Recent content from Chip Scoggins
Scoggins: Positive tests dim hopes about the return to sports
The surge of COVID-19 cases in different states — including Florida, where the NBA, WNBA and MLS will be based — has cast new doubt about whether sports can pull this off.
Scoggins: Time for bold change among Minnesota's sports executives
Minnesota's sports leadership a largely homogeneous group of white people who run teams and programs that have a high percentage of athletes who are minorities. It's time to change that.
Scoggins: When (not if) Gophers test COVID-19-positive, listen to doctors
The coronavirus presents a complicated situation for universities as the fall approaches. No amount of health measures and protocols can eliminate risk entirely.
Scoggins: Baseball is redefining 'Moneyball' in the greediest of ways
The sport could have been the first back from the pandemic, but thanks to failed leadership and greed there's doubt it will be back this year at all.
Scoggins: Cook, Vikings should and will compromise on new contract
The Vikings will compromise. Cook will compromise. A summerlong staredown or threats of a training camp holdout are nothing more than Negotiating 101.
Becker wrestler doing well after heart procedure
After a medical emergency at the wrestling state meet, Brayden Weber has been cleared to resume physical activity and hopes to wrestle and play football again.
Scoggins: Boxing gym on Lake Street fighting for its neighborhood
In boxing, the fundamental objective is to knock down your opponent. At Circle of Discipline, a boxing gym on E. Lake St., the mission was just the opposite last week after the killing of George Floyd.
Scoggins: Young people need mentors like North's coach McKenzie
The legendary North High boys' basketball coach keeps replaying the video of George Floyd in his mind. "That could've been me. That could've been my son. That could've been any of my players."
Former Wild defenseman Mitchell still driven to succeed
Willie Mitchell, the tough ex-Wild player who appeared in 900-plus games over 15 NHL seasons, is now part owner of a resort on Vancouver Island.
Scoggins: Hope for college football, but there's still much to navigate
College athletes will start returning to campus for workouts in two weeks and universities increasingly have pledged to resume in-person classes this fall.
'Marvelous Mia' is all grown up, and back at Gophers games
As a 10-year-old with brain cancer, Mia Gerold formed a bond with the Gophers football team and former coach Jerry Kill. At 19, she has a new relationship with the U.
Scoggins: How the governor's IT guy ended up in charge of youth sports
Tarek Tomes' pandemic mission hits close to the heart.
Scoggins: Strange-looking baseball? It's better than no baseball at all
Reading through baseball's 67-page manual for starting the season is a blunt reminder that "Game on!" will be far more complex than simply telling fans to stay home.
Scoggins: U star Tucker said playing with Jordan a lesson in intensity
Former Gophers great Trent Tucker shared a locker room with Michael Jordan for one season, 1992-93, the final act of the Bulls' first championship three-peat.
Scoggins: If you don't want Gophers to cut sports, buckle up for changes
Mounting revenue loss will force athletic departments to make decisions they fear most. Do they maintain the same number of sports but reduce spending ? Or do they make the tough choice of elimination?
Scoggins: Mental health cornerstone of Big Ten leader Warren's agenda
Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren took an important step in accomplishing that objective leaguewide by unveiling a new initiative in conjunction with Mental Health Awareness Month.
When it all collapsed: ex-Vikings won't have to embellish the story of 2010
Starting with a Mississippi junket to lasso Brett Favre and ending with torn stadium roof, a weird season kept getting weirder.
Scoggins: College athletes should get paid for use of their name, image or likeness
Allowing athletes to benefit from their names and images in a way that can be monitored by compliance offices will not ruin college sports.
Scoggins: Current college football ideas make no sense at all
Games in empty venues without fans might represent the first step for some sports. But that model doesn't work for college football for some very simple reasons.
Scoggins: Zimmer has three new cornerbacks to develop for NFL play
To no surprise, the Vikings drafted two cornerbacks with their first four picks and three in the top eight. Mike Zimmer must nurture development in a group of youngsters, with no formal offseason very likely.
Scoggins: Good start for Vikings but circumstances make job tougher
The Vikings had an impressive first night of the NFL draft. Rick Spielman likely needs to find three immediate starters from this draft class. That's a tall order under normal circumstances. Nothing is normal right now.
Scoggins: A good walk not spoiled: Golfer, reporter escape confinement
Overcast skies, 44 degrees, gusty wind. Folks in other states call this football weather. In Minnesota, it's golf season, and a little spring chill probably felt like Malibu.
Heading to the course? Take these precautions
The Minnesota Allied Golf Association provided this guide for playing golf under the current conditions.
Scoggins: When the games come back, will you be there?
Sports executives are busy sorting through scenarios that would allow games to start again. They're trying to piece together timelines without an expiration date. How will ticket holders respond?
Scoggins: Give Towns a victory amid his pain by listening to his words
It was Karl-Anthony Towns' most impactful act as a member of the Wolves because his video has been viewed nearly 2 million times in the face of a global crisis.
Scoggins: Special breed of longtime, dedicated fan waits for Twins' return
Baseball is a communal activity for all ages. But for many senior citizens, a ballgame often serves as a primary social connection or simply a lovely way to pass the time.
Scoggins: Gophers' athletic budget concerns signal restructuring of college sports
The COVID-19 pandemic already has taken a bite out of sports revenue in universities across the country. If it lingers long enough to eradicate the football season, colleges will face difficult decisions.
Scoggins: 'We're here. We see you. We love you.' State's schools light the night
Throughout Minnesota on Monday night, high school stadiums and athletic fields were illuminated -- many of them for 20 minutes and 20 seconds -- in a show of support for spring athletes, seniors and communities where the pandemic has altered lives.
Scoggins: Fleck staying dynamic, connected - and safe - at home
Gophers football coach P.J. Fleck, never one to sit still for long, is making the most of being quarantined to his home during a vital part of the offseason. "We are a very creative staff," he said.
Scoggins: Gophers' NFL draft prospects having to adjust on the fly
The coronavirus outbreak is turning the draft process into a throwback way of doing business. Coaches and scouts are having to trust their eyes and judge a player by how he performed in games.
Academic allies: Former U football teammates looked to as leaders
Michael Lehan and Astein Osei mold young minds as school administrators in the metro area.
Scoggins: Gym rats missing places where they could shoot in solitude
They know that staying home is necessary because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but there is something comforting about being alone in a basketball gym, shooting in silence.
Scoggins: Coyle's challenge with Gophers is managing the unknown
These are strange days, but the Gophers athletic director does his best dealing with them.
Scoggins: Glamour moves made, fixing offensive line next Vikings challenge
If the Vikings don't have a mobile quarterback skilled at making something out of nothing, they'd better have a stalwart line that insulates him.
Scoggins: A Becker High School wrestler, a doctor and a life-saving moment
Quick response might have saved the life of Brayden Weber at the state championships last weekend.
True colors: A changed Austin unites around its school's red-and-white
The schools have more minority students enrolled than white students, with 48 languages spoken in its classrooms. Through the changes, two colors have united the town: The red and white of the Austin Packers.
Scoggins: Big changes are coming even if Wild didn't deal at trade deadline
Wild general manager Bill Guerin was unable to swing any deals before the NHL trade deadline, but he's already made his intentions clear through his actions. Time to tear it down.
Scoggins: Gophers looked like team without a clue about how to win
The Gophers failed to execute in a doomsday five-minute stretch that should be used as an instructional video on how not to handle crunch time.
Scoggins: Hopkins' Bueckers dazzling, inspiring a generation of girls
The nation's No. 1-ranked player is a humble sensation in local gyms and on social media.
Scoggins: Here's my thank-you to Twins, Wolves for aggressive moves
Shrewd. Aggressive. Unemotional. The courage to address a glaring problem by sacrificing something that feels familiar or safe is a refreshing change.
Scoggins: Let's change how all NCAA athletes change schools
The Big Ten reportedly submitted a proposal to the NCAA supporting a one-time transfer exemption that would allow athletes in every sport to change schools without sitting out a year.
Scoggins: With Wolves, there must be more moves coming, right?
The Wolves changed out a large chunk of their roster, but where did it get them? Is this it? There must be more moves coming because this is a mess.
The great debate: Which Super Bowl path should the Vikings emulate?
Do the Vikings continue with a high-priced QB or do they roll the dice with the youthful route?
Scoggins: Banham 'all over the place' as she remembers idol and friend Bryant
The former Gophers star became friends with the late Lakers great.
Scoggins: Division uncertainty makes recruiting tougher for St. Thomas coaches
Will St. Thomas be able to to jump directly to Division I without a pit stop at Division II? This interim period has created a weird dynamic in courting the next wave of players.
Scoggins: Being suspicious about baseball is no way to watch it
Electronic sign stealing will become MLB's new steroids nightmare if what happened in Houston wasn't an isolated instance involving a rogue organization. Baseball's integrity is at stake.
Scoggins: Whalen learns difficulties of trying to build her own culture
The departure of star Destiny Pitts shows that just because Lindsay Whalen the basketball player is a beloved icon in Minnesota doesn't mean Lindsay Whalen the coach will be immune to tough times.
Scoggins: Before tackling anything else, Vikings must fix offensive line
Coach Mike Zimmer's nonnegotiable style of play, shortcomings in current personnel and a looming decision on running back Dalvin Cook's future. All are tied to the offensive line.
Scoggins: In colossal mismatch, 49ers run Vikings into the ground
There was nothing fancy about Saturday's demolition: One team ran the ball at will. One team ran into a wall.
Scoggins: Both Vikings lines played 'big-boy football' to beat Saints
The defensive line applied pressure to Drew Brees, while the offensive line gave Kirk Cousins time to throw.
U interim offensive coordinator Simon calls the right shots
Against Auburn's vaunted defense, the Gophers offense piled up nearly 500 yards.
