Tales From The Minnesota Sports Beat

Memories and stories from more than half a century of writing, reporting, and ranting by a Minnesota sports icon. Minneapolis Star Tribune senior columnist Patrick Reusse is a legendary fixture in Minnesota sports. Like his late colleague Sid Hartman, he is known by his legion of fans (and those who find him curmudgeonly) by one name: Reusse! Starting as a sportswriter in 1965 and still going strong in 2021, Reusse has covered every major sporting event imaginable and met scores of unforgettable characters during his long career in newspapers, radio, and television. Reusse's unique writing style and eye for human-interest angles have made him a master storyteller. He has collected a trove of stories along the way: from growing up in tiny Fulda as the son of an undertaker, to landing a columnist gig at a big-city newspaper; from covering Tom Kelly's Twins championship teams, to handing out fictional turkeys every Thanksgiving; from Olympic triumphs and failures, to countless major moments from Twins Cities sports teams. Reusse has seen a lot in his more than half a century reporting on sports in Minnesota and around the country. With his coauthor and fellow Star Tribune sports journalist Chip Scoggins, he brings together here his favorite stories, characters, and memories in that distinctive Reusse voice.

In this memoir, the Dean of Twin Cities sports journalism looks back on his memorable career and the stories he has covered. Sid Hartman has been at the center of Minnesota sports for more than sixty years, getting the inside scoop from players, coaches, owners, and his many “close personal friends.” This fascinating tell-all reveals Sid’s life and career, from his days as a newspaper boy in Minneapolis and his first scoops as a cub reporter with the Minneapolis Tribune, to his place as a true Minnesota legend. From his controversial role as de facto general manager of the Minneapolis Lakers to his fight to save the Twins, Sid has been in the thick of the local sports scene at all levels. In these pages, sports fans will be privy to Sid’s insight into hundreds of events and legendary figures, from Bud Grant and Bob Knight to Kirby Puckett and Kevin Garnett. As one of the most widely read and listened-to sports journalists in the Midwest for over half a century, Sid’s impact has been felt by fans from all walks of life, including renowned figures such as Tom Brokaw and Walter Mondale, who called Sid “one of America’s hardest-working, most widely read sportswriters.” Join Sid and his cast of thousands, and enjoy their outrageous stories—and learn some Minnesota sports history in the process. This updated edition includes Sid’s reminiscences on the past decade of Minnesota sports, including the resurgent Twins, the rocky Vikings, and his always-beloved Gophers.

DIVMark Rosen was hired by WCCO television at the age of 17 and has been a part of the ’CCO team for more than 40 years. During that time, he has become one of the most popular and esteemed sports media celebrities in the region—a true icon on the Minnesota sports scene. In this first-person account, Rosen shares his experiences working with athletes, journalists, and a variety of local notables. He describes the most memorable moments from the playing fields and behind the scenes, and he offers insights gleaned from four decades in the business./divDIV /divDIVIn Best Seat in the House, Rosen tells of joining the fast-paced world of television journalism as a wide-eyed high schooler and then traces his journey to becoming one of the most recognized and respected names in local sports broadcasting. He shares his experiences meeting heroes like Harmon Killebrew and Bud Grant, covering iconic sporting events like the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” and the Twins’ World Series victories in 1987 and ’91, and breaking the big stories about the Vikings, Twins, Timberwolves, Lynx, Wild, and Gophers. /divDIVThe stories and anecdotes contained in Best Seat in the House offer a rare, exclusive look into the worlds of sports, media, and even politics from the perspective of someone who has been at the center of it all./div

Take a journey from the infant stages of football in Minnesota up through the Vikings’ four Super Bowl appearances in Bill Williamson and Eric Thompson’s Tales from the Minnesota Vikings Sideline. For more than fifty years the Vikings have established themselves as one of the premier teams in the NFL. Perhaps the most successful team to never win a Super Bowl, the Vikings have nevertheless harbored a rich tradition of winning football. Now fans of this Midwest powerhouse will relive all the history, all the passion, and all the tantalizingly glory of Vikings football within these pages. Remember the bone-chilling days of old Metropolitan Stadium? Or the no-nonsense, in-your-face coaching style of Bud Grant? From Cris Carter to Fran Tarkenton, Randy Moss, Brett Favre, Adrian Peterson, Teddy Bridgewater and more, this newly revised edition of Tales from the Minnesota Vikings Sideline has it all!

This behind-the-scenes examination reveals how the relentless pressure to wincan inspire or destroy a team of high school hockey champions.

This full-color book chronicles the most devastating, bizarre, and quirky moments in the history of Minnesota sports.

Some of the most entertaining stories from one of the most remarkable franchises in sports are told in this revealing look at the New England Patriots. While the team's owner, coach, and stadium now all rank among the best in the National Football League, the team was known for decades as having comically inept management and ownership, as well as the worst stadium in the NFL.In Tales from the Patriots Sideline, former players share their tales of the tumultuous years. Their initial owners had to sell the team after going bankrupt promoting a Michael Jackson concert tour. Their coaches have been a colorful lot, too, including one who accepted a new job the day before a playoff game.From the AFL years through the lowest of low seasons, Patriots history has also been sprinkled with the occasional spikes of success. They were a franchise on the verge of being relocated before current management took the team to its new heights as three-time Super Bowl champions. Fans can find stories about it all in Tales from the Patriots Sideline.

If it happened in Minnesota sports in the last forty years, Dave Mona was there. Working the sports beat for print and radio, covering the big stories and the ones others missed, rubbing shoulders with the stars and introducing the rookies, Mona is a longtime fixture on the sports scene. Join Dave Mona as he revisits a lifetime of vignettes, each one a window onto Minnesota’s sports world. As he recounts his days reporting on the Twins and the Gophers, sparring with Sid Hartman on their Sports Huddle radio program, and preparing his award-winning pregame vignettes for Gopher football, Mona takes readers behind the scenes to meet celebrities and characters like Hartman, Billy Martin, Rod Carew, Dave Moore, Halsey Hall, Molly Ivins, and many more. A wonderful story of life around the locker room, his book is also a portrait of a remarkable personality and a fascinating aspect of Minnesota’s cultural world.

Legendary StarTribune sportswriter Sid Hartman draws on his six decades in the thick of Minnesota sports action to give readers a vivid picture of the many thrilling moments throughout the years. From George Mikan’s Minneapolis Lakers to the NFC championships of the Minnesota Vikings, from legendary local sports icons such as Bernie Bierman, Harmon Killebrew, and Fran Tarkenton to latter-day celebrities like Kevin Garnett and Randy Moss, from Gopher hockey to the legendary Minnesota Twins' World Series Championships, from the North Stars to the Wild - here are the stories and people that have defined Minnesota sports. Observed with Hartman's unique blend of insight, acumen, and wit that have delighted and enlightened—and occasionally outraged—Minnesota’s legions of sports fans, this collection of Minnesota moments and eras is the ultimate edition for any true sports fan from the land of 10,000 lakes. Features photos from the archives of the StarTribune throughout the book.

Drawn from personal interviews with the players themselves, a chronicle of the 1970s Pittsburgh Steelers, who won an unprecedented and unmatched four Super Bowls in six years.