
|
|
Darin Erstad, Jamestown
Scored 36 goals in 1992 for Jamestown High hockey team; state 110- and 300-meter hurdles champion; punted for Nebraska's '94 national championship team; outfielder with Angels.
|
|
|
|
|
|
FLASHBACK |
1987: The Sioux Came Through
Tony Hrkac led North Dakota to the NCAA titleThe first thing college hockey fans gathered in Detroit had to do last week was to learn how to pronounce a five-letter name. "It's HERK-us," explained Tony Hrkac. Which rhymes with circus -- or "crkac" in this instance -- which is what Hrkac and his North Dakota Fighting Sioux teammates converted the NCAA Division I championships into as they skated to the school's third national title in eight years.
FULL STORY
|
|
|
|
THE SI POLL |
Who do North Dakotans root for? SI asked the Roughrider State residents to weigh in* on sports.
Favorite major league baseball team
Minnesota Twins | 52% |
New York Yankees | 5% |
No favorite | 16% |
Favorite NFL team
Minnesota Vikings | 43% |
Green Bay Packers | 8% |
Dallas Cowboys | 7% |
Favorite NBA team
Minnesota Timberwolves | 29% |
Los Angeles Lakers | 14% |
Chicago Bulls | 8% |
No favorite | 29% |
|
Favorite NHL team
Minnesota Wild | 31% |
Colorado Avalanche | 6% |
No favorite | 50% |
Favorite college team
North Dakota hockey | 19% |
North Dakota State football | 13% |
Greatest athlete who ever lived in or played for a team in your state
Roger Maris | 39% |
Phil Jackson | 22% |
Darin Erstad | 11% |
Jim Kleinsasser | 6% |
Phil Hansen | 4% |
|
More a fan of college or pro sports?
Pro | 68% |
College | 11% |
Equal | 21% |
Favorite sport to play
Fishing | 19% |
Golf | 18% |
Basketball | 13% |
Baseball/softball | 11% |
Bowling | 11% |
Favorite sports to watch on TV
Football | 74% |
Winter Olympics | 48% |
Summer Olympics | 44% |
Baseball | 42% |
Hockey | 31% |
|
*Harris Interactive poll, conducted online, of 401 North Dakota residents who identified themselves as sports fans. Margin of error +/- 5%.
|
|
|
|
|
Sports Illustrated's 50th Anniversary |
|
|
|
STATITUDES |
|
7 NCAA ice hockey titles won by University of North Dakota, tied for second all time.
5 NCAA Division II titles since 1980 won by North Dakota State women's basketball coach and Fargo native Amy Ruley.
231-38-3 Record of Shanley High football coach Sid Cichy from 1948 to '77. The Fargo native also notched 11 undefeated seasons and won 15 state titles.
1984 June 23 of this year the Roger Maris Museum opened in Fargo.
60 Points scored in 144 regular season games by Cliff (Fido) Purpur of Grand Forks -- the first North Dakotan to play in the NHL.
27.4 Points per game as a senior for University of North Dakota two-time All-American and Williston native Phil Jackson in 1966-67.
.492 Batting average of Darin Erstad in his senior year at Jamestown High School. Erstad also hit 18 homers and drove in 86 runs, and was 10-2 record with 2.18 ERA on the mound.
|
|
ENEMY OF THE STATE |
Brett Favre
Vikings fans dislike Favre, sure, but who's Ed Schultz? A longtime Fargo sportscaster, that's who, and some folks think he's too loud and opinionated. The state's most hated opponents: the University of Minnesota (39%) and the Green Bay Packers (26%).
Brett Favre | 36% |
Ed Schultz | 5% |
George Steinbrenner | 5% |
|
|
FAST FACTS |
Admission to statehood: Nov. 2,1889 (39th)
Area: 70,704 square miles
Bird: Western Meadowlark
Capital: Bismarck
Economy: Agriculture: Wheat, cattle, barley, sunflowers, milk, sugar beets. Industry: Food processing, machinery, mining, tourism.
| |
Flower: Wild Prairie Rose (Rosa arkansana)
Nickname: Peace Garden State/Flickertail State/Roughrider State
Population: 642,200 (47th)
Pro sports teams: None
Major college programs: North Dakota Fighting Sioux, North Dakota State Bison
|
|
|
|
