Leap Years only come around every four years. But a recent search in the Star Tribune archives dating back to 2000 revealed very similar themes on February's extra day. At first glance, recent history shows it has not been a very good day/month/year for the Minnesota sports scene.
Here is the news swirling on Feb. 29, 2016:
-The Wild is fighting for a playoff spot and in the market to make a trade.
-The Vikings could make a big splash in free agency.
-Three Gophers basketball players were held out of Sunday's game for violating team rules.
-The Timberwolves are banged up and need help.
-The Gophers men's hockey team is fighting for postseason positioning.
-The Vikings new stadium is 90 percent complete, but needs repairs.
-Twins star Joe Mauer is hoping to prove his concussion symptoms are behind him when spring straining starts on Wednesday.
-Kevin Love is struggling to put up big numbers for the Cavaliers.
-The Gophers need an athletic director. Will it be interim athletic director Beth Goetz?
Not a lot has changed since the last Leap Year.
• On Feb. 29, 2012, the Timberwolves were coming off a bad road loss and Love had been struggling to produce. Twins star Justin Morneau was recovering from lingering concussion symptoms. The buzz question of the day was "If the Gophers men's basketball team and the Wild had a contest to determine which had a more disappointing February, could you really choose?"
That same question is relevant today.
The Wild fired former coach Mike Yeo earlier this month after a long skid. The Gophers started Big Ten play 0-13 and dismissed captain Carlos Morris for "conduct detrimental to the team." On Monday, the team reportedly suspended three players after an illicit video appeared on one of their social media accounts.
The university is without an athletic director and began its search for new hire this month. Four years ago, the Star Tribune's Phil Miller considered if the U and its fans would support putting a female in charge? Instead, university president Eric Kaler hired Norwood Teague. Now, interim athletic director Goetz, a woman, is arguably among the leading candidates to fill the job.
• In 2008, the Vikings ownership gave general manager Rick Spielman freedom to shop the free agent market aggressively. They agreed to premium contract with safety Madieu Williams and full back Thomas Tapeh, to make the pair among the NFL's five highest-paid players at their position. They also ended up signing Jared Allen in a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Vikings are eager to improve their roster this offseason, especially at the offensive line position. That could mean a big signing.
The Vikings were also still rallying for a new stadium. At the time, Lester Bagley, the Vikings vice president of public affairs, said the project would cost $950 million if it were approved in 2009 and built by 2012. Well, the project wasn't approved until the next leap year in 2012 and it will open in the 2016 leap year with a price tag over $1 billion.
The Gophers men's hockey team were on the bubble for the NCAA tournament, but eventually squeaked in despite an 18-16-9 record. The 2015-2016 Gophers are 17-14 and on the bubble for postseason tournament bid.
Gophers women's hockey was good, as usual.
• In 2004, a new Vikings stadium was a hot topic at the State Capitol.
Wolves coach Flip Saunders referred to his team's Feb. 29 effort as "AAU," but Kevin Garnett would eventually lead the team to the Western Conference Finals. Garnett was named the league's Most Valuable Player.
Gophers women's hockey was good, as usual.
The Gophers women's basketball team was ranked No. 12 and receiving national attention. This year, it's Rachel Banham bringing the national spotlight to the program.
• In 2000, 16 years ago, the Wolves had embraced local talent Bobby Jackson (Gophers product), but weren't giving him much playing time. The Wolves selected Apple Valley product Tyus Jones in the 2015 draft and he's spent most of the season on the bench until last week.
The Gophers athletic department was under fire after a former football star was recorded having sex with a woman who was allegedly too drunk to give consent. Later in 2000, the NCAA published its public infractions report relating to the Gophers men's basketball team's cheating scandal.
The Vikings were in good position at quarterback with Daunte Culpepper taking over the job from Randall Cunningham. Culpepper led the Vikings to the playoffs in his second year in 2000 and played in the Pro Bowl. Vikings' current quarterback Teddy Bridgewater achieved the same during his second season and has earned the confidence of the front office.
What will be in store for Feb. 29, 2020? Will the Minnesota sports scene look any different? Comment with your predictions and in four years we'll revisit them.
Oh, and happy birthday to Vikings linebacker Erick Kendricks. He turned 6 ... I mean 24 years old on Monday.
