Boston.

Posted on May 20, 2014 by mnsportsgal

So, one month ago, I ran the worst, yet best race of my life. The slowest of my 3 marathons by 25 minutes. The worst I have EVER felt during any race. A race I don’t think I would have finished if it wasn’t Boston. At the same time, a race that was one of the most awesome things I have ever gotten to do. While it is still to be determined on whether or not I will ever run Boston again, even if I do; I know it will not mean as much to me as this year’s Boston did (bad race and all).

I am not a natural runner. I am short with the opposite of long, lean muscles. I would have never used the word athletic to describe myself (and still don’t)…I am more fit as a result of being really active (which is a result of not being able to sit still and needing a bit of zen in my life). I ran my first 5K seven years ago. I think I placed for my age group. After being miserably bad at every sport I ever attempted to play growing up (and where my lack of height got in the way), I found something I wasn’t half bad at. I then proceeded to sign up for 1-2 races a year….either ½ marathons or 10 mile races. I continued to get faster with each race. I found running to be a source of healing, inspiration, gratitude, energy, and resolve. It was time spent socializing with friends. It was my time to overanalyze and find balance. I loved running and when asked about running a marathon, I told people I had no interest-I didn’t want to end up hating something I had grew to love.

Needless to say-I eventually got talked into running Grandma’s in 2012 by a good friend of mine at a time when I absolutely needed it. There was a lot of resolve, determination, and purpose behind that Grandma’s race, and is a race I will never forget with dear friends. I ran that race with the intention of crossing “running a marathon” off of my bucket list. I finished 53 seconds short of the Boston qualifying time and learned that I had a “weak left ass cheek” (or a left glute that wouldn’t fire for those technical folks). I would have never imagined I would have gotten that close on my first marathon, so of course I would have to run another one.

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I took a break from running for a while to regroup and get my butt right. I eventually decided to sign up for the Sioux Falls marathon in my hometown on the very last weekend I could qualify for Boston 2014. My first marathon-I trained with my friends. This one-I signed up knowing I would have to train alone. I wanted to prove I could do it…and for the record-I will never train alone again. I learned that…aside from calming the crazy, the social aspect of MY running is one of the reasons I love it as much as I do. Sioux Falls was another race I will never forget-I won my age group and peed my pants while running. I had officially made it as a marathoner (and for the record…I don’t want to be an official marathoner ever again).

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I stood at the starting line at the Boston Marathon and listened to the gun go off. I realized how different this was from my other marathons that I ran with such resolve and purpose….I stood there and tried to remember a time when I had felt this absolutely happy. I stood at the start line filled with love, happiness, pride, gratitude, and absolute fulfillment. There was no other place I was supposed to be on that day and there is not one thing I would change about how I got there.

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Now-I then proceeded to run of my worst races time wise. I can chalk it up to whole slew of things like many marathoners do that analyze and overanalyze their races like myself. But none of it really mattered-I loved every minute of that incredibly difficult race. All 1.7 million spectators that came out (whom at least half of them yelled-Go Minnesota…closet Gopher fans everywhere, I swear). A heartbroken, yet inspired city that LOVED this race and triumphed in showcasing their strength showing up 10+ deep in most places. Inspiration like I have never felt-running past amputees, service men/women and Dick Hoyt running his last race. All the high fives. The tunnel of screams. My family at mile 20. A proud, loud Boylston Street. Running directly behind the people who carried the man across the finish line. My dad excited to show me his picture of Meb.  FOUR hours of taking it all in.

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I said before Boston, that I was retiring from marathon running once Boston was over. While running brings me SO much, training for a marathon requires a great deal of sacrifice and takes a toll on the old body. But there is a big part of me that wants to go back and run Boston well and I know I can. There is then the other big part of me that wants to wait a while and go back when it holds as much meaning, like when one of my close friends gets to run it for the first time. Time will tell I guess 🙂 I have a feeling these lovely ladies whom I became good friends with while training will convince me to run another race or two 🙂

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Posted in The Diary of MN Sports Crazy: Past, Present, & Future | 1 Comment

2013…a year full of Gopher greatness, family, & friends

Posted on December 23, 2013 by mnsportsgal

I am not a fan of clichés. But I am a person that values inspiration, which often turns up a lot clichés. And, I am an avid sports fan…and clichés find their “day in the sun” in the sports world I have found. So, fair warning…this blog could contain a few clichés & be a bit cheesy. And I think I use the word fantastic and amazing a lot along with some poor and/or improper punctuation…apologies to my English major friends.

Cliché #1: Life is crazy and amazing. This year was nothing short of that. What is crazy and amazing about life (warning….cliché #2) is that it has a way of working out to be exactly what you need, and if you appreciate it-everything you want and love. Not to be misunderstood, I am not a fate person. I don’t believe in fate at all or that “things happen for a reason”. I believe choices (good and bad) along with hard work get you to where you are supposed to be. And let’s be honest…there are many times when this choice to be a Gopher fan feels like a bad one. But not this year. It has been one of my favorite in my 17 year history for so many reasons. And I am optimistic that all the hard work we have all put in as fans is starting to pay off.

In hindsight…it was quite a year full of many, many things that I needed and absolutely loved. It also included tragic reminders that life is way too flippin short-you have to love it while you are here.

Gophers Beating #1 Indiana.

I was at the 1997 Final Four in Indy with my dad following a Gopher hoops season fans today can only dream about (and talk about because it “never happened”). I was in love with Gopher hoops from the day I stepped on campus in 1996. Every season since then has been filled with optimism, then disappointment, and then renewed rage for Russ Archambault. This season was panning out to be nothing short of another unhealthy, emotional roller coaster with my favorite team since the 97 squad…… until February 26th versus #1 Indiana. I only have one wish about my 1st court storming WIN as a long time Gopher fan-I wish my dad would have been there with me. Hands down-one of my top Gopher memories in my 17 year span of crazy fandom.

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My HUSKER niece being born.

So-babies are absolutely fantastic, especially babies in my family. Nothing makes you realize more how absolutely fantastic, goofy, and crazy your family is until an extension of your family comes along. To see the quirks and personalities of your family captured in a little fantastic person is pretty damn cool. It also serves as a reminder of what amazing parents you have when you see them become grandparents and you see your sister emulate them in being one fantastic mom. While I will persist in providing Minnesota sports influence over my little adorable Goddaughter, I may have to concede, because she just looks so darn cute in red. But let’s be honest-she will need a college basketball, hockey, and MLB team to cheer for given she is a Nebraska resident, so Minnesota it is! My niece also had perfect timing…arriving just days before the Gophers played down in Lincoln so that I could make the short trek down to take in all that was the BOB.

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The return of my best friends.

Cliché #3-#BLESSED. I really don’t use this cliché in real life very often, because #BLESSED feels overused (thank you Facebook!) and like it just happens by chance. People toss the word around a lot. Am I absolutely blessed with fantastic friends because in definition they bring happiness or pleasure? YES. But it is not by chance. Good, strong, FUN, amazing, loyal, crazy, & FUN people make for amazing friends that you don’t want to EVER be without, so you all work really hard to ensure that is never the case, all while having boatloads of fun along the way. So instead….I will say: #HAPPY, #APPRECIATIVE, and #INCREDIBLE.

Two of my best friends moved back to Minnesota this year after being gone for what seemed like an eternity. People say you don’t miss someone until they are gone (which I did), but I think you realize truly how MUCH you really missed them once they are back. One of the original Goldie’s Oldies, and the other who boycotted our jackets because she didn’t like us calling ourselves old. But now that we really are old, she can be expecting a jacket for her birthday.

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Boston.

So-I actually like to run. My friends call me crazy and I don’t deny that fact. My response often is: “but do you know how much crazier I would be if I didn’t run??” I never ran in high school. What started out as a social activity and a way to alleviate some of the crazy turned out to be something I am pretty darn good at. After narrowly missing the qualification time last year at Grandma’s, I made it this year in September in Sioux Falls on the last weekend of qualifying for the 2014 Boston Marathon. While qualifying was cool and an accomplishment and all…I am beyond excited about my first trip to Boston in April with family and friends that will be filled a trip or two to Fenway (and getting to see my dad’s favorite team, the Orioles), acting like tourists, loads of fun, great food, and a little 26.2 mile jaunt.

This pic, compliments of my fantastic aunt. Normally, a picture of my backside would not be published, but I guarantee it is better than the look that was on my face when I passed them at mile 21. And-I ended up beating that girl in front of me.

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Tailgating and Tunnel Walks.

So, we decided to take the plunge and support Teague’s push to $190MM in support of our favorite Gopher teams, and purchased a tailgating spot next to the stadium this year. This may have been one of my favorite Gopher football seasons in part because of this (and because of this team, which really warrants its own blog. New Year’s resolution-write more. Mom-can you remind me?). I thought there was nothing I could love more than Gopher football, but I have found a close second-tailgating like professionals (ok…for Minnesota…I know my Nebraska relatives would question use of the word professional for OUR tailgates) with my crazy Gopher fan friends before every Gopher football game. It would be fair to say, before this year, our dedication to tailgating was quite soft. Our team stepped up our game this year and is committed to making it even bigger and better next year (get EXCITED folks!) Yep-one of my favorite Gopher football seasons in 17 years.

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We also got to do this. Showing great restraint to NOT butt slap and only high five the team as they ran out to the field. So DAMN cool.

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The BIG house.

My friends and I have been traveling to see the Gophers football team almost every year for the last 14 years. Last year marked FINALLY breaking my road losing streak with TWO road wins. As soon as my best friend and her husband moved back, I began spending their money on all sorts of Gopher funness, including a road trip to Ann Arbor. While the trip involved losing (which let’s face it…we know how to do well!) and staying in the #2 most disgusting hotel of my adult life (still hate you Iowa-home of disgusting hotel #1), we had an absolute blast. We made new Gopher friends, lived like college students for 24 hours, & planned our next trip back. I couldn’t help but fall in love with a town that loves, lives and breathes college football.

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A sibling rivalry renewed.

Nebraska joining the Big Ten was met with mixed emotions for me. Given my sister and brother in law were Huskers, I dreaded the emergence of “neutral dad” that I long despised. This is traditionally the Wisconsin/Minnesota dad that wears a red hat and maroon jacket who became MY dad with Nebraska/Minnesota (my mom always sports Gopher colors because she feels sorry for us). I dreaded another team that was going to be a lopsided rivalry. I dreaded another team coming into the Big 10 that I was secretly jealous of. On the flip side, the most wonderful outcome of Nebraska entering the Big 10 is a new family tradition of attending the game in either Minneapolis or Lincoln every year.
I will admit it….I fully expected this sibling rivalry to move to 0-3 this year with the 52 year losing streak being extended. That was one darn fun day spent with my family watching my favorite team end 5 decades of ineptitude against one of the winningest college football teams during that same time.

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Strommy.

The Gophers lost a HUGE fan this year. One of a few things that stink about life is that life happens and you lose touch with people. I had not seen Strommy for a couple years, but his name came up often in our circle of friends with the hopeful question of “Do you think Strommy is going to be there???” I don’t think he knew how much our circle of friends adored him (or he did and he was quite frightened ) but damn, he was one of the rare good ones. I have to believe he enjoyed watching the Gophers this year as much as I did.

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Celebrating my SWEET 16…..as a Gopher fan

Posted on December 10, 2012 by mnsportsgal

This year marked my “sweet sixteen”…..16 years as an obnoxious Gopher fan and multiple sport season ticket holder.  I celebrated this milestone year in “boy band obsessed” teenager fashion with the Gophers being the equivalent of a 16 year old girl’s Bieber.  I think the only thing that was left out this year (besides a few more wins) was my personal goal to make my parents proud by being “that girl” on ESPN Sportscenter straddling the goalposts at Camp Randall after destroying the Badgers.  Hopefully we won’t be saving that one for my 21st.

My “sweet sixteen” year of Gopher fandom started with the BEST present ever:  My first road win (in 15 attempts) in VEGAS.  Many things made this one of my favorite BAGAS trips ever……90% of Goldie’s Oldies (my absolute besties) in full effect.  Pirates.  Spring Break 98.  Party Bus complete with a pole and speedos.  A pimped out, Montell Jordan rocking, Suburban limo.  FBJ city.   Swiggin the sweet bubbly.  Big Bass Reel.  SO many Gopher fan adorable old men.  A win in Vegas would have been more than enough to make my “sweet sixteen” year epic but the celebration was just beginning…..

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After attending the Minnesota/Wisconsin football game for 11 straight years, I skipped the 2010 game and have regretted it to this day (what kind of hard core Gopher fan am I??).  I since then decided this was much too much of an exhilarating rivalry and my absence would no longer be allowed.  7 of us made the trek down, and I was welcomed by the fabulous college town like I had never skipped a beat.  Friday night at State Street Brats playing quarters.   No sleep.  Rude, obnoxious Wisconsin fans.  Lots of beer, sausage, and cheese.  Hopes quickly dashed for a competitive game.  A game day atmosphere that brings out my 21 year old self.  BUT there was no better “sweet sixteen” birthday present than getting to meet my longtime Gopher football poster boy….RJ.  Bling, bling.

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The “sweet sixteen” celebration pushed on and I continued to be showered with A.MAZ.ING presents (as if my first road win and meeting RJ wasn’t enough??).  I received the equivalent of a sweet sixteen year olds dream present of a new car….my first BIG TEN road win in 9 attempts over 15 years, with the Gophers becoming bowl eligible in Illinois.  I may have just been so jaded by the hospitality of Iowa and Wisconsin fans over the last 15 years that fans that DON’T shout obscenities at you can be quickly ruled to be my FAVORITE fans in the Big Ten.  Their fans served us two obnoxious Gopher fans food when all we remembered to bring was beer.  They played our Rouser.  They wished us good luck.  YEP-Illinois is officially my favorite place to visit in the Big Ten.  BEST present of the year.

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My “sweet sixteen” celebration continued with the second annual battle of the siblings alma maters with a family road trip down to Lincoln for the Gopher/Husker matchup.  While I envision my 2nd favorite team in the Huskers is quickly going to become a hated “rival”….there is nothing I don’t love about game day in that town.  Football is sacred and game day is honored by the most religious football fans I have encountered.  My hope in the very near future is that this is a game that my sister doesn’t insist on leaving before the 3rd quarter even begins 🙂

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Many days, it is hard to say whether my “boy band obsession” is greater for Gopher football or Gopher basketball.  I figured I had fed the football obsession enough this year with 4 road trips to away games that I needed to show Gopher hoops a little love.  My “sweet sixteen” celebration was complete in getting to see Tubby’s 500th win at USC.  As my dearest friends all over the country know….while I love to visit them-if I can also take in my favorite sports teams at the same time, it is like I have won the lottery  🙂  I went to visit my best friend in San Diego and convinced her to road trip to LA with me for the day to see one of my favorite Gopher hoops teams in 14 years take on the Trojans.  She “voted” for the Gophers to win, so that is obviously what happened.

