Recent content from Sid Hartman
Read Sid's column from the Jan. 10, 1977, edition of the Tribune following the Vikings' loss to Oakland in the Super Bowl.
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by Sid Hartman
Updated December 27, 2020 — 1:01am
On every remaining Sunday in 2020, the Star Tribune will republish a memorable Sid Hartman column from the archives.
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by Sid Hartman
Updated December 13, 2020 — 1:30am
On every remaining Sunday in 2020, the Star Tribune will republish a memorable Sid Hartman column from the archives. This one is from last fall.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated November 14, 2020 — 9:46pm
On every remaining Sunday in 2020, the Star Tribune will republish a memorable Sid Hartman column from the archives. This one is from Jan. 28, 1984.
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by Sid Hartman
Updated November 1, 2020 — 6:28am
Making the playoffs after a 1-4 start undoubtedly will be a challenge for the Vikings , but there's no doubt this offense has enough weapons to go on a big winning streak starting Sunday against the Falcons.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated October 18, 2020 — 12:05am
JOTTINGS • Coach P.J. Fleck and the Gophers will have a huge challenge opening the season with Michigan at TCF Bank Stadium next week,…
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated October 17, 2020 — 5:12pm
It's hard to think of a more difficult rookie coaching season than the one Ryan Saunders just went through with the Timberwolves.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated October 15, 2020 — 11:57pm
The 27-26 loss at Seattle on Sunday night has to qualify as one of the most difficult regular-season losses the Vikings have ever suffered.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated October 12, 2020 — 1:37am
Pete Carroll has his Seahawks looking like one of the best teams in football at 4-0, but the former Vikings defensive backs coach knows better than to overlook Mike Zimmer.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated October 10, 2020 — 11:05pm
JOTTINGS • St. Thomas graduate John Schneider is in his ninth season as the general manager of the Seattle Seahawks after spending eight seasons with the…
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated October 10, 2020 — 8:30pm
Vikings defensive backs coach Daronte Jones has had to guide a lot of inexperienced players but has a great mentor in Mike Zimmer.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated October 8, 2020 — 8:36am
Coach Mike Zimmer's team on Sunday saved its season in a game it had to have. And right now, you see a club that can compete for a playoff spot and is getting better each game.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated October 5, 2020 — 6:26am
The 0-3 Vikings entered Week 4 ranked eighth in the league at 146.7 rushing yards per game and No. 1 overall with 6.03 yards per rush.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated October 4, 2020 — 9:45am
JOTTINGS• Pro Football Focus on Vikings rookie receiver Justin Jefferson's breakout game in Week 3: "Jefferson was the highest-graded wideout of the week and should…
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated October 3, 2020 — 5:41pm
Despite their playoff loss, the Twins did well to navigate in a pandemic and win the AL Central.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated October 1, 2020 — 12:20am
The Twins this season set a club mark for home winning percentage while the Vikings have opened winless at U.S. Bank Stadium.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated September 28, 2020 — 12:53am
If the Vikings want to avoid their first 0-3 start since 2013, when they finished 5-10-1 in Leslie Frazier's final season, they're going to need some rookies to step up in a big way.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated September 27, 2020 — 12:37am
JOTTINGS • Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer on Titans QB Ryan Tannehill, who has the No. 4 passer rating in football. “I think the biggest…
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated September 26, 2020 — 5:17pm
Gophers have a chance to defy fortunes against the Wolverines this year and the Buckeyes in 2021.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated September 24, 2020 — 7:18am
If anyone thinks Kirk Cousins is the biggest problem on this Vikings team, they don't know football.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated September 21, 2020 — 6:43am
Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren took over for Jim Delany on Jan. 2 of this year and since then has dealt with situations that no commissioner has ever dealt with.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated September 19, 2020 — 11:49pm
JOTTINGS • Twins starter Kenta Maeda is fourth in the American League in ERA (2.52), tied for eighth in innings (60⅔), first in WHIP (0.76)…
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated September 19, 2020 — 11:42pm
The Twins' .808 winning percentage at Target Field won't make a difference if they advance to the neutral-site playoffs.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated September 17, 2020 — 12:25am
It's becoming a familiar pattern, with Aaron Rodgers keeping the Vikings offense off the field.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated September 14, 2020 — 8:25am
Aaron Rodgers has gotten the better of Kirk Cousins and the Vikings — going 2-1-1 against the Purple since 2018, including two dominant victories in 2019.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated September 13, 2020 — 1:08am
JOTTINGS • Packers wideout Allen Lazard starred at Iowa State and has some experience against the Vikings cornerbacks from his Big 12 days. “I actually…
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated September 12, 2020 — 7:16pm
With no preseason games this year in the NFL because of the virus, scouting teams has been difficult, but the Vikings know Sunday's foe well.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated September 11, 2020 — 12:51am
Cleveland and White Sox are competitive, and the Twins will face both teams in the next week in games that will help shape the postseason.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated September 10, 2020 — 7:04am
After an ever-changing offseason, Mike Zimmer's team will welcome familiar routines.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated September 6, 2020 — 12:49am
JOTTINGS • Vikings wideout Adam Thielen on getting ready for a regular-season game against the Packers next week without a single preseason game: “You better…
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated September 5, 2020 — 4:19pm
Kirk Cousins' quote about COVID-19 lit up social media this week, but some of the context was missed - just as Randy Moss' words in 2001.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated September 4, 2020 — 12:32am
Vikings' deal for Ngakoue was necessary; Twins could afford to wait for injured players to return.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated September 3, 2020 — 12:26am
The Minnesota native is getting paired with another Hall of Fame quarterback this year.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated August 29, 2020 — 4:15pm
Elgin Baylor sat out a neutral-site game in segregated West Virginia after being refused food service.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated August 28, 2020 — 12:18am
The NFL and NCAA are putting the local head coaches in a bind because there is no consensus on what is or isn't allowed for each team or conference.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated August 27, 2020 — 7:25am
Kevin Stefanski went from being a personal assistant to Vikings coach Brad Childress in 2006 to becoming the coach of an NFL squad 14 years later. It is as impressive as any coaching rise in the league.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated August 22, 2020 — 11:15pm
JOTTINGS • Pro Football Focus ran a 2021 NFL mock draft and had Gophers wideout Rashod Bateman going No. 24 overall to the Packers. PFF…
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated August 22, 2020 — 4:24pm
Winning the NBA draft lottery and getting the first pick is a bright spot in a really tough year for the Timberwolves franchise.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated August 21, 2020 — 7:16am
There's been plenty of turnover, especially in the Vikings' secondary, but others are ready to step in.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated August 20, 2020 — 12:30am
Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Gersson Rosas knows this has been a franchise-altering offseason, even though those changes haven't necessarily been on the court.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated August 15, 2020 — 10:43pm
JOTTINGS • The Vikings’ Mike Zimmer on the idea that he’s an old-school coach: “I know everybody says I’m old school and this and that,…
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated August 15, 2020 — 4:52pm
The five-time Pro Bowl safety will show the ropes to newer players as training camp begins.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated August 14, 2020 — 12:03am
Spring football is under consideration, but more top athletes will opt out to prepare for NFL draft.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated August 13, 2020 — 12:27am
The Twins front office and manager Rocco Baldelli took a chance when they brought in Wes Johnson last season. The gamble has already paid off.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated August 9, 2020 — 9:24am
JOTTINGS • Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said he is not a patient man, but he knows he is going to have to be patient this…
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated August 8, 2020 — 4:50pm
With the Vikings losing several veterans, 2017 fourth-round draft pick Jaleel Johnson could emerge in a larger role this season.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated August 7, 2020 — 7:19am
Through smart deals and development, the franchise has assembled a fine collection of talent.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated August 7, 2020 — 12:22am
The Vikings' decision to give contract extensions to quarterback Kirk Cousins and coach Mike Zimmer this offseason mean that this club has made its decision on who can lead it to a Super Bowl.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated August 2, 2020 — 8:29pm
JOTTINGS • Hall of Fame football coach Tony Dungy told Sirius XM Radio that he sees a lot of similarities between Gophers coach P.J. Fleck…
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated August 1, 2020 — 7:23pm
Since the team moved into U.S. Bank Stadium in 2016, they have posted a 23-9 record at home, a number matched only by the Eagles and Saints for the best home mark in the NFC.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated July 31, 2020 — 6:59am
A rivalry pitting a strong Cleveland rotation vs. potent Twins offense could become a highlight of the season.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated July 30, 2020 — 5:46am
If Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor finds a suitable buyer to meet his demands and his asking price for the club, it will end one of the most important pro sports tenures in state history.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated July 25, 2020 — 5:39pm
JOTTINGS • Giving Mike Zimmer a new contract was a no-brainer for the Vikings. The coach’s new deal will keep him with the team through…
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated July 25, 2020 — 5:38pm
The Twins will play in an environment very different from previous seasons, and that's not lost on anybody within our club, president Dave St. Peter said.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated July 24, 2020 — 7:17am
The Vikings' protocols and safety measures are already being studied by people around the NFL; the Twins effort is being led by a Mayo Clinic physician.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated July 23, 2020 — 7:00am
The Vikings opened this offseason in one of their toughest salary cap spots in recent memory, with the least cap space in the NFL. Rob Brzezinski led the way as the team made a ton of moves to get some relief.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated July 20, 2020 — 7:23am
JOTTINGS • Twins President of Baseball Operations Derek Falvey said the club has been pleased with the physical strength of the pitchers in camp: “I think…
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated July 18, 2020 — 4:10pm
The Twins have had better hitters on their rosters over the years, with greats such as Harmon Killebrew, Kirby Puckett, Joe Mauer and Rod Carew. But from top to bottom, this club is hard to beat.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated July 17, 2020 — 7:04am
The addition of experienced coaches give the Vikings a fresh look at how they do things on offense and defense.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated July 15, 2020 — 11:48pm
The Woodbury native has a chance to do something that very few players in the history of baseball have accomplished: Skip the minor leagues
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated July 12, 2020 — 11:52pm
The backups on the roster are lacking experience.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated July 6, 2020 — 7:10pm
The list of athletic and medical experts the Gophers have to draw on is large because the University of Minnesota has such a well-respected academic roster
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated June 29, 2020 — 1:20pm
There was no doubt when Gary Kubiak joined the Vikings last season that he was going to play a big part in the offensive game plan, no matter what his title would be.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated June 26, 2020 — 6:09am
"We left spring training in March with a really good baseball team, a team poised to take an additional step or two toward the pursuit of a world championship," Dave St. Peter said.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated June 25, 2020 — 12:03am
Gophers quarterback Tanner Morgan is 15-4 as a starter, indicating his importance to the team.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated June 21, 2020 — 11:53pm
JOTTINGS• There is no better promoter of the game of golf than Hollis Cavner, the executive director of the 3M Open, so you have to be…
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated June 20, 2020 — 4:09pm
It's hard to think of any season in recent memory when the Vikings brought in such a small free-agent class as they did this offseason.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated June 19, 2020 — 6:22am
Twins owner Pohlad said communication with the commissioner's office has been steady with the club, but not directly between himself and Rob Manfred.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated June 18, 2020 — 6:36am
The former player and coach's voice is clear and forceful on matters of racism.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated June 14, 2020 — 7:30pm
Center Garrett Bradbury said that the continuity from last season should put the team at a big advantage when it ends its virtual training camp and gets back on the field in July.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated June 13, 2020 — 11:00pm
That Mike Hughes is the most veteran cornerback shows that the group will have a lot of learning to do when Vikings camp opens.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated June 10, 2020 — 11:52pm
Last year the Vikings ranked second in the NFC, allowing 303 points. Still, a lot of people around the club, including Mike Zimmer, felt the team could use a fresh start on defense.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated June 8, 2020 — 6:21am
JOTTINGS • Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren has created the Big Ten Conference Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism Coalition for student-athletes, coaches, athletic directors, chancellors and presidents…
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated June 6, 2020 — 4:59pm
The Gophers have five four-star football recruits, and they definitely stand out. But coach P.J. Fleck also looks for high character.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated June 5, 2020 — 8:01am
Dalvin Cook is signed through 2020, but he'll be looking for a big payday: he's only the 39th-highest-paid running back in the NFL.
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by SID HARTMAN
Updated June 4, 2020 — 1:37pm