Scoggins: Advice for Gophers and Fleck: Cut loose, don't kill the mood
P.J. Fleck's mind-set in facing Auburn should differ from what happened under Jerry Kill in 2015 when Minnesota last played in a bowl game on New Year's Day.
Scoggins: Having Vikings healthy for playoffs matters more than loss to Bears
Mike Zimmer on Sunday made the right strategic move in resting most of his starters, even though his offense looked unprepared for the postseason in a prime-time loss to the Packers a week ago.
Scoggins: Gophers in good hands at quarterback with Tanner Morgan
The Gophers have the player they want at QB going forward, and he should rank among the best in college football next season.
Scoggins: Vikings defense does its job, until it gets worn down
Remember when defense was the primary concern of Vikings fans? On Monday, the offense put forth a performance that was nothing short of putrid. Just amazingly inept.
Scoggins: Journey from exile to exhilaration moves Mankato coach to tears
Todd Hoffner was fired after being arrested on child pornography charges that turned out to be unfounded. Now he's back and his Minnesota State Mankato football team is playing for a national title on Saturday.
Scoggins: After raising the ante, Twins must make major splash
There's still time for the Twins to the kind of signing or bold trade that causes the rest of baseball to take notice and lets fans know that the organization really is all-in to win.
Scoggins: Plenty of meaningless bowl games, but not for Gophers
Perception. Visibility. A chance to notch a win against a respected opponent. That's ahead for the Gophers in the Outback Bowl on New Year's Day.
Scoggins: Fleck's big task will be maintaining this season's energy
Gophers football has carried a fatalistic persona for too long. A well-earned persona established through heartbreak, flops and outright nonsense. But now the program has energy it must sustain.
Scoggins: Gophers can't finish what they started in Big Ten West
Wisconsin left no doubt which side boasts the superior team in the 129th meeting of border rivals
Scoggins: No downplaying the stakes of this Gophers vs. Wisconsin battle
Perhaps it's hyperbole to label Saturday the most important game in program history, but the Gophers haven't played in the Rose Bowl since 1962, so this represents the biggest moment since the glory days.
Scoggins: Gophers QB Morgan is the best kind of game manager
Tanner Morgan manages the game efficiently but not in the insulting manner that the label suggests. He's a conductor who makes a balanced offense hum by maximizing its star power at skill positions.
Scoggins: How one mop bucket best symbolizes U football right now
Here's a hint: The Gophers players care little about their individual stats compared to team success.
Scoggins: Gophers' frustration runs high following a blown opportunity
It was failure at the worst possible moments at Kinnick Stadium, and the U did not look like a team that started off 9-0.
Scoggins: How P.J. Fleck got the Gophers coaching job (but didn't get lunch)
Fleck walked into his interview carrying a basket filled with binders that had the Gophers logo on the front cover and "Minnesota Gophers" on the spine. Then he laid out his coaching vision in a Fleckian TED Talk.
Scoggins: How did Gophers offense go from struggling to superior? It's simple
Coach P.J. Fleck hears the same adjective used by rival coaches and other outsiders to describe his offense: Simple. Fleck insists he is not annoyed by that opinion.
Scoggins: No denying it now, Gophers football program 100% legit
Largely ignored nationally before Saturday because of their strength of schedule, the Gophers stood up and made people take notice.
Pigskin Slingers Have Surprised: Both QBs Exceed Expectations
Tanner Morgan and Sean Clifford were promised only an opportunity to compete for starting jobs at their respective schools.
Scoggins: 8-0 Gophers vs. 8-0 Penn State. Who could ask for anything more?
A legitimate big game under a national spotlight, which, for those new to Gophers football, happens every half-century or so. Or so it seems.
Scoggins: Vikings had everything in their favor, but blew it
Looking to assign blame for Sunday's loss? In all four phases of the game at Kansas City, the Vikings fell short.
Scoggins: Mahomes is tricky enough he might reappear against Vikings
Matt Moore or Patrick Mahomes? That's a fairly significant question for the Chiefs hanging over Sunday's game with the Vikings. And one that likely won't be answered until 90 minutes before kickoff.
Scoggins: Saunders shows Wolves his bite without cursing and screaming
Timberwolves followers have witnessed coach Ryan Saunders in the role of good cop for years. But how he would handle moments calling for stern action was an unknown entering this season
Scoggins: Blowout victory sets up dream scenario for Gophers football
By throttling Maryland, the Gophers checked another box to set up a Nov. 9 showdown with Penn State, the biggest home game for the program since Michigan came to town on a Friday night in 2003.
Scoggins: Wild might be bad, but tanking is not the solution
Apparently, reasonable people who love hockey and make an emotional investment in the Wild would cheer a terrible season if the tradeoff is the NHL's No. 1 draft pick.
Scoggins: Loons made commitment to improve, and it has to continue
Minnesota United's debut appearance in the Major League Soccer playoffs should be viewed as an opportunity lost. A new standard now guides every decision.