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Now, I am traditionally not a person who wants or needs real presents.  While this year has been filled with WONDERFUL presents to celebrate my “sweet sixteen” ….I was also generous in giving presents to others also.  I had successfully converted my 2 little cousins into Gopher hoops fans last year.  This year marked successfully converting them into Gopher football fans as well (which had to be complete with lessons from their mom on being loyal fans….not giving up on them when they go through slumps, etc, etc, etc.  These are lessons I hope they don’ t have to use over the DURATION of their lifetime).  I also believe I successfully converted my dear friend’s (and fellow Gopher basketball fanatic) little guy into a Gopher football fan as well.  She had mentioned the threat of him possibly liking the Badgers and I made SURE that that wouldn’t happen.  #WINNING.

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While I wish my “sweet sixteen” celebration was concluding with a WIN in Houston on December 28th, I figured I had better not push my newfound road winning luck.  I will save that for March when road tripping to see my Gopher hoops team makes a DEEP run in the NCAA tourney.

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My 2012 New Year’s Resolution: To end my 15 year Gopher football/basketball road losing streak (I have an official 0-12 record).

Posted on January 10, 2012 by mnsportsgal

I have traveled over 15,000 miles, spent more money than I care to calculate (I started to figure this out once…NOT good), and likely taken years off of my life.  I have a feeling this is going to be THE year though.  I have trips to UNLV, Nebraska, and Wisconsin on the docket in an attempt to accomplish this goal before I just become too old and bitter to travel.  I have the vacation time saved up,  hotel/airline points stockpiled, a “Gopher Fund” established, and enough fanatic friends I can drag along to accomplish this THIS year so I don’t have to endure another 15 years like the ones below….

WARNING-This is long and could be tramatic to some Gopher fans to recall some of these painful losses.

1997 Final Four in Indy vs. the Kentucky Wildcats: The Gophers were coming off of a 31-3 season, Big Ten Championship, #1 tourney seed in the Midwest, an emotional instant classic 2 OT win vs. Clemson in the regional semifinals (and then a much less exciting regional final win over UCLA…came back from down ten points ALL in regulation-BORING).  The Gophers were the highest ranked team remaining in the field of four and should have advanced.  My dad and I drove through the night to arrive in Indy 2 hours before the game.  The absolute highlight of my gopher fan tenure to date …to be followed by 14 years of utter disappointment.  Although this “never happened”, I have the ticket and MANY newspaper clippings to prove it did.  I am a sports hoarder-I admit it.

1998 Big Ten Basketball Tournament Semifinals vs. Michigan: This was the Gophers only hope for a NCAA tournament bid (the year after coming off of a final four appearance???  UGH.)….to win the Big Ten Tourney.  The Gophers beat the tourney favorite Michigan State in the quarterfinals (w/ senior guard Eric Harris scoring 29 points…will we ever have strong guard performance again???) to take on Michigan in the semifinals.  Myself and two friends hit the road to Chi-town Friday night post the Michigan State win, drove through the night, slept in a McDonald’s parking lot for 3 hours before scalping tickets outside the United Center.  After all of that-we watched our Gophers get destroyed by Michigan ending their postseason hopes pre a Jan Gangelhoff caused post season ban.

1999 Big Ten Basketball Tournament First Round vs. Illinois:  We were confident our team was NCAA tourney bound after narrowly missing the field the year before and claiming a coveted NIT championship.  Why not make the trip to Chicago?  Gophers lost in the first round, we got stuck in a horrific blizzard, and the Jan Gangelhoff scandal broke just a week later.  Gopher basketball fandom has never been the same.  AND, the bitterness begins to set in.

1999 Sun Bowl in El Paso, TX vs. the Oregon Ducks (20-24 loss):  Please refer to my previous blog entry https://mnsportsgal.com/2010/12/29/ending-the-mn-gophers-bowl-drought-and-ringing-in-y2k-in-el-paso-tx/ on the debacle that was this game but the single most fun trip I have ever taken.  We quickly forgot that the Gophers were just 1 win away (a field goal away!!) from going to the Rose Bowl that year.  Ugh-remember crappy bowl games Gopher fans??

2000 Gopher Football at Wisconsin (20-41 loss):  Us girls were State & Regent Street virgins….and could have honestly cared less if the Gophers actually won after just a few hours in Madtown.  It was our first visit to Madison where we stayed across the street from Camp Randall, slept a total of 6 hours the entire weekend, sat/were harassed to no end in the student section in our Gopher gear, discovered pokey sticks & fishbowls, and mastered extreme walking.  The beginning of my love/hate relationship with Madison…..

