The Best Minnesota Sports Arguments (The Best Sports Arguments)

301 Pages·2007·0.9 MB·English

by  Sansevere

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B O B S A N S E V E R E
BEST
THE
MINNESOTA
SPORTS
ARGUMENTS
100
THE MOST
CONTROVERSIAL, DEBATABLE
QUESTIONS DIE-HARD
FOR
FANS
B S
O B A N S E V E R E
© 2007 by Bob Sansevere
Cover and internal design © 2007 by Sourcebooks, Inc.
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tered trademarks, or tradenames of their respective holders. Sourcebooks, Inc., is not
associated with any product or vendor in this book.
Published by Sourcebooks, Inc.
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Library of Congress CataloginginPublication Data
Sansevere, Bob.
The best Minnesota sports arguments : the 100 most controversial, debatable ques
tions for diehard fans / Bob Sansevere.
p. cm.
ISBN 9781402210617 (pbk.)
1. Sports Minnesota History. I. Title.
GV584.M65S26 2007
796.09776 dc22
2007026022
Printed and bound in the United States of America.
CH 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
For Mary and the kids
(Samantha, Sawyer, Spencer, and Shane)

CONTENTS
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xi
Pro Football . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
1.Why Are the Vikings More Popular Than the Twins? . . . . . . . . . . .2
2.Who Was the Worst Teammate in Minnesota Sports History? . . . . .4
3.What Was the Most Disappointing Loss in Minnesota Sports
History? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
4.Which Out-of-Town Athlete Stuck the Biggest Dagger in the
Hearts of Minnesotans? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
5.Of All the Vikings’Great Defensive Linemen,Who Would Make
Up Their All-Time Greatest Front Four? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
6.Were the Vikings Responsible for the Dallas Cowboys’
Mini-Dynasty in the 1990s? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
7.Who Was Minnesota’s Worst Coach/Manager? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
8.What Was the Most Selfish Act Committed by a Minnesota
Athlete? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
9.Was it a Mistake for the Vikings to Move into the Metrodome? . .21
10.Who Was the Vikings’Best and Worst Quarterback? . . . . . . . . .23
11.Who Is Minnesota’s George Bailey? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
12.Was Denny Green a Lousy Coach? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
13.Who Was the Viking’s Biggest Draft-Day Bust? . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
14.Who Was Minnesota’s Most Underrated Coach? . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
15.What Was the Dumbest Thing a Minnesota Coach Ever Did
That Didn’t Take Place in a Game? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
16.What Minnesota Athlete Found the Most Success after
Retiring from the Game? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
17.Did Mike Tice Get a Fair Shot? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
18.What Were Denny Green’s Best Lines? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
19.What Was the Best Trade Ever by a Minnesota Team? . . . . . . . .45
20.What Was the Oddest Thing a Minnesota Athlete Did (Pro
Division)? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
THE BEST MINNESOTA SPORTS ARGUMENTS
21.Who Really Built the Purple People Eaters? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
22.What Was the Vikings’Worst Draft? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
23.Who’s on the Vikings’All-Time Fantasy Team? . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
24.Who Was the Vikings’Best Open-Field Tackler? . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
25.Who’s on the Vikings’All-Time Offense? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
26.Who’s on the Vikings’All-Time Defense? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
27.Why Would You Ever Argue How Minnesota’s Professional
Teams Got Their Names? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
28.What Are the Three Best Sports-Related Movies with a
Minnesota Connection,and What’s One Good Piece of
Trivia from Each Movie? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
29.What Minnesota Sports Venues Have Food That’s Edible
and Tasty? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
30.What Are the Three Best Places for Budget-Minded Parents
to Take Kids to Learn about Minnesota Sports? . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
31.What Are the Best Bits of Minnesota Sports Trivia You’ve
Never Heard? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78
32.Should Minnesota’s Native Americans Put Casino Money toward
Stadiums? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81
33.What if Some Things That Happened Never Happened? . . . . . . . . . .83
34.Who Is Minnesota’s Most Popular Sports Artist? . . . . . . . . . . . .86
35.What Media Personality Impacted Minnesota Sports
More Than Anyone Else? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
Baseball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
36.Which of the Twins’World Series Championships Was Most
Special? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92
37.Who Was More Impressive in the 1991 World Series:
Kirby Puckett in Game 6 or Jack Morris in Game 7? . . . . . . . . .95
38.Which Professional Minnesota Athlete Should a Gal Want
to Bring Home to Meet the Folks? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98
39.What’s a Bigger Travesty,the Baseball Hall of Fame without
Bert Blyleven or without Jack Morris? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101
40.Was Kirby Puckett a Great Guy? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103
41.Does Tony Oliva Belong in the Hall of Fame? . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105
42.What Was the Worst Decision by a Twins Executive
Not Named Calvin Griffith? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108
43.Besides Molson Beer,What Was Canada’s Best Export to
Minnesota? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111
44.Which Minnesota Athlete Got the Best Send-Off
to the Hereafter? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
45.What Was the Best Sports-Related Promotion in Minnesota
History? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
46.Who’s the Best Baseball Player to Come Out of St.Paul? . . . . .117
47.Who Was Minnesota’s First Great Home Run Hitter? . . . . . . . . .120
48.Who Is Minnesota’s Most Forgotten Hall of Famer? . . . . . . . . . .122
49.Who Made the Greatest Catch in Minnesota History? . . . . . . .125
50.Who Was a Better Gold Glove Center Fielder,
Kirby or Torii? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127
51.Who Was the Best Hall of Fame Center Fielder Ever to Play
for a Minnesota Team? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130
52.Which Twins Would You Want in Crunch Time? . . . . . . . . . . . . .132
53.Who Should Puckett and Morris Have Thanked for Their
1991 World Series Rings? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135
54.Who Would Be in the Twins’All-Time Best Batting Order? . . . .137
55.Who’s on the Twins’All-Time Pitching Staff? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139
56.Which Twins Had the Best Nicknames? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141
57.Who Was the True Voice of the Twins? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .144
58.Who Will the Twins’Ace Be When Their New
Stadium Opens? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .146
Pro Basketball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .149
59.Who Was Minnesota’s Greatest Pro Athlete? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150
60.If Kevin Garnett Is So Great,Why Didn’t He Rack Up
NBA Titles? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .152
61.Who Was Minnesota’s Best Homegrown Basketball Player? . . .154
62.Did a Psychic Foretell the Coming of Kevin Garnett and
Stephon Marbury? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .157
THE BEST MINNESOTA SPORTS ARGUMENTS
Hockey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .159
63.Who Was the Cheapest Owner in Minnesota Sports History?. .160
64.Who Was Minnesota’s Best Homegrown Hockey Player? . . . . .164
65.Besides Mario,Who Hurt the North Stars in the 1991
Stanley Cup Finals? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .166
66.Who Had the Most Jaw-Dropping,Eye-Popping Goal Ever
for a Minnesota Team? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .169
67.Who Were the Five Best Scorers on Minnesota’s NHL Teams?. .171
68.Who’s on Minnesota’s Hockey Dream Team?
(Part I,Male Forwards) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .175
69.Who’s on Minnesota’s Hockey Dream Team?
(Part II,Male Defensemen and Goaltender) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .177
70.Who’s on Minnesota’s Hockey Dream Team?
(Part III,Women Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .180
71.High School,College,or Pro,Who Are Minnesota’s Top Hockey
Coaches? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .182
Outdoors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .185
72.Is Figure Skating a Sport and Are the Skaters Athletes? . . . . .186
73.Would Minnesota Roads Be Friendlier with Fewer Bicylists? . .188
74.Who’s Minnesota’s Greatest Golfer? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .190
75.Who Was the Most Successful Race Horse with
Minnesota Ties? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .193
College/High School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .196
76.Was Glen Mason a Good Coach? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .197
77.Is the Gophers’New Football Stadium Going to Be
Big Enough? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .199
78.Did Anything Good Come Out of the Gophers’
Cheating Scandal? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .201
79.Was Anything Funny About the Gophers’
Cheating Scandal? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .203
80.What Was the Oddest Thing a Minnesota Athlete
Ever Did? (College Division) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .205
81.Besides Bud Grant,Which Minnesota Coach Should Have
Something Named after Him? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .207
82.Who’s the Least-Known Successful Coach the Gophers
Ever Had? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .210
83.Does Minnesota’s High School League Crown Too Many
Champions? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .212
84.What Minnesota Coach Would You Want
Your Kids to Play For? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .215
85.Did Genetics Make Mike Grant the Coach He Is Today? . . . . .218
The Great, the Awful, and the Newsworthy . . . . . . . . . . . . . .221
86.Who Belongs on Minnesota’s Mount Rushmore of
Coaches/Managers? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .222
87.Who Belongs on Minnesota’s Mount Rushmore of Athletes? . . .225
88.Who Was Minnesota’s All-Time Best All-Around Athlete? . . . . .228
89.What Is Minnesota’s Most Infamous
Sports-Related Scandal? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .230
90.What Were Minnesota’s Darkest Days for Fan Behavior? . . . . .234
91.What Is Minnesota’s All-Time Best Mascot? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .237
92.What Was the Worst Idea for a Minnesota Pro Franchise? . . . .240
93.What Was the Biggest 12-month Period in
Minnesota Sports? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .241
94.Why Do Minnesota Athletes Get in So Much Trouble? . . . . . . .243
95.Which Minnesota Athletes Were Most Inspirational? . . . . . . . .247
96.Who Are Minnesota’s Most Athletically Successful Siblings? . .249
97.What Were Minnesota’s Three Best
Sports-Related Inventions? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .254
98.What Were Minnesota’s Three Best
Sports-Related Creations? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .256
99.What Tragic Deaths Hit Minnesotans the Hardest? . . . . . . . . . .259
100.Who Are Minnesota’s Hall of Famers of Tomorrow? . . . . . . . .262
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .265
Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .283
About the Author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .285