Wasnt sure if I should put this in here today with all the MN sports love but I just have so many questions. Namely, WTF is this doing in golf digest.
Also, Im all in on the individual athletes. Lindsey Vonn is the undisputed goat. Theres also been a MN member of the US ski team pretty much consecutively for something probably close to 30 years now. Tons of others besides her.
If we’re doing individual athletes, have to go with Jessie Diggins of Afton.
This race (and call) still gives me goosebumps.
One of the best finishes of my Olympic spectating memories. Used to XC ski in high school - Jessie dominated every race
Off the top of my head, these would be my most agregious misses:
Hockey:
Mike Modano … he was only here for 3 years but being 37 he is the first hockey player I started following
Football:
Chris Darkins … I believe he was in the Heisman conversation for a sip of coffee
Anthony Carter … starting to see a theme on time period for me
Basketball:
Vershaun Leonard
Ken Novak Sr. … MSP Lakers and MN High School bball embbassador
Khalid El Amin … This kid was so much better then Humphries just didn’t have the size for the NBA
Sam Jacobson
Richard Coffey
Flip Saunders should probably be on the list too for his contributions on and off the court
The original Timberwolf Doug West
Baseball:
Dave Winfield
Paul Molitor
Zoilo Versalles, of course
Brad Radke … I’ll just put this out there, if he were on the Braves and Maddux were on the Twins I’m not sure history for either franchise would be any different… just saying.
Where’d you ski at? I skied for Mahtomedi way back in the day.
Sorry to divert back to golf but I either just got scammed or I just won a Callaway Epic Speed driver on Twitter! Only one way to find out. I sent them my social and bank information and I should be hearing back from a Nigerian Prince in 4-6 weeks with my custom driver! Is it golf season yet?
Any Minnesota hockey list without Neal Broten or Herb Brooks is invalid IMO
@TBuhr33 how ya doin?
Trying to gather all of these suggestions and narrow it down to 64 sounds hard given that I (or you for that matter) was not in this world when many of these athletes were around.
Sorry to divert back to golf again but we need @bobs219 in here to mourn the loss of his after work course. Final year for The Ponds at Battle Creek.
Herb Brooks as a hockey Coach and Icon, I would absolutely agree.
As a player I don’t think he would make the list.
Can’t forget about Kirby Puckett!
“Don’t cry because it’s over, be happy that it happened.” - some white girl, probably
I skied for Eden Prairie, so we would overlap with Stillwater every once in awhile
Jesus Christ…
Patty Berg and Greg LeMond would like a word with you by the the bike racks after school where they will bust your young-non-sports-knowing-ass.
Kirby’s atop all lists.
Yeah. I mean…yeah. This in Minnesota we’re talking about here.
I should have provided more context! Undisputed goat of women’s ski racing haha. Patty Berg definitely is in the conversation for best MN individual athlete. But no way can we claim LeMond as an MN athlete. Didnt move here till after the last TdF win. Im well versed in my cycling knowledge. I spend wayyy too much time scouring the internet for obscure spring classics and old TdFs.
Unreal that Buck Hill produced the GOAT. Nuts. She may eclipse Berg actually…Let Lemond sit outside this list- fine with me. But to limit to hockey to MN Wild players and to eliminate the North Star, Gopher, and High School greats is folly.
My word, didn’t mean to get everyone’s panties all bunched up! Just wanted to pass some time, I apologize that my rough draft idea caused such offense.
The spreadsheet etc. will be revised, I’ll try and do it expeditiously, but I started a new job this past Monday so times are hectic. If someone, especially someone with more experience in both life and MN sports wishes to take over, feel free.
Now you’re accusing me of wearing panties…smh.