2001: Gopher Football at Iowa (21-42 loss): We had had so much fun in Madison, we decided-why not venture to Iowa City?  NOT as much fun.  After non-showers (especially poor John) in our scary hotel next to an all female correctional facility, a near death cab experience, and an embarrassing loss in the freezing rain, we did discover 18+ bars serving 40’s and grilled cheese street carts.  All was good in forgetting another Gopher road loss.

2002 Gopher Football at Wisconsin (31-49 loss): We were gearing up for a stellar repeat performance although topping 2000 would be next to impossible.  We had scored 50 yard line seats-row 7 as University of MN supporters from the generous University of Wisconsin-sweet!!!  No.  After our lives were threatened by an 80 year old Badger grandma (she was scary….really!!) for standing, we spent the entire game staring at the big screen and Gopher football players toit glutes (which wasn’t that bad actually….it could have been worse-we could have been behind the Badgers bench).  Plus-we were up within gawking distance of the hottest coach in the Big Ten-Glen Mason = MEOW.  It wasn’t a game we wanted to see much of anyway.  This trip took our love of Brothers to a whole new level…they have this fantastic bar in Madison too??  Whhhhatt???

2003 Gopher Football at Iowa (22-40 loss):  These tickets were purchased during halftime of the Michigan/Gopher game as we were all convinced we were Rose Bowl bound, on the verge of cracking the top 10, and this Iowa/Gopher game would feature a visit from ESPN College Game Day.  Turned out the Iowa game was the exact opposite of that and a reminder of what an epic fail our season was.  We did have a hotel w/ functioning showers this time though, which was a win.  Michigan game = my #1 all time Gopher loss (yes…I have them ranked).

2004 Gopher Football at Wisconsin (14-38 loss): Another loss.  Another Madtown debacle of a weekend.  Our Goldie’s Oldies jackets made their debut appearance on this trip.  See previous blog post on how these came to be: https://mnsportsgal.com/2010/12/23/goldies-oldies-why-not/  See me for a recap of inappropriate actions and comments directed our way….not suitable for print.

2005 Gopher Football at Michigan (23-20 WIN):  I was NOT at this game.  My friends and I HAD plans to travel to this game in Ann Arbor and see the legendary Big House.  Our plans fell apart at the last minute and I ended up in Columbus, OH this weekend instead.  My point…Gophers won this game in the final seconds after a Russell 40+ yard run on 3rd down set up a Giannini field goal.  I think my Gopher voodoo curse would not have witnessed the same results had I actually ended up at this game.  You are welcome fellow Gopher fans.

2006 Gopher Football at Wisconsin (12-48 loss): I remember zero details from this trip.  I must have blocked out the really bad games.  I believe this was the game we were rewarded with the worst possible seats in Camp Randall.  My go to binoculars (which I of course forgot) would not have even helped the cause here.  We took cues from the crowd noise as to what was actually going on in the game.  I think we kicked 4 field goals and never actually saw the end zone.

2008 Gopher Football at Wisconsin (32-35 loss):  I was old on this trip.  We stayed in a hotel with a water park and I drank beers all Friday night with old people (I have an obsession with cute little old people…love them!).  AND-we drove home after the game on Saturday.  Please remind me how much I hated my old self on this trip if I ever get lame in Madison again.

2009 Gopher Football at Northwestern (35-24 WIN): Again, I was NOT at this game.  I had plans to go to Chicago to visit friends and go to the game.  My friend Kelly would say……“something better must have come up” :).  I think they can all thank me though that I was not at the game-they got to see their first Gopher road win.

2011 Gopher Football at USC (17-19 loss):  This was the ultimate MN sports weekend with the ULTIMATE MN sports fan (Twins at Anaheim and Gophers at USC???).  Christa had “voted” for the Gophers to win….so confidence was high that a W was in order.  “Goldie’s Oldies” were starting to become a bit more relevant here 🙂   I would not see my first Gopher road win on this trip though….I was robbed of a moment of Gopher happiness by a Max Shortell interception.  I did get to meet the most adorable little old man who was on the 1960 Gopher National Championship team (ok….he was the equipment manager…details, details).


I DO think this is going to be the year.  I have a feeling that my losing streak is going to end with an epic Vegas trip.  I will then be able to carryover my vacation and hotel/airline points for the 2014 Rose Bowl 🙂  I know my crazy equally fanatic Gopher fans will be right there with me.

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A sibling rivalry I never thought I would see: MN vs NE

Posted on November 30, 2011 by mnsportsgal

This blog is a couple weeks late, but for those of you who know me best; I can be a bit of a procrastinator 🙂

This season marked the beginning of a sibling rivalry I never imagined I would see.  This season marked the beginning of a family divided and the emergence of the “neutral sports dad” I had long despised (this would be the dad sporting both Gopher and Badger gear at sporting events between these bitter rivals…now MY dad sporting Gopher & Husker gear.  My mom wore gold to the game because she feels bad for the Gophers.  Thanks mom.).  This season marked the beginning of the hatred of my long time #2 favorite team. Now, I am not a jealous person, but I will admit, that I am jealous of Nebraska fans (the ONLY other college football team I am jealous of).  For those of you unfamiliar with our soon to be 3rd most hated team in the Big 10, let me educate you a bit on how and why these fans are as crazy as they are, are justified in their craziness (unlike annoying, arrogant Badger fans), and why every Gopher fan should put Lincoln on their road trip list and desperately want to end our embarrassing losing streak to these crazy Huskers.

*The Huskers have sold out every home football game since 1962, the longest active streak in college football.  VERY similar to the streak the Gophers have of not playing in the Rose Bowl (or any January bowl for that matter).

*No wonder Osborne is a GOD in the state of Nebraska: in 25 seasons he never won less than NINE games in a single season, won 13 conference titles, 3 national championships, and had a .836 winning percentage.  WOW.  The Gophers have had ONE season in the last 50 years where we have won 9 games or more.  Strong justification for Husker fans being as crazy as they are.  I know I would be WAY crazier of a fan than I already am if my team pulled off that kind of tear-SCARY.

*I am the first to admit I am SO bored by “defensive battles” in any sport.  I like to see a lot of scoring.  Only in Nebraska, where the crowd cheers louder for the defense than the offense, can I get excited about a 3 and out by the Blackshirts and everyone (including my bad a** self) is throwing up the “crossbones”.

*The state of Nebraska basically shuts down all non game related activities on game day and the stadium becomes the 3rd largest city in the state.  Almost 40% of the state’s population are fans of the Huskers and I have to imagine Lincoln/Omaha market share on game day is +80%.  A Minnesota Gopher football game averages a 5% market share on game day.

*Just to be in CONSIDERATION for prime tailgating spots at Nebraska requires a minimum annual donation of $5,000 AND $28,000 lifetime giving to Athletics.  Rumor has it the actual donation amount necessary to be secured a tailgating spot is FOUR-SIX times that.  SOO Gopher fans, stop complaining about the $1,000 annual donation that guarantees you good tailgating outside The Bank.  These are the same Husker fans that are also likely paying a $3,500 annual seat fee in Memorial Stadium.  Wowzas.

*EVERY seat in Memorial stadium requires a minimum of $500 donation.  These minimum donation seats are OBSTRUCTED VIEW.  It is expected that this minimum donation will increase in 2012.

*Starter jackets have NOT gone out of style in Nebraska.  Starter jackets were IT when Nebraska went on their national championship tear, why would you get rid of such a good luck charm?  Who doesn’t have a starter jacket of their favorite team from the 90s they are dying to break out?

*O Street is Lincoln’s version of Wisconsin’s State & Regent Street sans the obnoxious, arrogant, have never won a National Championship fans.  Lincoln > Madison, and Lincoln = Fun, fun, and more fun.

*Fans take the time to do crap like this to their lawn.  I am not going to lie-I wish I had a big enough lawn and the talent to do this.  A Minnesota M is difficult.

*NOW, the Gophers have lost 15 times (out of 15 times: 594-114…just a minor detail) in the last 50 years to the WINNINGEST college football program during that time.  If you are going to lose, at least do it against the winningest college football program.

*These fans travel.  ONE request of fellow Gopher fans: Do NOT let Husker fans dominate our stadium as we have let Iowa and Wisconsin fans do.  Direct quote from a Nebraska fan at the bar: “We targeted this game as our go to game this year.  We knew Minnesota fans would give up their tickets”.  GROSS.

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Life lessons from the game of baseball….

Posted on May 25, 2011 by mnsportsgal

There have been SO many things written over the course of the last 2 weeks regarding the impact that one of Minnesota’s greatest has had on the game of baseball, and the lives and memories of so many Minnesota fans. I had the amazing opportunity to have dinner with Harmon and some members of the Twins organization about 1.5 years ago. It was and always will be the ABSOLUTE highlight of me being a sports fan, and more specifically a baseball fan. I can only confirm what so many have written and said about Harmon…he is not only an amazing athlete, but amazing person as well.

The tributes, stories, and memories shared by many of an amazing Twin brought on an intense feeling of nostalgia on the role that baseball has played in my life…..and life lessons that can be learned from this game that has and will continue to transcend generations. I dedicate this to my Grandma Chris, who was one of the biggest baseball fans I know and played a key role in the intensity of my baseball obsession to this date 🙂 I apologize in advance-this will be my cheesiest blog yet 🙂

Enjoy the pace of the game and the duration of the season

It is amazing in a sport where 162 games are played in a given year, how often playoff destinies are determined by ONE game. Every game, every player, every at bat counts. I find great joy when a batter is “pitched” around only to have the next batter change the outcome of the game.

Baseball moves at a pace that allows for absolute enjoyment. Every play can be taken in. Camera angles don’t matter. Distractions rarely get in the way. Patience at the plate is everything. So-the life lessons here…slow down, exercise patience, don’t take anything or anyone for granted, sit back and just enjoy, minimize the distractions, and good things don’t just happen overnight and without some hard work and persistence.

Youth softball advice from my mom rings in my ears…”wait for your pitch” and “don’t get ahead of yourself-you need to catch the ball first before you can throw and make the out”. GREAT softball and life advice right there 🙂

Take your mistakes and make “adjustments”

Even the best of baseball players get into slumps and have issues with their “mechanics”. Step back, reflect, ask for feedback, work hard, continuously improve, and take time to celebrate when all the hard work pays off 🙂

Happiness lies in the simpliest of pleasures

Every time I am at a baseball or softball game, watching a game on TV with friends, or enjoying the game on the radio, I can’t help but further my appreciation for good friends/family, cold beer, relaxation, and beautiful MN weather. I don’t know if it is just me, but hot dogs and beer taste better when enjoyed outside, taking in a baseball game in beautiful weather with good friends or family.

Baseball memories run deep for me. Summers spent with my Grandma Chris at the baseball park built in honor of my Grandpa Cadwell in Mitchell, SD. Shagging balls with my best friend as the neighborhood boys played home run derby EVERY day once school was out. Family vacations that involved either a road trip to Minneapolis or Kansas City to take in a baseball game. Waiting for my dad to get back from Game 5 of the 1987 World Series with my authentic homer hanky. Meeting Harmon Killebrew. I can honestly say, there is no other passion I have that holds such nostalgia for me as baseball. It connects me to my grandpa I never met, my grandma who is no longer with us, my childhood friends that I do not get to see as often as I would like, my college friends who mean the world to me, road trips that I will make someday, and a lifetime of memories.

Even God loves baseball

I will not take credit for this one. I probably was not the only one that Harmon told this joke to, but I probably laughed the loudest. “You want proof that God loves baseball? The first words of the bible are…in the Big Inning (beginning)”. Really, not much more proof is needed than that. God is a baseball fan 🙂

Posted in The Diary of MN Sports Crazy: Past, Present, & Future | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bloggity, Blog, Blog, Blog…..I don’t hate Wisconsin QUITE as much as I used to

Posted on January 29, 2011 by mnsportsgal

As a fan of all sports and things Minnesota, I naturally despise all that is Wisconsin. I have had plenty of experiences that support these feelings, but last weekend, I had a very SLIGHT change of heart and have a better understanding of this relationship.

I traveled to Black River Falls two weekends ago with some good friends for some fun cabin time, birthday celebration, and small town bar hopping. We would all agree that the weekend was an ABSOLUTE blast and I completely forgot we were in Wisconsin until we happened upon a bar where the Packers/Falcons playoff game was on. If you remove this 2 hour experience (we did NOT stay for the whole game), I LOVE the fact that only in Wisconsin, can you find the following in one bar in a single evening: beer ONLY served from cans, the regular Saturday night potluck set up, the resident dog, a stray cat, $2.50 microwave cheeseburgers, $1 previously viewed VHS tapes, maple syrup for sale by the quart, and a man in full camo double fisting the microphones on karaoke night. My revelation…I love drinking in Wisconsin when you remove their obnoxious sports fans. Let me repeat that…a Minnesotan talking about LOVING Wisconsin…when you remove 80% of the people from their state.


So, I now clearly understand that my hatred for Wisconsin stems from the behavior of their obnoxious sports fans. I get it-you love your sports teams, but so do we. Our feelings for your state are NOT that of deep jealously of your sports teams either (I have heard that just a few TOO many times from Wisconsin fans). Do I wish that our Gopher football team did not have the longest Rose Bowl drought in the Big Ten? Of course. Do I wish the Bears would have beat you weeks ago when they had the chance so I didn’t have to watch Aaron Rodgers being a punk flashing his imaginary championship belt? Duh. Does that mean I am jealous of your state’s sports teams? No. Both my 14 year history as a MN sports fan and our state’s complete sports history actually prove that we don’t have that much to be jealous of. Recently, the power has shifted a bit in your favor, but I have confidence that power will shift back in the near future. Keep in mind, this is only regarding sports I (or our state) actually care about, so the NBA has been excluded.

Hockey: In my MN sports fan history, Minnesota has won 2 National titles and 3 WCHA titles compared to Wisconsin’s 1 National title and 1 WCHA title. Overall, Minnesota has 5 National titles and has won the MacNaughton Cup 11 times compared to Wisconsin’s 6 National titles and 3 MacNaughton Cups. But, we are the state of hockey and have a NHL team, so we win. This is my blog and my math-I really don’t care if you disagree.

Baseball: The MN Twins have won 2 World Series titles compared to the Brewers ZERO World Series titles. The MN Twins have made 5 appearances in the ALCS (since 1969) compared to the Brewers being the ONLY National League team to NOT have made an appearance in the modern day NLCS. In my MN sports fan history, the Twins have made 6 postseason appearances to the Brewers 1. No fuzzy math here-Minnesota wins and we now know how baseball is meant to be played; outdoors. No retractable roof for the weary here.

College Basketball: In my Gopher Basketball scandal filled MN sports fan history, we have claimed only 1 Big Ten title and 1 Final Four appearance (technically, not in the books, but I have the ticket to prove it happened). This hardly compares to Wisconsin Basketball’s 3 Big Ten titles, 1 Final Four appearance, 2 Elite Eight appearances, and 4 Sweet Sixteen appearances over that same course of time. I would argue that had we never had Russ Archambault on our team, we would have similar performance over the last 14 years. Because of this, I only give Wisconsin a slight edge here.

College Football: No stats are needed from the past 14 years to prove that you have the edge over MN the last 1.4 decades. BUT, over the history of MN sports, the Gophers have 6 National Titles and 18 Big Ten Championships compared to the Badgers ZERO National Titles and 12 Big Ten Championships. Clearly, we win. I will give Camp Randall and State Street a WIN here in terms of game day atmosphere-there is no MN sports fan that can argue that fact.

NFL Football: Alright, we know the Packers have 12 league championships, 8 conference championships, and 13 division championships. The Vikings have ZERO championships, 4 conference championships, and 18 division championships. We have suffered some gut wrenching losses and currently have a broken, crappy football home. You clearly win this one along with winning the award for being some of the most obnoxious fans in the NFL.

To summarize, us Minnesota fans are NOT jealous of Wisconsin sports. I have found that I actually like your state and can relate to your love of beer and cheese. BUT, no amount of cheap beer and good cheese will change the fact that I loathe your sports fans. Will we continue to travel to Wisconsin to watch our favorite MN sports teams play despite the fact that you give us the worst seats ever in the stadium (yes-this picture is in the far, upper corner of Camp Randall against a concrete wall)? Of course.

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Save the Stache!!!

Posted on January 14, 2011 by mnsportsgal

We purchased fake mustaches in bulk in anticipation of being able to cheer on our favorite (and voted the hottest Twins pitcher by mnsportsgalpal and I) Twins pitcher for at least 2 more years. The Swedes and Staches did not produce a win or a jumbo tron appearance at this particular game (note to self…avoid signs with inappropriate mustache comments). We will hopefully be sporting our sweet stooches at Target Field for the next 2 years despite the fact that the fake mustaches are not super successful in attracting the fellas. That is some dedication! Come on Twins-Save the Stache!!!

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The Perfect Bedtime Story…MN Gopher ticket stubs??

Posted on January 4, 2011 by mnsportsgal

“What would you like to read for your bedtime story? You can pick 3 stories. Answer: Go Pack Go (we forgive him for that-he knows no better), my Minnesota Gophers basketball ticket stub, and my Minnesota Gophers hockey ticket stub.”

**That is right-one of my dear friends 2 ½ year old wants his mom to read his Minnesota Gopher ticket stubs to him for his bedtime story. Game #10, Minnesota Gophers vs SDSU, December 23rd, 7pm, Section 222, Row 7, Seat 13. LOVE it. Note to self-need to get him a Go Goldy book to replace his Go Pack Go book.

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New Year’s in Pasadena…hopefully in my lifetime

Posted on January 1, 2011 by mnsportsgal

It has been 50 years since the MN Gophers have last won a National Football title. It has been 49 years since the Gophers have played in the coveted Rose Bowl (the longest drought in the Big Ten) OR since any Gopher fan has been able to be somewhere warm, watching their favorite football team live on New Year’s Day. A lot of things have happened since then.

*The MN Gophers have lost 296 football games including 54 losses to the hated Badgers and Hawkeyes
*The MN Gophers have had ONE 10 win season
*The MN Gophers have finished better than 5th in the Big Ten only ten times
*The MN Gophers have introduced 8 new head football coaches
*The MN Gophers have played in 3 different home football stadiums
*10 presidents have entered the White House

I felt a pang of envy when I was at the airport on Thursday surrounded by Rose Bowl bound Wisconsin fans (this was quickly replaced with rage at their arrogance….how many national football titles do you have??? Exactly.) But, I have a renewed confidence that New Year’s in Pasadena is in the making within the next 10 years.

As crazy as the Gophers make me at times, I will always be a loyal fan. There will NEVER be any serious consideration about getting rid of my season football tickets. While I have endured only 14 years of heartbreak as a season ticket holder, my commitment to the Gophers is that similar to a marriage…in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, until death do us part. This is not to say that there will not be threats of a “break”, temptation to cheat (and cheer for Nebraska-my second favorite football team), and possible periods of counseling needed over the course of my Gopher fandom. My crazy, optimistic Gopher fanatic friends will be right there with me. Each of their responses when I texted them from the airport on Thursday about my pang of jealously when seeing all the Wisconsin fans: “That will be us someday”. I am just hoping that someday is not a day when we are actually justified in wearing our “Goldie’s Oldies” jackets (https://mnsportsgal.com/2010/12/23/goldies-oldies-why-not/ for how Goldie’s Oldies came to be).

Posted in The Diary of MN Sports Crazy: Past, Present, & Future | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments